San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Together finally, playmakers face lowly defense
Last Sunday, George Kittle became the only tight end in NFL history to have at least 15 catches and 175 yards in a game.
Last month, Raheem Mostert became the first player in 50 years to have a touchdown of at least 75 yards in each of the season’s first two weeks.
InWeek 2, Jimmy Garoppolo completed 14 of 16 passes, two for touchdowns — in a half — while hopping around on a high ankle sprain.
And, finally, rookie wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk finished a touchdown run last Sunday by hurdling a defender at the 8yard line and bounding into the end zone in one jawdropping motion.
The 49ers have a host of offensive players capable of historic or howdidhedothat feats.
But a problem during their uneven 22 start has been that these players have not been on the field at the same time.
That could change Sunday when the 49ers host the Dolphins with Garoppolo guaranteed to return from a twogame absence and Mostert,
who also has missed the past two games, questionable to play after participating in every practice during the week. Garoppolo should have his top targets — Kittle, Aiyuk and wide receiver Deebo Samuel — available. In his last start, Garoppolo had only Aiyuk, who was making his NFL debut.
Garoppolo, Kittle, Mostert, Samuel and Aiyuk have combined to miss 10 games this season.
“It’s been really cool in practice this week to look to my right, there’s George,” fullback Kyle Juszczyk said. “Look to my left, there’s Brandon, Deebo, Raheem — Jimmy across the way. That’s exactly how we envisioned it in the offseason.”
The 49ers could be near full strength against a weak defense.
The Dolphins ( 13) rank last in the NFL in yards allowed per play ( 6.6) and are 27th defensively in yards per game ( 409.8). On Sunday, they won’t have defensive end Shaq Lawson ( shoulder), who has a teamhigh six quarterback hits.
The 49ers could have every offensive starter available except centerWeston Richburg, who hasn’t played this season because of a knee injury he suffered in December.
“It’s exciting to get a group out there that you envision and just sort of really stack days together,” Garoppolo said. “Stack days of the same group going out there, just getting the chemistry down and the communication part of it. There’s so many things that go into it, but it just takes time.”
Of course, the wellstocked group of skillposition players won’t flourish if the offensive line doesn’t improve.
The 49ers’ front five flopped in last Sunday’s 2520 loss to the Eagles, allowing four sacks. Quarterback Nick Mullens was pressured on 55% ( 17 of 31) of his dropbacks, according to Pro Football