49ers captains agree that team consists of ‘a bunch of psychopaths’
It’s no secret that it takes a different kind of person to thrive on an NFL field.
A successful football player must invite contact, put their mind in a “dark place” and be willing to sacrifice their body for the betterment of a team.
In the moments following a 33-6 victory over the New England Patriots in which his team showed off impressive physicality and a relentless rushing attack, tight end George Kittle summarized the type of persona required to dominate in the way the 49ers did on Sunday. “Football is a violent sport, and if you don’t kind of go to that dark place to be violent and be physical, you’re not going to last very long,” Kittle said. “And coach (Kyle) Shanahan always talks about, find the dark place. Everybody kind of goes to that dark place. Like I said, it’s a violent game.
“And it’s just it’s fun to be a part of a team with a bunch of psychopaths because I fit in really well here.”
A 49ers team that racked up 197 rushing yards on 37 attempts handed the Patriots their worst home loss of the Bill Belichick era.
Shanahan designed an offensive game plan that allowed the 49ers to control the line of scrimmage and players such as Kittle, fullback Kyle Juszczyk and offensive tackles Trent Williams and Mike McGlinchey continually imposed their will against an overmatched Patriots front.
On defense, a 49ers unit that was without seven potential starters, including their two top pass rushers and four of their five best defensive backs, overwhelmed New England quarterback Cam Newton and forced four interceptions. The Patriots offense never found the end zone and linebacker Fred Warner, an early All-Pro candidate, agreed that the 49ers’ defensive mentality matched what the team brought on the offensive side of the ball. “Psychopaths is a great word to use,” Warner said postgame. “We all for sure have a little something off. Kyle kind of talks about that where, when you got guys who have a little some off and then you go out there and just impose your will on your opponent, obviously you see the result.”