Eight non-quarterback 49ers to watch in Week 10 at Jaguars
The San Francisco 49ers are looking to end a three-game losing streak in Week 10 when they visit the Jacksonville Jaguars. San Francisco is favored by three points on the road, but their task in getting back to winning ways will be far from easy against a 6-2 Jaguars team riding a five-game winning run. […]
The San Francisco 49ers are looking to end a three-game losing streak in Week 10 when they visit the Jacksonville Jaguars.
San Francisco is favored by three points on the road, but their task in getting back to winning ways will be far from easy against a 6-2 Jaguars team riding a five-game winning run.
Jacksonville’s defense enters the week ranked third in the NFL by Expected Points Added per play and, while the offense is not firing on all cylinders, quarterback Trevor Lawrence certainly has the means to frustrate a surprisingly struggling 49er defense. Lawrence is getting rid of the ball in 2.41 seconds on average and has a receiving corps well-equipped to take advantage of the San Francisco secondary.
With the 49ers’ NFC West rivals the Seattle Seahawks facing a favorable home game against the Washington Commanders, San Francisco can ill-afford to drop to 5-4. The focus will obviously in large part be on Brock Purdy after the late-game turnovers that have contributed to their recent skid, but these eight non-quarterbacks will also have a significant role in ensuring the Niners find a way to end their slump.
WR Deebo Samuel
It’s Samuel’s first week back after a two-game absence, with the wide receiver essentially out three games when you take into account he suffered his shoulder injury on the first play against the Cleveland Browns in Week 6.
Though the Niners have still moved the ball without Samuel, it’s clear they’ve missed the influence he holds in putting strain on opposing defenses. They’ll hope he can immediately put such stress on a stingy Jacksonville unit.
Samuel’s versatility in lining up in the backfield next to Christian McCaffrey and in the formation will be crucial in helping the 49ers have success against Jacksonville’s base by getting him mismatches against linebackers when San Francisco matches base with its favored 21 personnel group.
In an offense that has seen Brandon Aiyuk emerge as the primary receiver, this is a chance for Samuel to deliver an emphatic reminder of his value.
RB Christian McCaffrey
Speaking of McCaffrey, the 49ers’ do-it-all running back can make history by scoring for what would be an outright record 18th successive game (regular & postseason).
There were signs of him turning the run game slump around against the Cincinnati Bengals before the bye, and the 49ers ideally need him to return to his early-season form for the offense to operate on schedule. That will be easier said than done versus Jacksonville but, with the uncertainty among defenses and mismatches he and Samuel can create in the passing game, the conditions for a dominant day from McCaffrey and the San Francisco offense are the best they’ve been in weeks.
OG Spencer Burford
Burford has found it difficult to build on an encouraging rookie year, the 2022 fourth-round pick a clear weak link on the offensive line. He has allowed 20 pressures, per Pro Football Focus, tied for the ninth-most among guards.
This week he faces an underrated Jags interior defensive line and his awareness will be severely tested by the range of stunts and creepers that Jacksonville likes to use to pressure the quarterback. If Burford is going to enjoy a turnaround in his second season, this game would be the perfect one in which to start it.
OT Trent Williams
The aforementioned underperforming run game has struggled in large part in recent weeks because of the absence of Williams.
The All-Pro’s return from an ankle injury that has seen him miss the last two games is still up in the air but would theoretically be a massive boost to the 49ers’ hopes of running the ball against a stout and deep Jacksonville front and avoiding pass protection breakdowns that have come at key points in his absence.
Yet there is no guarantee Williams will be 100 percent if he does feature against the Jags. Should he give it a go, he needs to be able to hold up versus Jacksonville’s star pass rusher Josh Allen and the diverse plan of attack defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell will throw at the 49ers.
DE Chase Young
When the 49ers don’t have the ball, all eyes will be on Young to see if he can jump-start a bizarrely unproductive defensive line. Though Cam Robinson is a solid left tackle, Young should get ample opportunity to do so versus Anton Harrison on the right side.
Young and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa should be able to enjoy quick wins against both tackles. With the talent they have up front, that should make for a much more profitable day. Young’s role will extend beyond pass rushing, though, with his efforts in setting the edge a potentially huge for a defense that has struggled to stop the run if he can successfully do so.
DT Arik Armstead
The Jags will be starting Walker Little at left guard, the tackle kicking inside after huge struggles from Tyler Shatley against the Pittsburgh Steelers. With center Luke Fortner also having issues pass blocking, there is a clear opportunity for the 49er interior defensive line to take advantage.
However, most of the onus to provide interior pressure may fall on Armstead with Javon Hargrave having dealt with a knee injury this week. After a two-sack game against the Bengals, Armstead is the man on whom the Niners may depend to ensure it is not just Bosa and Young creating the disruption.
LB Fred Warner
The major move for the 49ers’ defense since the bye, other than the trade for Young, was to move coordinator Steve Wilks from the coaching booth to the sideline.
The given reason for the switch – to improve communication of adjustments to the defense, and specifically the linebackers. In other words, the Niners need Wilks and Warner to get on the same page, and it won’t be long before there are indications of whether the change is working.
One of the main criticisms leveled at Wilks is that the 49ers’ fronts have been disconnected from the coverages, with that weakness extremely evident in run defense. Should the Niners’ run defense improve against a dangerous runner in Travis Etienne, there will be evidence the change is helping. If Warner can also excel getting off second-level blocks and in keeping Etienne in check in the screen game, that will be a tremendous help to an under-fire defense.
CB Isaiah Oliver
Though the 49ers did promote Shemar Jean-Charles, who can play inside and out, from the practice squad to their active roster, the likelihood is the much-maligned Oliver remains as the 49ers’ starting slot corner.
The pressure on him to perform will be massive. Oliver allowed 71 yards and two touchdowns against the Bengals, struggling significantly against both Tyler Boyd and Ja’Marr Chase. The task gets no easier this week versus Calvin Ridley and Christian Kirk, the latter having racked up 393 receiving yards (the third-most in the NFL) and three touchdowns from the slot. A bounce-back game from Oliver would be massive for the 49ers’ hopes of getting back on track.
With the 26th pick the San Francisco 49ers select….
They address a major need.
