Tag: charvarius ward

DK Metcalf shares his respect for 49ers CB Charvarius Ward

DK Metcalf doesn’t get shut down often.

DK Metcalf doesn’t get shut down often, but that’s what happened when the Seahawks faced the 49ers a couple of weeks ago. DK only caught three of nine targets from Geno Smith, totaling 32 yards and no touchdowns.

Going into the rematch on Sunday, Metcalf is giving cornerback Charvarius Ward his proper respect. Watch.

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The Xs and Os with Greg Cosell: Previewing Week 14’s biggest NFL matchups

In this week’s “Xs and Os with Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar,” the guys preview Week 14’s most important NFL matchups.

It’s time for Week 14 of the 2023 NFL season, and Greg Cosell of NFL Films and ESPN’s NFL Matchup, and Doug Farrar of Touchdown Wire and the USA Today Sports Media Group, are here to get you ready for the most important games and interesting matchups:

Los Angeles Rams-Baltimore Ravens — The intricacies of Matthew Stafford’s 70-yard touchdown pass to Puka Nacua against the Cleveland Browns, and how the Ravens’ defense might give Stafford some intellectual headaches.

Seattle Seahawks-San Francisco 49ers — Can the Seahawks face up against a dominant 49ers team that took them completely out of their depth on Thanksgiving night? The battle between 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward and Seahawks receiver D.K. Metcalf will be key.

Philadelphia Eagles-Dallas Cowboys — The Eagles are trying to recover from the 49ers demolishing them (it’s happening a lot to San Francisco’s opponents these days), and it’s time for Jalen Hurts to stop doing one thing that’s hurting his offense.

Green Bay Packers-New York Giants — Jordan Love is coming into his own as a franchise quarterback, and his ability to succeed against the blitz is a big part of that. How will Love fare against a Giants defense that blitzes a ton, and covers very well behind it?

You can watch this week’s “Xs and Os” right here:

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You can also listen and subscribe to the “Xs and Os” podcast on Spotify…

…and on Apple Podcasts.

Here’s what Kyle Shanahan said about Steve Wilks blitz call that led to long Vikings TD

Here’s what Kyle Shanahan said about Steve Wilks’ fateful blitz call that led to a Vikings TD late in the first half Monday night:

The 49ers looked like they were going into the half against the Vikings trailing by one score and with momentum on their side. Minnesota with 16 seconds left in the second quarter had the ball on their own 40 and no timeouts after San Francisco had cut their lead to 10-7.

All the 49ers defense had to do was not give up a big play. Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks decided to dial up some pressure and bring seven pass rushers on the third-and-6 play. The result was disastrous. Cornerback Charvarius Ward whiffed an interception which led to a 60-yard touchdown for Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison that gave the home team momentum and a 16-7 lead.

According to ESPN Next Gen Stats it was the first time a team sent seven pass rushers in the final 30 seconds of a half and the ball in opponent territory since Week 11 of the 2020 season.

After the game head coach Kyle Shanahan didn’t sound thrilled with the call.

“That’s stuff we’ll discuss throughout this week,” Shanahan said. “Obviously I did not like the result.”

There’s tape to watch and conversations to be had between coaches, but it’s hard to imagine there’ll be much justification for the call from Wilks. The one thing that can’t happen in that scenario is a long completion and the defensive coordinator left his cornerback on an island and susceptible to a long completion.

Letting Cousins sit back and have his choice of underneath throws would’ve been a much more favorable process than the one Wilks’ hyper-aggressive blitz rendered.

Ultimately if Ward comes down with the interception the play gets viewed much differently, but that play was a microcosm of Monday’s loss. The Vikings were just better in a big spot. They thrived on third down in part because San Francisco’s pass rush couldn’t get home, and Wilks felt the need to generate additional pressure on that play.

Shanahan and Wilks will need to get on the same page quickly. They have a quick turnaround to Sunday where they’ll face a high-powered Bengals offense that’s coming off its bye week.

