Kyle Shanahan shares 49ers updates headed into the bye week
“We won’t get back with the players until next Monday. We just spent all day with them today, just finished here a little bit ago. Tomorrow they’ll come in, they’ll do all workouts and things like that, do a little exercise on the field, have a meeting and then we’ll be done with them. Then we’ll come back Monday ready to go.”
49ers vs. Falcons PFF grades: Best and worst from the game, plus snap counts
“Colby allowed a game-high five pressures, contributing to his 45.4 pass-blocking grade, the lowest among the game’s offensive linemen. He also received the lowest overall offensive grade among offensive linemen, finishing at 45.7.”
49ers’ Christian McCaffrey has mild hamstring strain. Will he return after bye week? (Paywall)
“Postgame, McCaffrey told reporters that his leg “just died” on him. “I was trying to get it going for the whole rest of the game, but it just sucks trying to play like that. But I know I’ll be all right.”
49ers grades: The defensive line laid an egg; Secondary struggles continue
“The group that has punched above its weight class all season finally came back down to earth. We’ve been spoiled by defensive tackles who controlled the game. That was not the case in Atlanta.
Gracen Halton was invisible for the first time.
Sebastian Valdez’s only stat was a missed tackle.
Osa Odighizuwa has the same pass-rush win rate as Kyle Shanahan, who tore Odighizuwa a new one on the sideline after the veteran jumped offside on 4th and 4.
Rookie James Thompson was the most active, with a pressure and two run stops. But, and this wasn’t on him, a penalty gifted Atlanta a fresh set of downs on 3rd and 2.
Three edge rushers played over 30 snaps: Romello Height (38), Keion White (35), and Mykel Williams (31). The edge group had zero tackles for loss. Mykel missed a pair of tackles. He had one pressure. Keion had two. Romello had zero, but he and Williams both had run stops.
They bottled up Bijan Robinson, who had only one 10+ yard run, but they still moved off the ball more than usual. Robinson had 19 yards before contact, and Khalil Herbert had four on two carries.”
Watkins - A Closer Look
Against the Falcons, Jordan Watkins led Niners receivers with 3 catches, 6 targets, and 56 yards. He made some plays and seemed to separate himself from the guy he is often grouped with, Jacob Cowing. Even though Cowing had 3 catches, 5 targets and 38 yards himself, the gap between the 2 was much larger. Watkins almost TD was impressive.
For Watkins to excel, he needs to get better in 2 areas. First, his route running should be crisper. On the 35 yard bomb, Watkins slowed down and jumped to catch the ball up high. 2 defenders closed on him and by the time he landed he was tackled immediately. If he runs under and catches it in stride, that’s a big YAC opportunity and maybe he takes it to the house. His first catch, the 15 yarder was one he had to lay out to catch. Purdy hits receivers in stride so it’s hard to conclude that only the throws to Watkins are off. Looking at that play again, Watkins likely ran the route a little off. Maybe he broke a step late, or took an off angle, but if he catches that ball in stride that’s more YAC.
Second, Watkins falls badly. He lands elbow first and that jars the ball loose. If he keeps those elbows tucked in and spreads the impact from shoulder to elbow, he can secure the ball through impact. He could have held on for that spectacular TD catch. Also, there was another target he almost caught but the ball popped out at the end and it was ruled an incompletion. He landed on his elbow when he went down.
Watkins well could have posted 5 catches, 100+ yards and a TD or 2. It’s not hard to see him at that level if only he crisps up his routes and falls better, like not elbow first.
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