6 Burning Questions Facing the San Francisco 49ers Week 9

What does San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Blaine Gabbert have to do to earn another start after the bye week?

If the 49ers base the criteria on what Colin Kaepernick has done recently, the bar is low. Kaepernick’s passer rating is 78.8 this season—well below the league average of 88.8. Gabbert can play below-average against the Atlanta Falcons Week 9 and still outperform Kaepernick.

But if the 49ers base the criteria on what Kaepernick did when the offense was clicking and functioning at a higher rate of efficiency (back when Kaepernick’s passer rating was in the 90s), Gabbert would have to be a one-week wonder to keep his job.

Which criteria will the 49ers choose?

Here are five more burning questions facing the 49ers Week 9.

Will RB Carlos Hyde (foot) Play?

Ben Margot/Associated Press

Right now, it seems starting running back Carlos Hyde will miss his second straight game due a stress fracture in his left foot. He didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday, per the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.

Hyde suffered the foot injury Week 5 but didn’t leave that game. He played through the injury the following two weeks but didn’t play last week against the Rams. Perhaps the 49ers don’t want to risk injuring Hyde’s foot any further when their season already is essentially over.

If Hyde doesn’t play this Sunday, how will the 49ers divvy up carries? Will offensive coordinator Geep Chryst substitute running backs almost every play like he did to start the game against the St. Louis Rams last Sunday? Subbing running backs every play is no way to develop rhythm.

Will WR Anquan Boldin (hamstring) Play?

Ben Margot/Associated Press

Like Carlos Hyde, Anquan Boldin has not practiced this week. per the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. Boldin is nursing a hamstring injury.

Boldin is one of the toughest wide receivers in the NFL and, before last week, hadn’t missed a game since 2012. Now, he could miss two games in a row.

Is this hamstring injury really that debilitating, or is Boldin simply beginning to phase himself off of this team? He’s 35, near the end of the road, hobbled by an injury and playing for an organization in turmoil with a quarterback who’s brand new.

What incentive is there for Boldin to suit up and play with Blaine Gabbert?

Will the Defense Continue to Play Well at Home?

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

The Niners might be the worst team in the NFL, but their defense usually plays well at home.

It has faced three Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks—Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers, Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens and Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks—and has given up only 15 points per game at Levi’s Stadium this season.

This Sunday, the Niners face Matt Ryan, who has not gone to a Super Bowl but probably will one day. He is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Can the 49ers take away his go-to guy—wide receiver Julio Jones—and force Ryan to throw the ball to complementary players?

Will DE Arik Armstead Start Getting More Playing Time?

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

According to Pro Football Focus, rookie first-round pick Arik Armstead is one of the top pass-rushing 3-4 defensive ends in the NFL. The scouting service gives Armstead a pass-rushing grade of plus-2.0, which ranks tied for 23rd at his position.

Armstead may have the talent to rank even higher, but he is playing infrequently. This season, he has played just 130 of a possible 556 snaps, per Pro Football Focus. That’s because the coaches don’t trust Armstead against the run. They use him only on passing situations, like 3rd-and-long.

Now that the season is over, there’s no reason not to play Armstead every snap. He’s the future of the defensive line—the Niners need to accelerate his development.

How Will the 49ers Adjust the Offense to Suit Blaine Gabbert?

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

Most people expected the 49ers’ offensive game plan to be conservative for the first start of Colin Kaepernick’s career back in 2012.

Kaepernick had almost no experience. No one thought he would throw the ball all over the field his first start. His opponent, the Chicago Bears, probably didn’t expect him to the throw the ball much either.

The Bears probably expected Kaepernick to hand the ball off. Instead, he threw the ball downfield, had one of the best games of his career and secured the starting job for the next three years.

Will the 49ers take the same approach with Gabbert against the Falcons? Will the offensive game plan be aggressive, or will it be timid like it was the past few weeks?

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