Maiocco's Instant Replay: 49ers 34, Jets 0

BOX SCORE

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The 49ers traded up to select quarterback Colin Kaepernick in the second round of the 2011 draft. On Sunday, they finally put him to work.While everyone seemed focus on the running capabilities of the New York Jets' backup quarterback, it was Kaepernick who easily had the biggest impact Sunday in the 49ers' 34-0 victory over the New York Jets.After losing to the Minnesota Vikings last week, the 49ers spent the week of practice at Youngstown, Ohio. The preparation time away from home seemed to work, as the 49ers (3-1) bounced back with a thorough thrashing of the Jets, who fall to 2-2.It might have also given the coaching staff more time to implement a special package of plays designed for the running ability of Kaepernick.Kaepernick entered the game in the first quarter and seemed to give the New York Jets all kinds of fits. The first time he took a snap, Kaepernick gained 17 yards when he kept the ball on a read-option run.And it was Kaepernick who entered on a third-and-6 play from the Jets' 7-yard line, to replace Alex Smith late in the first quarter. Kaepernick dashed around the left side, picked up a block from running back Frank Gore, and got into the end zone for his first career touchdown.When Kaepernick dropped the ball to celebrate with his teammates, veteran Randy Moss picked it up and handed it back to Kaepernick for a keepsake.The 49ers gained 68 yards rushing on their touchdown drive, using six different players to carry the ball along the way. After Smith hit Gore for a 5-yard gain to open the drive, the 49ers went solely with the ground game.--Smith scrambled 9 yards to the 49ers' 46-yard line.--Gore gained 4 yards on a run up the middle.--The 49ers faked an end-around to Ted Ginn. Then, Mario Manningham got the ball coming around the other side. Manningham turned up field and gained 28 yards.--Kendall Hunter picked up 11 yards around left end.--After an incomplete pass, Kyle Williams took an option pitch from Smith and gained 9 yards.--Following a false-start penalty on Delanie Walker, Kaepernick entered on a third-down play and rushed around left end for a touchdown.It was the first time in Kaepernick's regular-season career that the 49ers had a package of plays available for him in a game. And the 49ers unveiled it in the first half. During that time, Kaepernick carried twice for 24 yards and attempted a deep pass to Randy Moss into triple coverage that fell incomplete.Meanwhile, Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez struggled getting anything going against the 49ers' defense. Jets backup quarterback Tim Tebow, known for his running ability, was no factor. He carried twice for 0 yards and completed one jump-pass for 9 yards, that resulted in a fumble.
TOUGH DEFENSE: The 49ers' defense forced four turnovers, including two takeaways in the first half that kept the Jets from scoring. Safety Dashon Goldson made a low hit on tight end Dedrick Epps after a 9-yard reception from Tebow to the Jets' 48. Cornerback Carlos Rogers scooped up the loose ball.Later, the Jets were on the march again at the 49ers' 25-yard line. This time, outside linebacker Aldon Smith sacked Sanchez and forced a fumble, which Justin Smith recovered.The 49ers took over with 1:11 remaining in the half, and moved 56 yards. Kicker David Akers kicked a 36-yard field goal on the final play of the first half to give the 49ers a 10-0 lead.DEFENSE SCORES: Rogers gave the 49ers a 24-0 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter on a play that could have disastrous ramifications for the Jets.One week after the Jets lost their best defensive player, cornerback Darrelle Revis, to a season-ending knee injury, New York's best offensive player, receiver Santonio Holmes, went down with a knee injury.After a short completion, Holmes went down without being touched as his left knee bent awkwardly. As he went down, Holmes tossed the ball into the air. Rogers caught the ball and returned it 51 yards for a touchdown.FOURTH-DOWN CONVERSION: The 49ers' defense gave the offense ample opportunities to widen the advantage, but it wasn't until a fourth-down conversion that the 49ers gave themselves some breathing room in the third quarter.Gore crashed through the left side for a 2-yard touchdown run with 2:49 remaining in the third quarter for a 17-0 lead.POURING IT ON: The 49ers tacked on another score when Larry Grant blocked a Robert Malone punt in the fourth quarter. The ball rolled out of bounds at the Jets' 4-yard line. Hunter scored on a 1-yard run with 6:30 remaining. It was the 49ers' first blocked since Dominique Ziegler in October 2010 at Atlanta.NOTES: Ginn returned to his role as the team's top punt returner after missing the first three games with an ankle injury. . . The 49ers' seven inactive players were quarterback Scott Tolzien, wide receiver A.J. Jenkins, running backs Brandon Jacobs and LaMichael James, safety Trenton Robinson, guard Joe Looney and nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga. . . Ricky Jean Francois got his third career start, as he took over for Sopoaga.