Tyrann Mathieu calls out 49ers’ ‘simplified’ passing game
The Arizona Cardinals didn’t strain hard to crack the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive code.
What gave it away? The 47-7 final score in Week 3? Colin Kaepernick’s four interceptions, including back-to-back pick-sixes to open the game? The 156 yards and 10 first downs the Niners mustered?
According to Cardinals defensive back Tyrann Mathieu, the Niners have made things so vanilla it was easy to dissect their passing game.
This is damning for Kaepernick, the 49ers, offensive coordinator Geep Chryst and head coach Jim Tomsula. True: Some teams get overly complicated in this league, and it is — as they say — as much about the Jimmy’s and Joe’s than it is the X’s and O’s.
To a point, that is.
If it’s so simple that a third-year defensive back is openly calling out a division rival’s scheme, something isn’t right. The 49ers got the season off to a rousing start with the Week 1 win over the Minnesota Vikings, who have won their past two games. But the Niners have lost their past two since then and have been quite hot and cold offensively thus far this season, with Sunday’s display completely the latter.
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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm
