Author: joelami

49ers Lose to Vikings 24-16; Fail Season Opening Test

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Photo credit: @49ers

By: Joe Lami

Jimmy Garoppolo is no longer undefeated as a starter in the NFL, as the Minnesota Vikings outlasted the Niners 24-16.

Injuries, missed opportunities, bad timing, and turnovers from the 49ers assisted Kirk Cousins in his Viking’s debut. Minnesota’s new quarterback went 20-of-35 for 244 yards and two touchdowns.

He found success with Minnesota’s most dangerous targets, Adam Thielen and Dalvin Cook with each of them bringing down six catches. Thielen finished the day with 201 yards receiving, while Cook had 55 yards catching out of the backfield

Stefon Diggs and Kyle Rudolph each caught a touchdown. ‘

The 49ers are prepared to go into scramble mode thanks to injuries with several key pieces going down, including Marquise Goodwin, Joshua Garnett, and Mike Person.

Person and Garnett both went down with foot injuries, while Garnett’s appeared to be extremely serious needing a cart to assist him off the field from a non-contact play.

Goodwin attempted to return from his quad injury for the entirety of the game, as he was seen jogging and warming up on the sideline numerous times. Fortunately, the injury to Garcon seems to be the least severe of the three.

The Niners also missed opportunities the entire game. Pierre Garcon and George Kittle both had critical drops that would’ve led to touchdowns. Garcon was in the end zone, while Kittle’s was on a deep ball down the left sideline.

The drop ended up costing the Niners immediately, as Garoppolo threw his first of three interceptions. Rookie, Mike Hughes will remember his first interception for a long time, making a great play on the ball and jumping a Kenrick Bourne route for a pick 6 extending Minnesota’s lead to 17-3.

Earlier in the game, the Niners put together an eight-minute drive but once again the red zone offense completely shut down, eventually fumbling the ball on the one and giving the Vikings all of the momentum.

Despite everything that went wrong for the 49ers, they still hung in there until the very end. That is until Garoppolo started throwing interceptions, marking the first time in his career he’s thrown three in the same game. It just also happens to be his first loss as a starter.

San Francisco did have a few bright spots in all of the darkness. Tight end, George Kittle had five catches for 90 yards, though he’ll be remembered in this one for the wide-open drop.

Deforest Buckner appears to be an absolute beast in the pass rush. He was able to get to Cousin’s 2.5 times for sacks while recording 3 tackles for loss and seven total tackles.

Third round draft pick, Fred Warner not only was named a starter, but the linebacker was incredible. Having one of the best games out of any rookie, Warner started hot for the 49ers. In the first 20 minutes of the game, he recorded seven tackles and a forced fumble that Richard Sherman eventually fell on. He finished with 12 combined tackles, a tackle for loss, a pass deflection, and a forced fumble.

Sunday was a great measuring stick for the 49ers. Going up against one of the best defenses in the league and a team that made it to the conference championship game last year proves what this team is all about.

Kyle Shanahan was not kidding when he said that this team can go out and have a legit chance to win any game they play this season. We’ll see if they can finally strike gold at Levi’s next Sunday against the Lions at 1:05 pm PDT.

Morris and James Jr. Make Their Case In 49ers’ 23-17 Loss to Colts

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Photo credit: @49ers

By: Joe Lami

If Saturday was the final tune-up for the San Francisco 49ers’ 2018 season, it might be time to rethink expectations for the year. In a 23-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, the San Francisco 49ers looked sluggish at times offensively, especially in the red zone at Lucas Oil Stadium.

In a continuation of last year, they depended too much on the foot of kicker Robbie Gould, instead of punching the ball into the end zone. The 14-year vet hit all three of his kicks with his first being the longest of the night from 37 yards.

Jimmy Garoppolo played the entire first half, connecting on nine of his 19 attempts for 135 yards. Though his performance wasn’t great, he connected with both Pierre Garçon and Marquise Goodwin three times each for 62 yards and 40 yards respectively.

