From Case to Cam: 49ers defense stepping up in class
After humiliating the Rams and quarterback Case Keenum at home on Monday night, they will travel to meet the Panthers and Cam Newton on Sunday.
Keenum is an undrafted free agent who owns the 36th lowest passer rating of the 38 quarterbacks who have thrown 450 passes since 2013.
Newton is a No. 1 overall pick who owns the 2015 NFL MVP award.
The 49ers certainly will when they visit Carolina, the defending NFC champion which led the NFL in points (500) last year, scoring 220 more than the Rams.
[...] in regards to last season, it appears the 49ers defense is drastically improved from the 2015 unit that ranked 29th in yards allowed.
In Monday’s 28-0 whipping, they posted their first shutout since 2012 and limited the Rams to 10 first downs and 185 yards.
The biggest challenge will be Newton, a 6-foot-5, 245-pound dual threat who became the first quarterback in NFL history to have at least 30 passing touchdowns and 10 rushing scores in a single season.
Some 49ers have unpleasant memories of Newton dating to his final college season at Auburn in 2010.
Newton capped his Heisman Trophy season by beating 49ers head coach Chip Kelly and Oregon in the national title game, collecting 329 total yards and two touchdowns in the 22-19 win.
[...] it’s going to take all 11 guys getting around him on every play for us to win this battle from a defensive standpoint.
The 49ers did an impressive job of doing just that against Rams running back Todd Gurley, the 2015 Offensive Rookie of the Year who had 47 yards on 17 carries Monday.
In Week 1, Reid (2013), cornerback Jimmie Ward (2014) and defensive tackles Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner played prominent roles.