It's the bye week for the San Francisco 49ers. After a win over the Dallas Cowboys, the 49ers improved to 4-4 and now have a week to rest up and get healthy. They hope to get some injured players back, as well, which should help. Especially since some of those players are starters.
Even though it's the bye week, we're not taking time off. We're still here and we opened the 49ers Webzone mailbag to hear from you. You had some great questions, and we've answered each one. Thanks, as always, for taking the time to ask questions, and for reading our work.
Ok, enough with the mushy stuff. Let's get to the mailbag.
Bill Walsh traded high-priced, older players before their decline started. We all know that Brock Purdy will get paid next season, the cornerbacks are up for new contracts, and so are others. The 49ers need all the draft picks they can get. Is it time to trade Deebo, Kittle, Williams, and McCaffrey? I would enjoy this season much, much more if I knew they were making smart moves for a couple of years down the line. - Jonathan H.
As long as the 49ers are still in the race to win the division, and they very much are, they won't be trading away anyone. They are much more likely to add someone at the trade deadline. Now, if they fail to make the postseason, there will be plenty of second-guessing and wondering if they should have traded away some stars.
If the 49ers trade Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Trent Williams, and Christian McCaffrey, what message does that send? They would essentially be giving up. If they had lost to Dallas, I might have a different take. But where they sit right now, I believe they should hold on to their stars, and try to add one or two for a postseason run.
After the season, things may be completely different. Depending on where they are in February and March, they may need to consider trading Samuel or someone else. I doubt they'll trade Williams or McCaffrey. And I don't see them trading Kittle, but you never know.
Jonathan is right about Bill Walsh moving on from players before it was too late. He had a knack for that. But it also hurt his relationship with his team. I think he regretted some of the decisions he made. It's hard for coaches and general managers to do those things with the players they love so much. We'll see if Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch have what it takes to make those difficult calls.
How do you think Ricky Pearsall has looked so far? - Destiny R.
I've been impressed with Ricky Pearsall in his two games with the 49ers. Here's why:
- He didn't have much training camp and had no preseason. That's big, especially for a rookie. And yet, he's made plays when they've called his number.
- He got shot in the chest in late August. You may have heard about that. It's crazy that he survived and is now playing in NFL games.
- He was thrown to the wolves in his first game after Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk went down. Jauan Jennings was out, as well. And he was facing a very good Kansas City defense. That happened to be Brock Purdy's worst game, too. Even with all of that, Pearsall handled himself well.
- He was forced to start in his second game with Aiyuk out for the season, and Jennings still missing.
In Pearsall's two games, he has been targeted nine times and has seven catches for 59 yards. That's only 8.4 yards per reception, but he's a rookie still learning. I know of at least two plays in which he was lined up wrong. One of those plays resulted in a penalty on Sunday. So he's still trying to figure things out.
And Pearsall also had a 39-yard run against the Cowboys. That was an excellent call, and Pearsall executed it very well, as did his teammates. I've been surprised he's logged so many snaps in his first two games, but he's handled it well, and should only get better. Once Jennings returns, Pearsall may not get as many snaps, but he'll still be a big part of the offense.
Do the 49ers have enough faith in Cowing/Pearsall as (mostly) unproven rookies that they don't need to look elsewhere for WR help? There seem to be a few WRs that could be had via trade. - EHeels
The 49ers appear to have a lot of faith in Pearsall. I don't believe they trust Jacob Cowing as much, since he hasn't played on offense as much as Pearsall, Chris Conley, and Ronnie Bell. But they do trust him. After all, he's the punt returner.
If it was up to me, I'd play Cowing ahead of Conley and Bell. I have very little faith in those two, and rightfully so. They haven't done anything. Cowing hasn't done much either, but he hasn't been given the opportunities that the other two have been given.
To answer the question, the 49ers may be content with their wide receivers and know they have bigger needs at other positions. Because of this, I expect them to focus on those other areas at the trade deadline and not trade for a wide receiver. If they do grab a wide receiver, it won't be a big name.
Please someone address how bad our D is in the 4th quarter! - Blaine P.
