Niner Noise
FanSided

Top 3 performances from 49ers Week 12 dismantling of the Packers

By Ezechiel Dezine

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers is tackled by Arik Armstead #91 and DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers is tackled by Arik Armstead #91 and DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 31: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers and staff look on during the game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on October 31, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 31: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers and staff look on during the game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on October 31, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Game Ball No. 3: 49ers Coaching Staff

In today’s NFL, coaching is just as important as the talent on the field now more than ever. It’s the coach’s responsibility to put players in position to make plays.

No one is more gifted at doing so in the league right now than 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.

His play calling was simply masterful. Rookie wide receiver Deebo Samuel made his bread and butter running slant routes at the university of South Carolina, and Shanahan utilized Samuel’s ability here on this 48-yard touchdown catch and run:

Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh clearly read the Niner Noise article on adjusting without EDGE Dee Ford, as he executed all three suggestions to perfection. Saleh blitzed Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers early and often, which led to a strip sack by middle linebacker Fred Warner that would be recovered and set up the 49ers’ first touchdown early in the first quarter.

Saleh also moved rookie EDGE Nick Bosa around. Bosa rushed from the left end and lined up inside as well. Early in the second quarter, Saleh didn’t like what he saw on a fourth-down play, and after a timeout, he put nose tackle D.J. Jones in to eventually stuff the run and give the ball back to the offense. Saleh was so pumped after the stop, he had to be restrained from running onto the field.

Saleh was playing chess, while his old college roommate, now-Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, was playing checkers.

Lastly, offensive line coach John Benton may have made the call of the game by benching rookie left tackle Justin Skule for Daniel Brunskill. Skule had been abused by Packers EDGE Za’Darius Smith on back-to-back plays. And had the change not been made, the 49ers could have had a Jadeveon Clowney 2.0 situation on their hands.