STUDS AND DUDS
That’s how you start a season.
The 49ers might have messed around all training camp and preseason, but there was no tomfoolery on display Monday night, as the Niners punched the Jets in the mouth early and refused to relent for a single moment.
The Niners didn’t even need four quarters to dismantle the Jets, chasing New York quarterback Aaron Rodgers halfway through the final frame.
The Niners treated the final portion of the contest as practice.
All in all, an effective day at the office. Here are the studs and duds of Week 1:
💪 STUDS
Jordan Mason — RB
I don’t know how long the 49ers knew they would be without top running back Christian McCaffrey. Maybe it was a few hours. Maybe it was a few days.
Either way, they can go another week without him, as Mason ran 28 times for 147 yards and a touchdown.
Mason, the Niners’ No. 2 back, looked worthy of feature status. Boasting outstanding vision, bounce, tackle-breaking ability, and straight-line speed, the Niners were able to feed him early and establish a physical tone for the game. They didn’t relent for four quarters.
How does Kyle Shanahan keep finding ’em?
Fred Warner — LB
On the fourth play of Aaron Rodgers’ season, he pitched the ball to running back Breece Hall. He didn’t see Fred Warner, who punched out the ball and set up the Niners’ first score of the game.
Still, it was an upgrade over Rodgers’ fourth play last season.
The Jets tried to run inside zone again and again in the first half. They kept running into Warner, who was playing with his hair on fire.
The result was the same when they tried to run outside later in the game.
Warner is still the best middle linebacker in the game, folks.
Eric Saubert — TE
The Niners utilized their secret weapon Monday.
Yes, it was their blocking tight end.
The 49ers were able to pound the rock for 104 yards in the first half, with a solid portion of those runs coming with two tight ends on the field. The Niners’ early-down run success set a tone for the game that was unmistakable.
And if Saubert missed a block, I missed it. The blocking tight end was clearing massive lanes that running back Jordan Mason hit again and again and again. He might as well have been the Niners’ right tackle Monday.
When the Jets cheated up with Saubert on the field? The Niners threw the ball with aplomb.
The only downside was that Saubert didn’t have a catch in the game.
Dom Puni — RG
The rookie right guard had no problems in pass protection and was excellent in the run game. He might have been the team’s best offensive lineman on Monday.
Jake Moody — K
Made all his field goals. Yes, all six, including a 53-yarder that needed some help from the inside of the left post. A nice bounce-back for the second-year kicker.
📉 DUDS
Brandon Aiyuk — WR
Just days after signing his massive new contract, Aiyuk was on the sidelines for a large portion of the second half on Monday. I don’t think it was strictly a conditioning issue. Aiyuk had two tough first-half drops, including on a perfectly thrown pass to the back corner of the end zone to end the second quarter. He didn’t exactly force Shanahan’s hand.
Colton McKivtiz – OT
Two penalties, shaky pass protection, and an average performance in the run game (where he’s usually outstanding) — McKivitz did nothing to assuage Niners’ fans fears that he’s the weak link on the Niners’ line Monday night. And if there wasn’t already a target on his back after last season, it’s there after Monday’s game. You can expect Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores to overload the right side of the Niners’ offensive line next Sunday.
Ji’Ayir Brown – FS
The touchdown didn’t matter, but Brown was out of position on Allen Lazard’s 36-yard score, where he ran a straight line up the middle of the field. The Niners’ free safety was caught flat-footed in the second level and couldn’t recover in time to break up the play.