Kurtenbach: Studs and Duds — Deebo, Hufanga lead the Niners over the Rams… again
SANTA CLARA — The 49ers just have the Rams’ number.
And this 49ers’ defense might have a number, too: Number one. As in the best defense in the NFL.
The Niners’ defense dominated the high-flying Rams’ offense Monday to move to 2-2 on the season — right in the thick of it in the up-for-grabs NFC.
Here were the studs and duds of the Niners’ 24-9 win:
STUDS
Deebo Samuel
» The 49ers’ offense is pretty simple these days: Get the ball to Deebo.
The receiver’s 57-yard touchdown showed why.
Deebo just ran by the entire defense! @19problemz
: #LARvsSF on ESPN
: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/keYveuhX3P pic.twitter.com/qDMjV1kbO5— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2022
Nick Bosa
» Rams quarterback Matt Stafford was under incredible duress all night and Bosa was often the source of that pressure. The defensive end had a monster first half and finished the game with three sacks and five hurries.
DeMeco Ryans
» He called a near-perfect game, calling more blitzes than he had in the first three games of the season — perhaps combined — and keeping Stafford off balance. The Niners had seven sacks in the game and were close to a half-dozen more. The result: The Rams’ quarterback only had time to find Cooper Kupp on the field, and that wasn’t enough to be a viable NFL offense. LA was good for a paltry 3.5 yards per play Monday.
Jeff Wilson Jr.
» He does have burst. The 49ers’ top running back took a straight pitch 32 yards in the first quarter, going untouched into the end zone. It was the pinnacle of a 74-yard day that was solid and wholly necessary for this Niners’ offense.
» Some guys are fast. Some guys are strong. Some guys have no discernible athletic advantages but make plays all over the field.
Hufanga is one of those latter guys.
Talanoa Hufanga jumped the route and took it to the house! @TalanoaHufanga | #FTTB
: #LARvsSF on ESPN
: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/keYveuhX3P pic.twitter.com/D5Vul0QpWg— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2022
No one sees the field like the 49ers’ strong safety, who is being moved all over to make plays. His pick-six to win the game was a testament to that football IQ. He recognized the play and made the play.
Being fast and strong is great, but you can’t teach what Hufanga has, and you can’t replace it on this Niners’ defense.
DUDS
Spencer Burford and Aaron Banks
» It’s not easy blocking Aaron Donald, but the 49ers’ guards were sub-par and, for stretches, benched on Monday. When Burford failed to block Donald at all during the first series of the game, you knew it would be a long day on the offensive interior.
Ray-Ray McCloud
» The second fumble in as many weeks for the 49ers’ punt returner. The Niners are playing with tight margins these days. They can’t afford a third.
Kyle Shanahan
» There were some cool plays to get the ball to Samuel and Kyle Juszczyk, but his decision to kick a field goal, originally from five feet away from the end zone, to extend the score to 17-9, was baffling at the moment and looked poised to backfire until Hufanga sealed the game with his pick-six interception.
Oh, and before the Niners kicked that field goal, they deliberately took a delay of game penalty.
Here’s a crazy thought: If your team is too close to the end zone for the field-goal kicker to make his kick, you’re close enough to go for it on fourth down.
Shanahan’s cowardice in fourth-down and late-game situations will hurt the Niners in a big moment this season — just as it has in seasons past. Save this column
Jimmy Garoppolo
» Anyone who said Garoppolo had a great game didn’t watch it. Nearly three-quarters of Garoppolo’s passing yards came after the catch, and he missed several wide-open touchdown throws.
Now, he was significantly better than the quarterback we saw in Denver last Sunday — and he was good enough to win — but there’s still a long way to go for the veteran quarterback if the 49ers are to be a Super Bowl contender.
This defense deserves backing. Samuel, Wilson, and the great blocking from George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, and Juszczyk provided it Monday. Garoppolo — the only skill position player to touch the ball every play — didn’t.
That can’t be the formula moving forward this season. Not if the Niners have hopes of winning anything significant.