The claws already have come out between the Chiefs and the 49ers. The subject: speed, or more specifically, cheetahs.
Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill started things off Wednesday in Kansas City when he was asked about 49ers running back Matt Breida, who currently leads the NFL in rushing yards and whose nickname since his days at Georgia Southern has been “Breida the Cheetah.” Hill is arguably the fastest player in the NFL — more on that in a bit — and all of his social media handles are @cheetah.
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“Man, I’ve only gotta say one thing,” Hill told the Kansas City Star. “Who got the social media name and all of that? There’s only one cheetah in the league, just know that. You can’t be a cheetah and run a 4.48, or whatever you run.”
Meanwhile, more than 1,500 miles away in the 49ers’ locker room, receiver Marquise Goodwin started getting ready for practice by donning a conspicuous pair of compression shorts, ones with a distinct, spotted cheetah pattern. Asked who was faster, him or Hill, Goodwin first said, “I don’t compare myself to anybody, but I mean …”
In the silence that ensued, Goodwin rolled up his left sleeve to reveal the Olympic rings he has tattooed on his forearm. Goodwin was a track star at Texas, where he was a two-time NCAA champion in the long jump (2010, 2012), and competed in the 2012 Games in London. As reporters noticed the tattoo and started to laugh, Goodwin smiled and said, “I didn’t say nothin’. You can take that however you want to take it.”
The pre-game braggadocio underscores how important speed will be Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.
Goodwin went through a limited practice Wednesday, his first session since suffering a deep thigh bruise early in Week 1 when a Vikings defensive lineman’s knee struck him as he ran by.
The 49ers seemed to especially miss him — and the big-play threat he brings — the following game when the Lions defensive backs crowded the line of scrimmage and grabbed a hold of the 49ers receivers who had trouble breaking free. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was sacked six times, all of them on single-coverage plays in which Lions were draped on his receivers.
The 49ers might need Goodwin in the lineup to avoid a repeat performance in Kansas City, and to keep pace with a Chiefs offense that leads the league in scoring through two games.
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The speedy and versatile Hill has been Patrick Mahomes’ favorite target as the second-year quarterback has gotten out to a spectacular 10-touchdown, no-interception start. Hill has three of those scores along with 259 receiving yards, which rank third in the NFL.
The 49ers’ defensive backs noted on Wednesday that Hill will line up just about everywhere — at wideout, in the slot, in the backfield — throughout a game and that each of them will be responsible for him at some stage in the contest.
“They want to spread the ball around, they want to get explosive (plays),” said cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, who was a limited participant Wednesday because of an ankle sprain. “Our focus this week is eliminating those big plays.”
Kyle Shanahan said that Chiefs coach Andy Reid’s offense has the same foundation it’s had for years. But Reid has added an element of speed and misdirection plays in recent seasons that Shanahan suspects he must have borrowed from colleges, or even a high school, “because they do some unusual things.”
“It’s been an issue, not just because of the plays, but the people (who run) the plays,” Shanahan said. “They have the speed at every angle to run those things and really put defenses in a bind because if you hesitate with a 4.3 (-second speed) receiver — and they have three of them — that is a huge issue. If you just play all the 4.3 receivers all day, they’ve got a pretty good (running) back and a pretty good tight end who can get after you also.”
Hill technically isn’t one of the receivers, as Shanahan referenced, who ran his 40-yard dash in 4.3 seconds. He ran it in a blistering 4.25 seconds coming out of West Alabama in 2016.
“Dude is unbelievably fast,” Goodwin said. “I was fortunate enough to watch him compete when he was in college a little bit in track and field. He did his thing on the football field as well, and I’m excited to watch him play.”
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Of course, Goodwin and Breida aren’t exactly slugs. Goodwin ran a 4.27-second 40-yard dash at the 2013 scouting combine while Breida ran a 4.39-second 40 last year, which is slightly faster than the 4.48-second Hill cited with disdain.
And while Hill may have a monopoly on the cheetah social media handle, Goodwin acknowledged he’s got more cheetah-themed apparel than the underwear he had on for Wednesday’s practice.
“I definitely have more than a few pieces of cheetah in my wardrobe,” he said. “More than boxers, to answer your question.”
Extra points
— Reuben Foster went through a full practice Wednesday, his first session after his two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct and substance abuse policies. So did fellow inside linebacker Malcolm Smith, who missed the same two games with a hamstring injury. Still, Shanahan didn’t say what the composition would be at “Mike” and “Will” linebacker Sunday against the Chiefs. Rookie Fred Warner, who has 22 tackles in two games, also is in the mix.
“We want to see how all of those guys do, and it’ll be a tough decision at the end of the week, but a tough decision I’m going to be happy to have to make,” Shanahan said.
— To make room for Foster on the 53-man roster, the 49ers released offensive lineman Matt Tobin. He had been inactive for the first two games and was edged out in the pecking order by undrafted rookie Najee Toran. Another guard, Joshua Garnett, did not practice with his ongoing toe injury, but Mike Person (foot) was limited. Backup Erik Magnuson (hamstring) practiced in full.
— Strong safety Jaquiski Tartt did not practice due to a shoulder injury he suffered in Week 1, then aggravated against the Lions. Antone Exum will start Sunday’s game — and be asked to cover Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce at times — if Tartt is unable to play.
— Reported from Santa Clara
(Top photo: Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
