Mostert should star from jump
49ers expected to establish ground attack in season opening game at Motor City
DETROIT >> It has been 40 years since the 49ers’ first Super Bowl run, and it all began with a season opener at Detroit.
“Did we win that?” former 49ers linebacker Keena Turner asked this week.
They did not. The 49ers lost to the Lions 24-17 at the Pontiac Silverdome. But four months later they returned for Super Bowl XVI and beat Cincinnati for their first Lombardi Trophy.
“The last one there,” Turner remembered, “for sure, we won.”
Sunday, a victory over the Lions could be the first step toward another Super Bowl for a team coming off a 6-10 season -- just like the ’81 team. The 49ers’ second Super Bowl team, in 1984, also opened the season in Detroit. (They won that one.)
“We have most of our guys out there for this week, and whenever that’s the case, we’re pretty dangerous,” said defensive end Nick Bosa.
The 49ers opened last season as the defending NFC champs. They lost 2420 at home to the Arizona Cardinals. It was a harbinger of doom.
Now the 49ers are refreshed. They’ve poured out that bitter 2020 cocktails of injuries and COVID-19 complications. Optimism abounds. Here are five keys to a 1-0 start to the season.
1. RUN FOR THE BORDERS >> No, not literally, although Canada is only a downtown bridge away from Ford Field. Look for the 49ers to establish an NFLbest rushing attack and to do so by running their outside-zone scheme to perfection.
“Our run game will be crazy,” wide receiver Deebo Samuel said.
The 49ers have a healthy Raheem Mostert ready to blaze around the edge blocks set by offensive tackles Trent Williams and Mike McGlinchey, not to mention maniacal blocker George Kittle and other enablers.
The Lions ranked 28th in rushing defense last season. New coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn have some heavy lifting to do in flipping that script.
2. FLAWLESS QUARTERBACK PLAY >> Jimmy Garoppolo returns as the starter, and no errant throw or ill-timed blunder will be overlooked this season, not with Trey Lance on the sideline.
Garoppolo is more in tune and more confident than ever with coach Kyle Shana han’ s scheme. G ar oppolo noted he“loves the supporting cast,” from an offensive line “keeping things clean in the pocket” to the weapons who have “a lot of speed.”
“It’ll be fun to see how Kyle uses them in the offense and game plan and everything,” said Garoppolo, underscoring this season’s biggest mystery of a potential rotation with Lance.
Garoppolo opened the 2018 season by throwing three interceptions, including a pick-six, to doom the 49ers’ debut at Minnesota. He rebounded the next year, complete with a rebuilt knee, to throw for 166 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a defensive-led win atTampaBay. 3.BOSA,BOSA,BOSA>> Bosa’s comeback from knee reconstruction could swing how the 49ers’ season goes.
For starters, he can feast on rookie offensive tackle Penei Sewell. Sewell might move from right tackle to the left side because of Taylor Decker’s finger injury.
Joining Bosa on the comeback trail is his 2019 sidekick Dee Ford, who missed all but last season’s opener because of back is
sues.
4. SWARM >> DeMeco Ryans is not a NFL rookie. He’s 15 years into the pro ranks, first as a star linebacker in Houston and eventually debuting in 2017 as an entry-level assistant. Now it’s time for his debut as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator.
“DeMeco came up with his own slogan: S.W.A.R.M.,” linebacker FredWarnersaid.
Special. Work ethic. And. Relentless. Mindset
“That’s been his thing for our defense, and we’ll probably just roll with that,” Warner added.
The question is how that will show up in Week 1 as Ryan succeeds Robert Saleh, now the New York Jets coach.
Early in the offseason, players alluded to more blitzes, more front-line assaults, more misdirection. It helps that there will be more Bosa than last year, too, of course.
Free safety Jimmie Ward, an eighth-year veteran and first-time captain, could get turned loose more than he ever has. Warner has the AllPro license and capacity to roam, too..
5. FILL IN THE GAPS >> The 49ers are a picture of health compared to last year. That can change fast, of course. But they’re deeper than ever, and some reinforcements could get a quick call.
The suspect positions are:
• Cornerback: If Emmanuel Moseley (knee) can’t go, then the 49ers could debut a rookie in Deommodore Lenoir (or Ambry Thomas). If it’s a veteran they want, Josh Norman could be rushed into service or Dontae Johnson is available after Saturday’s elevation from the practice squad.
• Punt returner: Brandon Aiyuk is atop an unofficial depth chart, but hamstring tightness is a concern and no need to make him do this job when receiving is a priority. Simply put, the 49ers just need someone to not muff a punt return, be it Mohamed Sanu Sr. or Trent Sherfield. Travis Benjamin was not promoted from the practice squad.
• Defensive tackle: Javon Kinlaw (knee) and Kevin Givens (hip) are young, powerfuldefensivetackles,
but if they can’t go, there is a raft of good options.
• Wide receiver: Jalen Hurd (knee) went on injured reserve and the 49ers didn’t elevate Benjamin or River Cracraft from the practice squad. Available wide receivers are Aiyuk, Sanu, Samuel, Sherfield and Jauan Jennings.