No matter what happens, I’m just hoping that De’Zhaun Stribling is able to come back strong and still go on with his career at a high level after this injury. I don’t even care that he’ll miss time, I just saw such a talented dude that seemed super smart and committed to the game. You always want to see people like that win. He had an interview with his high school paper that I found on the internet one time and even at that age you’re like, how could you not root for the guy? Prayers up man.
That being said…
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My favorite part of the game was the feeling of going to war with Brock freaking Purdy. He had this Ben Shelton-like intense look in his eyes in the second half, coming back from the pick, and he just started dealing in the third quarter. I don’t know if it’s the play calling or how well the other players executed, but he just looked so locked in, so dialed, just flow state quarterbacking and did what he wanted. The Rams are a good defense on paper and I’m curious if he keeps it up the next few games and later on against the Broncos. The Broncos will have similarly bad linebackers in the passing game but also some absurd talent elsewhere.
Defense also looked solid. You love to see it. Happy Friday y’all!
49ers’ Brock Purdy looked like a quarterback out to silence his critics
“I thought Brock played so well,” Shanahan said after the game. “He had one play I know he wants to take back, the interception to [Rams S Quentin] Lake, but he made some big-time plays, some big-time throws.”
….Purdy said, “…I think Kyle was doing a great job with dialing up the right play calls, and obviously not being aware of when we want to take a shot and go deep and stuff, but the [Rams] defense was giving us our ones and twos in the progression. So, just trying to take that….And then, obviously, when it wasn’t there, I think that was the time in the game where I started using my legs a little bit. And then guys did a great job on the scramble drill, obviously hitting Deebo late.”
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… Shanahan said,. “The 99-yard drive, there were so many plays there that he had to take off-schedule, where there wasn’t an answer, and he moved the chains with his legs. And I think he found Deebo on one—that was a big off-schedule for the touchdown. So Brock was unbelievable today.”
Hutchinson: The 49ers needed this a lot more than the Rams (paywall)
“Los Angeles was able to Duo the hell out of the 49ers. They employed double-team runs through their gut while CJ West frequently flailed around and forgot he is not meant to be used as a bowling ball for the opposing team.
Despite this issue — one I felt would be crucial to defining the 49ers’ success — the secondary was tremendous. Nick Bosa and Fred Warner were omnipresent.
Raheem Morris decided he’d rather trust his four best corners than dare go to big nickel. He used dime more than nickel!
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The 49ers got rewarded for it against a team that should have theoretically demolished the 49ers with their love of heavy personnel. But the Rams used 13 personnel as a changeup, not as a primary mode of extracting pain. They overwhelmingly stuck to 11 personnel despite their success (5-for-5, 96 yards, +1.06 EPA per SumerSports) in 13….On the other side, the Rams barely ran any man coverage despite having Jaylen Watson and Trent McDuffie, who … bodybagged Deebo Samuel and the 49ers in the 2023 Super Bowl with a heavy dose of man.
The 49ers played more man than they did!….They suddenly have a No. 2 back in Kaelon Black who is a human pistol shrimp. He may not have any interest in reading the flow of the offensive line. But he will shoot through a hole and get positive yardage. If you give him an inch, he’ll take a yard.
Shanahan used unique wrinkles from the last few seasons — dash, jet, bump and ghost motions — and bizarre, offset alignments, including a few pre-snap bumps and shuffles to put receivers in the slot, but about 5 yards of depth. He created opportunities for easy throws for Purdy.”
Maoicco: What we learned as Purdy, Evans fuel 49ers’ opening win over Rams in Australia
“Odighizuwa pressured Stafford relentlessly in the first half with three quarterback hits. Bosa, in his first game back after tearing his right ACL in Week 3 last season, turned up some pressure, too.
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Cornerback Renardo Green came up with a big play in the first half when he intercepted Stafford’s pass intended for Puka Nacua.