Goodwin left the game with a hand injury but came back for his final catch of six yards, making it appear only minor.

Though Garcon and Goodwin seem to be finding a rhythm with Garoppolo, they were once again outplayed by Richie James Jr. The seventh-rounder continues to prove his case in making the 53-man roster, as he finished with three catches for 65 yards.

Alfred Morris saw his initial touches as a 49er and finished with a strong 84 yards on 17 attempts, making a strong case to make the final 53-man roster.

Former Stanford star Andrew Luck played the first half for the Colts and shined, throwing 8-of-10 for 90 yards and a touchdown. He found Eric Ebron on the sole touchdown of the first half that included a beautifully thrown ball over the middle. Coming back from a significant throwing arm injury, it appears that Luck may be back and better than ever.

Unfortunately for the Niners, they had a severe injury of their own. Linebacker Reuben Foster continues to be riddled with injuries as he suffered a concussion in the pre-season contest. Foster’s return is expected for week three of the regular season, following his two-game suspension.

Cornerback Jimmie Ward also went down with a quad injury.

The sole 49ers’ touchdown once again came in the form of late heroics from Nick Mullens. The third-string quarterback is quickly becoming a fan favorite, finishing Saturday 4-of-6 passing for 62 yards. He also ran in a score from two yards out.

Does last year’s scout squad quarterback have a chance to make the team? We’ll find out after Thursday night’s contest against the Chargers at Levi’s Stadium at 7 pm PDT to close out the pre-season.

49ers Edge Cowboys 24-21, but Injuries Damper SF’s Win

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By: Joe Lami

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Faithful were rolling into Levi’s Stadium on Thursday hoping to catch a glimpse of what the 2018 season will look like. Fans may have left happy, as the San Francisco 49ers took the lead with just 18 seconds left in the contest in a 24-14 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, but they also left concerned.

One quarter into action, the 49ers were facing injuries to three starters and two critical reserves.

Linebacker, Malcolm Smith was the first to go down with a hamstring injury. Ironically, the eight-year pro was clamoring about how much he was looking forward to getting the pre-season debut out of the way.

Moments later, Soloman Thomas went down on what appeared to be a left knee injury. However, the 49ers’ official injury report listed Thomas with a head injury with speculation that he took a cleat to the face. Thomas laid on the turf for a few minutes to a quiet crowd before going straight to the locker room.

Hopefully, the injury to Thomas won’t set him back too much as he enters a crucial season to show his worth of being selected third overall in the 2017 draft.

George Kittle was the final starter to go down with an injury. On a deep ball from Garoppolo, Kittle was forced to lay out attempting to make the spectacular grab, but he came up short, and upon coming to the ground, his right shoulder got caught underneath his body.

The loss of Kittle could be huge for the 49ers, as he proved to be a big-time target for Garoppolo last season.

Key reserves, Matt Brieda and Garry Gilliam also went down with injuries.

If Brieda’s appears to be serious, it could shake up how the final 53-man roster is completed, as he was expected to be a lock and the primary run between the tackles back.

Shanahan mentioned post-game that he expects there to be time with Brieda and Kittle and both are going to be questionable heading into next Saturday’s game against the Houston Texans at 5 pm PDT.

His injury led to extensive playing time for both Raheem Mostert and Joe Williams, who switched between drives the majority of the game. Williams saw most the carries finishing with 11 for 27 yards and punching in a score from a yard out. Mostert carried the ball eight times for 57 yards including breaking off a long 23-yard rush to the right.

“It’s what scares you about pre-season, sometimes you just want the game to end,” said Shanahan.

Other Key Observations
Jimmie Ward’s move back to cornerback was quickly picked on by Dak Prescott and the Cowboys. The starting quarterback’s only touchdown pass was also his last as he threw a 30-yard bomb to Michael Gallup that turned Ward around to put the Cowboys up five minutes into the game.

The starting defense wasn’t completely lost. The biggest play of the starter’s night came on a sack split by DeForest Buckner and Thomas. Buckner, who is starting to experiment moving to the outside on the defensive line, is appearing to become the playmaker the Niners were searching for when they selected him seventh overall in 2016.

