Ricky Pearsall’s return to the field is the exact boost the 49ers need right now.
And that’s not strictly on an emotional level, either.
Yes, seeing the Niners’ first-round pick, who was shot on Aug. 31 in an attempted robbery in San Francisco’s Union Square, cheating death and playing again is worthy of celebration and all the good vibes that emanate from that.
But Pearsall is also the exact kind of player the 49ers have needed all season long. Combine both factors, and his first NFL game could be the turning point of the Niners’ up-and-down season.
When that first game will come is anyone’s guess as of now. Given the unprecedented nature (at least for the Niners) of Pearsall’s delay, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone in a position of authority in Santa Clara with confidence in what the “right” move is here. You’re not only dealing with the injury itself but also the mental health considerations that stem from the traumatic moment.
But if Pearsall is cleared to play by all qualified parties involved (of which neither you nor I can claim to be) and the 24-year-old rookie wants to play, the 49ers shouldn’t hesitate to put him in the field.
That’s because the Niners’ passing offense has a clear-cut issue this season: man-to-man defense.
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In past seasons, that was something the Niners wanted to see — running back Christian McCaffrey is indefensible one-on-one. The Niners threw it to No. 23 out of the backfield when all else failed.
But McCaffrey has missed the entire season to date and isn’t coming back into the fold anytime soon.
Meanwhile, per Pro Football Focus, Niners receivers have caught less than 50 percent of their total targets against man-to-man coverage this season, compared to 74 percent (73/99) in zone coverage. Niners receivers are not separating when pressed and shadowed, save for Brandon Aiyuk, who isn’t being thrown the ball often enough this season.
And the worst part is that teams know it.
The Kansas City Chiefs played man-to-man on 60 percent of the 49ers’ dropbacks in the Super Bowl, pressing up on the Niners’ receivers at the line of scrimmage and daring them to win. It forced Niners quarterback Brock Purdy into tight-window throws and took Deebo Samuel out of the game, as he didn’t have a single catch (six targets) against the coverage.
It should be noted that McCaffrey caught four all four targets in man coverage, tallying 59 yards with 66 yards coming after the catch.
The NFL is a copycat league, so the Niners are seeing more man-to-man defense this season. Until they prove they can beat it (something that hasn’t happened yet), capable teams will press the button again and again. If nothing else, it takes Samuel — a true game-changing player — out of the contest.
Shanahan saw all this coming. Pearsall was drafted to solve this exact problem.
In his 2023 season for the Florida Gators, Pearsall had a success rate of 76 percent against man coverage, per Reception Perception, the best mark of any receiver taken in his range in the draft. It doesn’t take a scout’s eye to see why he wins — he’s a sudden and crisp route runner. If he can release off the line of scrimmage, he will be consistently open down the field. I saw it again and again in rookie mini-camp and training camp.
That kind of a player — that kind of threat to a defense — is precisely what the 49ers need.
Seriously, what do you think the Chiefs will do on Sunday? Probably the same thing they did in the Super Bowl.
And the immediate need for a man-beating receiver isn’t to suggest that Pearsall should see serious snaps from the moment he’s deemed ready to play — whether on Sunday or after the Niners’ bye week on Nov. 10.
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But if the Niners can substitute Pearsall for Samuel on 5 to 10 plays a game to start — and specifically plays the Niners believe opponents will play man-to-man defense — it could prove huge for the offense. Not only would it give Samuel much-needed plays off, keeping his legs fresh, but it could also result in big yardage, as, with two man-beating receivers on the field, Purdy can use the entire field.
So yes, Pearsall’s return to practice is a feel-good story for the Niners.
But that might be underselling it because, tactically, Pearsall could be a game-changer — a season-changer — for the Niners.