But when the 49ers needed a big goal-line stand near the end of the third quarter, it was rookie Gracen Halton and Warner who stopped Stafford for no gain on a push up the middle….And, even more surprising, Aaron Donald had about as much impact on the game as Myles Garrett.
Through three quarters of action, Garrett was completely shut out from the stat sheet. He had no tackles, no sacks, no nothing.
Donald, who recently came out of retirement and stayed back in California for the Week 1 game, had the same stat line.
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The 49ers game-planned around Garrett to do their best to make sure he did not wreck the game. Garrett was the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year last season while with the Cleveland Browns. The Rams acquired him in an offseason trade following his 23-sack season.”
Cohn: Grading the 49ers After Their 27-7 Win Over the Rams in Australia
“First, let’s praise defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. He didn’t sell out to stop the Rams’ running game. He conceded 5.1 yards per carry, which seemed risky, but he was making sure that Stafford wouldn’t beat him. In fact, Morris owned Stafford, just like last season when Morris was the Falcons head coach and they beat the Rams in Week 17. Morris used to be the Rams’ defensive coordinator, so he has faced Stafford countless times in practice and clearly has his number. What a hire for the 49ers.
Next, let’s praise Kyle Shanahan. He made all the right calls on this trip. He was right to bring his players out to Australia more than a week before the game. He was right to stop calling passes for Kittle after giving him a chance to show he was ready. He was right to feature Evans. He was right to split carries between McCaffrey and Black. And he was right to hire Morris. As a result, the 49ers just destroyed the team that lots of people predicted to win the Super Bowl. Of course, this one game doesn’t mean the 49ers will win the Super Bowl. Remember, they beat the Seahawks Week 1 last season, and then the Seahawks went on to win the Super Bowl. But that Week 1 win was fluky and close. This one was decisive and embarrassing for the Rams. They deserved every bit of the humiliation the 49ers gave them. They cheated the process of preparation and disrespected the 49ers and Australia by showing up yesterday. Enjoy that long flight home tonight. The 49ers sure will.”‘
Shanahan, McVay brush off travel plans as factor in Niners’ win over Rams
“It was definitely worth it coming a little bit early,” receiver Mike Evans said. “I felt like we got acclimated. … We didn’t complain. We actually enjoyed being out here in Melbourne.”
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The 49ers landed in Melbourne on Sept. 4. They stayed at the Park Hyatt Hotel, where the team arranged for everything from meeting and film rooms, and the 49ers’ chefs prepared meals at the restaurant. The players had access to a nearby spa for various recovery tools such as a cold plunge and red light therapy.
When they weren’t planning for the game, the Niners explored the city, trying the various coffee shops and going to group dinners at local restaurants. Running back Christian McCaffrey even got a haircut and was told that his hair “looks cracker,” which he was then informed means it looks good.
“Melbourne was sick,” tight end George Kittle said. “I had a great time here. I’m real excited, the fact that we came out early and were here for the whole week, immerse ourselves in Melbourne. We were taken great care of, great hotel, the staff was awesome. We had so much fun drinking coffee and just kind of hanging out for the whole week.”
Purdy and Shanahan enjoyed the Australian tradition of fan singalongs during the game.”
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49ers’ Trent Williams shuts down Rams’ Myles Garrett in clash of trench titans (paywall)
“A 99-yard drive on offense is the perfect feeling in football. Everything is humming. You get in a flow state and can do no wrong.
Except for the offensive line. For them, it’s dreadful.
Left tackle Trent Williams joked postgame that, throughout San Francisco 49ers’ 15-play, 99-yard drive that was capped by a Deebo Samuel touchdown, he was fighting an episode of cramps.
“I didn’t even know we went 99,” Williams said. “Well, I ain’t gonna say I didn’t know. It didn’t dawn on me because as soon as he scored, I tried to head to the locker room to get an IV.”
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49ers’ De’Zhaun Stribling hurts ankle, set for more tests
“They checked his Achilles,” Shanahan said. “They said that was intact, but they’re not exactly sure of the magnitude of the ankle injury.”
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