SANTA CLARA — The 49ers gave up touchdowns at such an alarming fee Sunday — “How alarming was it?” — that our weekly mailbag was peppered with a season-high variety of questions, complaints and proposals:
Why do you are feeling just like the Niners made the transfer for Christian McCaffrey, and was it obligatory? (@imthestandard)
The 49ers needed to spark a low-scoring offense with an out there All-Professional expertise who’s deeply acquainted to this regime. We additionally ought to look past his 2022 affect and envision how precious he could be subsequent 12 months in Trey Lance’s return (or Jimmy Garoppolo’s or Tom Brady’s or Brock Purdy’s). The 49ers have higher wants on the inside of their defensive and offensive strains, and at cornerback, however the 49ers took what the market provided, at additional price to their 2023 draft class — and to dam the Rams’ pursuit.
Why wasn’t McCaffrey on the sphere each time we received into the crimson zone? (@miro_44)
Now now, McCaffrey McCameos did occur within the crimson zone. He lined up left of Garoppolo within the shotgun on the first-quarter landing strike to Ray-Ray McCloud. McCaffrey additionally received the first-down carry from the Chiefs’ 12-yard line (for a 1-yard achieve) after the 49ers recovered a muffed punt, a present possession foiled by Garoppolo’s goal-line interception. Of CMC’s 21 snaps, 17 got here within the first half, per our game-day McCaffreyWatch by Jerry McDonald.
Why did the 49ers hand over a fortune for a place that doesn’t affect the sport a lot? (@FowleBall15)
McCaffery is a dual-threat rusher/receiver who can vastly affect Kyle Shanahan’s offense. It’s an analogous position they only spent a fortune on for Deebo Samuel, who’s now “daily” with a hamstring situation. Samuel dominates the Rams (94.9 yards from scrimmage per recreation; 7-1 all-time) so his well being is massive getting into Sunday’s recreation. Then once more, McCaffrey simply produced 158 yards (69 speeding, 89 receiving) when he confronted the Rams on Oct. 16 in his Carolina Panthers’ finale.
How can the protection get its swag again? (@ko_cheeze24)
Easy, simply don’t drop an interception towards Matthew Stafford, and, higher but, return it for a landing. Talanoa Hufanga did that in final month’s win over the Rams, and Jimmie Ward did so in final 12 months’s dwelling win. (Fred Warner and Javon Kinlaw did the identical in 2019 and ’20 wins towards the Rams’ Jared Goff.)
Can we commerce for a reliable QB? (@Tman6790)
Already did. Twice. 5 Halloweens in the past, the 49ers traded for Jimmy Garoppolo, who’s nonetheless right here and certainly competent. Final 12 months, the 49ers traded draft capital to pick Trey Lance, who’ll be competent once more in 2023. Go scan the NFL and see how final offseason’s trades failed the Colts (Matt Ryan), the Panthers (Baker Mayfield) and the Commanders (Carson Wentz). Simpler requested than achieved. A Matt Ryan reunion with Kyle Shanahan wouldn’t encourage confidence as a lot as it might flip the locker room.
Why do they proceed to return kickoffs?! Why not simply inform Ray-Ray to take a touchback each likelihood he will get? Kickoff items are horrendous. (@Faizanrefai87)
Ray-Ray McCloud’s 13 returns are tied for third-most within the NFL, and his 17.6-yard common is kind of poor. It’s 59th amongst everybody with a minimum of one return. Ex-49er Raheem Mostert, nevertheless, is averaging simply 18.3 yards per return. Sure, McCloud must be higher, however so ought to that “horrendous” unit. He had a 31-yard return nixed by a Ty Davis-Worth holding penalty Sunday, and that made the 49ers begin at their very own 5-yard line, after simply falling behind 35-23; Garoppolo’s second security in 5 video games ensued.
I don’t wish to level fingers however is Mike McGlinchey leaving subsequent 12 months? (@melaniasblingandbows_)
McGlinchey is clearly preventing by leg points, from final week’s calf situation to final season’s quadriceps restore. Shanahan stated McGlinchey and Williams emerged OK from Sunday’s loss. McGlinchey’s rookie contract expires after this season, and he’s pocketing $10.9 million this season on a fifth-year choice. Jaylon Moore isn’t bucking for a promotion, Colton McKivitz is on injured reserve, and Daniel Brunskill is a greater match at guard.
Is Dre Greenlaw gonna be OK? (@darkhqz)
Greenlaw can be “daily” with a calf harm that allowed him to play 36-of-64 snaps Sunday. He solely had three tackles amid the protection’s horrible day.
