49ers Sherman irks ex-Seahawks teammates
SANTA CLARA, California — When Richard Sherman downplayed Seattle’s success by describing the Seahawks as a “middle-of-the-road” team a few weeks ago, his former teammates took offence.
Heading into the rematch this week between Sherman’s new team, the San Francisco 49ers, and his old one, former teammate Frank Clark had a stern message for the player who helped lead Seattle’s defence to a Super Bowl title five years ago.
“He’s not in this locker room anymore, so his opinion really doesn’t matter,” the defensive lineman said. “They’ve got problems over there in San Fran that he needs to be worried about.
“We’re 1-0 against Richard Sherman right now, and we’re 1-0 against the San Francisco 49ers this year. Our plan is to be 2-0.”
The Seahawks (8-5) dominated the first meeting in a 43-16 win at home two weeks ago, winning their 10th straight game over the 49ers (3-10) in a rivalry that used to be one of the league’s fiercest.
Now, the season that started with talk of the 49ers emerging as an NFC West contender behind quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and the Seahawks falling after the breakup of the “Legion of Boom” defence is heading to the finish with Seattle still holding the upper hand.
The Seahawks can clinch a playoff berth with a win today, while the 49ers are tied for the worst record in the league and only playing for draft position and next season.
• Tight end George Kittle has been the major bright spot in a down season for the 49ers. After catching seven passes for 210 yards — all in the first half — last week, Kittle holds the single-season record for yards receiving for a San Francisco tight end with 1,103. Kittle fell five yards short of breaking Shannon Sharpe’s single-game record for a tight end.
• Seattle is likely to be without starting guard D.J. Fluker for the second straight game because of a hamstring injury, but his replacement has proven to be more than adequate.
Perhaps it’s just coincidence but Seattle’s two best running games this season have come with Jordan Simmons in the lineup.
Simmons started for Fluker in Week 10 against the Los Angeles Rams when the Seahawks rushed for 273 yards. And he was in the lineup again last week against Minnesota when Seattle ran for 214 yards.
Fluker has been a key component of Seattle’s success this season, so it’s mostly coincidence about when its two best running games have happened. But the run game has been a critical part of Seattle’s success this season.
• The Seahawks were hoping to get Mychal Kendricks back from suspension to hold down the weakside linebacker position until K.J. Wright was fully healthy. That plan lasted one game as Kendricks was injured against Minnesota and is out for the season. Wright is not expected to return to the lineup for another couple of weeks, meaning secondyear linebacker Austin Calitro will rejoin the starting lineup. Calitro has started three games at weakside linebacker and one at middle linebacker this season, and played well alongside Bobby Wagner.