More good hands would insure 49ers against injury
The 49ers have the potential to feature the most explosive offense in the NFL.
Or to have the most exploded offense. As in, blown up by injuries.
The 49ers, when it comes to having an elite, Super Bowlworthy receiving corps, are skating on ice so thin that it might crack under a falling autumn leaf.
Of course, we’re here to offer a solution. OK, not exactly a solution, but a helpy suggestion. But first, a look:
This could be the season that Kyle Shanahan achieves his potential as football’s foremost offensive evil genius, his diabolical schemes brought to life by a stupendous group of pass catchers.
Getting all their gamebreakers onto the field at the same time will be a challenge not unlike herding caffeinated cats. Because nicks and dings happen, the 49ers desperately need another good wide receiver or two, and another tight end, and none of those will be easy to find. The 49ers might quibble that their need for depth is desperate, because they didn’t use any of their eight draft picks on a wide receiver. But take a look:
Potentially, the 49ers have the best 123 punch in the league in George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. Give those players 15 healthy games each, with normal maturation from youngsters Samuel and Aiyuk, and a healthy season for running back blur Raheem Mostert catching passes out of the backfield, and see you at the Super Bowl.
Kittle ain’t brittle, but he missed eight games last season with a foot injury. His stubborn refusal to be tackled
by only three or four opponents at once makes him an injury risk.
Samuel missed nine games last season, his second in the NFL. In college, he had hamstring, leg and foot injuries. When healthy, what a playmaker. He ranked No. 1 in the NFL last season in average yards of separation from a defender when targeted, 4.6 yards. (Kittle, 3.9, was tied for sixth.) Samuel’s 12.3 average yards after catch was also No. 1 in the league. (Kittle, 6.6, was tied for eighth.)
Then you’ve got Aiyuk, who was clocked at 21.97 mph as a college senior, and only three NFL players had faster times that season. But he was out much of training camp with a hamstring issue, and missed four regularseason games.
Now throw in Mostert, whose 23.09 mph last year on an 80yard touchdown scamper was the league’s fastest clocking over the past five years.
That crew is all you need, because the 49ers don’t run a lot of threereceiver sets, going more with two wideouts and two backs, including fullback Kyle Juszczyk, who was probably underutilized as a receiver the last couple of years.
Along with this explosive crew, stir in rookie quarterback Trey Lance, who almost certainly won’t be the starter early in the season, but if he can get up to speed on the NFL and Shanahan’s offense, will be a very dangerous spotusage threat lurking on the bench.
Right now, the 49ers’ gamebusters are backed up by a makeshift crew of receivers who are over the hill, under the hill, or looking for a chance to climb the hill. Some of them will get a chance.
That list includes Jalen Hurd (6foot5 and 230 pounds, but injury prone), Travis Benjamin (a deep threat, but 31 years old), Jauan Jennings (not fast, and injury prone), Richie James (mostly a kick returner) and Trent Sherfield (a former specialteams ace for the Cardinals; shades of Mostert?).
Ideally, the 49ers will score a ringer like they did in 2019 when they traded for Emmanuel Sanders halfway through the season. He perked up the offense and was a sensational leader, all the way through the Super Bowl.
Chances of a deal of that magnitude? Slim.
So they’re going to have to stretch a bit. Here’s a couple of possibles:
New England wideout N’Keal Harry is requesting a trade. He was Bill Belichick’s firstround pick in 2019 but has been super disappointing. Last season: 33 grabs, 309 yards. Maybe he misses Tom Brady.
Another reach: Danny Amendola, 46 for 602 last season with Detroit. He might retire, but if not, he inflicted a lot of pain on the 49ers over the years, so why not let him make amends?
Here’s a better idea: Larry Fitzgerald. Yes, he’s still alive, and not retired. He played 17 seasons for the Cardinals, and is free to a good home. Last season: 13 games, 54 receptions, 409 yards.
Look, I’m not saying Fitzgerald is Jerry Rice, but he is only 37, and Rice was productive at age 43 with the Raiders (63 catches, 869 yards). Fitzgerald is a phenomenal man, beloved and respected.
With the game on the line, whom do you want Jimmy Garoppolo (or Lance) throwing to: Larry Fitzgerald or Richie James?
Feel free to send your suggestions to Shanahan and general manager John Lynch. They will consider your ideas just as soon as they have weighed mine.