Niner Noise
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3 49ers players who need to improve in Week 7 vs. Redskins

By Jeremy Wohlfart

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 13: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass in the second half against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 13, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 13: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass in the second half against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 13, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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49ers Niner Noise Podcast: MNF vs. Browns
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 22: Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates by slamming the ball to the turf after he caught a touchdown pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers late in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers won the game 24-20. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Dante Pettis

In the doghouse no longer, young wide receiver Dante Pettis looks on the cusp of a big breakthrough game for the 49ers.

After barely having any snaps or targets on offense for the first two weeks, Pettis has eight catches for 76 yards and the game-winning touchdown against the Steelers. He was extremely close to another touchdown against the Rams but was marked just short.

While they aren’t the most impressive stats, consider Jimmy Garoppolo was often throwing quickly against the Rams to mitigate their defense. Also keep in mind that the preferred player for getting the ball to is tight end George Kittle.

Pettis is looking very close to claiming that mantle for the No. 2 preferred receiver, however, and he has a big chance to make this happen against a poor Redskins secondary.

Redskins used to have a top corner in Josh Norman, however time seems to be catching up to him as he has an abysmal 50.0 score by Pro Football Focus. If Pettis can be schemed against him, he can use his great route-running skills to exploit this weakness.

The key word here is “scheme.” The 49ers generally have a pretty good idea what they’re going to do on both sides of the ball before the game starts. Kyle Shanahan should find a way to get Pettis involved, even over the middle of the field where Pettis finally showed some grit against the Rams (a quality that had been lacking for the young wideout).

Pettis started 2019 very slow, but he’s working his way back to where the team thought he would be by now. All he needs is a chance to show what he can do against a weak secondary to get that confidence up.