LaFleur calls 49ers’ Mason-McCaffrey duo a ‘two-headed monster’ originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Matt LaFleur isn’t afraid to give credit where credit is due.
Before the 49ers traveled to Lambeau Field Packers coach LaFleur offered his flowers to San Francisco’s dynamic backfield duo on Sunday.
After all, even if Christian McCaffrey stayed away for the first half of the 2024 NFL season, Jordan Mason broke outaccumulating 685 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns on 134 carries.
LaFleur noticed this and recognizes the threat a McCaffrey-Mason backfield presents for Green Bay.
“I was very impressed with Jordan Mason,” LaFleur told reporters. “I think he’s a really talented fullback who maximizes his opportunities. In my opinion, it’s somewhat of a two-headed monster.
Although McCaffrey is coming off a 2023 season in which he led the NFL in yards from scrimmage and was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year, the 28-year-old spent the first eight weeks of the season recovering from bilateral Achilles tendinitis.
Mason took advantage of the opportunity during McCaffrey’s absence despite injuring his shoulder in the first half of San Francisco’s Week 6 win over the Seattle Seahawks and reaggravating the injury during the week. 8.
LaFleur, however, admits that Mason’s rise is indicative of the coaching effectiveness of Bobby Turner, who has been the 49ers’ running backs coach since 2017.
“Really, it doesn’t matter who they’ve had there during their tenure (under) Bobby Turner, (who) is their long-term running back coach,” LaFleur added. “I have as much respect for Coach T as I do anyone in this league.
“He always finds his diamonds in the rough and is able to get the most out of his back. »
Under Turner’s leadership, LaFleur isn’t surprised the 49ers have more than one dangerous running back.
“Obviously, we all know Christian McCaffrey – the talent that he is and what he has been able to produce over the years,” concluded LaFleur. “But it’s no surprise, to me, that they have several guards within their system that are capable of going out there and playing at a high level.”
It’s now up to LaFleur and Co. to find a way to contain the “two-headed monster” on Sunday – and it won’t be easy.
