The San Francisco 49ers have been on a tear to begin the 2023 season, cementing themselves as a top team in the NFL, scoring 30 points in each of their first three contests, while allowing just 14 points a game.
However, it's not just those two sides that the 49ers are seeing contributions from; instead, San Francisco has been seeing major dividends from their special-teams unit, specifically their kicker Jake Moody and punter Mitch Wishnowsky.
While the coverage units have been questionable, the two main specialists have enjoyed a strong start to the season, with Moody earning much of the hype after beginning the season nine-for-nine following an inconsistent preseason, and deservedly so.
But, it's also time to share some love to Wishnowsky, who has quietly enjoyed a strong start to the season which has significantly helped the 49ers in playing the field position game.
Wishnowsky has punted 10 times in 2023, with seven going inside the 20-yard line, backing up opposing offenses, while also booting punts of 56, 62, and 67 yards.
The significance? Of those seven punts inside the 20-yard line, opposing offenses have gone three-and-out three times on the following drive, while two others resulted in interceptions, and the latter two resulted in long touchdown drives.
The 49ers' defense has already proven to be an upper-echelon unit, as expected, but Wishnowsky's ability to pin opposing offenses inside the 20-yard line, and really inside the 10-yard line has been a significant portion in aiding the defense, which then results in a positive flip of field position for San Francisco's offense.
Wishnowsky was paid the big bucks last season, and is living up to the part early in the 2023 season.