Niners Nation
We are through five weeks of the regular season, and the San Francisco 49ers are fourth in the NFL in snap count percentage for rookies. The first-year players were always going to be relied on to make instant contributions. Each of them has, in their own way, been a big part of why the 49ers sit atop the NFC West. Let’s get into the rookie report card.
Mykel Williams received Arik Armstead comps for the exact way that he’s played through five weeks. Williams doesn’t have a sack, has one game where he had more than one pressure, but has been the force the 49ers need along the defensive line.
Per Sports Info Solutions, the rushing EPA per 60 plays is -13 with Williams on the field compared to -2 with him off. That’s a drastic difference, and a sign that Mykel’s best football is yet to come. Fred Warner has made more plays and more plays closer to the line of scrimmage with Williams on the field. Warner’s average depth of tackle is nearly one yard lower (0.8 yards) with Williams on the field.
There are a few plays in a game where Williams overwhelms whoever he’s going against, usually a guard, and is responsible for one of his teammates making a tackle for loss. Williams pressured Matthew Stafford once in Week 5, which should have resulted in an interception. He’s close. I’d say Williams is exactly who the 49ers had hoped for him to be through five games.
Collins played a season high in snaps last Thursday at 37. He saved the day for the 49ers with a forced fumble and recovery. Like Williams, Collins was never going to be the type of player to stuff the stat sheet. He does the dirty work, like taking on double-team blocks so the linebackers behind him can run freely.
And like Williams, the 49ers are worse when Collins isn’t on the field. There’s a -.09 difference in rushing EPA and -0.05 in total EPA per play overall with Collins on the field. I thought it was telling on the final play of Week 5 that Kyle Shanahan was willing to call a timeout to put the 330+ pounder in the lineup. It made a difference, as the Rams ran to Collins’ side, the running back had to bounce his run one gap to the right, and multiple defenders were there to meet him.
Collins was thought of as a run defender, but he’s had a pressure in three of the five games. If San Francisco can get Collins on the field for 57 percent of the snaps as they did in Week 5, they’ll be in good shape. Teams are struggling to run the ball when he’s on the field, and it generally leads to longer down and distances on passing downs.
Collins is right on schedule.
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