Every game during the NFL season is followed up with overreactions from with fans and media pundits. If the home team loses there’s blame that must be levied, and after wins everything is rosy.
The San Francisco 49ers blew out the Carolina Panthers on Sunday in Charlotte. The win moves the 49ers to 3-2 and keeps them in first place in the NFC West.
Sunday’s win didn’t come without a price. The 49ers lost Emmanuel Moseley to an ACL injury late in the fourth quarter. Along with Moseley, San Francisco also saw Nick Bosa, Jimmie Ward, and Robbie Gould go down with injuries.
Here are some of the best overreactions I’ve encountered following the 49ers’ big win.
1.) Jimmy Garoppolo is a top-ten quarterback!
This is a bit of a stretch but not as much as you might think.
Other than a rough start against Denver, Garoppolo has been solid. He is currently top ten in yards per pass attempt, net yards per pass attempt, yards per completion, interception percentage, and quarterback rating. In addition, he is eleventh in touchdown percentage.
Of those numbers, Garoppolo having the third lowest interception percentage is the most impressive.
Garoppolo has never finished with an interception percentage under two since coming to San Francisco.
The next step for Garoppolo is to show he can limit turnovers on a consistent basis. He has an opportunity on Sunday in Atlanta to go without a turnover in three straight games for the first time in his career.
Since the start of 2019, San Francisco is 18-2 when Garoppolo does not throw an interception.
With a defense as strong as the 49ers’ this year, limiting mistakes will lead to playing into late January or even early February.
2.) Kyle Shanahan choosing to punt instead of going for it on fourth and short led to Emmanuel Moseley’s injury!
I didn’t agree when many tried to blame Kyle Shanahan’s play calling on the injury to Trey Lance.
Seeing Shanahan choosing to punt being used as the reason Moseley was injured by some is baffling.
Pro football is a violent game played by large men who are paid to hit each other as hard as humanly possible.
Should Shanahan shoulder responsibility for the injury? Absolutely not.
Who’s to say an important offensive player wouldn’t have been injured if he’d chosen to go for it?
Patrick Mahomes was injured on a quarterback sneak in 2019, one of Shanahan’s favorite play calls in short-yardage situations.
Imagine where the 49ers would be today if that had occurred to Jimmy Garoppolo yesterday. Or maybe it could have been Deebo Samuel. Insert any offensive starter.
Sometimes it’s best to not hit send on tweets.
3.) This 49ers defense is the best I’ve ever seen!
This is not an overreaction.
The numbers this group has put together so far are ahead of the best defensive groups in team history.
San Francisco’s defense has allowed a total of 12 points in the first half this season. No other defense in the NFL has allowed fewer than 35.
Over the first five weeks, the 49ers’ defense has allowed only 52 points. They have also scored a touchdown in each of the last two games.
The pass rush has been exceptional. The 49ers’ defense posted six sacks against Carolina. Along with their seven sacks last week against Los Angeles, it marked the first time since the first two weeks in 1985 that San Francisco had back-to-back games with six or more sacks.
4.) The 49ers are going to struggle in the secondary for the rest of the season!
Emmanuel Moseley was playing at a very high level. It’s certainly a blow to the secondary. That being said, the 49ers roster is in a good spot.
Last year they made it to the NFC Championship game with Ambry Thomas starting. He will be an option.
Other options include veterans Jason Verrett and Dontae Johnson along with rookie Samuel Womack.
Verrett suffered a torn ACL in week one last season. He has been working his way back and the 49ers opened his practice window last week.
Johnson has played every spot in the San Francisco secondary. He is currently on the practice squad. Last year he started on the outside in the 49ers’ 13-10 playoff win over Green Bay.
Womack began the season as the starter in the slot for San Francisco. Deommodore Lenoir has since replaced him inside.
The rookie spent his entire college career at Toledo playing on the outside. According to general manager John Lynch, the 49ers envisioned him to continue in that role.
5.) Based on the Panthers’ game, Trent Williams isn’t really needed!
This is an overreaction.
Making his third career start, the third-year tackle wasn’t bad.
Kyle Shanahan and Chris Foerster deserve kudos for the way they were able to help Moore on Sunday. However, when he was left alone, he struggled, allowing a sack to Brian Burns.
The 49ers will be able to get through a few weeks, but the offensive line will be much better with a fully healthy Trent Williams.
The naysayers and finger-pointers will always be around. Sometimes they actually add a little flavor to the blog.
I’m irritably entertained by them, lol
AES
“Sometimes they actually add a little flavor to the blog” = Like odor to an outhouse?
love Verrett but he may not be ready.
Allie
If Verrett is not ready, Womack has shown some nice coverage until Verrett is good to go.
Lenoir also looks to have improved from last season.
Next man up!
Anyone who blames a coach for injuries is just ignorant to football. That’s it. With that said, I’m way sick and tired of injuries that hamper a solid win.
On a posit e note though. So far most have not been season ending and are coming early in the season. What matters is the end of the schedule and the playoffs. Hopefully all will be healthy, and the bad luck will be gone.
