After two very expensive turnovers in the loss of the 49ers to Washington last Sunday, Nick Mullens talked about the need to focus on details and there are several people who agree with him.
On Friday, Kyle Shanahan explained how important footwork is for Mullens to improve his productivity and reduce his mistakes. The coach of 49ers was happy with the game so far, but still wanted to change the line up.
“I think it’s a little far from that, which is when the boys go through a little adversity,” Shanahan said. “It happens when you go through a passing race, like we had last week, and that’s what you always want to come back to.”
Mullens’s accuracy was extremely inconsistent. Former 49ers defender and NBC Sports Bay Area analyst Jeff Garcia told me he agrees with Shanahan that the defender’s fundamentals have become questionable.
“I think he’s a mentally sharp kid,” Garcia said. “But I think there are some mechanical things that he can improve. It doesn’t mean he has to be a scrambler or this extraordinary athlete, but there is a sense of pocket presence that I feel he lacks and part of it is just his mechanics.
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In Mullens’ nine appearances in 2020, he completed 190 of his 290 attempts. His 65.6% finish rate puts him 21st in the NFL, but he threw as many interceptions (10) as he has touchdowns.
Mullens’ 3.4% interception rate places him 33rd out of 35 qualified beginners, according to Pro Football Reference. His 10 interceptions are the eighth highest of any starting quarterback in the NFL.
Garcia believes that Mullens does not need to have a rocket for an arm or incredible fighting skills to succeed. Instead, the Southern Miss product needs to refocus on the basics.
“His legs are a big problem for me,” Garcia said. “Tom Brady has good legs and a great awareness of his pocket. He’s not a great athlete. There are a lot of guys who have been extremely successful in terms of leg speed, but they have a special presence and awareness and help their offense align with how they use their pocket.
“The one behind a 5-7 step fall puts the left and right equipment in a very difficult position to protect it, because it does not fit in your pocket. When you don’t fit in your pocket, you don’t allow that pocket to really form around you. ”
Mullens seems to be letting his foundations fall as he faces more pressure from opposing defenses. He hesitates, unsure of the target and then, when trying to throw, is often flat-footed, without using all the strength of his body, which results in erroneous passes.
Garcia added that the West Coast crime has to do with a defender’s feet in route concepts and how different concepts have different drops related to them. The inconsistent work of the legs means a lack of coordination between the defender and his receivers.
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What could be the most worrying part of Mullens’ game for Garcia is how the defender hasn’t developed since eight starts in 2018. In fact, it looks like Mullens has regressed. Garcia sees it as a cyclical problem that starts with his footwork and leads to a lack of confidence in his performance.
“It’s starting to affect your decision-making and what you see,” Garcia said. “I see him at a time when he’s trying not to make a mistake. When you try not to make a mistake, then you make mistakes.”
Mullens will face a less decorated defensive line on Sunday, facing the Dallas Cowboys than in Week 14. If he can stay on course, sticking to his fundamentals, the 49ers will have a chance to keep your hopes low in the playoffs