The 49ers had this game won. They should have won. Coach Shanahan, Coach Sorenson, Special Teams and the defense let the team down. Instead of putting the game away, they pissed the game away.
Last week I wrote about how important special teams are. Apparently, the 49ers didn’t get the message. Major special teams blunders two weeks in a row is on the coaching staff. Today, the special teams gave up a 4th down conversion on a fake punt, failed to make a 55-yard field goal, and gave up a 45-yard punt return which set up the Rams for the go ahead field goal.
The fake punt occurred on a fourth and six late in the 2nd quarter with the 49ers up 14-0. The Rams were on their own 43 yard line. It was the perfect time to call a fake punt. Coach Shanahan has had Coach McVay’s number for years…and he should have anticipated that this would be a possible call. He didn’t and the Rams converted. This conversion eventually turned into seven points.
The receiving corps dropped six easily makable catches, stalling drives. Brandon Aiyuk has turned into a liability as opposed to an asset. Holding out for money worked out for his pocketbook but it hasn’t translated into production or wins. Ronnie Bell has started the season as a liability as well. Last year he made several key catches. This year all he can do is drop passes that would have been key conversions.
Coach Shanahan has the leading rusher in the NFL. Rather than lean on him late in the game, he opted to call pass plays. He called five pass plays the very last 49ers possession. Their possession ended in Brock Purdy scrambling and being taken down. Coach Shanahan failed to lean on the strength of the team when it mattered most.
The only bright spot in this afternoon’s game is Jauan Jennings. He was masterful. He “mossed” defenders. He was consistently open and he didn’t drop a pass. He caught eleven passes for 175 yards and three touchdowns.
I am sure many will blame Brock Purdy for this loss. However, he was sacked only once. Unfortunately, the sack was costly as he fumbled the ball away to the Rams. He threw for 293 yards and three touchdowns. He would have thrown for a lot more, but Brandon Aiyuk dropped FIVE potential receptions. Aiyuk was targeted ten times and caught only five receptions. No team can win when their highest paid receiver produces so poorly.
Finally, the 49ers defense has issues, and I don’t think those issues lie with the players. The defensive coordinator is getting out coached, particularly in the second half. Two weeks in a row he has failed to adjust to the opposing offense in the second half. The Rams ran twelve personnel most of the game. Twelve personnel means one running back and two tight ends. This alignment should have been easy to anticipate with so many of the Rams lineman down and their two best receivers out. Yet, the Niners defense was not prepared for this offensive alignment. What is really concerning is the Rams didn’t change their offense up that much in the second half. The only difference from the first half to the second half was the fact that the Rams merely executed better.
The 49ers are better than this. The last two weeks show that coaching matters. Right now the 49ers coaching staff is failing their team miserably.
