What We Saw: Week 2

   

49ers @ Vikings

Final Score: Vikings 23 – 49ers 17

Writer: Brendan Boe (@BeeBoeFF on Twitter)

 

Brock Purdy and the 49ers were routed by former backup quarterback Sam Darnold as the underdog Vikings came out on top in this game. The quarterback performances weren’t inspiring on both sides of the ball, but just enough was done to give some major production to key players. To nobody’s surprise, the running game for the 49ers had the better consistency of either team, but it wasn’t enough to ever take a lead after an early-game massive touchdown from superstar Justin Jefferson. Better days are ahead for the Niners, but Vikings fans rejoice as their season has more promise than expected.

Four Up

  • Jordan Mason – Another brilliant performance! He’s living up to his preseason hype and has established himself as a vital piece of this offense while CMC is out.
  • Justin Jefferson – It doesn’t matter who throws him the ball or how tough a defense he faces, JJ is unquestionably elite, and delivered another big day.
  • Deebo Samuel – Led the team in targets and yards, establishing himself as the alpha in this receiving game.
  • George Kittle – Caught the lone receiving touchdown for the 49ers and showed that he’s still an elite tight end.

Two Down

  • Brandon Aiyuk – He looked okay, but his stats are subpar relative to the amount he’s now being paid. He’s the most expensive third receiving option in the league.
  • Brock Purdy – Don’t be fooled by 300+ yards and a touchdown; he held the ball too long, struggled under pressure, and made poor decisions.

 

San Francisco 49ers

 

Quarterback

 

Brock Purdy: 28/36, 319 Yards, TD, INT | 2 Carries, 12 Yards

Statistically, it wasn’t an awful performance as he finished the game with a QB rating of 101.3. And yes, maybe I’m being a bit harsh on his performance – but the fact is that they lost the game, and Purdy had several missed opportunities which cumulatively cost them a chance at winning. He couldn’t get the touchdown at the 1-yard line, failed to convert a 4th down on a scramble, and held the ball too long which led to being sacked for a loss of yards on multiple plays. He only had one interception, but he was lucky he didn’t have three picks on the day; to be fair, one was a good defensive play, but he generally exhibited poor decision-making while under pressure in this game. The passing yardage instills some confidence as his day was saved by productivity from Deebo Samuel and George Kittle, but Purdy will need to reflect on this game and make some changes moving forward.

 

 

Running Back

 

Jordan Mason: 20 Carries, 100 Yards, TD | 1 Catch, 4 Yards

With Christian McCaffrey out again, Jordan Mason had big shoes to continue filling – and he wore them well. He was efficient with his touches in a workhorse role, earning 100 rushing yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. He showed great speed, awareness, and ability to read blocks to make large gains, and he wasn’t afraid to fight and hurdle through defenders and break tackles to make plays. Sure, anyone in the 49ers backfield will be a major producer, but it’s great to see Mason has a well-rounded skillset that fits this scheme well. Until CMC returns, Mason will continue to be a force to be reckoned with.

 

 

Kyle Juszczyk: 3 Catches, 19 Yards

For a fullback, this man is an amazing receiver. Brock Purdy targeted him multiple times in this game and showed trust in necessary situations. Juszczyk is a fascinating player to watch because he has such a diverse set of skills and it’s always a pleasant surprise to see how he’s used on the field.

 

Isaac Guerendo: 1 Carry, 0 Yards

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Deebo Samuel: 8 Catches, 110 Yards | 2 Carries, -10 Yards

The versatile receiver once again displayed a plethora of different skill sets with great concentration to complete vital plays. He was the most heavily targeted receiver and he capitalized on this volume with over 100 yards on the day. As usual, he was used in the running game but didn’t produce anything; all of his damage was done through the air. He showed his classic toughness as he was willing to fight hard against defenders to move the ball. The Niners know how to use him in many situations, with beautiful highlight catches on the edge of the field and down the middle among a swarm of defenders. Deebo is making a case for being the alpha receiver on this team.

 

George Kittle: 7 Catches, 76 Yards, TD

Kittle was targeted frequently on crucial plays and caught all but one of his targets, once again establishing himself as one of the most reliable tight ends in the NFL. He had a gorgeous catch and run for 25, as well as multiple red-zone targets with one being a touchdown where he powered through multiple defenders to finish the play. His day was nearly cut short due to injury, but he was able to return to the game and help the team march down the field, earning a 14-yard catch and a deep red zone target. Kittle is a necessary component to keep the offense rolling, and today was another great example of this.