Garoppolo was held to just one drive. Going 3-of-6 for 34 yards and a 67.4 rating, Garoppolo found a connection early with Marquise Goodwin for 18 yards. His other two completions were to Jerrick McKinnon and the seventh-round pick, Richie James Jr. More importantly, the completions to Goodwin and James both converted long third-down attempts.

James later scored the go-ahead score with just 18 seconds remaining to win the game for the Niners. Third-string QB, Nick Mullens led a beautiful 77-yard drive in only 1:42 to secure the victory. Mullens was the most efficient Niners’ passer, finishing 11-of-13 for 141 yards, a touchdown, and an interception for a 105.4 passer rating. If he continues to display this type of talent, he may get a shot at C.J. Beathard’s backup role.

4 Things to Watch in 49ers’ Preseason Game vs. Cowboys Thursday

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By: Joe Lami

The 49ers open up their pre-season on Thursday night against the Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium.

Here are four things to watch out for.

Jimmy Garoppolo
If you have a ticket to the game, be sure to get there early for the 7:00 p.m. kick-off because you will see the starters in action for at least part of the opening quarter. On Tuesday, head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed plans to play all starters, including Jimmy Garoppolo, “We’ll treat him like what we’ve probably done more in the past. He’ll play somewhat into the first quarter. We’ll see how long the opening drive is.”

Going into his first full season as a Niner, all eyes will be on Jimmy G to see if he can return with the magic he closed out last season with. Things look promising too, as Garoppolo appears to be gaining confidence in his receivers in training camp. The connection with Marquise Goodwin appears to be back from last season, as the two have been working on deep routes the last couple of days and look as comfortable as ever.

Pierre Garcon was injured early in the season last year and wasn’t a part of the five straight wins led by Garoppolo as he is beginning to get chemistry with the sophomore starter.

The Secondary
The 49ers’ will be without Richard Sherman on Thursday night and will have to wait until the last pre-season game to see him play at Levi’s Stadium.

Instead, Jimmie Ward will get the start for the 30-year old, who suffered a grade-one hamstring sprain last week. The 49ers’ secondary has improved, but still appears to be the weak spot on the defensive side of the ball. Any progression from last season will be an excellent start for the team that surrendered the 22nd most passing yards in the league last year.

Draft Picks
The rookies have looked pretty good in camp so far for the red and gold, and Thursday night will be their opportunity to show the rest of the Red and Gold faithful.

First-round pick, right tackle, Mike McGlinchey is expected to play the most reps out of the starters to gain confidence and get more looks at the NFL level.

“He’ll be out with the starters to start. Then, we’ll see how it goes, how many reps we get. For the most part, we do it with most rookies. Even if he’s a starter, we might play him a little bit more,” explained Shanahan on Tuesday.

He’s going to have the crucial job of help protecting Garopollo this season after the 49ers’ line gave up sacks on 7.09% of pass attempts last year (19th in the NFL).

49ers’ third-round wide receiver, Dante Pettis has been very noticeable at camp thus far and could become an exciting option for the 49ers’ passing attack. However, the knock seems to be the smaller framed pass catcher doesn’t like going over the middle. Shanahan doesn’t see it that way. Shanahan said, “I think he’s a guy who doesn’t take hits much, and it’s not because he’s avoiding them because he’s scared. It’s because he’s a good athlete and he can control his body and can get himself in good positions.”

The New Helmet Rule
Introducing the “use of helmet” rule, which states, “It is a foul if a player lowers his head to initiate and make contact with his helmet against an opponent.”

The rule becomes controversial because of “ejection standards” defined as when “a player lowers his helmet to establish a linear body posture prior to initiating and making contact with the helmet. A player needs to have a player delivering the blow needs to have an unobstructed path to his opponent, and the contact has to be clearly avoidable.”

