Upstart team feeling good about 3-0 roll
Niners alone atop West for first time since 2012
SANTA CLARA >>
The 49ers reconvened Monday after their bye as the NFC’s last remaining unbeaten team. They’re also alone atop the NFC West for the first time since launching their 2012 season’s Super Bowl run.
The NFL loves promoting these worst-tofirst stories, and, next Monday night, the once-dreadful 49ers will host the long-time dreadful Cleveland Browns, who are tied for first place in the AFC North.
“I take a lot of pride in that (3-0 start), just because I know where this team has come from — being down, and I mean down, beneath the bottom, the past two years,” wide receiver Marquise Goodwin
said.
Added safety Jaquiski Tartt: “After the years we’ve been through, it’s finally good to feel like a winner, again.”
Inside their locker room hangs a banner signifying their Super Bowlwinning years. A lot of space remains after “1981, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1994.” No one has written in, “2019 Week 4.” They know their record is perfect but their play has not been.
“It’s a great start for the team, obviously, and everybody at different moments is playing very well,” defensive tackle DeForest Buckner said. “But we still have a lot to clean up in all aspects.”
Coach Kyle Shanahan, after notching victory No. 3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, was quick to note he’s been on a team that started 5-0 and missed the playoffs, that being the 2015 Atlanta Falcons, who went 8-8. Other cautionary tales: the 2017 Denver Broncos and 2018 Jacksonville Jaguars turned 3-1 starts into 5-11 seasons.
“It feels good to have some success,” Goodwin added, “but we can’t really get caught up in that. As soon as you bite the apple, everything goes sour.”
TIME TO MEET E-MAN >> Second-year cornerback Emmanuel Moseley is expected to replace Ahkello Witherpoon (foot) in Monday’s lineup, the first start of Moseley’s career. At 5-foot-11, Moseley went undrafted out of Tennessee, where he faced off against top Southeastern Conference receivers, including a debut again then-Alabama star Amari Cooper.
Monday night, he could be facing one of the NFL’s top stars in Odell Beckham Jr.
“I normally treat every receiver the same — like they’re the best receiver.
So I’ve just got to go out there and prepare for them,” said Moseley, who’s excelled in special-teams coverage while also emerging as a versatile cornerback.
Rather than hype up Beckham, Moseley noted: “I watch film on the Browns as a whole group. They have a good receiving corps.”
What makes Moseley the best fit as Witherspoon’s replacement, aside from Jason Verrett struggling in his 49ers debut as the first off the bench against the Steelers? Moseley pointed to his knowledge of the scheme and his speed. His rookie season was spent learning on this sideline, having injured his shoulder in his debut covering the opening kickoff against the Raiders.
Richard Sherman’s scouting report on Moseley: “He honestly will tell you he’s the fastest on the team, and he knows Marquise is on the team. You can appreciate that. I don’t think he’ll beat Marquise but he’ll tell you otherwise. He can play this game at a high level and won’t shy from a challenge.”
Sherman, by the way, said if he was the 49ers general manager, he would “ride with the guys we have on the team” rather than trade potentially
two first-round picks for the Jacksonville Jaguars Jalen Ramsey.
The 49ers appeared to work out five cornerbacks Monday, including their 2017 starter Dontae Johnson. Afterward, former detroit Lions second-round pick Teez Tabor was signed to the practice squad, the NFL Network reported. PARTICIPATION REPORT >> The 49ers held an hour practice Monday upon returning from their bye, and among those not participating were Witherspoon (foot), running back Tevin Coleman (ankle), defensive end Dee Ford (knee), wide receiver Jalen Hurd (back), tight end Levine Toilolo (unknown) and left tackle Joe Staley (fibula).
“Having these bonus practices definitely helps with getting back into the rhythm of things,” Buckner said.
Shanahan said last week he hoped Coleman and Hurd would return from their extended absences to participate in Monday’s light session, and Coleman was seen working with the strength and conditioning staff.
Ford was heading to the weight room for a workout as practice began, and he said last week he expects to play through knee tendinitis all season until the issue is resolved with a potential surgery next year. SCOUTING BROWNS >> Several 49ers players started scouting the Browns last week, and now more work must be done to examine Cleveland’s 4025 win Sunday at Baltimore. The Browns racked up 530 yards of offense, including 165 rushing yards and three touchdowns from Nick Chubb.
“It’s definitely going to be a challenge to stop everything they have to offer, which is a lot of great players and they’re good up front. It’s going to be a great game,” defensive tackle Arik Armstead said. “Chubb is a great player. He was in college. Everybody knows who he is. It’s going to be a great challenge trying to stop him.”