After imposing their strength as a perennial powerhouse Week 1--beating the New York “football” Jets 32-19 the San Francisco 49ers (1-0) now travel to face the Minnesota Vikings (1-0) at U.S. Bank Stadium.
What we learned from New York Jets game:
Rookie RG Dominick Puni showed promise in NFL debut
WR Brandon Aiyuk was rusty after training camp “hold-in”
RB Jordan Mason stepped in proving team has “quality depth” at RB
DT Maliek Collins is strong in run-support BUT not an interior pocket-pusher
OLB De’Vondre Campbell is just a tier below OLB Dre Greenlaw
CB Deommodore Lenoir was TARGETED early and often
SS George Odum is not a very good SS tackler in open-space
3 phases of football 🏈
Who holds the BEAST EDGE when it comes to offense, defense & special teams?
OFFENSE: 49ers
DEFENSE: 49ers
SPECIAL TEAMS: 49ers
BEAST top-3 matchups to watch
RG Dominick Puni vs DT Jerry Tillery
RT Colton McKivitz vs OLB Andrew Van-Ginkel
CB Charvarius Ward vs WR Justin Jefferson
Puni vs Tillery
This matchup will move the needle in terms of whether Puni’s impressive NFL debut was as advertised or a fluke. The Niners drafted Puni as a R3 pick (No. 86) in hopes of competing for the starting right guard position. He ended up beating out OG Spencer Burford in training camp.
Fast forward to Week 1 and Puni did an admirable job holding his own while going up against first-team All-Pro DT Quinnen Williams. The ability to hold his own in both pass protection and run blocking had reporters in awe.
Puni now will face a lesser opponent in Tillery. While not on the level of Williams, Tillery has a quick first-step as a 3T defensive tackle. I covered his game during my time as a beat writer/reporter for the Las Vegas Raiders & while he doesn’t say much in the locker room, his play as a pass-rusher speaks volumes.
It will be fun to watch the two go heads-up in this highly anticipated matchup.
McKivitz vs. Van Ginkel
This matchup is key on so many different levels (no pun intended).
At 6-6, 306 pounds, McKivitz’s size alone should be a tough task for Van Ginkel. Now, in his second-year as the full fledged starter, McKivtiz will need to prove his 2023 campgaign was no fluke, as he eases the blow of losing RT Mike McGlinchey.
Van Ginkel may win this matchup…
I covered Van Ginkel during his time with the Miami Dolphins and he always has a “knack” for being around the ball. A non-stop motor will be his effort but it’s his “take-on” skills that has me drawing rave reviews.
If you look around the landscape of the NFL and do enough legwork, you’ll find those high-effort guys who NOT only play to the whistle BUT end up making the play. Van Ginkel is NO EXCEPTION!
Van Ginkel is more of a win with SPEED & EFFORT rather than being fundamentally sound with his hand-usage and leverage which leaves plays to be desired. However, this matchup will undoubtedly come down to scheme & using Van Ginkel’s speed (6.89) 3-cone drill against him, while attacking his leverage in open space on 2nd level.
Ward vs Jefferson
Ward received my PFWA vote for 1st-team All-Pro and deservedly so. Jefferson would’ve been right there with him if it wasn’t for his pulmonary contusion injury that forced him out of action.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/08/29/49ers-ward-john-kyle-owner-know-what-theyre-doing-to-settle-disputes-soon/
When I evaluate a boundary CB, I look for cover-shell discipline, minimal penalties, and how mental lapses which include missed tackles, assignments, etc. Ward is as disciplined as they come.
That being said, I don’t see them extending him this offseason. Not enough money to go around with QB Brock Purdy being their No. 1 priority. But that’s for a later article.
Today, we talk Ward vs Jefferson where I see Jefferson winning this battle if the Vikings offensive line can hold up.
Jefferson was one of my favorite players coming out of the 2020 NFL draft, so much that I predicted the Niners to target him. Truth be told, it was confirmed after the dust settled that they were looking to take the LSU product if he was on the board.
No receiver has better route-running precision other than WR Davante Adams than Jefferson. You take false steps, it throws off timing. You use the wrong press-release technique it can throw your QB off in terms of RTE (Route Tree Expectation).
So many rules to the game YET they all play a small part to a play. Jefferson is one of the best at finding soft spots vs zone coverage, and if the Niners LBs don’t peel back far enough in their hook/curl drops, it could mean a BIG day for Jefferson as he runs the DIG behind the backers from outside the numbers.
Last week, I witnessed OLB De’Vondre Campbell give up a few plays as an underneath curl/hook defender. Vikings may exploit that come Sunday.
BEAST PREDICTION
The 49ers will prove to be too much in all three phases. It appears that second-year K Jake Moody has finally found his stride while the Niners defense continues to be top-5 all the way around. Shanahan is arguably the best play-caller in the NFL & he’ll cook up a game-plan where he puts enough points on the board & then plays keep away in the fourth-quarter.
Final score: 49ers win 26-20
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