Ok, I'll address it. They make me very nervous. It's hard to figure out why they can be so dominant at times and so bad at other times. In the third quarter of Sunday night's game, the Dallas possessions went like this:
- Interception
- Punt (three and out)
- Punt (three and out)
Dallas gained only 13 yards in the third quarter! That is complete domination by the 49ers. The Cowboy's fourth-quarter possessions went like this:
- Touchdown
- Touchdown
- Turnover on downs
In the fourth quarter, the Cowboys gained 140 yards on two touchdown drives. And they did it in 14 total plays. How did that happen? For me, it seemed like the 49ers let their foot off the gas, which has been an issue this season, and even in the past. You don't blow fourth-quarter leads without letting up or making mistakes. The 49ers did that in both Super Bowls. They did that against the Rams and Cardinals earlier this season. And they did it again on Sunday night. They just happened to close this one out.
I think a defensive tackle/end pass rush is needed. Others are not taking advantage of Bosa's double teams. The 49ers have working relationships with the Titans. Can we see Simmons get moved? - Lowbridge
Jeffery Simmons would be a good pickup for the 49ers. And he's on a team that is going nowhere. So it's possible the Titans could be looking to move him. But what will they be asking for him? Some believe the Titans are overvaluing Simmons, which could make the 49ers balk at a trade for him.
In 2024, Simmons has two sacks, 13 solo tackles (22 total), and one forced fumble. He's a big body that could help in run defense. People are talking about wide receivers, but I agree that the defensive line is a bigger need.
What will the front office do to improve the defensive line and get pressure? Floyd can't generate. Bosa is a 1 man machine with pressure, but pretty non-existent from everyone else. - KCarps
I expect them to add a defensive lineman via trade. Will it be a defensive tackle or an edge defender? Could it be both?
If Gross-Matos is returning soon, then their focus may be on the interior of the defensive line. Think run stuffer. But they also need help on the edges in pass rush. Last season, they added two edge rushers at the deadline (Randy Gregory and Chase Young). Neither worked out, but they did add some depth, which likely helped some.
My prediction is a defensive tackle. But we know the 49ers have been looking for edge rushers for a long time. And so far, Leonard Floyd hasn't been the answer.
In your opinion, is this bye week the right time for the 49ers? - Ed H.
Yes, it's the perfect time for a bye week. The 49ers are banged up and need to rest, recover, and regroup. Plus, the bye week gives them a little time to work on getting McCaffrey, Jennings, Dre Greenlaw, Jon Felciano, Talanoa Hufanga, and Yetur Gross-Matos back. Not to mention, it gives players like Samuel and Jordan Mason more time to heal up.
Everyone is talking about who the 49ers will trade for at the deadline. And I expect they'll make a move or two. But even if they don't, they should be getting back at least three players they have played without all season (McCaffrey, Greenlaw, Feliciano), along with two players they've barely had (Gross-Matos and Hufanga), and Jennings, who has been their best wide receiver this season. So that's almost like trading for five or six players right there. Four of those are starters and two of them are key backups/role players (although Jennings is now a starter without Aiyuk).
I think the 49ers are playing for theatrics because all their losses are self-inflicted. What do you think? - Sasha R.
I don't think they're playing for theatrics. I think they're playing sloppy, and letting up once they have a double-digit lead. Sometimes I wonder if they're bored in games with teams like the Rams and Cardinals. But from here on out, there's no margin for error, so they will need to be laser-focused on what they're doing.
Why can't Shanahan finish a game? Obviously, no one knows the answer, but he just goes brain-dead. Rams, Cardinals, Seahawks, and now Cowboys. Up 17, 3rd and 1, and a trick play. Totally turned the game. - TheGreavance
I mentioned this in the previous question, but I believe the 49ers are letting off the gas when they get a lead. Perhaps Shanahan is doing the same thing. Sometimes it feels like he's overthinking things and outsmarting himself. Whatever it is, they need to figure out a way to step on teams' throats once they get them down and finish them off. The 49ers are 4-4, but they should be 6-2 at worst.
That's all we have for this week's edition of the 49ers Webzone Mailbag. Enjoy your bye week, 49ers fans. Get your rest and heal up from your wounds. We have a tough stretch of games ahead.