2025 49ers Season

[wco81]

3 games, against 1 good team, 1 really bad team and one maybe okay team isn’t enough to draw conclusions.

[CrimsonCrew]

per PFF we have the 9th ranked OL heading into W4, Trent, Brendel and McKivitz all rated 70+, Puni and Colby in the mid 50s

I am assuming the Colby/Puni are only gonna get better from here hopefully, Puni having a bit of a slump but maybe it's because of the injury, Colby is a 7th round rookie so the fact that he's giving us any snaps is a win I guess.

A little context to the OL discussion. They've generally been good in pass-blocking, and pretty awful in run-blocking.

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It's usually the opposite

Yeah, weird. I don't think Puni is right physically. Brendel had a good game or two, but seems to have fully reverted. Batch and Colby haven't really done enough to judge yet, but Colby really regressed this week. Hopefully it was tied to the injury and he'll bounce back.

[arich35]

A little context to the OL discussion. They've generally been good in pass-blocking, and pretty awful in run-blocking.

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/photo/1

It's usually the opposite

Yeah, weird. I don't think Puni is right physically. Brendel had a good game or two, but seems to have fully reverted. Batch and Colby haven't really done enough to judge yet, but Colby really regressed this week. Hopefully it was tied to the injury and he'll bounce back.

Yeah I don't think Puni will be healthy all year if he doesn't get a couple weeks off

[Pattersonca65]

Lynch on injured players. All seem to be progressiing well except for Aiyuk. Not that he had a setback but it sounds like his timetable for return is up in the air.

No setbacks. I keep coming back to there’s different levels when you do these ACLs, and Brandon had a fairly significant injury, involving a lot of different things in his knee. He’s a really gifted athlete. He’s a very hard worker. And so, when you combine that, you tend to come back at a good clip.

There’s no absolutes on these things, so he’s got to continue to hit markers, but he is tracking well. He’s working hard, and we’ll just continue to do that, and we’ll be a better team when Brandon’s out there. And so, we look forward to that day, but it’s not close. But when we have some more information on that, we’ll be forthright with it.

[zman1]

A bit worried about our running backs. CMC looks good but maybe not as great as he was? It's still a small sample and hard to say for sure. Saquon isn't tearing it up either so far.

But he is being over used, at least in two games. Robinson is not getting much work but looking like an average backup at best. I would like to see the rookie get a little action if he is back from injury. And maybe give guerendo a couple pass routes per game.

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[Pattersonca65]

A bit worried about our running backs. CMC looks good but maybe not as great as he was? It's still a small sample and hard to say for sure. Saquon isn't tearing it up either so far.

But he is being over used, at least in two games. Robinson is not getting much work but looking like an average backup at best. I would like to see the rookie get a little action if he is back from injury. And maybe give guerendo a couple pass routes per game.

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I think our oline is at least part of the reason why CMC has not as good as he was. Run blocking has not been as good as it was years' past and maybe teams are defending 49ers schemes a bit better than before

[Jikkle]

A bit worried about our running backs. CMC looks good but maybe not as great as he was? It's still a small sample and hard to say for sure. Saquon isn't tearing it up either so far.

But he is being over used, at least in two games. Robinson is not getting much work but looking like an average backup at best. I would like to see the rookie get a little action if he is back from injury. And maybe give guerendo a couple pass routes per game.

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According to that chart posted earlier run blocking has been awful so it's probably not an RB issue but an offensive line issue.

But to be fair Mac Jones has been starter the past two out of three games so common sense for a DC would be to focus on stuffing the run game and make the backup QB beat you.

Seems like defenses would rather roll the dice getting beat by the passing game rather than the running game which makes perfect sense because 2/3 off Shanahan's offense is running the ball and using play action passes and other tricks based off the running attack in the passing game.

It does highlight the fatal flaw that we all know and love in that our offensive line is woefully underpowered and cannot just line up and enforce it's will on opposing defensive lines. It's solely dependant on Shanahan's offensive wizardry to give them favorable matchups to win.

[thesack12]

Hopefully Kittle only misses the minimum of 4 games. If not, we are going to continue to see the run game remain stuck in the mud. Kittle is an elite blocker, and obviously commands a lot of defensive attention in the pass game which will help loosen up the boxes of the defense. With this current group of "weapons" there is no reason for a defense to not sell out on the run.

I think we should temper our expectations with Aiyuk. His presence will surely help, but he's still several weeks out. Even when he does come back, like everybody else he'll need some time and reps to round back into form. By the time he comes back it will be almost 2 calendar years since he was an effective player. Last season with the holdout and all that, he was downright terrible before getting hurt. So you have to wonder where his confidence level will be at when he does return, especially if he struggles to find his form out the gate.

[wco81]

They can only hope that when their top players come back from injury, all or most of them will regain their 2023 form, playing at Pro Bowl or All-Pro level.

That's expecting a lot for players like Aiyuk, coming back from serious injury, and Trent, who looks washed up.

Even then, it's hard to seem them hanging with the Eagles, Lions, Rams, probably Seahawks and Packers too.

Oh and a couple of players from the last 2-3 drafts need to emerge as Pro Bowl level starters. So far, we haven't seen that. Some may be solid starters but not seeing stars yet.

