49ers look for success in trip to New York
Start with Jets, hope Garoppolo rebounds, Sherman’s void filled
After setback against Cardinals, San Francisco looks to fill gaps, better QB play in matchup with Jets.
SANTA CLARA >> Wanna get away? Enjoy a 10-day, complimentary stay in five-star hotels? Leave behind all your worries, as much as possible amid COVID-19 safety protocols?
This is not a robocall to your phone.
This is the San Francisco 49ers’ immediate itinerary.
They’re escaping smoky California for a trip to New York … and West Virginia … and then back to New York.
Actually, they’ll be playing in New Jersey, at MetLife Stadium, the next two Sundays to face New York’s Jets and Giants. In between is a layover at West Virginia’s Greenbrier Resort, previously a training-camp home for the New Orleans Saints (2014-16) and Houston Texans (2017-18).
The NFL’s coronavirus precautions limit the size of the 49ers’ traveling party to just 70, including coaches, trainers and video/ communications staff. Radio broadcasters Greg Papa and Tim Ryan will stay behind to call the games from their crow’s nest in an otherwise empty Levi’s Stadium. No beat reporters are traveling to cover the game.
And the 49ers’ roster is far from full strength.
In last Sunday’s season-opening loss, 24-20 to the Arizona Cardinals, the 49ers added to their monthlong casualty toll when two captains got hurt, tight end George Kittle (knee) and cornerback Richard Sherman (calf). Rather than dwell in their injuries and fourth-quarter relapses, the 49ers forge on to New York/ New York.
“We’re on to the Jets and excited about the challenge they present,” linebacker Fred Warner said.
Here are some ways for the 49ers to succeed Sunday: 1. GAROPPOLO ON THE REBOUND >> Jimmy Garoppolo historically rebounds well from his hiccups, whether it’s an in-game interception or a defeat. He’s never lost back-to-back starts, unless you want to count his past two, including the Super Bowl, which his mounting critics surely do count.
Garoppolo had a 103.0 passer rating, 259 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers in the opener. So why must he rebound? Skewing his debut were late throws on the final series to Kendrick Bourne (open in the end zone) and Trent Taylor (open on fourth down).
Garoppolo said he must be more decisive and improve
his timing.
Perhaps more concerning is Garoppolo’s pocket comfort. Heck, he spun himself into a pirouette on one sack. You can bet Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams saw that and will be blitzing extra defenders up the middle, and every which way, to disrupt him.
Left tackle Trent Williams praised Garoppolo’s poise, energy and control, especially after a contactfree offseason. “Jimmy and a lot of quarterbacks in the league, particularly pocket passers, without having a preseason and a real live period where guys are actually coming to hit him, that
timing will take a little minute to link up,” Williams said. “… That’s one thing that gets overlooked, especially the cohesiveness they need between the quarterbacks and receivers.”
2. OBK: OPTIONS BEYOND KITTLE >> George Kittle’s knee sprain in the opener further illustrated how vital it is that Garoppolo finds other trustworthy targets.
That could mean for a huge debut by Brandon Aiyuk, a first-round draft pick whose Aug. 23 hamstring injury kept him out Week
1. Aiyuk and Garoppolo hit it off with a high volume of plays before a deep route sidelined the rookie, so now
that he looks healed, Aiyuk could unleash his yards-after-the-catch proficiency against the Jets’ Jamal Adams-less secondary.
Mohamed Sanu is such a late entrant to the 49ers’ rotation that he is no lock to suit up with Kendrick Bourne, Dante Pettis, Trent Taylor and Aiyuk. Jordan Reed figures to see more action than his 10snap cameo, but don’t forget about Ross Dwelley, and especially each and every running back.
3. REPLACING SHERMAN >> The 49ers need both a new starting cornerback and another strong leader in the wake of Richard Sherman’s surprise move to injured reserve, where he’ll ideally need only a three-week stay for a calf strain.
Emmanuel Moseley is more experienced at shifting over to the left side in practice, so he could do that and Ahkello Witherspoon could slide back into his former starting spot on the right side, if cleared from a concussion. The 49ers could also turn to Dontae Johnson, but he hasn’t started since doing so every game in 2017.
Leadership-wise, linebackers Fred Warner and Kwon Alexander are the defense’s heartbeat, but Nick Bosa seems poised to step up as an all-around pro, along with Arik Armstead, one of the 49ers’ seven captains, including Warner and Sherman.
4. GET TO DARNOLD >> Jets coach Adam Gase admitted that he’s game-planned to avoid the astuteSherman in past matchups, so the 49ers should expect a more gunslinging Sam Darnold, who has a career 59.9 percent completion percentage. (Garoppolo’s is 67.1 percent.)
Sacked at least 30 times his first two seasons, Darnold has a better line to protect him this season, including left tackle Meckhi Becton, the NFL Draft’s 11th overall pick. Becton is listed at 6-foot-7 and 363 pounds, which is some 30 pounds less than his weight coming out of the University of Louisville.
“It looks like he lost a little weight since college and can move a little better now,” Nick Bosa said. “I’ll go with my normal game plan, go with my moves and work my rushes and hopefully it catches him a little off guard.”
Bosa is a lock to impact whoever he faces. As for the rest of the 49ers’ defensive front, it needs a better showing than last Sunday, when Kyler Murray got sacked only twice and sprinted free to extend drives. Darnold has averaged 2.6 yards on 78 career carries, so his pocket-style approach suits the 49ers’ rushers, which may or may not include Dee Ford (neck). 5. GORE VS. MOSTERT >> Past vs. present. Nobody will come close to Frank Gore’s legacy as the 49ers’ alltime leading rusher. At age 37, he’s expected to start for the Jets, who’ve put Le’Veon Bell on injured reserve. The Jets are his fourth team in six seasons since leaving the 49ers as a free agent.
All 49ers fans still root for Gore. So how to handle this, unlike in 2018 when Gore was a mere part-timer with the Colts and had 48 yards with two fumbles in a win over the 49ers?
Advice: Root for him to run as hard as ever, with great vision, epic pass protection and emerge healthy. Then watch his counterpart, Raheem Mostert, do the same in victorious fashion, while complemented by a fully repaired Jerick McKinnon and oft-overlooked Tevin Coleman.