The Gold Standard: San Francisco 49ers Podcast Network

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, we talk about a quarterback that doesn’t suck! What stood out from Jimmy Garoppolo’s first start as a 49er? (2:38) Where did things break down in the red zone and should we be concerned? (27:55) And which gritty receiving performance was worthy of our Spotlight Player of the Week (hint: he’s a lot like Randy Moss)? (44:03) All that, plus DeFores...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, JIMMY GAROPPOLO IS THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME! But for reals: How did the 49ers defense fare against Russell Wilson & Co.? (1:45) Why did the offense struggle to find any semblance of consistency? (18:23) And is there really anything we can take away from Garoppolo’s brief appearance? (30:30) All that, plus Eric Reid’s standout game (35:48), updat...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, it’s the first Win Wednesday of the Kyle Shanahan era! How on earth did C.J. Beathard morph into a good quarterback for one week? (1:24) What did Shanahan draw up to get Goodwin open for a long touchdown? (8:04) And which run play keyed the 49ers’ success on the ground? (26:26) All that, plus another rookie stands out as our Spotlight Player of...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, C.J. Beathard is just a glorified tackling dummy running the Err-Raid offense. Is there anything left for Kyle Shanahan to try to get better performance from the offensive line? (1:03) What run play did Arizona use on repeat on their way to 167 rushing yards? (11:54) And which defensive player is playing better than you probably think he is? (21...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, the 49ers have a new franchise quarterback and he’s handsome AF! After a quick recap of the loss in Philly (1:14), we tackle all things Garoppolo (14:54). Was the cost to make this deal worth it? What should we expect with his contract situation? And, most importantly, is he any good? All that, plus Cardinals preview (51:09), Rashard Robinson ge...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, the 49ers are 0-7 for the first time in nearly four decades and everything is fine. Why did the run defense fall apart? (0:39) How did C.J. Beathard fare in his first career start? (18:17) And which member of the offensive line has been performing much better than expected? (30:43) All that, plus Shanahan unveils a new run play (34:37), D.J. Jon...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, the elegant tank cannot be stopped! Amidst a record fifth consecutive loss by one score or less, the Brian Hoyer era is officially over in San Francisco. How did C.J. Beathard look in his first meaningful NFL action? (1:45) Is the 49ers’ No. 1 draft choice starting to find his groove? (13:35) And why on earth can Robert Saleh not stop dropping d...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, it’s another Pythagorean Win Wednesday! The 49ers lost their fourth consecutive game by less than one score and the “elegant tank” is on. (1:09) Where are things breaking down in the run game? (5:23) Which Colts defender caused problems for the offensive line all game? (12:35) And where does Brian Hoyer need to live on early downs to be successf...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, the 49ers fall to 0-4 after their third consecutive close loss. Where did things break down defensively on the final drive in OT? (1:34) What’s going on with Rashard Robinson? (13:50) How is the pass rush faring after the first month of season? (27:16) And what’s leading to Hoyer’s maddening inconsistency? (42:50) All that, plus Bradley Pinion c...

Disclaimer: We apologize for the audio quality in this episode. Technical difficulties caused a bad stutter throughout this episode, and we understand if that makes it too difficult to listen to. Thank you to those who power through. On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, we have many things on our mind after the most exciting 49ers game in several years. Is the front seven generatin...

Ep. 205: “Moral victories are for losers.” by Niners Nation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, the 49ers are unable to continue their season-opener magic. What did we learn about the defensive line in Week 1? What led to so many breakdowns in the secondary? And what’s going to hold back Kyle Shanahan’s offense this season? All that, plus Aaron Lynch held out due to a coach’s decision, the season’s first Spotlight Player of the Week, and t...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, real football is finally here! We get you prepared for the 2017 season by outlining why the 49ers should be better this season, but also why they might not be that much better. All that, plus takeaways from the 53-man roster cuts, season predictions, and things we’ll be watching against the Panthers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podca...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, it’s dress rehearsal recap time! We run through the biggest takeaways from the 49ers’ third preseason game and look ahead to toughest roster decisions John Lynch & Co. will have to make this week. What led to Hoyer’s early success? What’s holding back the run game? And what schematic tendencies did we see defensively? All that, plus Vance McDona...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, it’s time to wake up and kick ass. We recap all you need to know about the 49ers’ preseason game against the Broncos. Why couldn’t the run game get going? Is the offensive line really improving in pass protection? And do we have a quarterback competition on our hands? All that, plus Jimmie Ward joins the PAP list, comfort level with Lorenzo Jero...

On the 200th episode of the Better Rivals podcast, we have new football to discuss! What should you be looking for during the preseason? Which tendencies should you be keeping an eye on as we move toward the regular season? And which players are trending up and down after one week of preseason action? All that, plus Von Miller man-crushes on Trent Brown, rookie watch, and things to look for agains...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, we open up the mailbag to answer all of your training camp questions. What’s happening with the running back battle? How concerned should you be about the injuries in the secondary? How many wins would it take for the 49ers to commit to Brian Hoyer long term? And which players are primed for their peak season? All that, plus the end of the Bruce...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, Scheme Month draws to a close by taking a look at how Kyle Shanahan attacks coverages in the passing game. What are the basic coverage types you’ll see from NFL defenses? Where are the weak spots in those coverages? And which concepts does Shanahan use to exploit them? All that, plus some interesting numbers on the 2016 offense, another look at...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, Scheme Month turns its attention to an oft neglected portion of the roster: the offensive line. What are the differences between zone, gap, and man run schemes? How can you identify them when you’re watching games this fall? How do offensive linemen go about determining who to block in pass protections? And what does the change in offensive sche...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, Scheme Month rolls on! Defense is again in the spotlight as we move to the secondary and talk coverages. What is single-high coverage and why are we expecting to see it from the 49ers this season? Which position is the key to making everything go in the secondary? And how will San Francisco’s defensive backs fare in this transition? All that, pl...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, it’s the return of Scheme Month! We kick things off by focusing in on the defensive front and the 49ers’ transition to a 4-3 defense. How can you identify different defensive fronts? What’s the difference between one-gapping and two-gapping? How is your basic four-man pass rush constructed? And what do the changes in scheme mean for the 49ers’ r...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, we return after a short hiatus to recap all of the notable 49ers happenings of the past few weeks. What does the Elvis Dumervil signing mean for the other edge defenders on the roster? Which minicamp storylines should you be ignoring? And which position battles should you be taking note of? All that, plus stupid NFL rules, a speed round, and the...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, it’s mailbag time! What do we make of the 49ers’ running back situation? How do the pieces fit together along the defensive line? Who wins the slot receiver battle? And who are some potential breakout players to watch? All that, plus a lightning round, Space Jam, and our NFL positions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/a...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, it’s time to put a bow on draft season. We highlight a few UDFAs with a legitimate opportunity to crack the 53-man roster, and take a look at where things stand on the 90-man roster with all of the major offseason transactions in the books. Can Matt Breida become the next undrafted running back to find success in the Shanahan system? Which posit...

On this post-draft episode of the Better Rivals podcast, we evaluate all 10 selections in the first draft for John Lynch & Co, identifying where each player wins, where they could improve, and where they fit on the 49ers’ roster. Where does first-round pick Solomon Thomas fit in with the incumbent defensive linemen? Which players are primed to make an early impact? And what themes did we pull from...