Five keys for 49ers
SF needs to get run game, defense back in top form against Miami
SANTA CLARA » Once the 49ers reflect on this season, a Week 5 matchup might get lost in the predictable chaos. Or it might not.
The Miami Game could serve a flashpoint to the 49ers’ renewed life.
The 49ers (2-2) have a lot in their favor when the Miami Dolphins (1-3) make their first visit to Levi’s Stadium, where a fan ban remains in effect for COVID-19 precautions.
Renewed optimism comes with the return of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Also back might be running back Raheem Mostert and, well, their postseason legitimacy.
“If want to win, if we want to get back to the Super Bowl, if we want a chance to even get into the playoffs, we need to play a lot better andwe all knowthat,” said George Kittle, whose 15-catch bonanza last Sunday was squandered in a 25-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
That loss dropped the 49ers to 0-2 at home this season, just as drawn up in the Super Bowl Hangover playbook. Time to turn the page and do so against a franchise that lost a Super Bowl to the 1984 49ers justupthe road at Stanford. Let us count a few ways to a successful Sunday: RUN-AND-FUN » The 49ers rungame bears little resemblance to last season’s unit that barreled into the Super Bowl. Things are about to change, for the better.
“I really like the game plan and I’mexcited to run the ball a little bit,” Kittle said Thursday.
Running that ball could beMostert, who’s questionable to come back from a sprained knee that kept him out the past 2½ games. Otherwise, the 49ers can lean on Jerick McKinnon’s dual-threat ability and touchdown trend, as he aims to score in a fifth straight game.
“When we’re at our best, we’re the best run- game team in football,” Kittle added. “We have not lived up to my or our team’s standards. … We’ll be running the ball again and I’m looking forward to it.”
The 49ers have gone backward too often. They have a NFL-high 21 negative rushing attempts. Last game, McKinnon had four carries either lose yards or gain none.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said his scheme’s aggressive nature is a risk-reward proposition. “We really try to score on every run play,” Shanahan said. “… Our guys really come off and go for it. When you do that, you’re going to win some and you’re going to lose some.” GAROPPOLO’S PRESENCE » Garoppolo must bring a sense of stability to an offense that’s seemed out of whack this season.
The 49ers rarely roll out Garoppolo, call bootlegs or ever dare a zone-read snap, so his ankle should be just fine in the pocket, assuming the pass protection improves against a less-intimidating front.
Garoppolo’s reaction time will have to get up to speed quickly, especially if the Dolphins blitz linebackers Kyle VonNoy (a former New England Patriots teammate) and Kamu Grugier-Hill (a former Eastern Illinois teammate).
“We’ve been waiting for this day for a while,” Grugier-Hill told Miami-area reporters. “We’ve got a little group chat back home with our boys kind of messing with each other. We’ll see. Hopefully he plays. It will be fun.”
POCKETPRESENCE » Too often, the 49ers pass rushers have been caught up field and allowed quarterbacks to escape their clutches. The Dolphins’ Ryan Fitzpatrick certainly has that capability.
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh noted that outside containment is not always the task of edgerush replacements such as Kerry Hyder and Dion Jordan. Linebackers also must be on alert, and the 49ers should be welcoming Dre Greenlaw back this week after a two-week break to complement Fred Warner and Kwon Alexander. KNOWTHYENEMY » Despite injuries, the 49ers boast the league’s No. 2 pass defense, and the biggest threat to that this game is wide receiverDeVante Parker, who is coming off a 10-catch outing and his ninth- career 100-yard game.
Tight end Mike Gesicki has seven touchdowns in his past 10 games.
Although the Dolphins’ top rusher is Myles Gaskin (4 yards per carry, no touchdowns), don’t be surprised if they give more looks to former 49er Matt Breida, who had 39 receiving yards last week to showcase his speed. He has 18 carries for 72 yards.
CLOSING TIME » The 49ers remain masters at blowing a fourth- quarter lead, not that anyone needed a Super Bowl reminder. They’re 0- for-2 at home, having squandered three- point leads in the fourth quarter against the Cardinals and Eagles.
The 49ers won four games last season with fourth- quarter comebacks. They need to rekindle that closing power, rather than retreat amid careless blunders and penalties, which are danger signs of a bad team.
The youth- laden Dolphins have had trouble closing out games this season, too. In the fourth quarter of the Dolphins’ losses, they werewithin three of the Patriots, they led by three over the Bills and they trailed by two to the Seahawks.