Waiting for them are the Miami Dolphins, who arrive at Levi's Stadium 0-1 after a 27-13 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Miami showed flashes in Week 1, but San Francisco shouldn't need to reinvent anything to get to 2-0.
Here are my three keys to victory.
Key No. 1: Make Malik Willis a Quarterback
That might sound disrespectful, but hear me out.
Malik Willis is dangerous when the play breaks down. Against Las Vegas, he rushed for 39 yards and scored Miami's only touchdown on a 14-yard scramble. He also threw for 220 yards but completed just 15 of 27 passes, threw an interception, and was sacked five times.
The 49ers can't get so obsessed with sacks that they create escape lanes. Set the edge. Rush with discipline. Keep Willis inside the pocket.
If Willis is going to beat San Francisco, make him consistently do it with his arm. Don't let a broken play become a 20-yard run because everybody wanted the sack.
Make Malik Willis a quarterback.
Key No. 2: Run the Damn Football
Sometimes football doesn't have to be complicated.
The 49ers ran for 174 yards against the Rams. Christian McCaffrey averaged 6.8 yards per carry, while rookie Kaelon Black added 65 yards on 14 attempts.
So why get cute? Run the damn football.
Make Miami prove it can stop McCaffrey and Black. Use the motion. Get Deebo Samuel involved. Make those Dolphins linebackers come downhill and tackle for four quarters.
And once they start creeping toward the line of scrimmage? That's when Brock Purdy and the play-action passing game can go to work.
The run shouldn't just move the football. It should dictate how Miami has to defend San Francisco.
Key No. 3: Get Off the Damn Field
Miami converted only 2 of 10 third downs in its Week 1 loss. Keep that problem a problem. Get Willis into third-and-long. Take away his escape lanes. Bring the pressure and finish the possession.
But this key applies to the 49ers offense, too. Avoid the quick three-and-outs. Extend drives. Keep Purdy in manageable situations and make Miami's defense stay on the field.
San Francisco controlled stretches of its Week 1 victory by sustaining drives and leaning on its rushing attack. Do that again, and the Dolphins could spend a long afternoon trying to get their offense back onto the field.
Bottom Line
The formula for Week 2 is pretty straightforward. Make Malik Willis be a quarterback. Run the damn football. Get off the damn field.
San Francisco doesn't need to chase the performance it had against Los Angeles. Instead, build on it. Play disciplined defense, establish the run, and win the money downs.
Do those three things, and the 49ers will put themselves in position to start the season 2-0.
Written By:
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.
All articles by Wayne "Breezie" Brown
Wayne "Breezie" Brown
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.
All articles by Wayne "Breezie" Brown
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