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BRADENTON, Fla. – After another last-snap defeat, the 49ers (10-2) have retreated here to prepare for Sunday’s game at New Orleans (10-2). Good thing the fan mail can still find us and here are the top questions submitted via my Instagram and Twitter handles:
Will SF beat the New Orleans Saints? (@24_caballoproblemz)
Sunday’s 20-17 loss at Baltimore wasn’t a soul crusher, and it gives me no driving reason to diminish the 49ers’ chances in New Orleans. The Superdome atmosphere will be electric – no pun intended toward the 49ers’ Super Bowl blackout there. I love this matchup and say the 49ers win 24-23 to solidify their NFC-playoff footing. They just better avoid a bad-call repeat of their 2013 visit, when officials nullified an Ahmad Brooks’ strip sack of Drew Brees, the Saints rallied and the 49ers headed for a wild-card berth.
Is this matchup against Brees really easier than facing a mobile QB for our D-line? (@corralalmada)
I won’t dare say any matchup with Drew Brees is easy. He’s amazing (even in defeat, such as the 2011 season’s playoff game at the ‘Stick). This matchup suits the 49ers better because their pass-rush mentality is to go full steam into the backfield, where the quarterback is supposed to be, unless you’ve got ankle-breaking elusiveness like Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson.
Should we have run the ball on fourth-and-1? (@master_anshul)
I’ve been adamantly opposed to the call from its snap … and I totally respect its aftermath in that Kyle Shanahan is not apologizing for it. Stick with your gut, don’t cover your butt, as an esteemed former skipper told me. That said, the pass play backfired and ultimately could ruin their playoff path. The Ravens’ ensuing drive saw Lamar Jackson convert on fourth-and-1 (on a 3-yard RUN). Shanahan understandably did not like the Ravens’ look of stuffing the box. A worse look: his QB in shotgun with no play-action deception or threat of a run, while trying to throw over tall linemen, to a covered George Kittle, in the rain, when you’re averaging 6 yards per run. (Yes, that is a “run-on” sentence.)
How is the team mentality after the loss? (@pjvie)
Mixed. No one was happy about it, even if several players were proud of their effort. Linebacker Fred Warner valiantly kept his composure when we could tell this loss pained him. Two losses down, no fingers publicly pointing at the leading culprits, and that’s good.
Why Florida and not Ohio? (@ffarrelll)
First, the Ohio layover worked between Weeks 1 and 2 because they went to play the Bengals and had better weather in September than now (temps in 30s, snow in forecast). Second, IMG Academy offers 70-degree, Florida sunshine, and it hosted the Raiders’ successful layovers in recent years. This also gives them a short flight to New Orleans on Friday.
Are the 49ers concerned with Gould? They did not release Chase McLaughlin when Gould came back. Is that a hedge for the future? (@mauijim3)
They better be concerned with a kicker who is 14-of-22 on field-goal attempts and 7-of-15 beyond 30 yards. It was smart to keep McLaughlin for future insurance and see how Gould’s quadriceps injury responded. Getting a 51-yard attempt partially blocked was not a good look for the unit. All that aside, I can’t see them siding with McLaughlin over Gould’s 15 years of experience as they enter this home stretch.
Why so little usage of Richie James? All he does is ball out. (@fields49)
This is indeed perplexing. He had only two offensive snaps, one of which saw him help spring Raheem Mostert for a 40-yard touchdown run. The game before, he made a long reception to spark things. Shanahan said Monday he must rotate James and Marquise Goodwin into the mix more — to keep fresh their three top receivers in Emmanuel Sanders, Deebo Samuel and Kendrick Bourne.
Is Goodwin’s time done? (@natebannerman)
Marquise Goodwin’s latest disappearing act saw him play only one snap Sunday – on special teams. He’s not listed on the injury report, and Shanahan said he’s ready to go. But he’s fallen on the depth chart behind Sanders and Samuel. At this point, it seems his 2020 prospects may be long jumping in the Olympic trials than jumping back into the 49ers’ fold.
Is it possible the biggest fourth down of the day was the last one, the one the Ravens went for from their own 44? (@49ersCamelot)
You can argue that. I still say the 49ers’ fourth-down breakdown was bigger. Once the 49ers turned over the bal, the Ravens had all the momentum, and it wasn’t the least bit surprising Lamar Jackson cashed in on a fourth-and-1 run on the Ravens’ winning drive. Flashback: A Russell Wilson run (18 yards on third down) set up the Seahawks’ overtime field goal.
Did Shanahan call even one screen pass? (@11012010Finally)
Couple points here. One, we rarely know what play calls are made or if Jimmy Garoppolo audibles out of them. Second, the running backs caught all four of their targets, so they weren’t totally ignored. But, yeah, I can’t recall a well-executed screen like they’ve done in past games — to wide receivers and running backs.
Injury updates? (@Rabrealey)
Jaquiski Tartt’s rib fracture might keep him out but he’s listed as day to day. Richard Sherman vowed to play through a sprained right knee and the 49ers want him to face the Saints. D.J. Jones (ankle) is day to day, but one of his replacements, Jullian Taylor, tore elbow ligaments and is out at least a couple weeks.
Shanahan is optimistic Dee Ford (hamstring), Matt Breida (ankle) and Joe Staley (finger) will return to face New Orleans. Pettis (knee) is likely out again.
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