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49ers-Vikings: Kyle Shanahan not tipping his hand on starting cornerback opposite Richard Sherman
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San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has a good idea which of his two young cornerbacks will start on Saturday opposite Richard Sherman when the team hosts the Minnesota Vikings in a Divisional Round playoff game. The coach would prefer to keep his opponent guessing as long as possible, though, and didn't want to tell reporters on Tuesday who that starter might be.
It will be either Ahkello Witherspoon or Emmanuel Moseley lined up opposite Sherman on Saturday. Witherspoon got the start during Week 17 against the Seattle Seahawks, but the third-year cornerback was replaced by Moseley late in the game.
"Just a gut feeling," Shanahan said of the decision after the 49ers walked away from CenturyLink Field with the victory and the NFC West title.
The move worked. Moseley helped the defense preserve the 26-21 victory over their bitter division rival. Could that mean a playoff start for Moseley on Saturday?
Maybe.
Maybe not.
We might not find out until closer to kickoff.
"I've got a pretty good idea which way we're leaning toward," Shanahan told reporters before Tuesday's practice, "but it's not a big difference to me. I know it is to them because I know both of them want to get out there so bad.
"I think we've got two guys that I feel very confident in both of them helping us win. Whoever starts, it will be based off of who we think gives us the best chance on [Saturday]."
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