Game Day Week 3: Cardinals vs. 49ers

 Mac Jones gets the start again this week. If he continues to hold the ball he might not make it through unscathed. With Burford going on IR, it's Pleasants swinging LT and RT. They didn't call up Zakelj so that means either Colby is good to go or they like Moss' strength as a better match up against Tomlinson. The Cardinals secondary isn't full strength which means Ricky Pearsall should score his first TD today. Arizona's blitz rate is 31st in the NFL at 14.2%, but they are 4th in EPA/blitz at -0.33. San Francisco ranks third in the NFL against the blitz, boasting a 0.62 mark. The 49ers are 5th in EPA/non-blitz with a 0.11 mark. Handle the pressure & attack the secondary. The Niners defense needs to do something they've yet to do and that's stop James Conner. Do that and they should win the game. I like CMC to be force fed the ball in this one. It might not be Purdy but we will win this game! 24-17 Forty Niners!!

Investment

 Through two weeks, the 49ers rank 4th in rookie snap count percentage at 13.8%. Investing in your rookies early in the season will pay dividends late in the season. Winning along the way creates belief throughout the building and radiates across the fanbase. They gotta prove it this week by stopping James Connor. Do that and they'll win the football game.

Rodney Dangerfield

 Time to put some respect on Chris Foerster's name. He's coached us two SB OL's and drafted starting OG's in rounds 3 and 7. People complain we don't invest in our OL enough despite paying Trent Williams record money and paying McKivitz who they developed, and who’s performed quite well through the first 2 weeks:

6th highest pass blocking grade among all tackles: • 81 pass blocking opportunities • 2 pressures allowed • 1 sack allowed • 98.1 pass blocking efficiency • 84.3 pass blocking grade

I maintain Chris Foerster is our modern day version of Bobb McKittrick.

Game Day Week 2: 49ers vs. Saints

 

The Saints enter Week 2 as the worst run-blocking OL in football (37.4 grade). Brandon Staley's Blitz rate: 35.1% (10th highest) EPA while blitzing: -0.11 (11th best) 49ers EPA non-blitz: 0.51 (best in Week 1). Rattler has never won a game and is averaging 1+ turnover per game. Their game plan will be a lot of interior pressure to collapse the pocket around Jones and get him off his spot. It's imperative the 49ers Bartch/Brendel/Puni play their best game to keep Jones comfortable. Run at them, play-action once the run is established, effective screens, quick throws against the LBs. MVS and Watkins deep to keep the safeties from creeping up. Own the clock and wear the fat boys down.

49ers’ defense under Shanahan has been at their best when they have a hybrid edge guy who can kick inside and play 4i/3T in the Wide 9 and YGM impressed in that role against Seattle. He had the highest win percentage among all interior rushers in Week 1, being 2.2% better than second place. I like Saleh to keep the Saints offense in hell. 49ers win this one 21-17.

Jauan Jennings is expected to play against the Saints, per Schefter. Trent Williams is active!

49ers inactives:

QB Brock Purdy RB Jordan James WR Jordan Watkins DT Jordan Jefferson T Austen Pleasants LB Nick Martin G Drew Moss

Mykel Williams

There's content creators asking where Mykel Williams was in the game. This chart shows he was the top double teamed edge rusher in week 1.

Moody Blues

The Niners are waiving kicker Jake Moody per Pelissero. Ben Sauls is the kicker I'd target.

Golden Helmet Recipient

 The 49ers and Colton McKivitz have reached agreement on a three-year, $45 million extension, including $27 million guaranteed per Schefter.

Game Day Week 1: 49ers vs. Seahawks

 

The moment we've all been waiting for has arrived. Time to see if our rebuilt DL and new DC can stop the Seahawks running game. I expect both teams plan to establish their run games with 30+ runs being the objective, and that would include long handoffs. Whichever team is able to do that will win the football game. It's really that simple. I'll take the Niners to win, 27-10.

Seahawks WR Jake Bobo (concussion), LB Uchenna Nwosu (knee) and WR Dareke Young (hamstring) all are ruled out.

Source: Marques Sigle will start today for the 49ers, making him the first rookie to start at safety in Week 1 for the team since Eric Reid in 2013.

49ers inactives: Jordan James Jordan Watkins Drew Moss Austen Pleasants Robert Beal Jr. Jordan Jefferson Nick Martin

All Is Forgiven

The 49ers and Jauan Jennings have agreed to a revised contract that would add $3 million in play-time incentives, per Schefter. Now Jennings can earn up to $10.5 million. The Mosterati deal was the best I thought he'd get and that's what he got. 

Depth Chart Released

 

Practice Report

 Players who are BACK in practice during early open portion Monday: 

WR Jauan Jennings

G Dominick Puni

DL Kalia Davis

DL Yetur Gross-Matos

WR Russell Gage Jr.