I believe that injuries come down to luck and the surface you happen to be playing on that week. As far as luck goes how long can the 49ers continue to be unlucky? It seems like they have been top 5 in injuries every year for the last 5 years. Is there any other team who has been top 5 for 5 years? I still think its the Santa Clara curse. If anyone has a better idea I would love to hear it.
reply to coach. Make artificial turf illegal. Convert ALL fields in the NFL to natural grass, The players
are worth it !
9r,
I don’t think they can in domed stadiums that don’t have retractable roofs but there is no reason why they can’t in all other stadiums.
If people can grow weed in their basements using gro-lights, they can do the same with natural grass in a domed stadium! Giant gro-lights – that’s the ticket!
The above might be an overreaction as well.
I didn’t realize this is how it’s done in AZ and LV
https://qr.ae/pvS8mn
Rib,
I think they can do that in Ariz. and Vegas but I don’t think that would work in Minn. and Det. After about Nov. 1st. Same with the new stadium in Chi. when it gets built.
Rib,
Great idea in the words of the great Bill Murray, “they could grow a hybrid of Kentucky Blue Grass and Humboldt Sensimilla”
I’m afraid a lot of the content used for Overreaction Monday tends to come from outliers. I would like to see more time spent on true debatable topics. I think you touched on one of them, but calling it an overreaction is frankly, an overreaction. It’s about football being a violent sport and the notion that throwing a quarterback into the teeth of the defense is not only valid, but normal.
I can think of plenty of rules designed to protect that “special” position that aren’t enforced against other positions. Hell, just this week we saw how much the NFL will overreach in protecting quarterbacks at all cost. Cam Newton is the perfect example of what happens when you throw a talented big quarterback recklessly into the defense. Frankly, if power runs are the best Shanahan has to offer in terms of creativity and success, they should have kept Lance on the bench and started Jimmy for another year.
The telling sign is whether Shanny will have learned from his mistakes and decides not to run Lance into the teeth of the defense next year like he has done last year and early this year, until, finally what we’ve been saying has come to pass. He’s out for the year. And you can’t argue that call was worth losing him for an entire season’s worth of growth at the position. In fact Shanny has now gotten Lance injured in two consecutive seasons with the same calls that frankly don’t make any sense. If the kid doesn’t know how to slide, what’s the sense in getting him hurt?
I’d hardly consider this topic an overreaction. It’s absolutely debatable.
GN.
Any debate about Shanahan running Lance into the teeth of the defense, was done about a month ago.
Whether Shanahan learns anything from Lance’ injury falls under the TBD catagory.
It’s only debatable by fans. It’s not debatable by professionals. Lance was drafted in large part on his running skills. His passing skills at this point are underdeveloped. But your free to believe whatever you want.
He absolutely was NOT drafted largely on his running skills. He was drafted on his potential as a passer in this league. Yes, his passer skills are underdeveloped, but the potential is what they saw and liked. His ability to process information quickly and his arm strength. He definitely has some work to do to be a viable QB in this league.
But I digress…. you are much much closer to Kyle and his family so you know better.
GN,
Shanahan said, regarding Lance, that he drafted him because Lance gives the offense the opportunity to play 11 on 11. I’m pretty sure that he was making reference to Lance’ running ability. I’m convinced that Shanahan will not change that philosophy when TL comes back. There’s no debating that.
I said large part, not largely. Can you read? Who would draft a one year college Qb from a small school #3, if his running ability wasn’t a large consideration? Your sarcastic close would apply equally to you. Actually it would apply more to you since Shanahan has been pretty clear about why he drafted Lance. You are entitled to your opinion regardless of your ignorance of the facts.
Got it. Thanks Mrs. Shanahan. 👍🏽
I can read, yes. Can you form your own opinion or do you parrot whatever your son Kyle tells you?
Do you have anything intelligent to say or just schoolyard stuff?
Hey Felix, Kyle needs his pants pressed before the bus leaves for Atlanta.
Can you make it happen? Appreciate it. 🙏
Jimmy Ward broke his hand playing special teams! Special teams, for heaven’s sake! Nearly as bad as running Lance thru a woeful offensive line and the brilliant Shanahan confidently proclaiming, “Why, yes, I’ll do it again.” Old Coach is right. These 49ers are cursed and will continue to be until they return to the City in a new stadium under new ownership and management. Period. Over and out.
Making it to the NFC championship plus the super bowl 2 of the last 3 years doesn’t mean anything to you?
I wouldn’t hold my breath on the hope the 49ers come back to San Francisco.
Where would you build a new stadium in city? And where do you park? Just purchasing the land alone could cost a fortune.
Santa Clara is in the silicon area. This is why the 49ers built Levi’s with so many luxury seats. I would have preferred that they stayed in San Francisco, but they made a wise business move going to SC.
My comment about the curse was somewhat tongue in cheek, somewhat.
Shanahan has been desperately searching for a power running back the last few years. He has burned a 3rd rounder in 2 consecutive drafts but it looks like the he was on our roster the whole time.
