Reasons for concern after defeat
SANTA CLARA » Levi’s Stadium is a lifeless shell. No fans are in the 68,500 seats to scream and wail. No one is there to stare in disbelief at another fourth-quarter collapse.
Season VII is in trouble at this Silicon Valley startup, for more reasons than any potential COVID-19 harassment.
As happened in the season opener three weeks ago, the 49ers coughed up a fourth-quarter lead and lost on their home soil, a 25-20 embarrassment to the previously winless Philadelphia Eagles on the NFL’s grandest regularseason stage of “Sunday Night Football.”
“We’re upset for sure. The fact we’re 0-2 at home, there’s got to be a sense of urgency and guys have to execute better,” linebacker Fred Warner said. “That can’t happen.”
That it’s happening amid 68,500 empty seats is no excuse, Warner added.
Here are reasons why the 49ers are (2-2) and how they need to rectify their NFC title defense:
1. BLOCKING HICCUPS » Just wait, we’ll get to the evertrendy quarterback issues. First up is the need to address who is protecting the quarterback, and who is supposed to open holes for the no-longer-vaunted running game.
Left tackle Trent Williams’ worst game this season stood out among the line’s issues Sunday night. He is their gold standard.
It’s the inconsistency to his right that has triggered more glitches all season. Guards Laken Tomlinson and Daniel Brunskill are not as stout as expected, and right tackle Mike
McGlinchey’s occasional gaffes have led to big-time quarterback trouble.
When pressure has gotten to Jimmy Garoppolo or Nick Mullens, they’ve panicked and problems ensue, such as Mullens throwing off his back foot for a redzone interception or yielding a strip-sack fumble to spark the Eagles’ comeback.
More alarming is the run game. Aside from some explosive plays, there is not much rhythm.
“We rely heavily on our tight ends and our tackles,” George Kittle said. “Overall in run game, we weren’t playing at the level I expect us to play at. Trent and Mike expect to play at high level in run game. If we’re not better, that’s what it will look like.
“We’re the best run team in the world. We proved it last year and need to do that this year.”
Jerick McKinnon, after 14 carries netted him 54 yards and a touchdown, said: “Not every game is going to be pretty, so we’ve got to grind it out. Everybody
trusts each other. Eventually it will pop.”
2. QUARTERBACK STATUS » All three quarterbacks have played meaningful snaps through four games. There is no controversy as to who should start.
So, can Jimmy Garoppolo return from his rightankle sprain after missing the past 2 ½ games and not practicing since then?
McKinnon dropped his name among those players expected back soon from injury, and coach Kyle Shanahan will have a better idea come Wednesday. Shanahan said he did not talk to Garoppolo on Sunday.
Instead, Shanahan had to spread the blame for this loss to not only Mullens’ ill-timed turnovers but the entire offense. Beathard earned praise for doing his job and making a last-ditch rally. Either is capable as a spot starter.
The 49ers need Garoppolo ASAP. Is that an option? It is not until he is cleared to practice.
3. DEFENSIVE FRONT WOES » Masking Nick Bosa’s absence is proving impossible.
Ziggy Ansah is now also gone for the year, with a biceps tear Sunday. Dee Ford won’t be back for a few weeks, if he does return.
That said, Arik Armstead sure had a monster effort Sunday night. He produced six quarterback hits, but he had just a halfsack, and that reflected the front’s inability to finish off quarterbacks, all due respect to the hustle of fellow starters D.J. Jones, Javon Kinlaw and Kerry Hyder.
The 49ers are averaging two sacks per game. Opposing quarterbacks are no longer deer in headlights.
Next up are the Miami Dolphins, who should seize on the 49ers’ defensive weakness against mobile quarterbacks and start rookie Tua Tagovailoa.
4. MAXIMIZE OFFENSIVE TALENT » What a welcomeback party the 49ers threw for Kittle.
“Getting tackled 15 times is a lot, but that’s what I’m built for,” Kittle said after his career-high 15 receptions for 183 yards and a touchdown. “It felt great to be back out there with the guys. Unfortunately, we didn’t get it done, so that’s not fun.”
“He definitely did his part,” Mullens said of Kittle.
This isn’t 2018. Or 2019. Kittle has a better supporting cast. The 49ers need to use them more.
Brandon Aiyuk showed amazing athleticism on his 38-yard touchdown run, but caught only 2-of-5 targets for 18 yards.
Deebo Samuel made his much-anticipated season debut, but had only three receptions on three targets for 35 yards plus a 10-yard run.