Based on a video published in June, a play becomes ejectable when the targeting player appears to be the second or third man in trying to deliver a bone-crushing hit to finish off the play on an already wrapped up player.

These rules will take time for not only fans to get used to, but players as well; as the NFL tries to make tackling safer.

49ers Legend Dwight Clark Passes Away at 61

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Photo credit: @49ers

By: Joe Lami

49ers’ legend wide receiver Dwight Clark passed on Monday, his wife Kelly announced via Twitter.

Fighting ALS since 2015, Clark will be remembered forever for the most famous play in 49ers’ history, otherwise known as “The Catch.”

The Catch is regarded as jump-starting the Niners 80s dynasty, helping the 49ers’ string of Super Bowls. Clark was part of two of them, while also being named a two-time pro bowler.

The 49ers held Dwight Clark Day back on October 22nd of last season, where they, of course, played the Cowboys. Dwight Clark Day was celebrated by a t-shirt giveaway and a team reunion where Dwight was able to his one last goodbye to both fans and teammates.

The day was capped by a halftime celebration and a speech from Dwight that brought tears to everyone in attendance, including those of us that were in the press box at Levi’s.

Clark ranks as one of the best 49er receivers of all-time. He remains third in receiving yards, fourth in catches, and third in touchdown receptions. Dwight will forever remembered for one six-yard touchdown reception in 1982 and he was taken from us way too soon.

49ers Sign Cornerback Richard Sherman: Match Made in Heaven?

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Photo credit: @BaySportsOne

By: Joe Lami

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The most exciting off-season in a decade is officially underway for the San Francisco 49ers, as they inked all-pro cornerback, Richard Sherman, to a three-year deal on Saturday afternoon. According to ESPN’s Josina Anderson, the deal is reportedly worth up to $39 million.

The deal comes the day after Sherman was released by the Seattle Seahawks as the team continues to tear apart the Legion of Doom. Sherman spent all of his seven seasons with Seattle and made it his priority to sign with a contending team. He will now have the opportunity for revenge playing against the Seahawks twice a year.

Sherman is the ideal cornerback the 49ers were looking for. The big-bodied 6-foot-3-inch 195 pound defensive back can bring loads of experience with him to a rather young 49ers organization. Once the most-feared corner in the league, Sherman has 32 interceptions, 99 pass deflections, and 279 tackles in his career.

However, despite all of the experience and accolades, Sherman is not a lock, as he is coming off a torn Achilles after getting surgery on his other Achilles. Sherman is also turning 30-years old later this month, which leaves some to question how much more he may have in the tank. Last season was the first time he didn’t play all 16 regular season games when he finished with nine.

Regardless, the signing is an exciting one for San Francisco at a position that they desperately need. The move shows that John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan think they aren’t far off from bringing San Francisco back to the playoffs and competing with Los Angeles for the NFC West title.

49ers string off fifth straight win, close out 2017 with 34-13 blowout over Rams

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San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde, right, celebrates after scoring against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

By: Joe Lami

The Jimmy Garoppolo era in San Francisco continues to amaze as he remains undefeated as a starter after the 49ers beat the Rams 34-13 to close out the 2017 campaign.

Already making the playoffs, the Rams decided to sit stars Todd Gurley and Jared Goff and the Niners used it to their advantage, dominating from the opening kick-off.

Garoppolo finished the day with two touchdowns, and two interceptions and was 20-of-33 for 292 yards. His first touchdown came in the first quarter as he found his favorite target, Marquise Goodwin, from eight yards out.

Goodwin suffered a concussion later in the game and was taken to a local Los Angeles hospital, but is doing a lot better. He only had one other catch for a total of 28 yards.

Garoppolo later found Aldrick Robinson in the fourth quarter to make it 34-6.

Upon speculation of his last game in the red and gold, Carlos Hyde had one of his best games of the season, running for 90 yards and hammering in two touchdowns.

Sean Mannion was clearly no Goff for the Rams, as he struggled most of the way. The Rams secondary passer threw for 169, completing 20 of 34.

