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The 2-2 San Francisco 49ers are in the south to face the 1-3 Carolina Panthers. Both teams could easily be 4-0 if things went their way. The Panthers have an intense pass rush and are loaded with weapons on the offense. If the 49ers want to improve their record to 3-2, they must stick to these five keys to victory.
PROTECTION
The offensive line must protect quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo at all costs. It looks like Jaylon Moore will be starting at left tackle. Moore will face his most significant test against the Panthers, phenom edge rusher Brian Burns. If having tight end George Kittle to aid to the left side means protecting your quarterback, I'd say get on board. For Garoppolo to be efficient, he will need a clean pocket.
Establish a RHYTHM Early
Head coach Kyle Shanahan needs his quarterback to establish the rhythm early. Garoppolo has thrown the ball for a completed pass in his last two games on the first play to wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk for first downs. The 49ers can move the ball well when Garoppolo completes high-percentage throws. Getting into a rhythm early allows Shanahan to call a very balanced game with a mixture of passes and runs. Start the game in rhythm and finish the game in rhythm.
CAPITALIZE on Opportunities
In this young season, we've seen the offense and the defense leave opportunities on the fields. Whether it's a misread or an overthrow to a wide-open pass catcher, a dropped interception, or a fumble recovery, the 49ers must take advantage of their opportunities. Being on the road and winning on the road won't be easy. If the 49er's offense can finish drives with touchdowns and the defense can force takeaways, the team could easily slide into Atlanta at 3-2.
LIMIT the Big Plays
The Panther's offense is loaded with talent, mainly at the wide receiver position. Though Baker Mayfield has struggled, he still likes to get the ball to one of his playmakers. Keep an eye on running back Christian McCaffrey out of the backfield. He could be a massive threat in the passing game, and he usually does his thing against the 49ers. The number two defense in the league should have no problems containing Mayfield and limiting CMC. If they do this, the 49ers could be sitting at 3-2.
Stay AGGRESSIVE
The 49ers must stay aggressive on both sides of the football. Last week against the Rams, the defense was aggressive for 60 minutes of football, not only getting a pick-six by safety Talanoa Hufanga, but defensive end Samson Ebukam capped off his best performance with a sack at the end of the game. The offensive tends to show signs of aggression, but they will need to stay aggressive for 60 minutes. The 49ers should never abandon the run. Running the ball consistently and effectively will dictate how the game flows and allow the 49ers to control the clock. Once the offense is in rhythm, do not take the foot off the gas. STAY Aggressive.
These 5 Keys may sound repetitive, but they remain simple. It's the little things that count. If the 49ers pay close attention to the small details, they will be victorious and record their first road win of the series.
Wayne Breezie is a 49ers content creator. He had his first guest appearance on Ronbosports in 2012. He began writing for a Facebook group called the League of the 49ers. Next, he began writing for Nothing But Niners in 2017. In 2018, Wayne Breezie made his debut on YouTube’s Nothing But Niners show. In 2019, he started his podcast called Nitty Gritty Niners. After putting the pen down for several years, Breezie saw an opportunity to write for 49erscap.com. His first published article was in January of 2022 with 49ersCap, and he currently writes and produces weekly podcasts.
This is all pretty general and obvious. I would add that the 49ers need to continue to show progress on 3rd downs, throwing screen passes and and expecting Deebo to bail us out by breaking tackles every conversion isnt going to get it done. Jennings is definitely a legit 3rd down monster and I would keep looking his way
49ers sign WR Trent Taylor, reuniting with former draft pick
By David Bonilla
Apr 16
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
Draft Watch: Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley visiting 49ers on Wednesday
By David Bonilla
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The San Francisco 49ers are hosting several draft prospects this week as the deadline for pre-draft visits draws near. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, the team will host former Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley on Wednesday.
Corley is expected to be a Day 2 pick. San Francisco owns two selections on Day 2—the No. 63 overall pick in the second round and the No. 94 overall pick in the third round. Currently, the receiver is visiting with the Seattle Seahawks.
Western Kentucky @WKUFootball receiver Malachi Worley
Rapoport: 49ers send clear message to teams inquiring about Brandon Aiyuk
By David Bonilla
Apr 16
Ian Rapoport didn't offer much of an update on the ongoing contract negotiations between the San Francisco 49ers and their standout wide receiver, Brandon Aiyuk. However, the NFL insider emphasized one thing: The team is not entertaining trade discussions at this juncture.
Reacting to Aiyuk's decision to unfollow the 49ers on Instagram, Rapoport couldn't help but chuckle at the latest development. This practice has become commonplace among players who are unhappy with their contract situations. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel similarly took this action in 2022 before requesting to be traded just before the draft.
Things have yet to escalate that far with Aiyuk, but Rapoport sees his
7-round mock draft from The Athletic sees 49ers fortifying defense early
By David Bonilla
Apr 17
Analyst Dane Brugler recently revealed his seven-round mock draft for The Athletic, forecasting all 257 selections in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft, set to kick off next week.
"Piecing together a mock like this is time consuming, but I enjoy the exercise, because it allows me to focus on each team's needs, organizational trends and prospect-team pairings that make sense based on '30' visits, league buzz and overall interest," Brugler wrote.
Most expect the 49ers to address the trenches early in the draft, and Brugler has the team doing that. It's just not on the offensive side of the football. In fact, Brugler doesn't have San Francisco
