Focus on Rams: L.A. wanted McCaffrey, but 49ers beat them to the punch
A look ahead to the 49ers' road game Sunday against the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams.
About four minutes in to his weekly teleconference with local writers, Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay was asked about the 49ers’ acquisition of running back Christian McCaffrey.
“Oh (expletive), they get another great player,” McVay said Monday before picking up steam with his answer.
The Rams, defending Super Bowl champions, are coming off a bye week when they host the San Francisco 49ers at SoFi Stadium. Last time out, they beat the Carolina Panthers 24-10. It was McCaffrey’s final game with the Panthers and he gained 69 yards on 13 carries and caught seven passes for 87 more.
McCaffrey was on the trading block and the Rams liked what they saw, just as the 49ers did when they beat Carolina 37-15 on Oct. 9. With running back Cam Akers in limbo with McVay and awaiting a possible trade, the Rams needed a running back even more than the 49ers.
The 49ers got there first, and general manager John Lynch didn’t hide the fact that seeing McCaffrey go to the Rams was almost as appealing as bringing him to the South Bay.
The fact that the Rams have dealt draft capital in acquiring big-name players in recent years — quarterback Matthew Stafford, cornerback Jalen Ramsey, Von Miller and Odell Beckham Jr. among them — hastened the 49ers pursuit.
It’s an open secret that the 49ers were interested in trading for Stafford to replace Jimmy Garoppolo, only to have the Rams sneak in and make the trade with Jared Goff and a slew of draft picks.
“It’s a small business but it’s one that’s go ta bunch of very competitive people,” McVay said. “Sometimes some of the moves are made because No. 1, it benefits your team, but then it’s also trying not to strengthen others. I think that’s a sound approach. I don’t think we were the first people to do that by any means.”
As for McCaffrey on Sunday, McVay can expect a much heavier workload against the Rams than the 21 snaps he got with almost no practice time in a 44-23 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
“I’ve always had respect for his game and the versatility,” McVay said. “I think that’s your first inclination and you know what a great job Kyle and his staff do of maximizing and utilizing versatile offensive weapons.”
A look at Sunday’s matchup between two would-be championship contenders that have underachieved entering Week 8:
GAME ESSENTIALS: 49ers (3-4) vs. Rams (3-3) at SoFi Stadium, 1:25 p.m. (Fox). ODDS: 49ers by 1 1/2
THREE REASONS FOR 49ERS OPTIMISM
Dominance of the Rams
The 49ers have won the last seven regular season games against the Rams. McVay doesn’t have a regular-season win against Shanahan. The Rams won the most important one last Jan. 30, advancing to the Super Bowl with a 20-17 triumph.
Even in that game, the 49ers had a 17-7 lead entering the fourth quarter and came within a dropped interception by Jaquaski Tartt of moving on to play the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.
Being humbled by the Chiefs
This could be a good thing, especially where the defense is concerned. Giving up 529 yards and 44 points is something the 49ers defense didn’t think was possible.
The Rams haven’t played to anywhere near the level of the Chiefs, and players such as edge rusher Nick Bosa (groin), safety Jimmie Ward (broken hand), Charvarius Ward (groin) and safety Talanoa Hufanga (concussion protocol) should get in full weeks of practice.
They’ll be more than a little salty about what went down against Patrick Mahomes and Co. and eager to re-establish themselves as one of the NFL’s top defenses.
Stafford will throw them the ball
When Charles Woodson played for the Green Bay Packers, he was fond of saying about Bears quarterback Jay Cutler “We know Jay will throw us the ball.”
The same goes for Stafford against the 49ers. In three regular-season games plus the NFC title game, Stafford has thrown six interceptions along with six touchdown passes. In last year’s win at Levi’s, Jimmie Ward had a 27-yard pick six. In this year’s win, Hufanga ran one back 52 yards for a score.
Stafford is 1-3 against the 49ers and his passer rating is a subpar 81.2.
THREE REASONS FOR 49ERS PESSIMISM
Getting Deebo untracked
McCaffrey will be much more involved against the Rams after sitting out much of the red zone and hurry-up offense against the Chiefs due to lack of practice time. In theory, that sets up the dream scenario with McCaffrey and Samuel being on the field at the same time with one or the other finding the wide open spaces as a result.
However, there was a complication on Monday when Shanahan said Samuel is “day to day” with a hamstring strain. His practice time could be limited. If it’s serious enough, the 49ers could shut him down with the bye week to follow to get him back to 100 percent.
Jefferson, Robinson give Rams options
In the first meeting this season, the 49ers focused much of their defensive attention on Cooper Kupp, giving him mostly short receptions and makin sure he didn’t get loose in the seam or over the top. Kupp caught 14 passes but for only 122 yards with a long gain of 18.
When Stafford wasn’t throwing to Kupp, it was to right end Tyler Higbee, who caught 10 passes for just 73 yards. Van Jefferson was on injured reserve and free agent Allen Robinson was a non-factor.
This time around, Jefferson is off injured reserve and gives Stafford a solid option and Robinson is catching on after a slow start. He had five receptions for 63 yards against Carolina, both season highs.
The 49ers are already missing cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, who was lost for the season in Carolina to a torn ACL.
A champion’s heart
The Rams have been taking it on the chin nationally for their slow start and rest assured they’re tired of hearing about the way they get dominated against the 49ers even though they won the game that mattered most.
Like the 49ers, the Rams simply have too many good players to be struggling. They’re coming off a bye so they’re fresh and getting some healthy bodies back.
PROBABLE DIFFERENCE MAKER: DT Aaron Donald
Isn’t it always? You rarely find a player that gets the kind of league-wide reverence as Donald, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year. The 49ers have actually kept Donald more under control than most, but you’ll never hear them brag about it because they know he can wreck a game at any time.