Truth is, the 49ers DBs play a lot like the Seahawks did during their Legion of Boom years. One need only follow Richard Sherman’s commentary on Twitter during a Niners game to see it at work.
While they’re not nearly as talented as the peak Sherm, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor defenses, these Niners do ride the line between physical/aggressive play and galling penalties. This one from last night’s game was a clear instance when they went overboard. Watch 49ers cornerback Ambry Thomas get away with a blatant hold on rookie wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the end zone.
San Francisco Zebraniners pic.twitter.com/VBxd9jWy37
— Rapinas do Mar (Cortes) (@cortesrapinas) November 24, 2023
Swallowing the flag there came at a critical point. The Seahawks had all the momentum going for them after coming out of the locker room with their cleats on fire. A touchdown would have made it a one-score game. Instead, a field goal by Jason Myers kept Seattle just out of reach and Brandon Aiyuk’s touchdown put them away for good.
That said, even if they’d thrown a flag there the Seahawks would still have had no answer for Christian McCaffrey, no answer for Kyle Shanahan and no explanation for their pass rush going quiet in a big game yet again.
In any case, Smith-Njigba finished the game with two catches for 41 yards, which doesn’t do justice to how sharp he looks out there. He is quickly replacing Tyler Lockett as the team’s go-to receiver on third down.
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