Daily Madden: More Impressed With Turf Than Team; 49ers Need To Run Kaepernick
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SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — While Coach Madden was impressed that the sod held up at Levi's Stadium on Sunday, he wasn't as taken with the 49ers performance on it despite their 21-17 win versus the San Diego Chargers.
"Watching the game, I wasn't sure the turf was going to hold up. I thought the turf would have some problems and the team would play well because it was the third preseason game and it was kind of the opposite," he said.
Kaepernick, as in the two previous preseason games, was unable to lead a touchdown drive. But he withstood four hits and he safely exited after producing a field-goal drive in the second quarter.
Madden said the 49ers need to be able to run but he understands not wanting to the run the quarterback in the preseason.
"If you don't have a running game…and if Kapernick isn' going to run... then the defense could just tee off in passing situations and to be honest, the way the 49ers' offensive line is right now they're not good enough to block that situation."
But he added that there are not many teams that are good enough if you take away the threat of strong running game along with a running quarterback.
"That puts a lot pressure on the pass protection," he said.
Madden said, said however, there is plenty of time to fix the problem and has simple suggestion.
"Play Frank Gore; run Kaepernick," he said.
"I think that's what will happen. I think they'll fix that because you can see that they just weren't defending, worrying about him running and worried about any run and they were just teeing off. Some of the pass rushes looked like an avalanche."
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