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Vikings score touchdown on 49ers risky defensive call

The 49ers made a historic blunder on Jordan Addison’s deep touchdown

The Minnesota Vikings got a crucial touchdown at the end of the first half, as Kirk Cousins and Jordan Addison hooked up for a spectacular play. Cousins hit Addison well downfield, Addison made an incredible play to wrestle the ball away from defensive back Charvarius Ward, and took the ball 60 yards to put the Vikings up by two scores going into halftime.

Maybe the most impressive aspect of the play, however, was just how improbable it was in the first place. Most teams in that scenario are playing conservative, content to go into the half and make the necessary adjustments for the second half. But that’s not how this one played out.

Instead, the 49ers defense took a calculated risk and tried to force Cousins to make a quick, and potentially bad decision. They sent a blitz and brought seven defenders at Cousins, and the Vikings quarterback made the 49ers pay dearly for their aggressive tactics.

Just how aggressive was the decision to bring seven? It was the first time a team had brought seven or more defenders on a pass rush in the last 30 seconds of a half with the offense in their own territory since Week 11 of the 2020 season.

The 49ers saw an opportunity to try and take some momentum going into the half, and instead, they gave even more to the Vikings, and that has carried through the second half.

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Jordan Addison ties Randy Moss rookie record

Anytime you tie a record held by Randy Moss it’s an impressive feat

The Minnesota Vikings have somehow found four top wide receivers between picks 21-23 in the last 25 seasons. Rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison has tied Randy Moss for the most touchdown receptions in the first seven games of a career with six.

Addison not only ties Moss for the record, but they share it with eight other players, including Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.

It’s been an insane night for Addison. Through the first half against the San Francisco 49ers, Addison caught four passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns.

It wasn’t just on short routes, he caught routes on all three levels of the field after Charvarius Ward stole an interception from Addison’s arms on the third play of the game.

This isn’t just a breakout game for Addison. This is a statement to the rest of the league. He has arrived and shown that he is going to be a force to be reckoned with for the next decade.

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Vikings WR Jordan Addison exacts revenge on 49ers CB Charvarius Ward

Jordan Addison got picked by Charvarius Ward on Monday night, but the rookie receiver took his revenge later in the first half.

Sometimes you eat the bear… and sometimes, the bear eats you.

Minnesota Vikings rookie receiver Jordan Addison found that out in Monday night’s game against the San Francisco 49ers. With 13:42 left in the first quarter, Addison thought he had a catch on a pass from Kirk Cousins, but 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward stole it away for the interception.

Addison waited for his opportunity for revenge, and with seven seconds left in the first half, he got it. This time, Ward thought he had the interception first, but Addison stole it away, and ran for a 60-yard touchdown.

That touchdown put the Vikings up, 16-7, and it was a historic one for the rookie.

WATCH: Jordan Addison makes spectacular effort to extend halftime lead

Jordan Addison rips the ball away from San Francisco’s Charvarius Ward to extend Minnesota’s first-half lead.

Jordan Addison is showing the world why he was a first-round wide receiver last April. After losing the first struggle for the football on the opening drive that ended in a Charvarius Ward interception, Addison returned the favor in a major way.

Cousins put the ball on the money for Charvarius Ward to get his second interception of the game. Instead, Addison pulls the ball away from Ward’s waiting arms, leaves him clueless on the field, and goes 60 yards to extend the Minnesota lead to 16-7.

This Vikings offense is firing on all cylinders and Kevin O’Connell is not letting up in this pivotal prime-time matchup.

This game is starting to become a statement that this Minnesota team is not letting their foot off the gas on the 2023 season.

The play of Addison, Cam Akers and T.J. Hockenson highlights this amazing performance in prime-time.

Stay tuned to Vikings Wire for more live game updates.

Watch: Mooney Ward rips ball away from Vikings’ rookie Jordan Addison for interception

Mooney Ward got the party started early on Monday Night Football with a highlight-reel interception in Minnesota.

