Why the 49ers Don’t Assign Charvarius Ward to Shadow No. 1 Receivers

Charvarius Ward has been an incredible addition to the 49ers.

Their protection has benefitted a lot from his stout protection and skill to defend in opposition to the run adequately. Trying again on the 49ers protection final yr, they have been hurting from an absence of a superb cornerback. Ward has anchored that for them this yr by turning a variable place into a continuing.

Nonetheless, Ward is not requested to shadow an offense’s No. 1 extensive receiver. Now, he did achieve this in opposition to the Seahawks versus D.Okay. Metcalf and he put the clamps on him. It was the primary time all season he has  However Ward did not shadow Davante Adams when the 49ers confronted the Raiders. It could’ve been higher to process Ward to journey with Adams all through the sport. 

As a substitute, Deommodore Lenoir was compelled to defend the most effective receivers within the recreation on a number of events. Adams in all probability would not have as monstrous of a recreation if Ward shadows him. So why do not the 49ers assign Ward to take action?

DeMeco Ryans revealed why Ward would not shadow No. 1 receivers.

“In terms of touring, all of that’s just about dictated on protection,” mentioned Ryans. “So it might be, protection that Mooney is touring and it will not be, so it’s all gameplanning. It is all based mostly on completely different calls and it isn’t the identical name each time we line up, so there shall be completely different seems to be. We cannot give an offense the identical look. We cannot be that predictable on a regular basis and whoever strains up out there may be anticipated to only make the performs, play with the right method that they are imagined to play with. That is what we anticipate. It would not matter who strains up throughout from you.”

Ryans has an excellent thoughts with scheme, method, and understanding opposing offense, however he’s useless improper with this one. It undoubtedly does matter which receiver strains up throughout sure defensive backs. Some current clear-cut mismatches that not even the scheme can assist them. This previous week in opposition to Adams proved that. I get why Ryans would not have Ward or anybody else shadow. Having anybody do this for the entire recreation might be predictable.

However on the very least, Ryans can uptick the quantity of instances Ward can shadow and make changes accordingly. The hole between Lenoir and Ward in ability is huge. Adams probably nonetheless decimates the 49ers protection this previous week with Ward on him, however at the least there would’ve been a greater likelihood at limiting the harm. Trying across the league, defensive coordinators do not usually ask their prime corners to shadow prime receivers almost as a lot as in years previous. Nonetheless, there are occasions like in opposition to somebody of Adams’ caliber that shadowing is critical. 

Take the Packers for an instance. That they had Jaire Alexander, their finest nook, journey with Justin Jefferson for many if not the entire recreation. Now, he probably wasn’t on an island for the entire time, however Jefferson did not do something productive in that recreation. Once more, I’m not saying Ward would’ve executed this to Adams or some other elite receiver sooner or later, but it surely offers the 49ers protection a considerably higher likelihood at limiting harm. 

Hopefully Ryans will contemplate this when the 49ers are within the playoffs.