Lance Dunbar scored the only Rams touchdown in garbage time with 6:40 remaining.

The 49ers finish their season, having won five straight and six of their last seven. Since Garoppolo became the starter, they have been one of the best teams in the league and have looked unstoppable.

The excitement is finally felt in the Red and Gold faithful, creating one of the most important offseasons in franchise history. With the winning streak, they’ve thrown together, San Francisco has gone from selecting second in the NFL Draft to selecting ninth.

Most shockingly, the 49ers and Raiders finished 2017 with the same record.

The Jimmy Garappolo show continues as 49ers beat Jaguars 44-33 for fourth straight win

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By: Joe Lami

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The 49ers saved the best for last on Faithful Appreciation Day, as they put up their highest point total of the season in a 44-33 victory over the AFC South Champion, Jacksonville Jaguars, at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday.

The Jimmy Garappolo show is thriving in Santa Clara as San Francisco has won four straight games for the first time since the 2013 season–the last one played at Candlestick Park. The Niners have also won five of their last six and might as well be the hottest team in the NFL, especially with a victory against one of the best teams in the league.

The buzz surrounding the 49ers is impressive for a five-win team in December. but is felt all around the locker room and the minute one walks into Levi’s Stadium.

Jacksonville secured the playoff spot right as the game kicked off with the Rams’ 27-23 victory over the Tennessee Titans, but played their starters the entire game, yet it still wasn’t enough.

Sunday marked the first time in NFL history with a final score of 44-33 as it played very similar to a basketball game with both teams going on runs.

San Francisco started hot out of the gate. Garoppolo marched the offense immediately down the field on a 79-yard drive lasting 4:42, capped off by a Garoppolo punch-in touchdown. The Niners would go up 16-0 before the Jags got on the board, thanks to a 27-yard Robbie Gould field goal and a 50-yard pick six from Dontae Johnson.

On the ensuing point after attempt, Gould’s PAT was blocked and returned for a two-point conversion by Aaron Colvin. The special teams’ play was enough to jump-start the Jags’ offense, as they were able to string off 19 straight points to take the 19-16 lead with 10:26 left in the third. However, San Francisco would recapture the lead with 6:46 to go in the third and not look back.

San Francisco’s offense saw contributions by nearly everyone. Garoppolo ran one touchdown in and threw for two. George Kittle and Trent Taylor were the recipients, while Carlos Hyde and Matt Breida also ran in touchdowns.

Brieda finished the day leading the team in rushing yards with 74 over 11 carries, while Hyde carried the ball 21 times for 54 yards.

Pro-Bowl fullback Kyle Juszczyk led the team in receiving yards, as he caught all five targets for 76 yards. Kittle was also perfect, catching all three targets for 42 yards. Garoppolo did an excellent job of spreading the ball around as nine different Niners had at least one reception.

Most impressively, the offensive line stopped one of the best pass rushes from getting to Garoppolo, as “Sacksonville” only sacked Garoppolo once.

San Francisco’s recent performances would be nothing without the work of the defense. The strongest third of the 49ers’ season has been getting overlooked now that they have support from the offense, but once again, they were a vital part in Sunday’s win.

Forcing bad throws from Blake Bortles all day cumulated in three interceptions from Johnson, K’Wuan Williams, and Ankello Witherspoon.

Bortles struggled most of the day, finishing 32-of-50 for 482 yards and two touchdowns. The Niners’ front seven also shut down one of the best rushers in the league, as Leonard Fournette carried the ball 18 times for only 48 yards.

While the 49ers remain one of the hottest teams in the NFL, they hope to close out their season with five straight wins against the Los Angeles Rams next weekend before one of the biggest offseasons in franchise history.

49ers Win Second Straight 26-16 For First Time Since 2014; Jimmy G Compiles 334 Yards

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Houston Texans inside linebacker Brian Cushing (56) reaches up to sack San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

By: Joe Lami

San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo, is starting his career with the Niners with a 2-0 record after the team beat the Houston Texans 26-16 on Sunday.

