SANTA CLARA – Nick Bosa, is there nothing you possibly can do to finally get a holding penalty against the Kansas City Chiefs this time?
“I never know it’s going to happen. “It's hard to say whether I'll be held or not,” Bosa said before the Chiefs (5-0) visit the 49ers (3-3) on Sunday. “I’m just trying to get to the quarterback.”
Two Super Bowl games, two 49ers defeats and never a single penalty claimed Kansas City's unindicted protectors of Patrick Mahomes.
Bosa, in his sixth 12 months, was intrigued to learn that the Chiefs have committed the third-most offense penalties within the NFL this season. But it just isn’t his style to denounce or advocate such violations through the election campaign, especially not through the games when he’s oblivious to potential lawbreakers.
“I just feel like I'm not moving and I feel like I'm getting blocked or not getting close enough to the quarterback,” Bosa said. “Unless you look at the tape, it’s hard to tell.”
The 49ers Faithfully wasted no time in piecing together the film of the Bosa takedown after each Super Bowl loss within the 2019 and '23 seasons. Bill Vinovich officiated each games, and since he oversaw the Seahawks' game against the Falcons in Atlanta on Sunday, Alan Eck, a second-year referee, will likely be the person calling the penalties at Levi's Stadium.
“It seems to be different every week,” Bosa said of the best way the event is conducted.
Sunday's return game against the Chiefs – as a reminder: this time it's not a couple of trophy – can have the 49ers painfully reliving key plays from their Super Bowl encounters, not to say the Chiefs' 44-23 loss at Levi's stage two Octobers ago.
The most evident, ignored call was Eric Fisher's unpunished attack on Bosa during Mahomes' “Jet Chip Wasp” completion to Tyreek Hill that sparked the 49ers' downfall. Greg Papa, the 49ers' play-by-play voice, mentioned on KNBR 680-AM Thursday that there have been other holding penalties within the last Super Bowl that weren't called, most notably two by former 49ers running back Jerick McKinnon on third-down conversions.
The Chiefs' starting offensive line and their penalties this season: Left tackle Wanya Morris (none), left guard Joe Thuney (none), center Creed Humphrey (one), right guard Trey Smith (two), right tackle Jawaan Taylor (two). ). Morris entered the lineup after rookie Kingsley Suamataia had three calls in the primary two games. Taylor has committed five false start penalties this 12 months after leading the NFL with 20 total penalties last season.
Opponents have been called on just 4 offensive stance penalties this season, with two called for Bosa's blocker – within the opener against the Jets and within the Week 3 loss to the Rams.
Conversely, Bosa has just three sacks this season and his defensive colleague Leonard Floyd just two. After producing 14 pressures but no sacks in last Thursday night's win at Seattle, Bosa is clearly on the Chiefs' radar.
“Their defense starts with these guys,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid told reporters in Kansas City. “They have an All-Pro linebacker (Fred Warner) sitting right there along with their secondary. They are well positioned, but it starts with defense. These guys set the pace.”
PRACTICE UPDATES
While wide receiver Jauan Jennings (hip) sat out of form, freshman Ricky Pearsall was a full participant for the third straight 12 months. There isn’t any official word on whether Pearsall will likely be taken off the non-football injured list for Sunday's game, seven weeks after he survived a gunshot wound to the chest during a robbery in San Francisco.
Running back Jordan Mason (shoulder) and wide receiver Deebo Samuel (wrist) remained limited and wore no-contact jerseys.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (knee) returned after missing Wednesday; Tackle Trent Williams and defensive end Leonard Floyd remained back from a day of rest.
Kickers Jake Moody (ankle) and Matthew Wright (back, shoulder) were absent, so it appears Anders Carlson will likely be coming off the practice squad and serving because the 49ers' third kicker in as many games.
COMPLIMENTS FROM THE BOSSES
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo gave loads of credit to the 49ers on Thursday: “Listen, defending this offense is still a headache. I know they're missing running back (Christian McCaffrey), but I think having the guys there for him still makes the whole system effective.”
While Spagnuolo then praised Mason's backup abilities for McCaffrey, it was quarterback Brock Purdy who offered the most specific compliments: “I can't see any weakness in this quarterback. Every time I watch the film I am more and more impressed. … The quarterback is really good against the zone and finding those pockets and spaces, and the receivers adjust routes to do that. … The most impressive thing to me is that even if he doesn't come out quickly in the blitz, he has a unique way of getting away.”
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