About 4 minutes into his weekly teleconference with native writers, Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay was requested concerning the 49ers’ acquisition of operating again Christian McCaffrey.
“Oh (expletive), they get one other nice participant,” McVay mentioned Monday earlier than choosing up steam along with his reply.
The Rams, defending Tremendous Bowl champions, are coming off a bye week after they host the San Francisco 49ers at SoFi Stadium. Final trip, they beat the Carolina Panthers 24-10. It was McCaffrey’s ultimate sport with the Panthers as he gained 69 yards on 13 carries and caught seven passes for 87 extra.
McCaffrey was on the buying and selling block and the Rams preferred what they noticed, simply because the 49ers did after they beat Carolina 37-15 on Oct. 9. With operating again Cam Akers in limbo with McVay and awaiting a doable commerce, the Rams wanted a operating again much more than the 49ers.
The 49ers bought there first, and common supervisor John Lynch didn’t cover the truth that the priority about seeing McCaffrey go to the Rams was nearly as motivating as bringing him to the South Bay to assist the Niners.
The truth that the Rams have dealt draft capital in buying big-name gamers in recent times — Matthew Stafford, Jalen Ramsey, Von Miller and Odell Beckham Jr. amongst them — hastened the 49ers’ pursuit.
It’s an open secret that the 49ers had been excited about buying and selling for Stafford to interchange Jimmy Garoppolo, solely to have the Rams sneak in and make the commerce with Jared Goff and a slew of draft picks.
“It’s a small enterprise but it surely’s one which’s bought a bunch of very aggressive individuals,” McVay mentioned. “Typically among the strikes are made as a result of No. 1, it advantages your workforce, however then it’s additionally making an attempt to not strengthen others. I feel that’s a sound method. I don’t suppose we had been the primary individuals to do this by any means.”
As for McCaffrey on Sunday, McVay can count on a a lot heavier workload in opposition to the Rams than the 21 snaps he bought with nearly no follow time in a 44-23 loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
“I’ve all the time had respect for his sport and the flexibility,” McVay mentioned. “I feel that’s your first inclination and you already know what an ideal job Kyle and his employees do of maximizing and using versatile offensive weapons.”
A take a look at Sunday’s matchup between two would-be championship contenders which have underachieved coming into Week 8:
GAME ESSENTIALS: 49ers (3-4) vs. Rams (3-3) at SoFi Stadium, 1:25 p.m. (Fox). ODDS: 49ers (-1.5)
THREE REASONS FOR 49ERS OPTIMISM
Dominance of the Rams
The 49ers have gained the final seven regular-season video games in opposition to the Rams. McVay doesn’t have a regular-season win in opposition to Shanahan. The Rams gained crucial one final Jan. 30, advancing to the Tremendous Bowl with a 20-17 triumph.
Even in that sport, the 49ers had a 17-7 lead coming into the fourth quarter and got here inside a dropped interception by Jaquaski Tartt of shifting on to play the Cincinnati Bengals in Tremendous Bowl LVI.
Being humbled by the Chiefs
This could possibly be a great factor, particularly the place the protection is anxious. Giving up 529 yards and 44 factors is one thing the 49ers’ protection didn’t suppose was doable.
The Rams haven’t performed to wherever close to the extent of the Chiefs, and 49ers resembling edge rusher Nick Bosa (groin), security Jimmie Ward (damaged hand), Charvarius Ward (groin) and security Talanoa Hufanga (concussion protocol) ought to get in full weeks of follow.
They’ll be greater than a bit salty about what went down in opposition to Patrick Mahomes and Co. and desirous to re-establish themselves as one of many NFL’s prime defenses.
Stafford will throw them the ball
When Charles Woodson performed for the Inexperienced Bay Packers, he was fond of claiming about Bears quarterback Jay Cutler “We all know Jay will throw us the ball.”
The identical goes for Stafford in opposition to the 49ers. In three regular-season video games plus the NFC title sport, Stafford has thrown six interceptions together with six landing passes. In final 12 months’s 49ers win at Levi’s, Jimmie Ward had a 27-yard pick-six. In this 12 months’s win, Hufanga ran one again 52 yards for a rating.
Stafford is 1-3 in opposition to the 49ers and his passer ranking is a subpar 81.2.
THREE REASONS FOR 49ERS PESSIMISM
Getting Deebo untracked
McCaffrey might be rather more concerned in opposition to the Rams after sitting out a lot of the purple zone and hurry-up offense in opposition to the Chiefs attributable to lack of follow time. In idea, that units up the dream state of affairs with McCaffrey and Samuel being on the sphere on the identical time with one or the opposite discovering the huge open areas because of this.
Nonetheless, there was a complication on Monday when Shanahan mentioned Samuel is “each day” with a hamstring pressure. His follow time could possibly be restricted. If it’s severe sufficient, the 49ers might shut him down with the bye week to comply with to get him again to 100%.
Jefferson, Robinson give Rams choices
Within the first assembly this season, the 49ers targeted a lot of their defensive consideration on Cooper Kupp, giving him principally quick receptions and ensuring he didn’t get unfastened within the seam or excessive. Kupp caught 14 passes however for under 122 yards with an extended acquire of 18.
When Stafford wasn’t throwing to Kupp, it was to tight finish Tyler Higbee, who caught 10 passes for simply 73 yards. Van Jefferson was on injured reserve and free agent Allen Robinson was a non-factor.
This time round, Jefferson is off injured reserve and provides Stafford a strong possibility and Robinson is catching on after a gradual begin. He had 5 receptions for 63 yards in opposition to Carolina, each season highs.
The 49ers are already lacking cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, who was misplaced for the season in Carolina to a torn ACL.
A champion’s coronary heart
The Rams have been taking it on the chin nationally for his or her gradual begin and relaxation assured they’re bored with listening to about the best way they get dominated in opposition to the 49ers though they gained the sport that mattered most.
Just like the 49ers, the Rams merely have too many good gamers to be struggling. They’re coming off a bye in order that they’re contemporary and getting some wholesome our bodies again.
PROBABLE DIFFERENCE MAKER: DT Aaron Donald
Isn’t it all the time? You hardly ever discover a participant that will get the sort of league-wide reverence as Donald, a three-time NFL Defensive Participant of the 12 months. The 49ers have truly stored Donald extra below management than most, however you’ll by no means hear them brag about it as a result of they know he can wreck a sport at any time.