 

 

Brandon Aiyuk: 4 Catches, 43 Yards

A relatively pedestrian day compared to his teammates, Aiyuk only had 1 catch in the first half. He was trusted to make some vital plays with a 21-yard catch in the third quarter, and a great low catch made near the goalline toward the end of the game. Expect better days for Aiyuk in this offense, but keep note that he seemed to be third in the pecking order behind Deebo Samuel and George Kittle.

 

Jauan Jennings: 2 Catches, 37 Yards

As the fourth (maybe fifth) receiving option in this passing attack, Jennings did the most with his opportunities, particularly with a great catch on fourth down in heavy coverage for a gain of 25 yards. He has the WR3 role locked in, but given the elite talent in front of him, one shouldn’t expect much production relative to his teammates.

 

Eric Saubert: 2 Catches, 26 Yards

 

Chris Conley: 1 Catch, 4 Yards

 

Minnesota Vikings

 

Quarterback

 

Sam Darnold: 17/26, 268 Yards, 2 TD, INT | 5 Carries, 32 Yards

A pedestrian day was saved by some great touchdowns, particularly a spectacular 97-yard bomb to Justin Jefferson. Darnold placed the ball exactly where it needed to be in double coverage, which turned into the biggest touchdown across all the Sunday morning games. With control of the scoreboard early in this game, Darnold kept the ball moving with check downs to Aaron Jones and used his legs as needed. He seemed to struggle with his decisions at times, one of which led to an interception straight into the hands of Fred Warner, who had the Vikings’ number on this day. There was also a particularly poor play where he threw the ball over a player in motion behind him, leading to a big loss of yards. Darnold did just enough to seal the win for the Vikings, but this performance was a reminder of why he was a backup to rookie J.J. McCarthy until the injury.

 

 

Running Back

 

Aaron Jones: 9 Carries, 32 Yards | 5 Catches, 36 Yards

Though not efficient with his touches, Jones still showed good vision and quickness in crucial situations. He was frequently utilized in the red zone and was trusted with both rushing and receiving plays throughout the game. The 49ers have a tough defense and a great line so, understandably, players have lower production against them, but Jones still had some excellent-looking plays, particularly a 14-yard catch and run to get the Vikings to the 10-yard line. He almost had a long touchdown for over 20 yards, but instead, it resulted in a fumble that was recovered by the 49ers at the 1-yard line; this was another great defensive play by Fred Warner, so don’t let this scare you regarding Jones’ production.

 

 

Ty Chandler: 10 Carries, 82 Yards

What was expected to be a backup role turned out to be a split backfield as Chandler earned 10 carries in this game. He was the much more efficient back on the ground compared to his teammate, earning an average of 8.2 yards per carry versus Jones’ 3.5. The only downside is that he didn’t earn a single target, meaning his role was relegated to solely being a runner. Chandler showed good vision and patience, particularly with a 25-yard rush on the outside into the secondary. Don’t expect him to take over this backfield just yet, but his impact as a runner cannot be overlooked.

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Justin Jefferson: 4 Catches, 133 Yards, TD

It should be no surprise that Jefferson is still elite as he received nearly every target to wide receivers. Sam Darnold heavily locked in on him in all passing situations – and for good reason as he delivered a massive performance, particularly on a 97-yard touchdown play. Any fears for Jefferson’s production can be quelled as he’s proven to be both QB and matchup-proof. He had to leave the game due to an injury to his right quad, but he was able to walk to the locker room on his own. This situation is worth monitoring, but luckily this injury doesn’t seem severe.

 

 

Jalen Nailor: 3 Catches, 54 Yards, TD

Stepping in for the absent Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor established himself as the #2 receiver in this offense for the day. Nailor was the only wide receiver outside of Justin Jefferson who earned a target in the first half and, by the end of the game, was one of two receivers with more than 17 receiving yards. He made the most of his few targets as he caught a touchdown after a 49ers turnover in the third quarter, plus some deeper strikes at critical situations to keep the ball moving.

 

Brandon Powell: 2 Catches, 16 Yards

 

Johnny Mundt: 2 Catches, 12 Yards

 

Trent Sherfield: 1 Catch, 17 Yards

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