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Fred Warner needed one half to prove he is the best

Vaseline September 30, 2024

SANTA CLARA — The Niners needed a game like this.

After back-to-back losses – a poor performance and a stranglehold – San Francisco played a completely inferior team in the New England Patriots.

The Niners managed to get it right and pull back some (just a little) of the hype they had squandered over the past two weeks.

The talent shortage allowed the 49ers to fumble (quite a lot) but still win comfortably. They are now 2-2 on the season, which seems fair.

Here were the studs and duds from Sunday’s sloppy, fat, totally forgettable 30-13 win:

💪 STUDS

Fred Warner •LB

» Is anyone, at any position, playing as well as Fred Warner right now?

Not in my sight.

The Niners’ linebacker is the best run-stopper in the game. He’s also the best coverage linebacker in the sport, as he put into practice with his 45-yard interception return for a touchdown in the first half.

Warner only needed the first half to prove he is the best defensive player in the game. His ankle injury kept him sidelined in the second half, although it took several 49ers staffers to keep him off the field.

If his injury keeps him out for more than half, the Niners are in big, big trouble.

George Kittle • TE

» A 10-play, 80-yard drive concluded to end the second quarter. More importantly, he scored on a drive where the Niners had two other touchdowns taken off the board on a penalty (one of Kittle’s – it was a bad call).

Kittle’s strong catch on three Patriots defenders in the back left corner of the end zone was the game breaker. He remains a player the 49ers simply can’t live without, as evidenced by the fact that the Niners played him in the second half even though he was nursing a rib injury.

Kevin Data • DT

» Had 2.5 sacks in the first half after allowing 5.5 in the game for his career. It helps going against one of the worst offensive lines in recent NFL history, but it was a hugely encouraging performance when defensive tackle Javon Hargrave went on injured reserve. Givens will get the right of first refusal on Hargrave’s appearance, alongside Maliek Collins (who was also immense on Sunday with 1.5 sacks).

Jordan Mason • RB

» It took a while to get going, but once the train started rolling down the tracks, it was downright unstoppable. Mason finished with 24 carries for 123 yards and a touchdown. His big runs in the second half (25 and 24 yards) ended any bizarre concept of a comeback for the Patriots.

Nick Bosa •DE

» I don’t care what’s next on the stat sheet. He’s unreal. Everything the Niners did with the pass rush was a direct result of him winning replay after replay after replay.

Sam Okuayinonu • DE

»The guy they picked up off the street is much, much better than the defensive end they paid $20 million for last season (Floyd). It’s strange that that happens often with the Niners.

📉 DUDS

Isaac Guerendo • RB, KR

» Not only does he look so much slower than his combined test scores (and practice play) would suggest, but he fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half, setting up the Patriots’ first (and only) touchdown of the game.

He’s a rookie, you want to give him some grace, but I doubt we’ll see him for a while.

De’Vondre Campbell • LB

»Even the Patriots could attack and exploit him. If it weren’t for Warner’s alien acting, this would be much clearer to casual viewers. But those locked into the Niners are locked into number 59 because things are only going to get worse. But you can rest assured that opposing offensive coordinators know exactly where they are attacking week in and week out. Other teams will be able to do even better.

Leonard Floyd •DE

» Another match, another no-show. Floyd already looks like a bust for the 49ers, but they have so many defensive line injuries that they have to play him.

Floyd was credited with three quarterback hits and a forced fumble in this game. The official scorekeeper must have been looking at something else. Although Floyd was a bit more involved in the second half, he played no role in the game.

Mitch Wishnowsky •P

»He doesn’t look well. The majority of his traps on Sunday had no lift or distance – they are ideally suited for returns. Amid all the Niners’ terrible special teams, this is a ticking time bomb.

Kyle Shanahan in the red zone

»The Niners scored field goals of 22 and 26 yards on Sunday.

That’s embarrassing.

It’s also an indictment of Kyle Shanahan’s play-calling near the end zone.

The 49ers did score one touchdown deep in Patriots territory in the first half, but that came on a jump ball from Brock Purdy to Kittle.

The match was over before halftime, so it doesn’t really matter what happened in the second half. (As evidenced by Warner not playing.)

This is where Christian McCaffrey’s absence is most significant. Teams like to play man-to-man near the end zone – there is less ground to cover and it allows them to blitz more. McCaffrey, a mismatch with whatever position you gave him neutralized so much of that.

Without him – and without Deebo Samuel in the backfield – the Niners’ play calling is dull and anything but astute.

Just like it was before McCaffrey.

Originally published: September 29, 2024 at 4:31 PM

first Drop

first Drop

Fred Warner needed one half to prove he is the best

💪 STUDS

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Fred Warner needed one half to prove he is the best

💪 STUDS

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