U.S. Financial institution Stadium is a glass home of horrors for the 49ers.
Again-to-back seasons, the Niners have visited Minneapolis to play the Vikings.
And in back-to-back seasons, they’ve now misplaced.
Sunday’s 23-17 failure was suffering from poor play from San Francisco and glorious teaching and execution from the Vikings, who ought to have run away with this recreation, if not for the opportunistic play of Niners’ linebacker Fred Warner.
It’s a gut-check recreation for the 49ers, who play the Rams in L.A. in Week 3.
Right here have been the studs and duds of a dud of a contest.:
STUDS
Fred Warner • LB
» His efficiency on Monday evening was one of many most interesting you’ll ever see from a linebacker.
Sunday’s efficiency was even higher.
Warner’s interception and compelled fumble have been the one motive the Niners had any likelihood on this recreation. He was really unbelievable towards the Vikings.
It’s not sufficient to only name him an All-Professional. He’s a Corridor of Fame participant.
Jordan Mason • RB
» One other distinctive recreation for the participant who was a third-string working again initially of coaching camp. The system helps, sure, however you possibly can’t train that type of energy, imaginative and prescient, and burst. He’s a particular participant.
Deebo Samuel • WR
» As quarterback Brock Purdy regarded like Jimmy Garoppolo on Sunday, he discovered Deebo Samuel repeatedly. Eight catches for 110 yards, with a few otherworldly catches. With Christian McCaffrey out, Samuel must be the first choice within the 49ers’ offense.
George Kittle • TE
» No matter was in that IV he acquired, I would like some.
Kittle was immense as a blocker and move catcher on Sunday, going for 76 yards and a landing on seven catches. He’s nonetheless the most effective within the recreation, and the 49ers regarded misplaced when he wasn’t on the sector.
Nick Bosa • DE
» A menace, even towards stable sort out play. He registered two sacks within the recreation and was nice towards the run, once more. If solely there was somebody reverse him that might reap the benefits of his exhausting work.
DUDS
Brock Purdy • QB
» The offensive line did him few favors, and he had some big-time throws on this recreation, however he was something however incisive on this contest and was forcing the ball into protection repeatedly.
The Vikings’ constant and dynamic stress on the defenisve line had the younger quarterback flustered. He’s now 0-3 towards the 2 defensive coordinators recognized for that type of protection — Minnesota’s Brian Flores and then-Baltimore DC (now Seattle head coach) Mike MacDonald.
I think about many extra defensive coordinators will likely be making an attempt to duplicate these assaults within the weeks and months to return. It’s on Purdy to show he can beat it. With two picks (I depend the second turnover as an interception), he didn’t Sunday.
Kyle Shanahan and Nick Sorensen • HC and DC
» The Niners’ offensive and defensive coordinators have been outfoxed by their counterparts on Sunday. It’s on the gamers to execute, sure, nevertheless it took just too lengthy for the Niners’ offense to understand that the Vikings’ corners have been prone to easy whip routes. In the meantime, the Niners’ protection had dangerous personnel calls in massive spots, and it flipped a recreation that shouldn’t have been shut, if not for Fred Warner.
Ji’Ayir Brown • FS
» Caught along with his hand within the cookie jar, once more. Final week, Brown’s hesitation on the security place resulted in a free-play Allen Lazard landing.
This week, it was much more calamitous as Justin Jefferson scampered 97 yards — the ultimate 50 on the bottom — to the top zone.
The 49ers try to shift again to a Cowl 3 system. That requires a free security with excellent instincts, as he’s the singular final line of protection. Brown may need that type of potential, however by way of two video games, he hasn’t proven the flexibility, and an ideal quarterback (Aaron Rodgers) and offensive coordinator (Kevin O’Connell) have attacked it to 6 factors of success.
This will likely be a pattern week-in, week-out.
George Odum • SS
» Sure, the 49ers, different security, who stood no likelihood when matched up one-on-one with Jefferson on the 97-yard landing, however was additionally a part of a disastrous troika that allowed a first-quarter blocked punt.
Was it any shock that rookie Malik Mustafa noticed enjoying time from the second quarter onwards?
Jake Brendel • C
» He was actually good within the run recreation, however he’s being owned in move safety. And there’s no nuance to that assertion — he’s ending up snap after snap sitting on the bottom. It’s untenable.=
Aaron Banks • LG
» The one individuals who really know what the protections are on the offensive line are the gamers on the sector and the coaches with headsets. Truly, scratch that first half, as a result of there have been a number of events on Sunday the place it appeared that Banks was working a distinct play than the remainder of the Niners’ offensive line.
Except San Francisco’s entrance 5 abruptly grew to become an avant-garde unit, Banks was lacking assignments. His block to the precise, leaving the B hole open, on the 49ers’ near-goal line fourth-down try within the first half (which did not convert) allowed stress into Purdy’s face, dashing a throw that Andrew Van Ginkel was in a position to bat down on the sting.
De’Vondre Campbell • LB
» If Kevin O’Connell wasn’t placing the Niners’ safeties in a blender, he was attacking Campbell, who did little to discourage him from the notion. If Fred Warner wasn’t the most effective linebacker within the recreation, this might have loomed a lot, a lot bigger within the recreation.
Leonard Floyd • DE
» Did you discover him? I solely did as a result of I’m a sicko who watches to see if the Niners can get a defensive finish to set an edge. Floyd was solely ready to try this as a result of he was persistently getting stood up by the Vikings (admittedly robust) tackles. It’s time for extra Yetur Gross-Matos in all conditions.
Initially Printed: September 15, 2024 at 1:17 p.m.
