Behind Enemy Lines Week 5: San Francisco 49ers
Oct 6, 2016, 7:20 AM
The San Francisco 49ers have been in the news a lot early in the 2016 season, but unfortunately for them, their inclusion has been based around national anthem protests and not winning football games.
The 49ers found offensive and defensive rhythm to start off their season against the Los Angeles Rams in a 28-0 home shutout.
In Week 2, the defense didn’t show up in a 46-27 loss in Carolina.
Defensive woes continued in Week 3 when the Niners gave up 37 points to Seattle, a team known for their defense. Week 4 was a bit different. The 49ers were able to get off to a 14-0 lead and seemed to gain control of the game before suddenly letting off the pedal for a 24-17 loss at home against Dallas.
The 49ers (1-3) will be preparing to protect home field in their Color Rush game against the Arizona Cardinals (1-3) during Thursday Night Football.
All week, we’ll keep you up to speed on the 49ers’ preparation for the Cardinals as we go Behind Enemy Lines.
• 49ers’ Nick Bellore faces a daunting task (SF Gate)
The spotlight will be squarely on Bellore on Thursday night when the 49ers host Arizona in their first game this season without inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman, who sustained a season-ending Achilles tendon tear Sunday.
Bowman was a first-team All-Pro in each of his four full seasons as a starter. Bellore? He has been a core special-teams player who had played 40 defensive snaps in his six-year career before replacing Bowman in the 24-17 loss to the Cowboys.
• 49ers won’t face Carson Palmer, Cardinals go to QB Drew Stanton (Mercury News)
For the second time in five days, a backup quarterback is coming to face a much-maligned 49ers defense at Levi’s Stadium.
Can Drew Stanton do Thursday for the Arizona Cardinals what Dak Prescott did this past Sunday for the Dallas Cowboys, which would be to extend the 49ers’ losing streak?
• After big investments, 49ers’ defensive dividends yet to pay off (ESPN.com)
The San Francisco 49ers have invested heavily in their defense over the past four years. Four games into the 2016 season, the dividends haven’t come close to matching the expenditure.
Wednesday, October 5
• INJURY REPORT: 49ERS’ BUCKNER RULED OUT VS CARDINALS (CSN Bay Area)
Buckner sustained a left foot injury in the closing minutes of the 49ers’ 24-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Buckner wore an orthopedic boot this week and was unable to practice.
• GABBERT: ‘TORREY AND I ARE FINE,’ BUT 49ERS WR VERY FRUSTRATED (CSN Bay Area)
“Torrey and I are fine,” Gabbert said. “It was one play. We both wanted to hit on it. It was a big play in that football game and it didn’t turn out. The past is the past. We’ve moved on from that.
“We’re both on the same page on what we see in that route and we’re going to hit that moving forward. We were both frustrated at the time. That happens. We’re competitive guys. I don’t want to throw a pick there. I’d much rather throw a 65-yard touchdown. Trust me. We’ve just got to move forward and you learn from that experience.”
• Kaepernick’s college coach: Didn’t know this Colin Kaepernick (mercurynews.com)
Chris Ault, the architect of the Pistol offense at Nevada-Reno, often is credited with helping turn Colin Kaepernick into an NFL quarterback. The 49ers backup left Reno as the only player in college football history to pass for 10,000 yards and run for 4,000 yards in a career.
• The weight is over: After dropping 30 sympathy pounds, Aaron Lynch returns to 49ers (ESPN)
It’s not yet clear whether he’ll play against Arizona on Thursday night but coach Chip Kelly indicated that was the goal even if it that return came on a limited basis.
• After first NFL start, positive early returns on CB Rashad Robinson (ESPN)
Given the opportunity to make his first NFL start, Robinson apparently put together a strong week of practice that earned him the job against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
Tuesday, October 4
• Arik Armstead pushing through shoulder injury (ESPN)
Armstead has been an early-season mainstay on the injury report because of a shoulder injury that has lingered since the preseason. In the early portion of training camp, Armstead appeared poised for a breakout season, but he’s continued to play through the shoulder issue and it’s limited how much he can be on the field and how much he produces when he is.
• 49ers coordinator O’Neil assesses defense’s future without Bowman (mercurynews.com)
With 12 games to go and a short week to boot, the 49ers can’t afford to spend much time lamenting the loss of linebacker NaVarro Bowman, as omnipresent a factor as he was for their defense.
• For Niners coach Chip Kelly, short week means sleeping at facility (ESPN)
“We’re here, I mean, we stayed here last night,” Kelly said Monday. “I think everybody slept here last night. So, we’ll probably be close to the same tonight. Just, that’s just the nature of what you’ve got to do on a short week. So, I guess they think because we don’t have to do anything on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, we can catch up on sleep then.”
• Nick Bellore is next man up at linebacker to replace NaVorro Bowman (ESPN)
When star MIKE linebacker NaVorro Bowman suffered a torn Achilles in the third quarter of Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys, it was Bellore who stepped in to replace him.
• 49ers linebacker Aaron Lynch could be limited after suspension ends (SFGate)
Head coach Chip Kelly said the team was hopeful that Lynch would play Thursday against Arizona, but suggested his snaps could be limited because of his lack of in-game activity.
• 49ers Torrey Smith off to slow start, insists 2016 ‘can’t be any worse than last year’ (mercurynews.com)
The balls haven’t arrived in bulk as envisioned when he signed one of the richest free-agent deals in 49ers history (five years, $40 million) in March 2015.
Monday, October 3
• 49ers’ Buckner appears doubtful vs Cardinals with foot injury (CSN Bay Area)
Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner wore an orthopedic boot on his left foot and did not participate in the 49ers’ walk-through practice on Monday.
• Without NaVorro Bowman, 49ers’ season gets tougher (ESPN.com)
Bowman is the face of the franchise, a leader for the defense and team, and carries, by far, the most impressive resume of anyone on the Niners roster. And now he’s out long term. Again.
• 49ers’ Kelly suggests rust reason for Armstead’s performance (SFGate)
Armstead did not appear on the stat sheet Sunday and he’s registered just four tackles and one sack while playing 156 of 288 snaps this season.
• 49ers LB NaVorro Bowman out for the season with Achilles injury (49ers.com)
NaVorro Bowman suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in the San Francisco 49ers Week 4 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
• Lynch could provide boost for 49ers’ beleagured defense (SFGate)
Here’s one bit of good news for the 49ers’ injury riddled and ineffective defense: Aaron Lynch is back.
The outside linebacker returned today from his season-opening, four-game suspension and figures to make his 2016 debut Thursday night when the 49ers host the Cardinals.
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