Well, offensively, we are a well-oiled machine. 8 trips into the red zone. 7 TDs and a field goal. Purdy has ~500 yards, an 80% completion percentage, 5 TDs, 1 pick, and a 125.6 QB rating. He’s completed passes to 10 different guys (including Jake Brendel). A little startling to me is the zero sacks given up. Mainly because the Rams came into the season with the ‘scariest defense in the history of the NFL’!!! GASP! Aaron Donald is back!!!!! Give them their rings already!!!
Of course we smoked them like a tri-tip on the barbie. And just ran away from the Dolphins.
But even the run game, at least vs LA, was rolling with the two-headed attack of CMC and Black. Miami not so much. But the really cool thing about those games was the fact that Shanny noticed early in that Ram game was that the Rams were using a 4-2-5 defense to take away big plays. So we ran very well against that. When McVay switched to a 5 man front, Shanny ran outside and passed on them. In the Miami game, they came out with a 5 man front to take away the run game, and we threw at will on them.
So good to see early-game adjustments by Shanny as sometimes he gets pig-headed about what he thinks should be working as opposed to what actually is.
Defensively is a different story. And I’ll preface this by saying the difference in the pressures so far this season is night and day. No sacks against Stafford, but he did his Stafford thing and threw a terrible pick under pressure. As they say now, he was uncomfortable all game. And we got 4 sacks on Malik Willis and the Flounders.
But the run defense is a big concern. Both games saw the halftime scores still close. CJ West and Thompson (before he got hurt) have spent these first 2 games getting pancaked and pushed around like shopping carts on black friday at Walmart. I really think McVay panicked WAY too early and stopped running. Miami as well. The Rams especially averaged 4.6 yards a carry. I guess McVay’s jet-lagged brain wasn’t functioning very well. Word is, Halton is gonna replace CJ West.
And based on what I’ve seen so far, we aren’t gonna sign anyone anytime soon. Mykel Williams is on track to be ready for the Denver game in 10 days, but we have to wait on that.
All that being said, both AZ and Denver are winnable games. About the only good thing the NFL did for the 49ers was to give them 3 home games in a row after all that travel. Then again, we only have 2 home games in the last 6 weeks.
I posted after a pre-season game that Halton was shedding double team blocks and to keep an eye on him. He looks like he could be a good one.
Yeah, he’s looking good so far. Need more depth in the interior. Even if it is a pass rush guy like Floyd. Anyone they can rotate in and out in certain (passing) situations.
Hey, ESPN even has some nice things to say about Brock.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/50005196/san-francisco-49ers-brock-purdy-2026-season-hot-start-expectations
Whats funny though is the ESPN article about what the Giants are gonna do without Jaxson Dart. But no mention of trading for Mac Jones. They say Jimmy G or JJ McCarthy are their best options.
“So good to see mid-game adjustments by Shanny as sometimes he gets pig-headed about what he thinks should be working as opposed to what actually is.”
Related to the aforementioned, 12th Man said, “. . . pull some of the starters” when the game was out of reach for the Fish. Shanahan and his staff need to be very cognizant of this, particularly with putrid teams like Miami; coupled with the fact, that many of our starters are not exactly “spring chickens” anymore.
You want to reduce injuries? Don’t overplay our starters against inferior teams that have little or no chance to comeback. Sheesh, pretty simple concept. Also, I am not saying Shannie overplayed his starters, but he does need to be uber aware of this.
And in more good news, CJ West out for a while with a bone chip in his knee. Surgery soon. Height came out of surgery fine. He’s a possible for Sunday.
Shanny did a good job of getting everyone out. Even still they are dropping like flies. they need to get someone. Leonard is fine.
The San Francisco 49ers have signed defensive lineman Naquan Jones to a one-year deal and signed wide receiver Brandin Cooks and defensive lineman Viliami Fehoko Jr. to the team’s practice squad.
Oh the fickle finger of fate.
Only a hard core NFL geezer would remember the 4 NFL division names before the merger. Some of the groupings were geographically mind bending. No one ever gets this question without cheating.
Hint: All 4 division names began with the letter “C”…
I got Coastal and Central.
And I distinctly remember Atlanta and New Orleans being in the NFC West. After the merger of course.
Those other 2 division names I had no idea.
I’ve got Cannabis&Cocaine devisions?
New thread
Well it’s your blog. I was hoping we could discuss the 4 old NFL divisions until April…