San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Chargers’ run defense gives 49ers’ offense prime target
No matter how sorry the statistics, NFL coaches and players are adept at deflecting when discussing the deficiencies of an upcoming opponent.
Take, for example, some responses this week when the San Francisco 49ers were asked about the Chargers’ run defense they will face Sunday night at Levi’s Stadium.
Offensive line coach Chris Foerster? He suggested it could be a mistake to pound the ball against a team that has allowed 200-plus rushing yards in three of its past four games.
“It’s always a danger,” Foerster said, “to think anything is that big of a strength or that big of a weakness.”
Running back Christian McCaffrey? He said the defense that’s ranked 29th in the NFL against the run was “very disciplined” and was showing that they
“play good football.”
There was, however, a notable exception. All-Pro tight end George Kittle agreed that Los Angeles’ run defense was statistically poor. (“Yes, it is.”) And he didn’t dodge when asked if he saw run-game opportunities. (“Yes, I do.”)
And then Kittle bluntly acknowledged the obvious: The Chargers, whose league-high 5.7 yards allowed per carry would be the highest in the NFL since at least 1940, might be a prime candidate to be bullied.
“I definitely think we’re going to
come out and try to run the ball down their throats,” Kittle said. “And I hope we do.”
The 49ers can probably attack the Chargers in a multitude of ways Sunday when they unveil their full array of offensive weapons for the first time in 2022.
All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel and Pro Bowl fullback Kyle Juszczyk will return from one-game injury absences, and Elijah Mitchell, their 2021 rushing leader, will play for the first time since Week 1.
And that potent threesome will join a, well, potent threesome: Kittle, the recently acquired McCaffrey and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, their leader in receptions and receiving yards.
Samuel, McCaffrey and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo all used the same word — “fun” — when imagining the possibilities.
“The other day I was in the huddle and I just kind of smiled,” McCaffrey said. “I’m looking around, like, ‘Man these are some really good players in this huddle.’”
Said Samuel: “It’s just so crazy how much firepower we have on this offense now.”
And Garoppolo: “It’s just a matchup nightmare for defenses. It’s pick-your-poison type of thing.”
The 49ers’ run game could prove most deadly against the Chargers, who have allowed 184.5 yards and 6.4 yards a carry in their past six games.
And Los Angeles’ front seven could be even mushier Sunday: They will play their first game without Austin Johnson, their top run-stuffing interior defensive lineman who was placed on injured reserve Wednesday.
Despite their glaring weakness, the Chargers own a winning record thanks partly to a ninth-ranked offense headlined by Pro Bowl quarterback Justin Herbert and a forgiving schedule: Their wins have come against teams with a combined record of 13-28-1.
However, Herbert won’t have his top two wide receivers Sunday with Keenan Allen (hamstring) and Mike Williams (ankle) ruled out. And the Chargers will be facing a legitimate playoff contender instead of a patsy.
Defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill noted Sunday would be an opportune time to fix their run-game woes.
“It’s been a huge emphasis for our team,” Hill said. “The only way I know how to get better is to continue to go on the practice field, continue to try to meet together. Make sure we see the puzzle in the run game the same way. And, hopefully, that will show up for us on Sunday.”
And Kittle hopes the Week 10 prime-time meeting will mirror last season’s Week 10 primetime game against the Rams, which began the 49ers’ secondhalf surge after a 3-5 start. Before that game, Shanahan told his players he wanted to have 40 runs. And the 49ers had 44 rushing attempts in a 31-10 romp.
On Thursday, Kittle was eager to hear a similar message from Shanahan before kickoff.
“He hasn’t told us that yet,” Kittle said. “But our (run-game) meeting is tomorrow.”