SANTA CLARA — The offense has been hit or miss and the protection may use much more in the best way of interceptions and quarterback pressures.
But the place the 49ers have made an improve that has contributed to a 6-3 file is on particular groups, and it’s extra than simply the string of can’t-miss bullseyes from place kicker Eddy Piñeiro.
It’s higher kick protection and a greater return recreation with plenty of new faces, together with particular groups coordinator Brant Boyer.
There was just one large bust that’s helped value the 49ers a recreation, an 87-yard punt return for a landing by Parker Washington in a 26-21 loss to Jacksonville on Sept. 28.
In any other case, the 49ers haven’t solely met coach Kyle Shanahan’s want of not costing the 49ers’ video games, however have contributed to successful them.
“I’ve been actually pleased with our particular groups this 12 months,” Shanahan mentioned upfront of a 34-24 win over the New York Giants.
It’s one thing no person would envision the 49ers coach saying the previous few years, with the 49ers making key errors on particular groups, together with erratic discipline objective accuracy by the departed Jake Moody.
Many of the consideration has gone to Piñeiro, who changed Moody after Week 1. After lacking his first additional level once more with the fan base pondering “Oh, right here we go once more,” Piñeiro has been good. He’s made his final 14 conversions and is 19-for-19 on discipline objective makes an attempt. And though Piñeiro was thought-about a protected choice who would hit makeable discipline objectives however not essentially ship from long-distance, however he’s 6-for-6 from 50 yards and past.
However it goes additional than that. Jordan Elliott had a key blocked additional level try towards the Rams at SoFi Stadium in a 26-23 time beyond regulation win by the 49ers. The Rams, who go to Levi’s Stadium Sunday (Fox, 1:25 p.m.), have opened up their kicking competitors with incumbent Joshua Karty of Stanford hitting 10 of 15 makes an attempt. Both Karty or Harrison Mevis, signed to the follow squad, will deal with discipline objective makes an attempt and kickoffs towards the 49ers.
As soon as Moody was waived, the 49ers had three new specialists to go together with long-snapper Jon Weeks (for Taybor Pepper) and punter Thomas Morstead (for Mitch Wishnowsky). In free company, the 49ers signed Siran Neal, a veteran particular teamer for Buffalo and Miami, and Luke Gifford, who performed for Dallas and Tennessee.
Gifford is among the many NFL leaders with 13 particular groups tackles, as is Neal, with 11.
Linebacker Curtis Robinson is a holdover on particular groups and believes Boyer has made a distinction.
“Boyer’s on it,” Robinson mentioned Thursday. “He got here in and tell us from Day 1 his important issues had been to play our asses off and execute with precision, know your job. I feel on the base stage, that’s what we cling our hat on after which we exit and make performs on recreation day, those that come to us. We’ve gotten higher each single week.”
Whereas the 49ers’ particular groups play has been a sore spot with the fan base, Gifford mentioned he was unaware of their struggles.
“I hadn’t heard about it till I obtained right here,” Gifford mentioned. “I hadn’t performed the Niners the final couple of years so I didn’t know a lot about it. It was type of a shock as a result of I knew a few of the guys had been good particular groups gamers.”
A school cornerback at Jacksonville State, Neal, in his eighth season, has performed simply 625 snaps on protection (none this 12 months) and a pair of,267 on particular groups. He’s assumed the position of George Odum, one of many 49ers’ few vivid spots on particular groups, and understands his value.
“I used to be a fifth-round choose in Buffalo, I obtained my probability on particular groups and I used to be fairly good at it, and I simply knew I used to be going to be among the best within the league,” Neal mentioned. “I cherished it instantly and I knew as soon as I obtained that probability, I used to be going to run with it.”
Whereas each Gifford and Weeks mentioned they hadn’t been conscious of the 49ers’ earlier struggles on particular groups, it was outlined to Neal throughout his free agent go to.
“I used to be known as within the offseason about it, I used to be very conscious of it and simply knew the scenario of coming in and figuring out what we needed to do to make particular groups higher,” Neal mentioned. “They introduced Boyer and (particular groups assistant) Colt Anderson in and it was somewhat shaky at first however we’ve gotten higher as a unit every week. We’ve come collectively and have been doing fairly nicely the final two or three weeks.”
Working again Brian Robinson Jr., restricted to 41 carries this season with Christian McCaffrey not often leaving the sphere, jumped on the probability to return kickoffs when the 49ers soured on Isaac Guerendo (after a would-be fumble was dominated down-by-contact towards the Rams) though he’d by no means accomplished it by 4 seasons in Washington.
“I needed to do no matter I may to assist the workforce,” Robinson mentioned. “That’s why I’m right here.”
He turned in a giant play towards the Giants, who had closed inside 27-17 after a 6-yard run by Jaxson Dart within the third quarter with 7:52 left within the third quarter. Robinson proceeded to discipline a kickoff in the long run zone and break it for 41 yards whilst Shanahan was pleading with him from the sideline to take a knee.
“I went from being extraordinarily indignant with him for not taking a touchback to consuming my very own phrases and saying, ‘Hell of a job,’” Shanahan mentioned.
The 49ers went on a 60-yard drive to reassert themselves after the return, with McCaffrey scoring on a 3-yard run for a 34-14 lead.
Curtis Robinson is pleased with making a constructive contribution on particular groups versus merely being error-free.
“We take pleasure in being one of many causes we will win,” Curtis Robinson mentioned.
As for Piñeiro, his prowess as a discipline objective kicker may even be useful to protection groups.
“Momentum is among the greatest benefits in soccer and I’d be mendacity if I mentioned Eddy nailing 50-plus-yard discipline objectives doesn’t give us somewhat additional juice on kickoff protection,” Curtis Robinson mentioned.
Shanahan mentioned the 49ers have step by step turn into extra well-rounded in all areas of particular groups and famous that accidents typically trigger particular teamers to be pulled into the lineup, which may scale back their availability.
“I feel they’re taking part in very well as a unit in all of the phases, not only one particularly,” Shanahan mentioned. “I feel our returners have gotten higher. We’ve gotten higher at blocking for them. I feel our punter, our lengthy snapper and our kicker are taking part in at a excessive stage. I feel it’s an enormous credit score to them.”
