• Dominick Puni has formed himself into probably the greatest guards in soccer: Puni ranks eighth in general grade amongst his positional counterparts.
• Renardo Green met a serious problem: The second-round nook allowed solely two catches to D.Ok. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett on Thursday night time.
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The San Francisco 49ers have lengthy boasted some of the star-studded rosters within the NFL. Most groups could be fortunate to own one among Christian McCaffrey, Fred Warner, Trent Williams, Nick Bosa, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, Charvarius Ward or Deebo Samuel, however Kyle Shanahan has all of them at his disposal.
As has been true during the last a number of years, these dynamos have continued to raise a group vying for the NFC crown, to not point out a Super Bowl victory. But not like up to now, the 49ers have seemingly relied greater than ever on unsung items — notably rookies — at positions depleted by damage. That thought was elucidated clearly within the group’s Thursday Night Football victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
John Lynch’s newest crop of newcomers has already begun to solidify itself as possibly one of the best haul from the 2024 NFL Draft, primarily due to a mixture of huge shares of taking part in time and efficient performances when on the sector. That begins with third-round decide Dominick Puni, who presumably could be a first-rounder if the draft had been redone primarily based on how prolific he’s been.
After profitable San Francisco’s proper guard battle throughout coaching camp, Puni has flourished from the get-go. His 78.3 general grade ranks eighth amongst qualifying guards whereas taking part in all however one of many 49ers’ snaps this 12 months. More particularly, Puni has been an anchor within the run recreation: He’s successfully walled off defensive linemen and climbed to the second stage to the tune of a 76.7 run-blocking grade, which ranks seventh amongst guards.
Puni has served as an offensive linchpin for one of many marquee items in soccer, however different fellow rookies have additionally performed aptly when crucial.
After suiting up on solely 34 snaps through the first 5 video games of the 12 months, second-round decide Renardo Green stepped in at cornerback with Ward unable to go in Seattle. A matchup towards D.Ok. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba would intimidate most, however clearly not Green. The Florida State product completed with a 76.7 general grade, permitting 57 yards on 5 targets however recording an important late interception of Geno Smith. Most spectacular is that when matched up with the stellar tandem, Green held Metcalf and Lockett to solely a mixed two catches on six targets.
Further, fourth-round security Malik Mustapha constructed upon the start of his first NFL marketing campaign. Following an damage to Talanoa Hufanga, the Wake Forest alum recorded an 80.2 general grade, one of the best in his younger professional profession. Mustapha intercepted Smith and in addition made a cease however was restricted to solely 20 general snaps due to an ankle damage. Mustapha has been an plain asset in protection this 12 months: his 42.4 passer score allowed when focused is the 12th-lowest amongst qualifying safeties.
Given that McCaffrey has been hampered by Achilles tendonitis this 12 months, Jordan Mason has served the 49ers’ bell-cow again. But after even he was injured on Thursday, fourth-rounder Isaac Guerendo thrived in some important moments. On a career-high 17 snaps, Guerendo notched a 62.9 speeding grade, accruing 99 yards on 10 carries with 23 yards after contact. His 76-yard gallop with 1:39 remaining put the sport on ice.
The preliminary contributions of 49ers rookies develop into that rather more superb when one considers that first-round receiver Ricky Pearsall, who was shot in early September, is but to play this 12 months. Once Pearsall is ready to step onto the sector as a professional, his route-running and unbelievable fingers ought to bolster a receiving corps that’s already the highest-graded within the NFL.
Lynch has molded himself into probably the greatest common managers in soccer, largely due to his uncanny skill to acknowledge and develop late-round expertise earlier than finally extending such gamers. It’s nonetheless early, but it surely seems as if he’s gone again to the properly as soon as extra together with his 2024 crop.
Now sitting at 3-3, the 49ers are within the driver’s seat within the NFC West regardless of a rash of accidents, fourth-quarter miscues and pink zone struggles. The highest-graded general group in soccer seems able to take off — and its stabilizing rookies deserve heaps of credit score.