Reviewing the 49ers' Week 2 Loss: The Blame and Reality
Even the most diehard San Francisco 49ers fan would agree the 2024 team would not finish the season with a perfect record. Sure, there would be a few losses, but I don't think anyone expected one in Week 2.
The 49ers' offense made scoring 17 points look like a recovering from a cheap vodka bender, resulting in the Minnesota Vikings extending their 32-year at-home victory streak against the men in scarlet and gold.
It was an odd loss, considering the 49ers had nearly a perfect performance in Week 1 against the Jets. The team usually doesn't have this kind of lethargic letdown until at least week six or seven.
What I have trouble grasping is that when the 49ers do lose, so many people are ready to rant and point a finger at head coach Kyle Shanahan as if he is the sole reason for every failure on the field.
Coaches share blame in a loss - not every call is ideal, or maybe the assistants put the wrong personnel on the field. However, overall execution, such as calling the proper pass protection, falls on the players.
Quarterback Brock Purdy failed to hit open receivers. Yes, Virginia, 49er receivers were separating from the Vikings defense. I'm unsure who started that nonsense, but obviously, someone who hasn't watched the tape.
Running back Jordan Mason again dominated the outside zone runs, gaining approximately 80 yards running over the tackles and edges on 13 attempts.
Despite Mason's ground success, the 49ers' offensive line had a rough outing, with left tackle Trent Williams giving up a rare sack with two hurries and four pressures.
As Rich Madrid noted, center Jake Brendel also failed to adjust the pass protection, leaving a free rusher and a missed opportunity for an early touchdown.
So, yes, Shanahan needs to make some adjustments in the offense. He is not the sole person responsible for the loss, though I wouldn't say I liked his 3rd-and-1 call to wide receiver Deebo Samuel in the 4th quarter.
The 49ers did not play a good football game, and we'll need to grasp that reality at some point.
Here are a few plays I found interesting from Week 2. As always, if you'd like a quick overview, please check out my X thread by clicking here.
1st Quarter - 1st & 10 at the SF 24 (2:31)
Today, Mason has the second-highest total rushing yards in the NFL with 247 and leads running backs with an average of 5.1 yards per attempt.
Like in Week 1, most of Mason's yardage against the Vikings came running over the tackles or the edges. He did, however, have some excellent inside zone runs, starting with one on the 49ers' third possession of the game.
Shanahan called 'Weak Right Off Jazz 14 F Sift,' a split-flow, inside zone run that attacks the inside hip of the play-side tackle. Split flow means the backs are going in opposite directions.
Once Mason had the ball in his hands, he read the line from the inside to the outside, starting at the center. As he read, he made a 'bend' cut against the grain of his offensive line and picked up 9 yards.
Mason was also helped by Williams, who buried linebacker Blake Cashman into the shredded rubber pellets and left guard Aaron Banks, who had an excellent position against defensive lineman Jonah Williams. Note Banks' head is on the play side of Williams' body, and Banks kept working to get his backside hand in Williams' armpit to drive him from the lane.
2nd Quarter - 1 & 10 at the MIN 20 (12:51)
Later in the same drive, Shanahan called in a staple outside zone run: 'Toss 18 Zorro'.
I'm sure you've seen multiple film junkies describe 'Zorro,' which attacks the edge of the strong side. One key to identifying a 'Zorro' run from another outside zone run is the course of the fullback on the play. He will block support, protecting the inside of the tight end's block on the end man on the line of scrimmage.
Other outside zone runs like 'Force' will instruct the fullback to block outside of the tight end, while 'Arc' has the fullback cutting between the play-side guard and tackle to block the 2nd man in the box.
Just like the offensive line has aiming points for their blocks, the running back has an aiming point on outside zone runs. With 'Zorro' Mason aims for the outside leg of the tight end. Mason's angle will be the same as his offensive line; he is, after all, part of the blocking scheme.
Mason pressed his landmark for six steps before running through what looked like a jumbled mess of white and red. He gained 9 yards on a play that looked like the Vikings would hold it to a minimal gain.
3rd Quarter - 2 & 1 at the SF 43 (13:02)
On the second play of the 49ers' sixth possession, Shanahan called in a dig-corner or 'Wasp' concept between wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. If the concept looks familiar, it was like the significant gain play the Kansas City Chiefs ran in Super Bowl LIV. The 49ers also ran 'Wasp' during Week 3 of the 2022 season against the Denver Broncos.
Purdy took the snap and then a few steps to gather his feet. Once ready, Aiyuk was cutting inside at the top of his route stem. The pocket was as calm as a mountain lake, and Purdy had time to hitch and rip the throw to Aiyuk for a significant gain.
Vikings' safety Joshua Metellus carried Samuel on the corner route, which put him out of position to cover Aiyuk on the dig route. You can see Metellus's hips turned upfield and eyes on Samuel, not Aiyuk.
However, Purdy came off this read and started dancing in the pocket for no reason. He looked back at tight end George Kittle, then bailed to his left. All of this was unnecessary. Aiyuk had clear separation from the Vikings secondary and Purdy had time to complete a big play.
Multiple other examples of the 49ers receiving passes breaking from the Vikings' secondary exist, which you can review on my X thread.
The Rams are an ideal bounce-back team for the 49ers, especially in Southern California. Since 2019, the 49ers have won nine of the last 11 match-ups and are 4-1 at SoFi Stadium.
All images and videos courtesy of NFL.com.
All statistics courtesy of Pro Football Reference unless noted.