[CrimsonCrew]

Brendel sucking out loud in the past two games. The thing that just kills me is how quickly he gives up - on blocks, on plays, etc. He can't sustain blocks for more than a second, but even when he blows his block, he almost never looks for another player to block. In that montage, he's repeatedly seen walking back to the huddle before the play is even over.

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[thesack12]

Apparently Pearsall has a "minor PCL" issue and Brock woke up with soreness in his ailing toe.

On a short week, we should consider both of them highly questionable.

Thursday night @ LA could be an ugly one.

[thesack12]

Brendel sucking out loud in the past two games. The thing that just kills me is how quickly he gives up - on blocks, on plays, etc. He can't sustain blocks for more than a second, but even when he blows his block, he almost never looks for another player to block. In that montage, he's repeatedly seen walking back to the huddle before the play is even over.

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Its wild, man. It almost makes you think that Kyle doesn't watch tape, but that isn't the case of course.

What's even more bewildering is Kyle seems to place a high value on C play. Saying that based on the big contract he gave to Richburg, which due to health issues didn't work out. Then he went out and signed Alex Mack.

I don't know maybe its not so much he values how the C actually performs/plays, maybe its moreso he values having a Vet in that spot who is adept at calling out protections, reading defensive fronts, a good source in the film room. That said, I'm not sure Brendel is any of those things, lol.

[thesack12]

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While I don't expect him to sustain that level, and we should take it with a bit of a grain of salt because so far this season I don't think teams have really emphasized rushing the passer.

Still, this is a very encouraging development. If McKivitz can remain in the top 10, its going to be a great development for the 49ers. In which case, locking him up earlier this season will be looked back upon as a hugely beneficial move.

Wasn't that long ago when 9er nation had the torches and pitchforks out and were ready to tar and feather McKivitz (myself included).

McKivitz might be a case where Kyle and co just might have been more football saavy than the fanbase.

[CrimsonCrew]

McKivitz has been playing really well. I am hard-pressed to remember a play where he just blew it. There was the one strip-sack on Mac Jones, but that occurred after McKivitz blocked his guy to the ground, he got up and still made it to Mac before the pass. Can't put that on the blocking.

[wco81]

Has he played anyone good?

I think Verse will line up against him Thursday night.

[CrimsonCrew]

Has he played anyone good?

I think Verse will line up against him Thursday night.

Cam Jordan is still a good player, if not what he was. Hines-Allen and Walker are both really good players, though Walker didn't make it through the game. Josh Sweat is a good player. Not certain how much he matched up with those specific guys, but it's not like the teams we're playing are devoid of talent on the edge.

[RIPskaterdude]

The Rams are going to win by at least 13 points

[Dodub]

Brendel sucking out loud in the past two games. The thing that just kills me is how quickly he gives up - on blocks, on plays, etc. He can't sustain blocks for more than a second, but even when he blows his block, he almost never looks for another player to block. In that montage, he's repeatedly seen walking back to the huddle before the play is even over.

Read on Twitter

Its wild, man. It almost makes you think that Kyle doesn't watch tape, but that isn't the case of course.

What's even more bewildering is Kyle seems to place a high value on C play. Saying that based on the big contract he gave to Richburg, which due to health issues didn't work out. Then he went out and signed Alex Mack.

I don't know maybe its not so much he values how the C actually performs/plays, maybe its moreso he values having a Vet in that spot who is adept at calling out protections, reading defensive fronts, a good source in the film room. That said, I'm not sure Brendel is any of those things, lol.

I believe they’re training Drew Moss to be his replacement and they’re waiting for him to be ready. He played really well in the offseason/preseason and they really like him. If he doesn’t well then the inside of our line is pretty set for the foreseeable future with Puni and Colby at the guard spots

[CrimsonCrew]

The Rams are going to win by at least 13 points

I have my concerns. I will say that our CBs tend to do better against big, physical WRs, so if Green is back, we maybe have a chance. But I have visions of Stafford sitting back in the pocket and carving us up. And I'm not sure our offense will be able to do anything given the state it's in and the way the Rams' D has been playing (granted Indy could/should have won their game).

[arich35]

Brendel sucking out loud in the past two games. The thing that just kills me is how quickly he gives up - on blocks, on plays, etc. He can't sustain blocks for more than a second, but even when he blows his block, he almost never looks for another player to block. In that montage, he's repeatedly seen walking back to the huddle before the play is even over.

Read on Twitter

Its wild, man. It almost makes you think that Kyle doesn't watch tape, but that isn't the case of course.

What's even more bewildering is Kyle seems to place a high value on C play. Saying that based on the big contract he gave to Richburg, which due to health issues didn't work out. Then he went out and signed Alex Mack.

I don't know maybe its not so much he values how the C actually performs/plays, maybe its moreso he values having a Vet in that spot who is adept at calling out protections, reading defensive fronts, a good source in the film room. That said, I'm not sure Brendel is any of those things, lol.

I believe they’re training Drew Moss to be his replacement and they’re waiting for him to be ready. He played really well in the offseason/preseason and they really like him. If he doesn’t well then the inside of our line is pretty set for the foreseeable future with Puni and Colby at the guard spots

Colby has given up the most pressures the last two games on the line so I am not so sure about him yet but he has the chance to be pretty good