Your daily San Francisco 49ers news for Tuesday, October 8th, 2024
Bosa, Shanahan differ on 49ers’ need for defensive adjustments
“Still, if Bosa expressed concern over the 49ers making adjustments, that is an aspect that must be addressed among defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen and his entire defensive staff.
When asked Monday if making the proper defensive adjustments has been an issue this season, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan answered, “I wouldn’t think so.”
The most explosive play the 49ers surrendered came on the Cardinals’ second play of the game. Quarterback Kyler Murray kept the ball on a zone-read play rather than hand it to Conner. Murray found a sizable hole over the right side and once he reached top speed, it was over.
“When you’re in an eight-man front and you miss the back, you’re one guy short and your middle-third player needs to make the tackle, and he got buried,” Shanahan said.
Safety Talanoa Hufanga, who lined up in the middle of the field, came up in run support with his eyes on Conner. By the time Hufanga recognized that Murray still had the ball, it was too late for him to recover and prevent the long touchdown run.
“That’s the challenge of when you play a system where the quarterback can pull it,” Shanahan said. “You can’t fall asleep on any play the whole game because you never know when he is going to pull it.”
““I feel like I’m playing some of the worst ball of my career,” said Ward, a seventh-year veteran who was a second-team All-Pro in 2023.
At one point, referring to the Niners’ comprehensive failure to adhere to the standard that carried them to four NFC Championship Game appearances in the previous five seasons, Ward said, “Yeah, I know exactly what (the problem) is.”
When I asked him to elaborate, he started to answer but then thought better of it.
“I know exactly what it is,” he said, “but I don’t want to say.”
Though Ward’s assessment will remain a mystery, I’ll say the quiet part out loud: Every season is different in the NFL, and the 2024 Niners don’t seem to have the same juice as their immediate predecessors.”
Barrows: 49ers’ shoddy tackling and ineffective blitzes stood out vs. Cardinals (paywall)
“The 49ers brought Campbell and others on plenty of blitzes Sunday. Per Fantasy Points Data, they blitzed on 36.4 percent of dropbacks, the 10th highest rate in Week 5, after blitzing 16 percent of the time over the first four weeks, the third lowest rate.
But those blitzes didn’t always thwart Murray (see below) on Sunday and haven’t been effective this year. Opponents have completed 67.7 percent of their passes for 396 yards when the 49ers have blitzed. They’ve allowed a passer rating of 150.2 when blitzing, the worst in the league.”
Kawakami: The 49ers are in a season from hell, and now they know it
“But something feels different about the losses to the Rams and Cardinals. The games can be overcome, but the ways in which the 49ers have crumbled can’t be ignored. This is not how a good team — or a team that can work its way there — plays at any point of the season.
On Sunday, Purdy had a pass tipped for an interception at a key moment in the third quarter and threw another INT in the final seconds, when he was hit as he threw. Jordan Mason lost a fumble deep in Arizona territory when the 49ers were driving for a game-sealing score. Kicker Jake Moody was knocked out of the game when poor kick coverage forced him to make a saving tackle — which changed the way the 49ers’ offense could play. And the 49ers’ defense couldn’t stop Kyler Murray and James Conner in the fourth quarter when one stop would’ve won the game.
Good teams win that game every time. The 49ers are not a good team right now. They are mistake-prone. They fold late. They’ve been a good team for several years, and they’ve won almost every one of these kinds of games under Shanahan. But now they’ve lost a few already this season.”
49ers announce abbreviated practice and media schedule leading to Week 6 matchup vs. Seahawks
“Due to the shorter preparation time, the San Francisco 49ers will hold only one full practice this week as they get ready for their Week 6 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Head coach Kyle Shanahan recently commented on Tuesday’s practice’s intensity, saying, “Nothing will be full speed. Everything is walk-through.”
“San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke with reporters during a conference call on Monday, the day after the team’s 24-23 loss against the Arizona Cardinals. Here’s everything he shared.”
How PFF graded Purdy, 49ers in frustrating loss to Cardinals
“Purdy’s sweet spot had been intermediate throws that ranged from 10-19 yards downfield. On Sunday, he only completed eight of his 15 attempts at that distance, or 53.3 percent after completing 10 of 19, or 77.8 percent, through the first four weeks.”
49ers bring in 4 as they try to find a replacement for injured kicker Jake Moody (paywall)
“Among the 49ers’ tryout candidates Monday was Riley Patterson, 25, a source said. Patterson has made 59 of 67 attempts in three seasons (2021-23), spending time with the Lions, Jaguars and Browns.”