49ers Won a game by 20 points over a divisional opponent in Week 2, and you would have no idea based on current discourse. Let’s take a look at some of the winners and losers of Sunday’s 27-7 win seahawks,
Winners
S – discuss content
The biggest question mark for the 49ers coming into the season was whether Safari would stay in coverage. Through two matches, Talanoa Hufanga has got his hands on three passes. He has almost stopped each of them. On Sunday, Hufanga jumped two routes, one of which resulted in an interception by Tashaun Gipson. Hufanga suffered a defeat early in the game. He’s constantly in action, and his awareness and intensity to defend the 49ers full-time is a welcome addition. Hufanga appears to be the real deal.
Edge Rusher – Nick Bosa
Seeing Bosa here should not be repetitive. Dominating every game is what makes the best players who they are. Bossa had four singles tackles including two sacks. He lived in the backfield of Seattle because he hit Geno Smith in three different races. Bosa’s quest for his first Defensive Player of the Year award is off to a strong start.
offensive line
Last week, in dire circumstances, the offensive line was broken. The line only allowed three QB hits for the 49ers quarterback on 24 combined dropbacks. There were a few breakdowns that led to damages, but this is to be expected with inexperience with the interior.
The 49ers pushed the ball 45 times as a team for a distance of 189 yards. Jeff Wilson’s Next Gen Stats gives the best reference to how run blocking performed. Wilson only gained ten more yards than expected. Ty Davis-Price was the only five in the same stat. This tells me that the line paved the way for each runner.
Demeco Ryans
The Seahawks struggled to do anything aggressively. According to the RBSDM, his success rate was below average, had a negative EPA per game, and rolled the ball three times.
Seattle’s most important advantages are Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf. You take your poison. Who are you going to stop? The Niners chose Metcalf, as he had 35 receptions for four yards. Lockett’s output was 107 receiving yards, but that was taken by Gamble Ryan.
The 49ers were sound and played good situational football. There was only one penalty on the team. He limited Geno Smith to a third drop in the conversion rate of 28%, and ended Seattle’s running game. The Seahawks averaged 2.6 yards per carry on 14 attempts with a long range of eight. For context, Lance’s seven-yard carry would have been the second longest run for the Seahawks.
The defense was two steps ahead all day and did not break when he decided to bow down. So take a bow, Demeko.
losers
Trey Lance
For a few minutes after his injury, everyone associated with this team felt some emotion. That feeling varied from sadness to setting the place on fire. The candle of excitement for this season was extinguished when you saw the future of the franchise with a look on its face that said it wasn’t coming back.
You can’t help but feel for Lance, as he will go into another season without developing at the NFL level. Instead, he would spend the next half year in rehab. It was a big year for Lance because as long as the team kept its head above the water, mistakes would be made.
I fear what we saw in the second half, the same offense that seemed unimaginable down the stretch in 2021, will rear its ugly head with Jimmy G at the center.
You’ll see reports that the team was never completely behind Lance and lots of “I told you so” type responses. After the game, to one man, each player seemed broken about Lance’s injury. That’s where the focus should lie.
I was looking forward to watching Lance go through this process and see how he learned from his struggles this year. But, unfortunately, it will be on hold for the second consecutive season.
Kyle Shanhano
I don’t blame Shanahan for running a 225-pound athletic quarterback. However, the decision to kick a field goal twice at the two-yard line, after proving to be the better unit on both drives of your offensive line, is mind-boggling to me.
Going for it on 4 and 8 were the kind of decisions you want to see from Shanahan. When you have elite defense you can afford to be on the offensive. Fresh from an interception, you had the pace, and the flow of the game said to go for it. The offense didn’t get it, but nothing hurt as they held off Seattle and were forced to be traded on the ensuing drive.
The decision for a quarter down came on the opening drive when the Niners were on the field for almost six minutes, mostly driving the ball. Second came after Jake Brendel butt rumble,
Two 20-yard field goal attempts with brilliance on this side of the ball and how relentlessly the offense had gone up and down the field proves that Shanahan has caught his eye. Both drives were an opportunity to set the tone for the game.
Instead, San Francisco punts on their next two drives before icing the game with a back-breaking score of 7 minutes.
IDK
Jimmy Garoppolo
Garoppolo seemed to be firing, aggressive, and a new quarterback during the first few drives. Then, the guilt returned. Even the penultimate touchdown drive was heavy-lifting after catches from Debo Samuel and Jeff Wilson.
If Jimmy is pushing the ball down the field (the first two drives), not experiencing pressure (second and 14 to Ayuk), recognizing correct coverage, and timing the ball to move the chains. Taking out (throw wide) for Wilson on 3rd and 2nd, it would be one of the best in the offense league.
The 8-for-11, 106-yard start was turned 5-for-10 for a 48-yard finish after the Seahawks made adjustments at halftime. Will we get any continuity from Jimmy, or will it be another rollercoaster season where it varies by rival?
There is a chance that Garoppolo could play during the first couple of drives if he takes reps with the starters every day during the week. Still, we have years of evidence, so why would it be any different this time?
After the game, Garoppolo said it felt like 2017, “where you just throw, pretend, that’s what I like to do.” We’ll talk about it later today. Because if it has to happen in order to let Garoppolo play freely, it’s up to the head coach to let it happen.
