Thread by @eric_crocker

Emmanuel Sanders 2019 Thread

-What Sanders brings to the #49ers

-Why the trade was necessary

-& a certain current 49er receivers receiver he reminds me of (ill do a spinoff thread of that receiver at the conclusion of this)

The WHY

The #49ers have some very talented young receiver. But they are just that.... young. Im probably the biggest advocate of "Develop your guys.. give the time".. Well fortunately or unfortunately, that "time" has been sped up due to a 6-0 start.

The niners have been banged up at receiver.. 3 of the guys most of us really wanted to see..Trent Taylor, Jalen Hurd and now Deebo Samuelare all sidelined with injuries

When you start 6-0 the expectations change. They go from "Can the 49ers win 9 games?" to "CAN THE 49ERS MAKE A SUPERBOWL RUN?" lol a little extreme... but is it? Defense us ready.. run game ready... receivers? Not so much. Young and inconsistent

So what do you do? You have to capitalize on this opportunity. You don't need THE GUY.. just A GUY... someone who really compliments George Kittle who is really your WR1 lol So you trade for Emmanuel Sanders. Big time move when you see what he has done coming off of an injury

And not just any injury. An Achilles injury he suffered late in the 2018 season. Sanders finished the season with 71 catches for 868 yards in 12 weeks. On pace for 94 catches and 1,157 yards. Doesn't look like a receiver who has slowed down to me. But what is he post injury?

His first action since the injury was against... you guessed it. 49ers. Week 2 off the pre season. How is he going to look? Well, he caught a bomb vs what looked like a deep 3rd cb which is extremely difficult to do... looked fine there lol

The Broncos definitely didn't ease him in. Shortly after the bomb they ran an end around reverse with him.. (sorry for the mid play buffer lol) but he still looked like himself. that's a 20 yard gain there..

32 years old coming off of an Achilles injury. History says you shoulder worry.. film says you shouldn't at all..

lets het into some regular season stuff.

Well.. he's still getting behind defenders. Running a deep post on that trash raiders baseball field lol. But at least we know.. he still is a threat to stretch the field. Did it vs 49ers.. now against the raiders. Age and Achilles don't look like an issue

Corner settled his feet just a bit too much. Cant get caught flat footed vs someone with speed..

2nd and short. Little hitch route.. I'm guessing Flacco was a little late giving the corner time to contest it.. but nice catch and you see his run after catch ability he brings to the 49ers. You'll actually see that a lot on this thread

He's not very big.. 5'11" 180. But I always say it.. Good receivers score touchdown. I don't care about size... goal line fade.. back shoulder ball... same page with the QB.. touchdown

I don't know what made Flacco double clutch here but if the ball comes out on time there's plenty of separation here on the stop route... should've been an easy completion. Corner respecting his speed

Thats the end of the raiders clips. 5 catches 86 yards and a TD. On to the Bears. Some more good stuff.

First play of the game. Slant from the slot where he will work at times..Nice subtle hesitation to get the defender to stop his feet.

Running another slant from the slot. most impressive part about this is the fearlessness. Fully extended over the middle plucks the ball out the air all hands. PA fake sucks the backers in and Sanders catches a slant for a 1st down.

All hands... fully extended. Move the chains.

speaking of moving the chains, Sanders has more first down catches (17) than the total amount of catches from any 49ers receiver. Deebo Samuel led the group with 15 total catches.

Little pivot route from the slot. I think he's just as good from the slot as he is from the outside. Good after the catch. Sometimes does a bit too much and exposes himself to hits but I guess that's part of what makes him good

Heres an example of that lol

Broncos OC Rich Scangarello was the 49ers QB coach the last couple years so you'll see a lot of Shanahan staples in his offense. Deep over behind the backer. Again reaches up with all hands to catch a pass while taking a hit..

Couldn't help myself.. good play by Fuller here.. got the Banjo going on the attempted pick play... receivers want to break off their route at the goal line.. good eyes and ball skills by Fuller

Another fade for a td. I Haven't seen Kyle attempt too many red zone fades this season.. if any.. But its something else Sanders brings to the table. Again.. this is all 2019 clips at 32 years old post Achilles injury

Some more Kyle Shanahan plays.. PA pass sneaking the receiver behind the underneath coverage on the crosser. nice diving catch

There were a couple go routes the Broncos attempted vs Jags where Sanders couldn't get a step on cbs... here vs Bouye

There was another one vs Tre Herndon.. I thought I saved the clip.. got maybe half a step on Herndon. 49ers don't really run go routes lol so we'll be alright there

Only time I can think of 49ers throwing a go Route this year was to Deebo vs Dallas and that was a stutter n go

NVM.. I do have it. Good coverage by Tre Herndon here

Back outside. Nice deep out or bench route.. wtv you want to call it.. with an inside release to go back out. I personally hate guarding this route lol

Herndon was actually in good position to make Sanders have to fight through him on the out.. excellent route by Sanders on the inside stem.. pushing vertical and breaking out in a couple steps.. and then great run after catch. he got inside the 10

Nice route concept here. Sanders is open on the shallow crosser.. im not sure where Flacco was throwing the ball or how he missed this lol

Sticky coverage here by AJ Bouye. Hands on.. reads Sanders down... feels him so when Sanders tries to work open on the scramble drill Bouye goes too.. damn near picks off this pass.. really a terrible throw lol but great coverage

Pay attention to the end of this. He slides awkwardly after the catch (he doesn't drop passes. 0 on the season) but on the next clip watch how he walks off the field

So this happened in the Jags game after he had 5 catches for 104 yards. The 2 weeks following this game he had 2 catches for 9 yards lol so clearly the knee or wtv this is was bothering.. But he played last Thursday against the chiefs.. lets look at him in that game

wait.. this is after he got banged up.. had a nice catch and run to get inside the 10. Not sure why the film started glitching .. but yeah.. wasn't 100% the following 2 games.. but lets go to the chiefs game. His last game before being traded to the 49ers

up top outside. Beats Breeland off the press.. wisely gets down lol

Working out of the slot.. again gets behind the under coverag.. throttles down a bit in the open area of the zone.. goes down and catches the ball..

Slant out the slot.. not sure what the chiefs was doing lol nvm.. I see who's supposed to be there..someone tell big 91 to drop into coverage quicker haha.. Y'all thought Saleh was the only one dropping DT's into coverage? lol Chiefs only rushed 3 and still had a huge void

Last clip.. works open to catch a pass... looks like he was just short of the sticks on 3rd and long.. low and away pass didn't help..

I mentioned earlier the 49ers have a receiver that reminds me of Sanders. That receiver is is Richie James. When I look at James I see the same size and ability. We've seen it in flashes. Big time ability but he's just young.

I saw a lot of people worried about trading for a 32 year old receiver coming off of an injury but when I watch Sanders this season, I just see a really good reliable receiver that comes from a similar offensive system and immediately is the 49ers best receiver on the roster

Now I like the young guys.. they just aren't ready yet and 49ers have a big time opportunity to capitalize on a 6-0 start and improve on what looks to be the 49er biggest "weakness"

Later today be on the look out for the Richie James thread and how/why he reminds me so much of Emmanuel Sanders

Richie James is cold. Before the Sanders trade... I 100% convinced myself him and Deebo need to be the starting receivers. And don't take them out lol