MMQB: Seahawks dominate 49ers down in trenches; win 28-21
The San Francisco 49ers are clearly a team in disarray. After last week’s 28-30 heartbreaking loss at the hands of the Green Bay Packers, the Niners were primed for a bounce-back game at home. That didn’t happen.
QB Jimmy Garoppolo (calf) was knocked out of the game with yet another injury while rookie QB Trey Lance was dealing with growing pains as a rookie quarterback. Those two outcomes aren’t a recipe for success as the Seahawks won 28-21.
Seahawks score 3 redzone TDs in second half
QB Russell Wilson 16-yard TD run
WR Freddie Swain 13-yard TD catch
RB Alex Collins 14-yard TD run
49ers defense was tired at halftime
Seahawks RB Chris Carson was essentially a non-factor during first half play. The 49ers defense bottled up Carson en route to a paltry 6 carries for 12 rushing yards (2.0 avg).
That forced Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll to roll with backup RB Alex Collins right before the half which helped boost their first scoring drive--Collins finished the first half with 3 carries for 12 rushing yards (4.0 avg).
The scoring drive was the Seahawks longest drive of the first half:
2:54 scoring drive
6 plays for 80 yards
13.3 yards per play
It was then that I realized the 49ers defense was in trouble.
49ers defense in second half
The 49ers tried to contain the Seahawks rushing attack in the second half but to no avail. On the Seahawks second drive, Carson registered two carries for 14 rushing yards (7.0 avg) while Collins picked up a six-yard carry in the process.
The 6.7 yards per carry average was the 49ers kryptonite. The Niners didn’t make the halftime adjustments to keep fresh legs on the field while changing up the defensive line’s wide-9 technique between the tackles. That falls on DC DeMeco Ryans once again as QB Russell Wilson benefited--for a 16-yard TD run.
Seahawks OC Shane Waldron kept the pedal to the metal. He didn’t waver from imposing his team’s will down in the trenches.
On the 4th drive of the second half the Seahawks ran the ball a total of six times en route to 29 rushing yards (4.8 avg). The scoring drive lasted 81-yards while chewing up 4:57 of time of possession.
This scoring drive is what ultimately broke the camel’s back with 12:07 remaining in the 4th-quarter.
Why did Shanahan keep Trenton Cannon in the game?
You can make an argument 49ers KR/PR Trenton Cannon single-handedly lost this game. He broke the cardinal rule of diving into the end zone after pinning the Seahawks inside their own 5-yard line, he muffed a kickoff only to fumble it away a few second later, then he opted not to field a kickoff altogether on his next kick return which led to poor field position.
Why Shanahan kept Cannon in the game is beyond me. I even tweeted as much in real-time. That falls on not only Cannon for not understanding fundamentals but the coaching staff for keeping him in the game.
After all, it was the coaches decision to activate him in the first place.
The team finally replaced Cannon with WR Mohamed Sanu as the team’s punt returner and WR Deebo Samuel as the kick returner but it was already too late. Something I wanted them to do immediately after Cannon had that “deer in the headlights” look the first time around.
QB Trey Lance was looking like a rookie but delivered a spark
Niners rookie QB Trey Lance provided another dimension that QB Jimmy Garoppolo couldn’t. His dual-threat rushing ability forced the Seahawks second-level backers to apply a robber-scheme or hole player in case Lance chose to scramble.
In all, Lance had an up-and-down second half. He delivered two 80+ scoring drives which ended in WR Deebo Samuel touchdowns. But he also was erratic throwing some underneath stuff.
9/18 for 157 passing yards, 2 TDs
QBPR: 117.1
7 carries for 41 rushing yards (5.9 avg)
WR Deebo Samuel looking like an All-Pro
Forget being selected to his first Pro Bowl, Samuel is on track for his first All-Pro selection.
A more prestigious year-end accolade as All-Pro talent means the best of the best while Pro Bowls are based on household names, you can be sure Samuel is on my short list when it comes to exercising my All-Pro votes as a PFWA member.
8 catches for 156 receiving yards (19.5 avg) and 2 TDs
I’ve been high on both Samuel and DE Nick Bosa since day one. I even had both targeted as my top choices for the Niners. Fast forward two years later, and another BEAST receipt checks out.
Samuel is on pace for a career-year which means he’s due for a big time contract. Samuel will be entering the last year of his rookie contract next season, so you can bet this year’s numbers will only be better in 2022.
So far Samuel has 28 catches for 490 receiving yards (17.5 avg) and 3 TDs.
2021 49ers | BEAST receipts
1-2-1 ATS
3-1 o/u
With the 49ers dropping to 2-2, they will now face the 1st place rival Arizona Cardinals on the road.
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