It’s getaway week for the San Francisco 49ers.
Kyle Shanahan said the 49ers would spend Monday afternoon going over the film from Sunday’s win over the Dallas Cowboys and then have a team photo. On Tuesday, there will be a big lift and run with strength coach Dustin Perry, followed by a team meeting in the afternoon. After that, the 49ers are off on a five-day break.
Shanahan said the coaches will stick around a little longer this week to evaluate the first half of the season. But the priority is to take advantage of the bye by getting away from football.
“We all get a little bit of a break from each other and then come back ready for this grind that’s ahead of us,” he said.
Shanahan’s offense played 68 snaps against Dallas versus 62 snaps for the defense. San Francisco had a big advantage in takeaways (2-0) and rushing yards (223 to 56), which allowed the 49ers to largely control the clock, 33:12 to 26:48.
Here’s how the individual snaps were divided:
Quarterback: Brock Purdy 68
After the Week 7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the question was where all the screens, end arounds and pre-snap motions — usually so prominent in the 49ers offense — had gone?
They were back against the Cowboys. The 49ers called six screens, more than in any game this season. They weren’t always successful. The Cowboys, for example, had a third-quarter attempt to Deebo Samuel Sr. well covered, so Purdy tucked the ball under his arm and gained 9 yards.
The end around everyone suspected might go to Jacob Cowing this week instead went to another rookie receiver, Ricky Pearsall, who found plenty of daylight and gained 39 yards.
Ricky was MOVIN!@S1ickSzn
📺 #DALvsSF on NBC
NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/EHkktKnyhe— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 28, 2024
Purdy, meanwhile, looked more like himself as far as getting the ball out quickly and targeting the short and medium middle of the field. He was 8-of-10 for 132 yards in those zones with a passer rating of 118.8.
Running back: Isaac Guerendo 43, Kyle Juszczyk (fullback) 39, Jordan Mason 11, Patrick Taylor Jr. 5, Samuel 4, George Kittle 1
Some of Purdy’s short throws over the middle were to the running back, something that’s been conspicuously absent this year. Mason, for example, has logged 339 offensive snaps this season, but only has 12 targets in the passing game.
Guerendo, meanwhile, played roughly three-quarters of Sunday’s game and was targeted four times and finished with 17 receiving yards. Guerendo wasn’t perfect in the backfield. His whiff on a blitzing Cowboys linebacker resulted in a blindside sack on Purdy that easily could have resulted in a fumble at a point when Dallas was fighting its way back into the game.
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Receiver: Chris Conley 52, Pearsall 40, Samuel 38, Ronnie Bell 15, Cowing 12
The timing between Purdy and newcomer Pearsall sharpened over the last week, especially on an out-breaking route in the second quarter. The quarterback released the ball just as Pearsall was making his break, resulting in an 11-yard catch.
“He picks it up fast,” Shanahan said of Pearsall’s improvement since he returned to practice two weeks ago. “He’s getting better and better. He’s got a real natural feel to the game and now it’s just about getting a feel with our offense. And I think it’s gotten better each week.”
The next step for Pearsall will be staying on his feet after the catch, a hallmark of the 49ers’ pass catchers. He has just 9 yards after the catch on his seven receptions in the last two games.
After leading the 49ers’ wideouts in receiving yards, 50, in Week 7, Cowing got no targets in the passing game against the Cowboys and was out-snapped 15-12 by Bell, who got one target.
Shanahan said Conley suffered a hamstring strain Sunday and is week to week. He said he expects Jauan Jennings (hip) to be back at practice after the bye.
Tight end: Kittle 64, Eric Saubert 14, Jake Tonges 2, Brayden Willis 1
Kittle went over 100 yards — 128 — for the first time this season and led the 49ers in receiving yards for the second time in as many weeks. His 6,777 career receiving yards are the third most in franchise history, trailing only Jerry Rice (19,247) and Terrell Owens (8.572). Kittle passed Dwight Clark (6.750) on Sunday to reach third place.
Sunday’s game was the first time this season the 49ers have had four tight ends in uniform. In honor of National Tight Ends Day, Kittle ran onto the field alongside the three others during his pre-game introduction.
Offensive line: Trent Williams 68, Aaron Banks 68, Jake Brendel 68, Dominick Puni 68, Colton McKivitz 68
The 49ers allowed just six quarterback pressures to the Micah Parsons-less Cowboys, according to Pro Football Focus, which tied with the Week 4 win over the New England Patriots for the fewest this season. The only sack was given up by Guerendo.
Quarterback pressures allowed:
- Banks 2
- McKivitz 2
- Puni 1
- Guerendo 1
Defensive line: Nick Bosa 60, Maliek Collins 47, Leonard Floyd 46, Jordan Elliott 33, Sam Okuayinonu 29, Evan Anderson 14, Kalia Davis 14, Robert Beal Jr. 5
Will the 49ers trade for a defensive end? If they don’t, they’ll likely cite the development of Okuayinonu, who again looked good in a limited number of snaps.
