"The 4-2 49ers are broken. Fred Warner is gone for the season. So is Nick Bosa. Brock Purdy is still sidelined. Ricky Pearsall is, too. That's just a few of the many, many names. The Niners' defense is reeling, and the offense is sputtering. Now, the 3-2 Atlanta Falcons-a team that's won two straight-come to town with the NFL's scrimmage yards leader in Bijan Robinson and a quarterback in Michael Penix who isn't afraid to let it rip."
"Deommodore Lenoir's experiment at outside corner hasn't worked out so far. "Uneventful" is being kind. "Regrettable" is far more accurate. Now, with starting and upstart nickelback Upton Stout injured, the Niners are forced into a decision: Do they stick with the experiment and plug in the unproven Chase Lucas in the slot? Or do they finally move Lenoir back to the position where he was All-Pro caliber? With Fred Warner done for the year, this shouldn't even be a debate."
"Lenoir is the alpha of this defense now. You need your best, most physical player closer to the action, not stranded on an island he's proven he can't defend. The smart play-the only play-is putting Darrell Luter on the outside and sliding Lenoir back inside. It's the one move that might actually provide the spark this reeling defense so desperately needs."
San Francisco enters the matchup missing multiple key players, including Fred Warner, Nick Bosa and Brock Purdy, leaving both defense and offense weakened. Atlanta arrives with Bijan Robinson leading scrimmage yards and a quarterback in Michael Penix who launches an aggressive passing attack. George Kittle returns, but Mac Jones and rookie Tatum Bethune will manage a conservative, survival-oriented offense. A primary decision point is moving Deommodore Lenoir back to the slot and installing Darrell Luter outside to restore physicality and playmaking. The 49ers' 13-game interception drought appears likely to end under pressure from Atlanta's offense.
Read at The Mercury News
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