Niners take next step in uncertain season
Team can’t look too far ahead as it plays prime-time game with Eagles
SANTA CLARA >> Suddenly, it seems presumptions to say the 49ers are starting a three-game homestand.
This is a one-game-at-a-time season more than ever.
Coach Kyle Shanahan and everyone in the NFL were reminded of that when the Tennessee Titans, because of a COVID-19 outbreak, had their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers postponed.
“If you let that get out of hand, that would be very tough for our league finishing the season,” Shanahan said, days before the New England Patriots’ world got rocked by quarterback Cam Newton going on the NFL’s COVID-19 reserve list Saturday.
The 49ers (2-1) cannot look past their Sunday night affair with the Philadelphia Eagles (0-2-1). If all goes well on the coronavirus front, then the 49ers can get to their next home date against the Miami Dolphins, followed by a visit from the Los Angeles Rams, and so on and so on, with fingers crossed and hands/masks washed.
Urgency exists to win now, and do so without a crowd watching at Levi’s Stadium, where the 49ers were upset in their season opener by the Arizona Cardinals. Here are five keys to avenging that defeat as they return home: 1. SHUT DOWN ERTZ >> Carson Wentz’s best bet at emerging from his funk is to aim for the Eagles’ best (only?) target, tight end Zach Ertz, a Monte Vista High-Danville and Stanford product.
The 49ers likely won’t designate one defender to shadow Ertz. They can deploy any of their rangy linebackers, especially captain Fred Warner, whose athleticism and coverage skills are ideal for today’s NFL, as opposed to the hellacious-hitting linebackers of more violent times.
“Our system was built around the fact the evolution of tight ends and running backs took place before the evolution of linebacker, so they were outpacing ( linebackers),” defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said. “... People look at (49ers linebackers) and say they’re kind of small, they pack a punch, run like gazelles, and are incredibly intelligent. That’s today’s linebacker.”
Warner’s interception last Sunday while covering Giants tight end Evan Engram reflected his smarts, instincts and athleticism.
That’s not to say Warner can’t hit. He does. Just ask the New York Jets, who saw Warner blow up a fourthand-1 run two weeks ago.
Ertz deserves to cash in on the market that George Kittle reset. More Eagles losses would make Ertz a prime trade candidate, but probably out of the 49ers’ price range (or beyond their need if Kittle is healthy, along with Jordan Reed and Ross Dwelley).
2. SHOW OFF STARS >> Kittle likely will return to the lineup after injuring his knee two weeks ago, and the 49ers also could unveil wide receiver Deebo Samuel for his season debut. He was activated Saturday.
Yes, the 49ers need those weapons, even after scoring over 30 points in routs of the New Yorkers.
Kittle provides so much in terms of on-field production, blocking and overall excitement. He’s missed just
three games his entire career, including back-to-back games last year because of a Cardinals player’s hit to his left knee, just like three weeks ago.
Tight end Jordan Reed is out up to two months with his own knee injury, so Kittle’s return would be especially timely.
The 49ers delayed Samuel’s debut by putting him on short-term injured reserve, and his surgically repaired left foot appears to have responded well enough in practice that a strong season awaits after a banner rookie year.
Samuel’s arrival could launch a long-term receiver tandem with Brandon Aiyuk, a first-round draft pick who had a breakout performance last Sunday. Judging from practice, the 49ers’ receiving corps looks in a much better mood and in better shape, complemented by Kendrick Bourne, Trent Taylor, Mohamed Sanu and Dante Pettis.
3. EXTEND WENTZ’S WOES >> Wentz is 14-15-1 since his 2017 knee injury, plus last season’s wild- card playoff loss at home to Seattle. He’s had two passes intercepted in each game this season. The Eagles were down to just one receiver on their 53-man roster at Thursday’s practice.
Wentz won’t have it easy against a 49ers pass rush that is out to prove it can dominate without Nick Bosa and Dee Ford. Ziggy Ansah and Dion Jordan made nice debuts last game, and the 49ers still have solid starters in Arik Armstead, Kerry Hyder, Javon Kinlaw and D. J. Jones.
Safety Jimmie Ward is demanding some credit for the 49ers’ secondary, and that will come if they continue to limit the passing yards (secondbest in the league) while cashing in on Wentz’s interception trend.
What the Eagles should do, and what the 49ers must be bracing for, is Jalen Hurts mixing in with Wentz. Hurts’ mobility enticed the Eagles
to spend a second-round pick on a weapon who passed for 3,851 yards and ran for 1,298 yards last year at Oklahoma. The 49ers must stay assignment sound to avoid familiar struggles with dual-threat quarterbacks (not struggles in the 2012 Packers sense, mind you).
4. CONTROL AT QUARTERBACK >> When Eagles coach Doug Pederson showered Nick Mullens with praise leading up to the game, he finished by saying how Mullens is “letting the offense work for him.”
It’s not a backhanded compliment as much as it is affirmation that Shanahan is scheming ways to make everyone on offense flourish.
Same goes for running back Jerick McKinnon, who could become the first 49er since Jerry Rice (1991) to score a touchdown in the first four games of a season.
The offense, despite injuries to skill-position players, is almost on auto-pilot in Year 4 of Shanahan. The line’s synchronicity shows up on big gains, and even if there hasn’t been much running room on other plays, that’s the least of Shanahan’s worries.
Same goes for the quarterback position. Mullens’ experience and behind-the- scenes preparation gives Shanahan reason to trust him in place of Garoppolo, for however long is needed.
5. SPECIAL TEAMS NEWCOMER >> The 49ers are on their fifth long snapper in 20 games. That’s because Taybor Pepper is in to replace Kyle Nelson, whose errant snaps Sunday cost him a spot on the roster.
Nelson had been part of the 49ers since 2014, aside from a 10-game suspension in 2018-19. How will his exit play out with kicker Robbie Gould and punter/holder Mitch Wishnowsky?
This game should not come down to a field goal or PAT. Pepper should get a lot of action much earlier the way this offense is moving the chains.