Any San Francisco 49ers fan who watched the game Thursday night went to bed happy, woke up happy, and is overwhelmingly grateful they got Robert Saleh back as defensive coordinator and that they added quarterback Mac Jones to the roster. (I wrote a few weeks ago that his signing was my favorite of the offseason.)
Jones was money the entire game, but in close games, the way you tell the great from the average is how they play when the game is on the line. Great players make mistakes when it is unimportant. The average players are the opposite. A good example is in tennis. Carlos Alcaraz double-faults on the first point of a game when he is leading 4-2 and hits a winner when he is down a match point. The lesser players hit winners in the second game and double-fault in the tiebreaker.
People questioned the drafting of defensive tackle Alfred Collins in the second round this past spring, saying he did not rush the passer well, but he was not brought in for that. Collins was known for his ability to stuff the run. He has had his rookie struggles, like many, but on the biggest play of the night, he forced (and recovered) the fumble that saved the game. I don't know if he will end up being great, but fighting that hard to win and coming through bodes well.
Safety Marques Sigle struggled in coverage during the game. Still, if we are objective, he was never far out of position and was almost always up against either Puka Nacua or Davante Adams, two of the best wideouts in the league for several years. And when the game was on the line—4th-and-1, stuff them and go home with a win—Sigle provided the knockout blow that didn't allow Kyren Williams to potentially bounce outside, like he had many times earlier, and get the first down.
So far this year, the defense has come up big with games on the line. That bodes well for this rookie class. Upton Stout has made huge plays, both in coverage and blitzing. Mykel Williams has blown up offensive lines.
However, the downside is that the 49ers have some players who disappear when it matters most. It will come as no surprise to readers that I am referring to the offensive line. General Manager John Lynch simply must invest resources in building the offensive line the way he has with the defensive line. In the first Kyle Shanahan Super Bowl, in the fourth quarter, when a single drive of even three first downs would have likely secured a victory, the Chiefs suddenly got pressure after pressure on Jimmy Garoppolo.
Two years ago, in the overtime loss to the Chiefs, defensive tackle Chris Jones destroyed the interior line so quickly that Brock Purdy had to dirt the ball rather than throw to a wide-open Jauan Jennings for a touchdown. Another lost Super Bowl was mainly due to the offensive line collapsing at the most crucial moments.
One of the most damning stats of all this year is that after five games, the 49ers have no rushing touchdowns. Read that again: the San Francisco 49ers have zero rushing touchdowns. One would have thought they'd finally get one Thursday night when they had 1st-and-goal from the L.A. 3-yard line. Christian McCaffrey gained two yards, and then Kyle Juszczyk was thrown for a one-yard loss.
Let that sink in. With a chance to take a three-score lead, the offensive line only needed to provide enough push to get a running back one yard. Instead, even on a quick hitter, they were beaten so badly that the defense pushed them back a yard.
And in overtime on Thursday night, on 2nd-and-3 at the 14-yard line, the O-line gave up a sack, then followed that with a near sack on third down, and the Niners settled for a field goal. Thank goodness the defense rose to the occasion.
Christian McCaffrey is not a terrible running back. You can see what he can do if he has the slightest crease. But he averaged 2.6 yards per carry against the Rams. He has barely over three for the season. He has not been under four since his rookie year on an awful Carolina team. (And he had more yards per carry even on that team.)
John Lynch extended right tackle Colton McKivitz a few weeks ago. This is the same lineman who whiffed on numerous blocks on Thursday night—one of which nearly got Jones injured—and committed two costly penalties.
Left guard Connor Colby was repeatedly beaten soundly and also committed two penalties. He is filling in for the injured Ben Bartch, who was terrible before he got hurt. Yes, Colby is a 7th-round pick, but why is Lynch waiting until the 7th round to draft offensive linemen?
Trent Williams looks to be slowing down with age. After being the best tackle in the league for most of his career, he is looking run-of-the-mill. It happens to the best of them. But what will Lynch do? The 49ers need a successor. They need a new center, a new left guard, and McKivitz should be a swing tackle. Brock Purdy's contract is not prohibitive for signing a good free agent. San Francisco will have its full set of draft picks. Lynch needs to put the same focus on the offensive line as he did on the defensive line this past spring.
Playing well against average teams is fine, and it will help get you to the playoffs. But for a team that chases a Super Bowl every year when they are healthy, what matters is how they play against the bullies of the league.
Philadelphia won the big prize last year because its line dominated, even making Chris Jones disappear. The Niners could do the same with even a top-10 line.
Don't look at how they play on 2nd-and-4 at midfield. Don't look at how they play against a .500 team. Watch that line when we're inside the 5. Watch that O-line when it's the playoffs.
Please, John Lynch, build a unit that excels when the game is on the line. Give us five who make the plays when it matters.