This year’s 49ers team has consistently shown it is average. The Niners lost a good portion of their coaching staff and front office this off season to the Washington Commanders. The 49ers have been plagued by injuries since the start of the season. Finally, there is a lack of synergy on the team. The coaches, and players are not always on the same page. The result…. a .500 record. Average.
The Niners had an opportunity to tie with the Cardinals today. They were at home. They have owned the Seahawks for the better part of two seasons. Yet, the Seahawks were coming off a bye week and needed this win to bring them to .500.
Mike MacDonald is a premier defensive coordinator in this league. Now, he is the head coach of the Seahawks. His style of defense is slowly taking hold as he finds the players he needs and molds the players he inherited. His biggest pick up was his midseason trade Ernest Jones. He is a fast flow tackling machine at the linebacker position. He wreaked havoc on the Niners today.
There is no reason to call for Coach Shanahan’s job. He designs the game plan, makes the adjustments and calls the plays. It is up to the players to execute. Holding calls, and illegal formations are mental errors on the players, not the coaches. Nor is he the cause of injuries.
George Kittle is an integral part of the Niners game plan every week. This week he was held out due to hamstring injury. Kittle creates mismatches because of his skill set. He is an excellent blocker, router runner and pass catcher. His skills allow the team to be more multiple in their approach. He opens up the middle of the field and creates mismatches. The Niners lacked that element of their game today
When the Niners picked off Geno Smith in the second half, the Niners started a good drive. On the fourth play of the drive, Brock Purdy was flushed and ran about nine yards making it 2nd and one about eleven yards from the goal line. Then the center was called for holding. The next play was a 1st and 20. Purdy takes the snap and throws a swing pass to Christian McCaffrey who runs it for about 15 yards. Another flag flies. This time Ricky Pearsall was flagged for illegal formation. Purdy should have caught that. Ultimately, they couldn’t punch it into the endzone due to lack of execution.
A potential touchdown drive was stalled due to mental mistakes. The team settled for a field goal and that might have just been the difference in today’s game.
Divisional games are always tough and gritty. They are rivalry games. Each team cannot afford simple preventable mistakes. It is inexcusable to be flagged nine times in a game. Don’t expect to win football games with this many penalties, especially when most of them were on the offense.
It is interesting to note, that the Niners defense held the Seahawks to six points until Nick Bosa was knocked out of the game in the second half. Bosa has been battling an oblique injury for weeks. After the Niners field goal scoring drive, Bosa kicked off the next possession with a sack. He aggravated his injury and never returned. The Seahawks went on to score two touchdowns in his absence.
The Niners last meaningful offensive possession of the game curiously lacked imagination in the play calling. It appeared that Coach Shanahan was managing the clock instead of driving the football. It was predictable that he would run the ball with 3:56 to go. After getting stuffed on a run play, Coach Shanahan dialed up a play action from the I-formation. I understand the play call. The idea is to get the defense to think run and catch them sleeping with a quick throw. Unfortunately, Purdy’s pass was high and incomplete. The next play was an obvious pass play and Jennings was tackled short of the line to gain.
Brock Purdy and Jauan Jennings did some good things today. There were two 3rd and one conversion’s that were called back due to holding penalties making it 3rd and eleven. On both plays, Purdy and Jennings connected for first down conversions. On the second 3rd and 11, Jennings caught the ball four yards from the line to gain and muscled his way thru the first down marker.
Today’s game was emblematic of the season. The Niners flash excellence but always find a way to trip over themselves. They lack focus and inconsistency. The Niners still appear to be suffering from a massive Super Bowl hangover. I get it. I am still suffering to. Hopefully they can find a way to fight through this and get into the playoffs…..