He finished with five quarterback pressures, including a sack, with three.of his pressures coming when he lined up as an interior rusher on passing downs. Okuayinonu has experience as an inside rusher having played defensive tackle for the Tennessee Titans in 2022.
“He really didn’t get reps there throughout camp, so for him to be able to produce inside is a testament to his ability to adapt and help us,” Bosa said after the game.
Quarterback pressures:
- Bosa 6
- Collins 5
- Okuayinonu 5
- Floyd 3
- Beal 1
- Elliott 1
- Fred Warner 1
Linebacker: Warner 62, De’Vondre Campbell Sr. 62, Dee Winters 11, Tatum Bethune 2
Sunday’s game featured both the linebacker the 49ers initially tried to sign in free agency, Eric Kendricks, and the one they ended up signing instead, Campbell. And Campbell looked good in comparison.
While Kendricks was beaten by Samuel on a 47-yard pass play on the opening drive, Campbell had perhaps his best game as a 49er in finishing with a season-high six solo tackles. Kendricks, meanwhile, led his team in tackles but also was cited for four missed tackles.
Shanahan on Monday said Winters is in the concussion protocol after suffering a blow to the head in the second half. He’s the first 49er to enter the concussion protocol this season.
Shanahan was hesitant to give a firm timeline on Dre Greenlaw’s return from his February Achilles tear, but he said the linebacker might be in a week-to-week situation once the 49ers are back from their bye. Greenlaw hasn’t practiced in nearly nine months and likely would be eased back onto the field once his practice window is opened.
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Cornerback: Deommodore Lenoir 61, Charvarius Ward 58, Renardo Green 45, Isaac Yiadom 9
Green appeared to injure his ankle when safety Ji’Ayir Brown ran into him on CeeDee Lamb’s second touchdown catch. The collision left the receiver wide open in the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown that cut San Francisco’s lead to six points with 3:32 remaining. Aside from that, Green gave up one catch for 7 yards. He’s day to day with the ankle sprain, Shanahan said.
Lenoir had his second interception in as many games. He was targeted a season-high 12 times, mostly on plays on which he was lined up in the slot. He allowed seven catches for 105 yards.
Ward left the field for a few snaps after experiencing tightness in his groin. He was evaluated on the sideline and went back into the game.
Safety: Brown 62, Malik Mustapha 62
Brown got his first takeaway of the season after Bosa hit Dak Prescott as he threw in the first quarter, causing his pass to float down the sideline. The young safety duo also did a good job of limiting big plays. The Cowboys’ longest gain of the contest was a 29-yard pass to Lamb in the fourth quarter.
Both players, however, were going the wrong way on the first of Lamb’s way-too-easy touchdowns. Mustapha was initially headed in the right direction but decided to help Green with KaVontae Turpin in the back of the end zone.
All the 49ers defenders were going the wrong way on the first of CeeDee Lamb’s way-too-easy TDs. Malik Mustapha turned around to double cover KaVontae Turpin in the back of the end zone. pic.twitter.com/jJnRZ6ImP6
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) October 28, 2024
Special teams: Saubert 24, George Odum 22, Beal 19, Yiadom 18, Bethune 18, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles 18, Darrell Luter Jr. 17, Taylor 17, Tonges 15, Guerendo 13, Anders Carlson 13, Taybor Pepper 10, Mitch Wishnowsky 10, Winters 9, Adrian Amos 8, Willis 8, McKivitz 6, Puni 6, Moore 6, Nick Zakelj 6, Spencer Burford 6, Banks 6, Campbell 6, Brown 6, Warner 6, Okuayinonu 6, Lenoir 5, Anderson 5, Cowing 4, Elliott 4, Conley 2, Bell 1, Bosa 1, Ward 1, Green 1, Floyd 1
The 49ers, whose special teams ranked 31st entering the game, battled the Cowboys’ No. 1-ranked special teams to a draw. And considering how things have gone this season, that’s a win for special teams coordinator Brian Schneider.
Shanahan said he wasn’t thinking of making a change with Schneider.
“That hasn’t entered my head at all,” he said. “I was proud of us last night, thought we were up against a huge challenge. I thought our guys played real hard and did a real good job controlling Turpin, who’s one of the better game changers in this game.”
Carlson was 3-of-3 on field goals, including one from 50 yards out. He only had one touchback but wasn’t trying for them. Instead, the 49ers were resolved to pop the ball into the air short of the goal line and to defend a return. Perhaps being prepared for that — instead of assuming the ball would sail into the end zone for a touchback — sharpened the coverage. Turpin’s longest return was 26 yards.
Cowing may not have gotten any chances on offense, but he did a good job securing the ball in windy Levi’s Stadium, including on one punt return on which he was struck in the thigh by an oncoming Cowboy as the ball arrived.
(Photo: Neville E. Guard / Imagn Images)
