San Francisco 49ers: Top 10 plays from 2018, Weeks 1 through 10
By Chris Wilson
49ers top play No. 8
In the 49ers’ eighth top play of 2018, Goodwin shows one of the NFL’s top corners that speed kills.
San Francisco’s second matchup with the Cardinals wasn’t an offensive showcase for the Niners, as the team’s lackluster offensive attack played a significant role in Beathard’s demotion the following week. However, the Week 8 game did include a matchup between Goodwin and one of the game’s best cornerbacks, Patrick Peterson.
After having a breakout season in 2017, Goodwin was hampered or sidelined by multiple leg injuries over the first half of the 2018 season, which limited the wideout to just 11 catches over the 49ers’ first seven games.
Arizona is comfortable leaving Peterson, who often follows the opposing teams’ top wideout, on an island in man coverage with any NFL receiver, which is what they did on this third down attempt in the third quarter of the game.
The Cardinals brought two extra rushers on the play, which left the middle of the field open for Goodwin to run a tighter slant route. This stopped Peterson from being able to get a hand on the speedy receiver, who blew by the corner despite having to slow down to catch Beathard’s pass.
Once Goodwin had a step on Peterson, the cornerback gave up on the play, knowing there was no way he could catch the former Olympic track star. While Peterson was aware of Goodwin’s blazing speed, Cardinals safety Antoine Bethea was not; the deep safety tried to cut the wideout off to no avail, as Goodwin sailed past him untouched into the end zone:
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