49ers Mailbag: Is a trap game coming against Atlanta?
Sunday’s game in New Orleans was undoubtedly the best game of Jimmy Garoppolo’s career.
His 349-yard, four-touchdown game wasn’t his best statistical performance – he’s thrown for more yardage twice before – and he’s matched four touchdowns in the two games this season against the Arizona Cardinals.
But the playoff stakes, the stage and the opponent all made it Garoppolo’s signature performance in what’s turning into a very strong campaign. His 103.9 passer rating would be the sixth-best in franchise history while he’s on pace to throw 30 touchdown passes, which has only been done five times by 49ers signal callers before (Steve Young and Jeff Garcia twice each, Joe Montana once).
We’ll dive more into Garoppolo’s season later in the week. Until then, let’s get to your questions for this week’s mailbag!
Tim Sprinkles asks: Would you consider Atlanta a trap game? Coming off a highly emotional win for the Niners, the Falcons have some motivation to beat their former coach. Thoughts?
It certainly has all the ingredients of a letdown performance.
The team was exhausted after playing the Saints and spent 12 days on the road traveling to three cities: Baltimore, Sarasota, Florida, and New Orleans. Human nature suggests it would be difficult to have the same emotional intensity for a 4-9 opponent following the gauntlet against the Packers, Ravens and Saints.
But I believe the 49ers understand what’s at stake and won’t take their foot off the gas. The only guarantee at this point in the year is home field and a first-round bye is attainable by winning their final three games. That has to be their focus.
And should the Seahawks slip up again after losing Sunday in Los Angeles, there’s a chance San Francisco could head into that Week 17 game in Seattle without needing to win to secure a first-round bye, which could help get players healthy in time for the postseason.
So, yes, like we saw against Arizona last month, Sunday’s game could be closer than expected. But it could also be a blowout signaling the 49ers have their eyes on the prize and the right level of focus heading into the postseason.
Chris Ancheta asks: With Ben Garland starting at Center the rest of the way, who is going to back him up? Is there someone off the practice squad or come in from the outside?
Mike Person started 14 games at center for the Falcons in 2015 when Kyle Shanahan was the offensive coordinator. And Daniel Brunskill played there at times in August before working predominately at tackle once the season began.
San Francisco also has Ross Reynolds, an undrafted rookie from Iowa, on the practice squad. Though he didn’t play center in college. He could get the promotion to the active roster if San Francisco needed more depth on the inside. That could be coming once Richburg gets placed on injured reserve.
It sounds like Garland is going to be the starter for the remainder of the season. But it wouldn’t be surprising to see Person slide over from guard if Garland struggles, like he did while replacing Weston Richburg during the second quarter of the Nov. 11 loss to the Seahawks.
With Richburg out, Brunskill may be one of the team’s best five along the offensive line. So having him play right guard after playing well at right tackle could make sense if Person gets moved to center. That would be a pretty significant shakeup.
For now, instead of making changes at two positions, the 49ers will make just one with Garland replacing Richburg and see how it goes.
Grant Bauer asks: Why does it seem like the 49ers lead the league in injuries?
I don’t know – because it’s certainly not true.
San Francisco has used injured reserve 13 times (not including Richburg), which is tied for the seventh-fewest in the NFL this season, according to Spotrac. It’s a vast improvement over the last two years.
The 49ers in 2018 used injured reserve 23 times, third -most, and 22 in 2017, tied for fourth-most.
San Francisco has dealt with injuries just like any other team has. The silver lining is only two regular starters, Richburg and Kwon Alexander, have gone down for the season. Most teams would take that.
Casey asks: Is center a priority this offseason after two injury-shortened seasons for Richburg?
Kyle Shanahan indicated Tuesday he thinks Richburg should be healthy in time for the start of the 2020 season. But the question is valid because we can’t say with certainty how the injuries the past two years will impact Richburg’s athleticism going forward.
It wouldn’t be a bad decision to use a first-round pick on a center if the team thinks Richburg won’t be the same player, particularly one worth nearly $9 million next season. Moving on and replacing him with a cheaper rookie could be justified given the numbers crunch coming soon with Arik Armstead, Emmanuel Sanders and Jimmie Ward headed for free agency, as well as George Kittle and DeForest Buckner deserving market-setting new contract.
The 49ers have just under $24 million in cap space next season, and as things stand, it’s impossible to see those five players getting new deals and making everything fit without drastic changes coming elsewhere.
Ultimately, though, it’s far too soon to know how this will shake out. The 49ers might be just fine going forward with Garland, Person or Brunskill if Richburg doesn’t return to form.
Matt Sallaberry asks: Chris, did the Niners D just have an off week or did the Saints break the code?
Drew Brees is the toughest quarterback to sack in the NFL. He’s been sacked on just 3.1 percent of his dropbacks, tops in the league. Plus the Saints had extra time to prepare because they played on Thanksgiving the week prior against the Falcons. So it wasn’t shocking to see San Francisco’s league-best pass defense get tested in ways it hadn’t at any point this year.
But what’s notable about Sunday’s game, to me, was the health of the secondary and how New Orleans attacked 49ers backups. The final drive that nearly won the game for the Saints came with Richard Sherman, K’Waun Williams and Jaquiski Tartt sidelined.
Williams has been outstanding in the slot. Sherman is still playing at a Pro Bowl level and Marcell Harris proved he isn’t nearly as good in coverage as Tartt (New Orleans’ first three touchdowns went to tight ends).
Williams is beginning the week in the concussion protocol. Sherman is expected to miss multiple games and Tartt’s status is up in the air heading into Sunday’s game.
Suffice to say, I don’t think the 49ers issues on defense were a product of the Saints cracking a code. I think the issues were circumstantial.
However, the game signaled the importance of avoiding a return trip to the Superdome in the playoffs, because the Saints are far faster indoors on a quick track than they would be dealing with the elements in January.
Sack Francisco asks: What are the odds Kentavius Street is activated?
I’d say 50-50 at this point. Street can play defensive end and tackle (though the 49ers like him more on the inside) and are dealing with a slew of injuries along the defensive front, including to Dee Ford (hamstring), D.J. Jones (ankle sprain) and Jullian Taylor (elbow ligament).
Street could provide some depth and versatility if he were added to the roster. Though San Francisco could be inclined to promote undrafted rookie Kevin Givens from the practice squad instead, because he’s a more natural nose tackle should Jones and Taylor’s injuries linger.
This story was originally published December 11, 2019 at 8:46 AM.