It didn’t take long for the San Francisco 49ers’ defense to make an impact on Monday Night Football against the Minnesota Vikings. On the opening drive of the game, Kirk Cousins connected with rookie Jordan Addison.

However, Charvarius “Mooney” Ward welcomed the young pass catcher to the league by ripping the ball from his hands for an interception in favor of the 49ers.

Ward’s early interception gave the 49ers a starting field position in Vikings territory for Brock Purdy’s first time on the field on Monday Night Football.

Via @49ers on Twitter:

https://x.com/49ers/status/1716610352173990114?s=20

Stay tuned to Niners Wire for more highlights and updates from 49ers vs. Vikings.

This post originally appeared on Niners Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! 

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Secret Superstars: The top underrated players for Week 3 of the NFL season

From De’Von Achane to Tank Dell to Hjalte Froholdt to Terrel Bernard to Kendall Fuller, here are the Secret Superstars for Week 3 of the 2023 NFL season.

There are all kinds of reasons that NFL players are underrated.

Perhaps they’re in systems that don’t best show their skills. Maybe they’re buried on a depth chart. Or, they’re in somebody’s doghouse, and their coaches can’t see their potential. Sometimes, young players haven’t quite put it all together, but there are enough flashes to make you sit up and take notice, and when it does work, it’s all good.

Week 3 of the 2022 regular season features players at every position who showed up and showed out despite their underrated statuses, and here at Touchdown Wire, it’s our job to point them out.

Here are the Secret Superstars for Week 3 of the 2022 NFL season.

(All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus unless otherwise indicated). 

The 49ers seem to think that Giants QB Daniel Jones is seriously overpaid

After Daniel Jones’ underwhelming Thursday night game, several 49ers defenders implied that the Giants’ quarterback is seriously overpaid.

Outside of the second half and overtime of their Week 2 win over the Arizona Cardinals, the New York Giants have woefully underperformed on offense this season. And in Thursday night’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers — a 30-12 loss that the Giants were never in after a 3-3 start — quarterback Daniel Jones did little to impress. Jones completed 22 of 32 passes for 132 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception, and that yardage total tells you all you need to know about Big Blue’s approach in the passing game. Overwhelmed by an injury-ravaged offensive line against San Francisco’s dominant fronts, Jones was pressured on 15 of his 34 dropbacks, per Pro Football Focus, which is unsustainable for any quarterback.

After the game, several 49ers defenders made it clear that they were unimpressed with Jones, and found the four-year, $160 million contract he signed this offseason to be… well, farcical.

“The dude did not want to throw the ball,” one unnamed 49ers defender told Mike Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle. “Early on, you could tell it wasn’t gonna happen. Everything was a checkdown. At that point, we knew what time it was.”

Linebacker Dre Greenlaw had no problem putting his name on his opinion of Jones.

“A lot of people who make all that money don’t even deserve it. I think they took a chance [when they paid him]. I mean, he’s not bad. And if you ain’t got nothing better…”

Per Silver, the hits just kept on coming.

“Yeah,” conceded Niners cornerback Charvarius (Mooney) Ward, “forty million dollars a year is a lot of money.”

Another S.F. defender called Jones’ salary “unbelievable.” Still another used the word “ridiculous.” Said a third: “That’s a travesty, man.”

Ward was also happy to discuss the interception Jones threw with 3:48 left in the game, though it wasn’t Jones’ fault — he threw a slant on time to tight end Darren Waller, Ward matched Jones over the middle, Waller couldn’t bring it in, the ball bounced up in the air, linebacker Fred Warner almost caught it, and the ball floated to safety Talanoa Hufanga.

“It makes you hungry,” Ward said. “At the end of the game, every DB on the field was playing for a pick. Huf was the lucky guy to get it. I had a good assist. I was happy to help. We were on our P’s and Q’s tonight.”

Jones wasn’t, and in the doing of that undoing, he left the 49ers wondering what the Giants were thinking with that contract.