Kyle Juszczyk’s finger harm replace? Something severe? (@brianavazquez)
Juszczyk received’t play Sunday on the Rams after requiring surgical procedure Monday for a fractured finger on his proper hand, an harm that occurred whereas making a 17-yard third-down conversion catch within the third quarter. Shanahan talked about his tight ends as potential replacements, which Ross Dwelley’s achieved up to now. I can also envision Jeff Wilson Jr. or Ty Davis-Worth changing into lead blockers for McCaffrey.
Do we now have any likelihood on the wild card? It looks as if the one hope is the division now? (@saint.andrew7)
The wild-card route is large open because of the NFC parity. The 49ers are 2-0 in NFC West motion, and in the event that they win the division, they’ll get a minimum of a top-four seed and a house recreation. However, playoffs?! Don’t discuss playoffs. Then once more …
“Every part we do need continues to be in entrance of us,” Shanahan stated Monday. “I don’t get into data or issues like that. We all the time have one aim yearly and that can by no means change: our No. 1 aim is to be the final one standing. To try this, you need to win the match, and one of the best ways is to win your division. … I can see how we do this.”
What wouldn't it take at this level for Kyle (Shanahan) to get fired? (@ethirsch)
For a time machine to hurry forward to 2024, presumably after the 49ers miss the playoffs for a second straight season amid extra catastrophic accidents. He’s not getting fired anytime quickly. If he incredulously desires to discover a totally different crew to run, then maybe a commerce is his out. Possession has his again and continues its monetary backing for roster strikes (and trades).
Kyle Shanahan is an “offensive guru” and might’t rating over 30 factors? (@JDR_live)
Shanahan has not personally scored a landing since his highschool days at Saratoga and Cherry Creek in Colorado. His 49ers offense, certainly, has not eclipsed 30 factors in a recreation this season; a 37-15 win at Carolina included a pick-six by Emmanuel Moseley. The 49ers are averaging 20.7 factors per recreation, their worst clip since Shanahan’s debut season in 2017.
What’s Sean Payton’s quantity and is Harbaugh nonetheless on the town? (@ak391979)
An NFL re-entry from Payton is extra possible than one from Harbaugh, who's overjoyed about his Michigan program. In returning to Levi’s Stadium on Sunday, Harbaugh stated he’s hoping his No. 4-ranked Wolverines (7-0) can have a good time a championship of their very own with a Tenth-anniversary celebration in 2032. (Harbaugh smiled as he instructed me I haven’t modified a bit, to which I famous that he truly had, as a result of he was sporting navy pants. His retort was that the khaki model received “stale like a bit of meat.”)
Why is the blame all the time on Jimmy? (@nancymichaela30)
The quarterback and coach get extra criticism and reward than they deserve, except it’s Kansas Metropolis’s Mahomes and Reid, who earned a standing ovation for Sunday’s rout.
Will Aiyuk get an even bigger position after telling the media about not scoring with expertise? (@angeelxz)
Kittle stated the identical factor after the sport. Shanahan praised Aiyuk’s management for demanding each participant be accountable. The 49ers have a totally stocked offense, however they’re not absolutely producing just like the 49ers’ glory days with “so many weapons” in Tremendous Bowl seasons passed by.
Why is our D-line getting dominated within the move rush? (@49er_reasons)
Little question that was the 49ers’ worst move rush of the season, with the one sack coming within the fourth quarter by Nick Bosa. Samson Ebukam, Charles Omenihu and Drake Jackson weren’t impactful, and the 49ers couldn’t afford to blitz defenders after they had been dispatching so many to unsuccessfully cowl Mahomes’ targets.
Did the 49ers have a variety of penalties this recreation? (@_._._optimus_prime_._._)
They received flagged for 15 penalties, solely 10 of which had been enforced, rivaling their 12-penalty barrage within the Chicago rain in Week 1. Most confounding had been the psychological errors that accompanied these moderately than bodily gaffes.
I perceive they didn’t play effectively however so many nasty feedback. It’s only a recreation. (@dogsitter_rover_flor3967)
It’s just one of 17 video games, nevertheless. This isn’t baseball’s 162-game loss of life march.
The place do they go from right here? (@imthestandard)
SoFi Stadium, the 49ers’ Southern California seaside home, except for that final go to, when a riptide took away their Tremendous Bowl berth.
How fearful ought to we be about this crew for the time being? (@boomyada26)
A win Sunday over the Rams will make the 49ers everybody’s NFC darlings, once more. A 3rd straight loss and also you’ll want they by no means return from their ensuing bye week.