Niners Nation
Your daily San Francisco 49ers news for Thursday, October 31st, 2024
49ers overreactions: Is Shanahan’s play-calling limiting team?
“The New York Giants lead the NFL with 35 sacks, and all that has brought them is a 2-6 record. Could the Giants trade edge rusher Azeez Ojulari, who is on the final year of his contract? If he’s available, that would consider a good, hard look. The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Other outside pass-rushers with ties to the 49ers who could be available are Arden Key (Tennessee Titans) and Chase Young (New Orleans Saints). Za’Darius Smith (Cleveland Browns) has reasonable price tags for this year and next. If the 49ers look to bolster their run defense, it is worth considering a reunion with Denver Broncos defensive tackle D.J. Jones. Although, with the Broncos’ 5-3 record, they probably aren’t going to be sellers at the trade deadline.
A lot of the contenders have comparable sack numbers to the 49ers. But, absolutely, the 49ers could add another defensive lineman for help on third downs.
Third downs are when a consistent pass rush shows up the most. And the 49ers rank 26th in the league, allowing a 44.1-percentage of third-down conversions.”
How has 49ers’ 2024 draft class performed in season’s first half? (paywall)
“The 49ers’ rookies have played 1,245 snaps on offense and defense and are on pace to log 2,646 this season. Last year, their nine rookies who remained with the team after final roster cuts played 789 snaps on offense and defense, with kicker Jake Moody playing 177 on special teams. In 2022, their eight draft picks played 1,755 snaps.”
“While Kittle, Williams and other 49ers are confident that getting injured players back combined with what’s already in the locker room should be enough to contend, there’s no denying that another addition or two could offer a needed jumpstart.
As has often been the case in previous years, the defensive line figures to be the top priority.”
Jones admits he once cried at Candlestick due to 49ers’ Cowboys ownage
“I personally — and we don’t need to go way back — one of the few times I’ve ever cried — literally, cried — was the [1995 NFC Championship Game] we had at Candlestick Park in San Francisco,” Jones recalled (h/t Dallas Cowboys). “We lost that game, and I thought we had a great team. We lost it when [Barry Switzer] was our coach and [Deion Sanders] was a 49er. We came back there, and I thought we had a chance to win it after a disastrous start.”
49ers defense improves in key area, poised to benefit from Dre Greenlaw’s return
“According to Pro Football Focus, the San Francisco 49ers defense missed only four tackles in Sunday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys. This marks a substantial improvement, as the defense has previously recorded double-digit missed tackles three times this season and nine or...