Jeff Wilson Jr : 375 yards/ 5.1 YPC / 2 TD / 70 R YDs
9ers work out 6 players, including a couple familiar faces. All linemen on each side of the ball
* DL Kevin Atkins
* DL Sheldon Day
* DE Austin Edwards
* DL T.Y. McGill
* OL Rashod Hill
* OT Kendall Lamm
* The 49ers signed Atkins as an undrafted rookie following this year’s draft.
* Day is another familiar face. He was with the 49ers for part of the 2017 season, all of 2018 and all of 2019 before moving on to the Colts
https://sports.yahoo.com/49ers-6-players-including-couple-040223577.html
We have a very good chance of winning the SB if JG can play like that consistently in the playoff. This Def is scary good especially when healthy!
Yes, defense is very good. I think we’ll get tested soon once we stop playing the likes of Chicago, Seattle, Denver, and Carolina, all pretty much bottom of the league in terms of offense. I don’t know about the Rams as they’re a Jekyll and Hyde team at this point.
Atlanta is an up and coming offense and should give a better idea. The meat of the schedule is where we’ll have the best perspective on the dominance of this defense.
I agree. We will definitely get a better feel against better Ofenses. Missing Mosely for the rest of the year is a big blow and really cannot afford a less than 100% Bosa.
As to the 49ers chances this year, health is everything.
Kyle is not to blame for Moseley’s injury. That is absurd. Kyle absolutely 100% shares in the responsibility in Trey Lance’s injury. Calling 4 power runs up the middle in less than one half of football for a QB in the NFL is insane. No misdirection. No play action pass/QB draw. Lead blocker up the middle… with your QB. And doing that behind Jake Brendel right up the middle trying to block a 340 lb DT. Really awful strategy in the NFL. With those play calls, it wasn’t a matter of “If” Lance would sustain an injury. It was a matter of when.
This defense is special. They have the feel of one of the best defenses in team history. Very solid, and I love that Ryans is mixing in blitzes and other schemes to force offenses to prepare for multiple fronts and pressure points. DeMeco will be an NFL head coach next year.
The Lance injury was inexcusable for any coach! Lesser known coach would have been fired immediately after the injury especially the draft capital you gave up to acquire your QB.
I will be shock if Ryan does not get a head coaching job next year!
Shanahan couldn’t wait to get his Formula One race car on the track. Lance wasn’t injured by a body to body full impact tackle up the middle, he was injured when his foot got caught under someones weight. This type of (freak) injury could have happened anywhere on the field, imho. For those who still question Shananhan’ play call on Lance’ injury, take a closer look at the video on how the injury occurred.
I’ve watched that video of the Lance injury several times. The blocking scheme was ridiculous. LT and LG pulling. RG releasing to take LBer. RT is supposed to seal block a DT who is lined up in the B gap – an impossible reach block for any o-lineman. The DT in the b gap creates traffic in the backfield that disrupts the timing on the play. QB runs straight up the middle. It’s a terrible play design. It’s a terrible play call. If you were to develop a risk rating for play calls then plays up the middle would be graded as the highest risk rating on the field because so many very large bodies are flying around. Running your QB up the middle is a high risk play call. There’s no other way to say it. Kyle Shanahan shares in the responsibility for Trey Lance’s injury for putting the QB in harms way and it’s not remotely debatable.
1.6P,
Regarding Lance’s injury, it’s not the play call that cause his injury, it happened when he had his foot locked into the turf and someone fell on it.
For those who contend that Trey should not have been running between the tackles, is a big reach. This is why I suggest that some of you look at the video. On the play, Lance was hit high by Seattle LB Barton. Trey easily absorbed and survived the tackle.
Trey is listed 6’4″ 225 lbs. This makes him bigger than many NFL LB’s.
Many of Lance’s running TD’ in college came when he ran up the middle. No one can convince me that Shanahan did not take note of this when he saw Trey’s college video.
Lance’s size, speed and running ability had much to do with the 49ers drafting him.
Can anyone here prove to me that this wasn’t a strong reason for Shanahan drafting him?
NFL Football is an incredibly high contact sport.
If we want to keep our QB’s safe we should go watch a Flag Football League.
Pat,
I agree D. Ryan will be a HC next year, which will give the 9ers an extra 3rd round pick. Who do you think will replace him? I am leaning toward Vic Fangio. I know he is a 3-4 guy but I believe he can adjust. His 3-4 D was very close to a 4-3 with Aldon Smith playing a DE as much as a OLB.
Lol. I thought you made up the overreactions. I didn’t think it was a legit thing you see on social media lol.
I believe the niners injuries stem from two things, the surface they play on and their off-season training regimen. Somethings not right with their off-season program. Injuries happen sure but I don’t think they’re supposed to happen at this rate, this often, and it’s particularly ankles and knees. Which tend to go hand in hand.
One thing I know about Shanahan and his staff is they make it work with the players they have available. So I expect us to be in the mix.
Matt Maiocco — Didn’t he edit this blog once? — must still be following it. Today, he came out with an “Overreaction” column virtually identical to Jack’s! I suspect Grant Cohn is still checking in from time to time too. He may even be operating here under an alias. Some recent posts sound suspiciously like him.
He’s done the over reaction column for quite awhile. Nobody owns that type of column.
Jimmy Gee Whiz is not a top 10 QB. He’s lame.