Why 49ers’ biggest moment came in the final minute of first half in win over Saints

It was a strip sack and fumble recovery from Bryce Huff that officially ended things but where the ers really took charge was their final drive of the first half of a - road win over the New Orleans Saints With New Orleans having closed to - the ers got the ball back on the -yard line with left Nine plays later Christian McCaffrey had scored his first touchdown since on a -yard pass from Mac Jones and the ers led - I was real proud of the guys there coach Kyle Shanahan noted Monday in a conference call with local writers To be able to go the length of the field in a minute with one tim eout and finish with a touchdown I thought it was huge Mac did a hell of a job All the guys made certain plays and they protected well The drive opened with a -yard pass to Jauan Jennings a -yard pass to McCaffrey a -yard pass to Jennings yards to Kendrick Bourne and yards to Jake Tonges Passes of yards and absolutely and the touchdown to McCaffrey finished it off That was a huge drive And our offense is complicated and the two-minute can be complicated too McCaffrey announced For new guys to come in all over the field and execute that way we had Kendrick Bourne just of late getting here we had a new guy at let guard that s rare That doesn t happen everywhere Left guard Ben Bartch lasted just plays as did fullback Kyle Juszczyk Aside from Bartch who Shanahan announced will be out for awhile with a high ankle sprain Juszczyk will begin the week in concussion protocol as will core special teamer Siran Neal who broadcasted to work Monday with concussion characteristics Jennings continue to be evaluated with an ankle injury The greater part serious injury was a knee injury sustained by tackle Spencer Burford on special teams We ve got to see how his knee reacts over these next couple of days to decide if it will heal or if we have to go in a different direction with it Shanahan declared Hopefully we ll have particular better answers as the week goes With Ben Bartch out indefinitely ers' rookie left guard Connor Colby will get more starts in the coming weeks Dai Sugano Bay Area News Group Connor Colby could be a starter for awhile One year after getting a step-in starter at right guard in Dominick Puni have the ers struck gold on the other side with rookie seventh-round draft pick Connor Colby Too soon to tell but Colby stepped in for left guard Ben Bartch who departed with an ankle injury after snaps and played the rest of the contest He committed no penalties and more than held his own With Bartch sidelined with a high ankle sprain an injury that usually takes a inadequate weeks to heal Colby figures to start again Sunday in the ers home opener against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi s Stadium Bartch was ticketed throughout the offseason to be the starter even as he battled other injury issues If Colby plays as well as he did in a arduous road atmosphere he will be tough to dislodge from the lineup I ve loved how he s been here so far Shanahan stated He came in that match early and did a hell of a job He ll get better the more he plays but he was ready for the moment and definitely helped us with that win Mykel Williams dominates While Colby went about his business anonymously as a lineman should first-round pick Mykel Williams looked every bit the No overall selection by flexing his muscles against the Saints Williams did specific good things in terms of beating blocks against Seattle but didn t stand out He looks more relaxed the more he goes Shanahan mentioned From an assignment standpoint I thought he did a lot better this week From a production standpoint he got in the backfield a number of times really affected the quarterback by just pushing through the pocket I thought he did a lot of good things Beal is back Defensive end Robert Beal published going into the New Orleans contest cleared waivers and was re-signed to the practice squad Beal was a fifth-round draft pick in and has played in games with tackles with one sack SNAP JUDGEMENTS A look at who played and how much against the Saints Unsure if he could play at the outset Trent Williams played every offensive snap along with with Puni center Jake Brendel tackle Colton McKivitz and Jones at quarterback The defense also had snaps with Marques Sigle Jason Pinnock Fred Warner Renardo Green and Deommodore Lenoir never leaving the field Ricky Pearsall Jr played one more snap than Jennings with both contributing Jennings was targeted times and had five receptions for yards and a touchdown when he appeared to be leaking oil with shoulder knee and now ankle issues Pearsall had four catches in six targets for yards Colby took over at left guard when Bartch departed with a high ankle sprain No penalties no flagrant errors For a seventh-round draft pick that s a hell of a starting debut Who would have thought Jake Tonges in Week would get one more snap than McCaffrey Pressed into specific fullback duty after Kyle Juszczyk departed with a concussion after snaps Tonges caught four passes for yards Nick Bosa had defensive snaps the preponderance among defensive linemen Upton Stout also had and his first sack We don t train all our tight ends that way but we have only one fullback Shanahan reported When Juice goes out of the match we need one of those guys to know it Losing Juice early puts pressure on those guys Huge credit to Jake and Luke Farrell to be ready for that moment --McCaffrey had touches after the previous week against Seattle Being on the field for snaps when he didn t touch the ball presented good restraint by the ers Related Articles Inman things that caught my eye in ers - win at New Orleans ers statement card Everyone plays their part in Niners imperfect win over Saints ers Mac Jones stands and delivers in place of Brock Purdy in win over Saints Kyle Shanahan gets the last laugh as he and Mac Jones lead the ers to a vintage win What the ers announced after beating the Saints Mykel Williams excelled pretty much on brute strength and power alone both on the interior and setting the edge He can throw an offensive lineman like a sack of potatoes Welcome back Kendrick Bourne Straight into the rotation after a inadequate days of practice Had three receptions for yards on three targets Sam Okuayinonu s defensive line total doesn t include snaps on special teams the the greater part on the roster An compelling wrinkle by Robert Saleh was having Ji Ayir Brown on the field as a hybrid linebacker box safety He wasn t utilized that way in Week According to Shanahan the ers call it their Big Nickel