The San Francisco 49ers’ offensive line has gone from a weakness to a real strength in a hurry, and Trent Williams says the change starts in the head.
After the 49ers’ Week 4 win over the Broncos, Williams pointed to confidence and belief as the engine behind the unit’s strong start.
"I think everybody in the locker room goes through those times where you've got to be a little bit, I guess, for lack of a better word, crazy, in a sense to where you've got to believe that you're the best," shared Williams with the media after the 49ers' Week 4 victory against the Broncos.
"You've got to believe you have the best o-line. You've got to believe you have the best defensive line whether that's true or not. It's the belief and the confidence that allows you to play like you can be that.
"I've always thought we had the talent to be one of the best o-lines in the league. I always say I thought Colton [McKivitz] and myself were probably the best pair of Tackles in the league. With the way Dom [Puni] has been playing, obviously Jake [Brendel] has always been real solid for us, the heart and soul of our o-line.
"Connor [Colby] taking that big step, that's probably when you reference the question. I understand it's left guard, but we always had faith in him.
He has the attributes to be really successful. We've seen that his rookie year and now he's putting on film."
That leap has shown up on the field. Through four weeks, Brock Purdy has not been sacked, and the last team to go a full season without allowing a sack at quarterback was Peyton Manning’s 2005 Indianapolis Colts, who went 14-2.
The Broncos offered a tougher test than the 49ers had seen in previous weeks, mostly because of their defense, and San Francisco handled it well. Next comes another major challenge in Week 5 against the Seahawks, who beat the 49ers twice last season.
Belief has been part of the rise, but the coaching staff has also earned credit for the turnaround. The improvement has been hard to miss, and so far, it’s holding up.
In Other News...
49ers Got The Kyle Juszczyk Injury News They Desperately Needed
Kyle Juszczyks knee injury looked far worse in the moment, but the 49ers avoided the kind of outcome that can reshape a season. The Pro Bowl fullback was hurt against the Broncos and later learned the MRI showed no ligament damage, easing fears around a play that had plenty of people bracing for a longer absence.
Juszczyk is still expected to miss two to three weeks after suffering a hyperextended knee, capsule sprain and minor bone bruise, which likely rules him out for the Seahawks game. Even so, the door is open for a return before the end of October, a useful bit of news for a San Francisco offense that leans on his versatility and physical presence in the run game and around the goal line. [Read more 🡒]
John Lynch Could Have One More Aggressive Move In Mind
The 49ers have been surviving the kind of stretch that tends to test a rosters depth as much as its talent, stacking wins even while dealing with injuries that have complicated the week-to-week picture. That kind of success can make a front office hesitate, but it can also sharpen the sense that the current group is close enough to justify a little more help before the season gets much deeper.
With the November 10 trade deadline looming, John Lynch could still have one aggressive move left to make if he decides the run should be supported rather than merely managed. The names tied to that conversation point in a few different directions, from defensive tackle Daron Payne to wide receiver Quentin Johnston to edge rushers Za'Darius Smith and Khalil Mack, which says plenty about the range of ways San Francisco could try to bolster itself without waiting for the market to come to it. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Injury Report Brings Early Concern And One Intriguing Possibility
The first Week 5 practice brought an early dose of concern for San Francisco, with five players sitting out as the 49ers started preparing for Seattle. Nick Bosa, James Thompson, Kyle Juszczyk, Marques Sigle, and Upton Stout were all absent, while Mykel Williams, Mike Evans and Kaelon Black took part on a limited basis as the team tried to sort through an injury list that already had some familiar names on it.
Williams is the most intriguing piece of the group, since a return to the field could be on the table after he worked his way back from injury. Coach Kyle Shanahan also said Stout is day-to-day with a shoulder issue, which at least gives the 49ers some reason to keep a close eye on the week rather than assume the early absences will define it. [Read more 🡒]