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SPORTS Saturday 1 February 2020
49ers’ flexibility will prove vital

in Super Bowl vs. Chiefs

By JOSH DUBOW start with a defense that man had been unbeat-
AP Pro Football Writer allowed the fewest pass- able deep until allowing a
MIAMI (AP) — The San ing yards in 10 years and big play to Green Bay’s Da-
Francisco 49ers have won has been dominant when vante Adams in the NFC ti-
games almost every way healthy like the unit is for tle game. But quarterbacks
possible this season. the Super Bowl. who try to survive by chal-
They’ve won high-scoring The team’s biggest strug- lenging Sherman have re-
shootouts in a dome and gles came when some gretted that over the years.
ugly low-scoring affairs in combination of edge rush- With one of the league’s
the mud. They’ve won nail er Dee Ford, speedy line- top slot cornerbacks in
biters decided by just inch- backer Kwon Alexander or K’Waun Williams and a tal-
es in the final seconds and safety Jaquiski Tartt was out ented and speedy safety San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan speaks during
a media availability, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020, in Miami, for the
lopsided laughers. They’ve injured. duo of Tartt and Jimmie NFL Super Bowl 54 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
won by pounding the ball That won’t be the case Ward, the best way to beat Associated Press
on the ground and with big Sunday. the San Francisco second-
plays through the air. The front four led by de- ary has been to pick on Ah- days. the NFC playoffs, threw for
That flexibility to thrive in fensive ends Ford and Nick kello Witherspoon opposite Jimmy Garoppolo has 349 yards and four TDs in a
all sorts of situations should Bosa, and inside power Sherman. barely had to throw the 48-46 win.
prove helpful against the rushers DeForest Buckner But Witherspoon was ball the past six quarters Making Garoppolo’s job
Kansas City Chiefs on Sun- and Arik Armstead have benched early in the first with just 14 attempts in that easier is Shanahan’s pro-
day and help the Niners the ability to make Ma- playoff game and Emman- span. But when he’s been pensity to scheme open
win their record-tying sixth homes get rid of the ball uel Moseley will play in his needed this season he has receivers and the after-
Super Bowl title. quickly and limit the broken place. delivered in a big way. the-catch ability of All-Pro
While Kansas City likely plays that the Chiefs thrive As good as San Francis- He led four fourth-quarter tight end George Kittle
needs Patrick Mahomes on with their star quarter- co’s defense is, it’s unlikely comebacks and had three and rookie receiver Deebo
to deliver an other worldly back. the Niners will be able to games with at least four Samuel.
performance to win, the That will be especially completely shut down Ma- TD passes. Any doubt that There were the top two
Niners have the defense crucial against a speedy homes so that’s where the Garoppolo could carry the players in the league
that can at least slow the group of receivers led by offense comes into play. offense to victory should among receivers and tight
Chiefs down a bit and an Tyreek Hill and Mecole The 49ers got to the Super have been erased in a reg- ends when it came to
offense that can exploit Hardman, who provide the Bowl by relying on coach ular-season showdown at breaking tackles and their
any weakness in an oppo- biggest threat to San Fran- Kyle Shanahan’s innovative New Orleans. ability to turn short passes
nent. cisco’s secondary. running game with Tevin In a game against the into big gains ultimately will
But for San Francisco to be Despite lacking breathtak- Coleman and Raheem Saints that helped San Fran- be the difference to lead
successful Sunday, it will ing speed, Richard Sher- Mostert each having big cisco earn the top seed in the Niners to victory.q
Hall of Fame and Bryant Young, line-
backers Sam Mills and
Continued from Page 17 surprise a lot of people, Zach Thomas.
but he was so instinctive. On offense, the candi-
"It would be tremendous. He made the plays; some dates are receivers Isaac
I'd be incredibly humbled guys get in position and Bruce, Torry Holt and Reg-
and honored. Hopefully don't make the plays. gie Wayne; linemen Steve
this is the year on Satur- He had a lot of charis- Hutchinson, Alan Faneca
day." Butler, who starred ma about him — he was and Tony Boselli; and run-
for the Packers from 1990- the first to jump into the ning back Reggie Wayne.
2001, has had the longest stands. That's no reason to "I feel like the closer we get
wait to get to this point. put a guy into the Hall of to that day, the butterflies
Butler won a Super Bowl Fame, but the career he are going to start kicking
for Green Bay, which had had definitely is worthy." in," Wayne said on SiriusXM
a quarterback named Atwater was one of the NFL Radio. In this Nov. 10, 2013, file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers’ Troy
Brett Favre — a first-ballot hardest hitters at the posi- "I'm just enjoying the wave, Polamalu follows the action during the second half of an NFL
Hall of Famer — leading tion, an intimidating figure excited to be in this posi- football game against the Buffalo Bills in Pittsburgh.
the way. against the run but also a tion. I know being a receiv- Associated Press
"LeRoy was as important force in pass coverage. He er this isn't the easy lock-in Jimmy Johnson and Bill receiver Mac Speedie;
to our Super Bowl win played for a decade with spot for the Hall of Fame. Cowher; contributors Paul Pittsburgh safety Donnie
and success as any other Denver, winning two Super But man for me to be in this Tagliabue, the former NFL Shell; Green Bay safety
player on our team," Favre Bowls, then one year with position on my first ballot, commissioner, Steve Sab- Bobby Dillon; Detroit de-
says. "I couldn't tell you the the Jets. Polamalu was a words can't describe it." ol, who along with his fa- fensive tackle Alex Karras;
interceptions or tackles do-everything safety for Wayne and Polamalu are ther Ed — already a Hall of Eagles wide receiver Har-
— I know there were a lot the Steelers from 2003-14 the only first-year eligibles Fame member — created old Carmichael; offensive
— but his leadership and and the 2010 NFL Defen- on the ballot Saturday. NFL Films, and George tackles Winston Hill of the
playmaking ability were sive Player of the Year — The five modern-day play- Young, who built the New Jets and Jim Covert of the
outstanding. the last safety to earn the ers elected will be induct- York Giants' championship Bears; linebacker/defen-
He had a knack for being award. He was a four-time ed into the Canton, Ohio, teams in 1986 and 1990. sive end Ed Sprinkle of the
in the right place at the All-Pro known for his free- shrine on Aug. 8. The Hall Ten former players also Bears; and Duke Slater,
right time. Being around lancing playmaking. of Fame previously elect- were selected by the spe- one of the NFL's first black
the ball. The finalists from the de- ed 15 members of a cen- cial centennial commit- players, an outstanding
"He wasn't the most ath- fensive side also include tennial class. tee: Dallas Cowboys safe- two-way player in the
letic guy and that might lineman Richard Seymour They included coaches ty Cliff Harris; Cleveland league's earliest days.q