SANTA CLARA — Jake Moody knew as quickly as he kicked the ball he wouldn’t get the carry he desired.
Little did he know that failing to document a touchback can be an enormous play for the 49ers in a 24-23 loss to the Arizona Cardinals Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.
The 49ers had simply scored 61-yard return by Deommodore Lenoir of a blocked 45-yard area purpose by Chad Ryland try courtesy of Jordan Elliott, giving them a 19-10 lead and a a lot wanted enhance to however a maligned particular groups unit.
Moody then transformed the additional level for a 20-10 lead earlier than kicking off to the Cardinals.
As much as that time, Moody had 19 touchbacks on 21 kickoffs on the season, which is among the many finest within the league.
“Moving into into the wind in that path, I form of obtained below it somewhat bit,” Moody mentioned afterward, sporting a protecting boot on his proper foot. “It was not deep sufficient to let it go for a touchback. They introduced it out and it sucks the way it ended up turning out.”
Arizona returner DeeJay Dallas obtained free, broke to his left and Moody did what soccer gamers do. He tried — and succeeded — in making the deal with on the Arizona 38-yard line. Nevertheless, his proper foot obtained twisted beneath, and the ensuing excessive ankle sprain put Moody out of the sport.
Moody can be out indefinitely, and the 49ers have already begun calling place kickers for what could possibly be a monthlong absence or longer.
That left punter Mitch Wishnowsky because the place kicker, with fullback Kyle Juszczyk because the holder. Wishnowsky transformed a 26-yard area purpose try late in that half, however coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned he wasn’t comfy making an attempt area objectives from something farther than the 15-yard line.
That meant when the 49ers drove so far as the Arizona 13 within the third quarter, and the drive disintegrated with a false begin on Jauan Jennings and a sack absorbed by Brock Purdy, the 49ers had been compelled to go for a primary down on fourth-and-23 quite than have Moody try a 44-yard area purpose to salvage some factors.
Purdy was incomplete on fourth down, and the 49ers nonetheless led 23-13 however the missed factors proved to be essential. When Arizona lastly took their remaining lead at fourth-and-23, Purdy had all of a 1:37 to make one thing occur — with no place kicker.
Because the 49ers processed the defeat afterward, there was no denying the Lenoir landing (on his twenty fifth birthday) adopted by Moody’s damage had performed a giant half.
“It was a loopy factor, however within the NFL it’s `subsequent man up’ at all times,’ ” Lenoir mentioned.
Juszczyk, who kicked a couple of balls right into a internet in case he was known as on to kick, shook his head on the sudden flip of occasions.
“It simply looks as if with every loss we’ve had a sequence of occasions which have gone on prime of one another,” he mentioned. “It’s onerous to plan for and this stuff are unlucky. You’ve obtained to reply and rating touchdowns and never should kick area objectives.”
Birthday habits, @Dmo_lenoir!
📺 #AZvsSF on FOX
NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/SCSuJ1K7CU— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 6, 2024
Moody, who ultimately walked off the sector below his personal energy — though he hopped the ultimate 10 yards — knew instantly it wasn’t good.
“I broke my leg within the eighth grade in a fairly comparable method, truly, in order that was my first thought,” Moody mentioned. “Fortunately, I didn’t really feel something break or crack as I did after I did break it. However I knew one thing was unsuitable.”
There have been instances with the Raiders the place place kicker Sebastian Janikowski would make a beeline for the sideline after a kickoff to verify he was out of hurt’s method. It by no means occurred to Moody.
“I’m at all times going to attempt to make the most effective deal with I can,” he mentioned. “I’m not attempting to make tackles each single day so it’s not one thing I’m used to however I’m going to do the most effective I can to get him down. Simply attempt to go decrease I assume. I form of obtained rolled up on.”
Shanahan wouldn’t have it every other method.
“You attempt to deal with. You don’t inform guys to maintain their ankle out of it,” he mentioned. “You hope that it doesn’t come to him and he doesn’t should make a deal with, however you additionally don’t inform guys to show it down and simply allow them to rating. So, it’s a part of soccer.”
Moody had area objectives of 28 and 20 yards — with the 49ers once more struggling within the pink zone — however got here into the sport having missed only one area purpose in 4 video games, a 54-yard try in opposition to the Rams. He was 13-for-14 on the time of the damage and was 3-for-3 between 40 and 49 yards and 2-for-3 on makes an attempt of 50-plus.
“Dropping your kicker is large, particularly once you’ve obtained a man who’s good from 57 yards,” tight finish George Kittle mentioned. “That’s robust. Jake’s a hell of a kicker and once you don’t have that possibility and now you’ve obtained to get to the 25-yard line to kick (truly the 15), that’s robust. However I believe our particular groups and our protection gave us each alternative to win.
“As an offensive participant who’s been right here for eight yards, that’s totally on us greater than the rest.”
Alright mate! Mitch Wishnowsky’s first profession FG 🙌
📺 #AZvsSF on FOX
NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4nCVJ pic.twitter.com/gsk60LBQMU— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 6, 2024
Wishnowsky was now not round when reporters entered the locker room. It’s not the primary time he’s been pressed into responsibility. In Week 4 of 2021, place kicker Robbie Gould had a groin pressure in warmups and couldn’t kick. Wishnowsky, with Taybor Pepper snapping and Juszczyk holding, was 1-for-2 on additional level makes an attempt however missed a 41-yard area purpose try huge left.
With the additional level that day, Wishnowsky grew to become the primary Australian participant to attain a degree in an NFL sport. Coincidentally, following the conversion, Wishnowsky, a former soccer and rugby participant, laid a giant hit on DeeJay Dallas on the guaranteeing kickoff. The identical Dallas that Moody tackled with a much more painful end result on Sunday.
Soccer coaches have plans for every part, however utilizing observe time to arrange for shedding one abruptly isn’t a part of the plan partly as a result of kicking and punting are dramatically completely different by way of the muscle tissues use and within the fundamentals of the swing.
“It’s such a bizarre anomaly,” Pepper mentioned. “Your punter could take a couple of kicks by the 12 months, however as an each week factor it’s not the expectation of an NFL punter.”
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