No matter what happens, I\u2019m just hoping that De\u2019Zhaun Stribling is able to come back strong and still go on with his career at a high level after this injury. I don\u2019t even care that he\u2019ll 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\u2019re like, how could you not root for the guy? Prayers up man.<\/p>\n
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\u2019t know if it\u2019s 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\u2019m 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.<\/p>\n
Defense also looked solid. You love to see it. Happy Friday y\u2019all!<\/p>\n
49ers\u2019 Brock Purdy looked like a quarterback out to silence his critics<\/a> \u2026.Purdy said, \u201c\u2026I 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\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2026 Shanahan said,. \u201cThe 99-yard drive, there were so many plays there that he had to take off-schedule, where there wasn\u2019t an answer, and he moved the chains with his legs. And I think he found Deebo on one\u2014that was a big off-schedule for the touchdown. So Brock was unbelievable today.\u201d<\/p>\n Hutchinson: The 49ers needed this a lot more than the Rams (paywall)<\/a> Despite this issue \u2014 one I felt would be crucial to defining the 49ers\u2019 success \u2014 the secondary was tremendous. Nick Bosa and Fred Warner were omnipresent.<\/p>\n Raheem Morris decided he\u2019d rather trust his four best corners than dare go to big nickel. He used dime more than nickel!<\/p>\n 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\u2026.On the other side, the Rams barely ran any man coverage despite having Jaylen Watson and Trent McDuffie, who \u2026 bodybagged Deebo Samuel and the 49ers in the 2023 Super Bowl with a heavy dose of man.<\/p>\n The 49ers played more man than they did!\u2026.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\u2019ll take a yard.<\/p>\n Shanahan used unique wrinkles from the last few seasons \u2014 dash, jet, bump and ghost motions \u2014 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Maoicco: What we learned as Purdy, Evans fuel 49ers\u2019 opening win over Rams in Australia<\/a> Cornerback Renardo Green came up with a big play in the first half when he intercepted Stafford\u2019s pass intended for Puka Nacua.<\/p>\n 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\u2026.And, even more surprising, Aaron Donald had about as much impact on the game as Myles Garrett.<\/p>\n Through three quarters of action, Garrett was completely shut out from the stat sheet. He had no tackles, no sacks, no nothing.<\/p>\n Donald, who recently came out of retirement and stayed back in California for the Week 1 game, had the same stat line.<\/p>\n The 49ers game-planned around Garrett to do their best to make sure he did not wreck the game. Garrett was the NFL\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Cohn: Grading the 49ers After Their 27-7 Win Over the Rams in Australia<\/a> Next, let\u2019s 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\u2019t 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.\u201d\u2019<\/p>\n Shanahan, McVay brush off travel plans as factor in Niners\u2019 win over Rams<\/a> 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\u2019 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.<\/p>\n When they weren\u2019t 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 \u201clooks cracker,\u201d which he was then informed means it looks good.<\/p>\n \u201cMelbourne was sick,\u201d tight end George Kittle said. \u201cI had a great time here. I\u2019m 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Purdy and Shanahan enjoyed the Australian tradition of fan singalongs during the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought Brock played so well,\u201d Shanahan said after the game. \u201cHe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLos 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cOdighizuwa 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst, let\u2019s praise defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. He didn\u2019t sell out to stop the Rams\u2019 running game. He conceded 5.1 yards per carry, which seemed risky, but he was making sure that Stafford wouldn\u2019t 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\u2019 defensive coordinator, so he has faced Stafford countless times in practice and clearly has his number. What a hire for the 49ers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was definitely worth it coming a little bit early,\u201d receiver Mike Evans said. \u201cI felt like we got acclimated. … We didn\u2019t complain. We actually enjoyed being out here in Melbourne.\u201d<\/p>\n