Garopollo is beginning to get the Niners rolling, as they’ve won back-to-back games for the first time November 23, 2014, where the Red and Gold strung off three straight victories.

Garopollo stepped up his play against the Texans, improving on his output that beat the Bears. He finished with 334 yards, one touchdown and one interception for a rating of 92.2 in the victory.

Garopollo’s lone touchdown came at a pivotal time in the third quarter with the game tied at 16, as he found Garrett Celek from six-yards out.

San Francisco’s other touchdown gave them a 10-3 lead in the second quarter as Carlos Hyde hammered it in from the two-yard-line.

Both of San Francisco’s scores were set up by big plays. Before Hyde’s touchdown, Garopollo kept firing it to Kyle Juszczyk, who gained his longest receptions of the season of 29 and 31 yards at the time.

Celek helped set up his own touchdown as he caught a ball for 61 yards, bringing it down to the red zone. He finished the day with 67 yards, but he didn’t lead the team.

Marquise Goodwin is beginning to gain chemistry with Garopollo as the speedy track star was able to catch for 107 yards, leading the way for the Niners.

San Francisco’s ground game was once again split between Hyde and Matt Breida. Hyde carried the ball 14 times for 78 yards, while Breida had 12 carries for 27 yards.

For the second game in a row, San Francisco’s defense was the brightest spot, doing a great getting off the field on third down, holding the Texans to 23% conversion while also recovering one fumble.

The front-seven were able to get to the quarterback position all day, totaling seven QB hits and putting Tom Savage in the concussion protocol after his hands were seen shaking in the second quarter.

Savage wasn’t doing all that well anyway, with six passes for 63 yards. His replacement, T.J. Yates, threw for 175 yards and two touchdowns.

The defense once again showed up to play, and for the second time in a row, their offense matched them to get the win.

The climate is changing in Santa Clara after the Niners have three wins in their last four games. Things are turning around and the Red and Gold Faithful are beginning to notice. It’s not inconceivable for the Niners to get on a roll. They hope to show off the new found confidence to the faithful when they host the Tennessee Titans.

Jimmy Garoppolo is Difference Maker in 49ers’ 15-14 Victory over Bears

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San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) looks for an open man against the Chicago Bears in an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017. (Mark Black/Daily Herald via AP)

By: Joe Lami

It came down to the last play of the game, but Jimmy Garoppolo’s debut start for the San Francisco 49ers was victorious as the hapless team defeated the Chicago Bears 15-14 on Sunday afternoon.

“I thought it was a real good first start. He handled the offense well. [He] definitely moved the chains and the ball for us. It’ll be fun to get back and watch the tape and be able to coach him through what he did good and did bad,” said coach Kyle Shanahan.

Robbie Gould’s return to Chicago was perfect, as he nailed five field goals all within 35 yards in the victory.

Although the 49ers didn’t get into the end zone, Garoppolo was the difference as he was able to get San Francisco’s offense moving, throwing the ball down the field and reaching the red zone five times. He finished the day 26-of-37 for 293 yards and one interception, which had a completion stolen out of the hands from Louis Murphy Jr.

This season, San Francisco had five losses all decided by three points or less, but the difference on Sunday was Garoppolo and his ability to move the offense.

The biggest difference Garoppolo made came on third down, as the 49ers’ nearly doubled their efficiency with him on the field, converting 58% of their third downs.

Most impressively, he led the 49ers on their drive, going 86 yards on 14 plays in the last 5:23, setting up Gould’s 24-yard game-winning field goal.

The Bears’ offense was held to only one touchdown and 147 net yards as the 49ers’ defense showed up to play. Chicago’s first touchdown came out of the hands of rookie quarterback, Mitch Trubisky, who finished the day throwing just 102 yards.

Their second score came on special teams when Tarik Cohen returned a 62-yard punt return to the house.

The 49ers’ earn Shanahan’s second career win and up their record to 2-10 as Garoppolo makes this team look a lot better down the stretch of the season with four games to go.