SANTA CLARA — The 49ers’ greatest addition since final season’s playoff run might have the largest matchup in Sunday’s season opener at Chicago.
A battle promoter might invoice it as: “Mooney vs. Mooney.”
In a single nook is 49ers cornerback Mooney Ward, who prefers to not be known as by his given first identify, Charvarius.
Within the different nook is Darnell Mooney, the Bears’ main receiver final season.
“Mooney on Mooney, who you’ve bought? Take the actual Mooney, ‘Massive Mooney,’ “ Ward stated of himself with amusing Monday at his locker. “It’s going to be enjoyable. I haven’t performed towards him but.”
After ascending the previous 4 years with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, Ward brings a bodily, lock-down type. Beginning alongside him within the cornerback coprs can be Emmanuel Moseley and rookie nickel again Sam Womack III.
All determine sooner or later to face the Bears’ Mooney. He had 81 receptions for 1,055 yards and 4 touchdowns final season, after totaling 61-631-4 as a rookie fifth-round choose from Tulane.
“He’s versatile and so they transfer him round lots,” Ward stated. “He’s an excellent route runner. He’s an entire receiver. He’s been rising as a gamers since he’s been within the league and I sit up for the competitors.”
Ward shadowed opposing groups’ prime receiver final yr en path to his free company pay day (three years, $40.5 million). Search for his 6-foot-1, 204-pound physique to stay on one aspect within the 49ers’ scheme.
Ward began coaching camp robust, then a groin/hamstring problem flared up Aug. 3, and the 49ers cautiously stored him off form till final week.
“Towards any receiver, I match up properly. I’ve bought the pace and the scale. I weigh 204 kilos. I’ve by no means been this huge,” Ward stated. “I’m excited for the season. My confidence stage has by no means been as excessive as it's now, and I really feel good bodily, too.”
Within the Chiefs’ 13-7 win over the Packers final November, Ward helped restrict Davante Adams to 6 catches on 14 targets for 42 yards, solely 14 yards of which got here once more Ward’s protection. Ward enjoys getting assigned to concentrate on one receiver, including: “It retains you locked in all recreation. You recognize you’re on the most effective receiver so any time that ball might be coming your approach and you may’t get distracted.”
Charvarius Ward vs prime WRs final season:
Week 7: AJ Brown/Julio Jones – 18 yards whole
Week 9: Davante Adams – 14 yards
Week 11: CeeDee Lamb – 5 yards
Week 15: Keenan Allen – 0 yards
Week 17: Ja'Marr Chase – 83 yards,TD
AFCDG: Stefon Diggs – 1 yard
AFCCG: Ja'Marr Chase – 22 yards pic.twitter.com/8hhA9uIndD— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) March 16, 2022
Mooney (5-11, 173 kilos) has a distinct type than the Bears’ former prime receiver, the bigger-bodied Allen Robinson, who’s now on the Los Angeles Rams. Whereas Robinson would excessive level the ball and make contested catches, Mooney is “slithery” and “artful” with the way in which he runs all of the routes, Ward stated.
Truly, that Ward-vs.-Mooney matchup is the undercard in a recreation extra that includes 2021 first-round draft picks at quarterback: the 49ers’ Trey Lance and the Bears’ Justin Fields.
Mooney provided up a bulletin-board quote earlier this week in noting how Fields is trying to avenge getting drafted No. 11 whereas Lance went No. 3. Mooney advised Chicago-area reporters Monday about Fields: “He’s going to shine for certain. He’s going to blossom. He’s going to show every little thing that everyone doubted him on – particularly Week 1. That crew (the 49ers) handed on him. So, they’re going to should pay just a little bit for that.”
Ward and the 49ers’ secondary can be with out security Jimmie Ward, whose hamstring damage final month has him out at the very least the primary 4 video games on Injured Reserve. Serving to compensate for Ward’s absence, except for potential replacements George Odum and Tarvarius Moore, can be a move rush headlined by Nick Bosa.
“Now we have an important line of defense,” Ward stated. “(Receivers) should have time to do double strikes, and the quarterback has to have the ability to step up into the pocket. Even when (receivers) beat a cornerback, they nonetheless should throw and catch the ball. Now we have good restoration pace.”
Requested final week for clarification on his identify choice, Ward responded: “It’s like ‘Mooney’ with two ‘O’s’ — ‘M-O-O-N-E-Y. Massive Mooney. Massive Mooney.’ ”
Quick ahead to this Sunday, to which Ward says: “It’s recreation time, now. Do you consider in us?”