Author: John Kinsley

Two words have defined the 49ers’ training camp practices in 2022: Brandon Aiyuk. 11 months in the distant past, Aiyuk saw himself in Kyle Shanahan’s doghouse for what the head coach saw as a result of struggles in practice. Already just in the twilight of his sophomoric season, the former first rounder’s time in San Francisco appeared to be in jeopardy. 11 months have passed, and Aiyuk has walked the tightropes to a different path. Praise In The Locker Room Shanahan went on to praise Aiyuk’s newfound wisdom and response to a decrease in snaps following his early benching in…

When Brandon Aiyuk struggled to make an impact in the first half of his sophomoric season, worries that he fell in Kyle Shanahan’s doghouse arose. Shanahan explained that this was not about being in his doghouse, but rather getting up to speed in practice. As the 49ers spent a first round pick on Aiyuk the previous draft, the presence of Dante Pettis’ fallout echoed throughout the Bay Area. That’s when Brandon Aiyuk made it clear: He would not be another Dante Pettis. In his last 10 games Aiyuk posted 685 receiving yards on 43 receptions, giving him an average of…

As the 49ers continue to receive praise for the amount of talent collected on the offensive side of the ball, a former Niner wants to keep the attention on the defensive side. To be honest, I’ve had trouble remembering that Richard Sherman at one point played with the 49ers. That’s not to say I didn’t think he played well with them, far from it. Rather, his Seahawks tenure is forever engraved in the back of my mind. With that in mind, Sherman looks like he’s looking back on those times fondly. On Thursday, Sherman, one of the game’s top corners…

Say what you will about the play of Jimmy Garoppolo, but even the biggest detractors (myself included) can’t question his toughness. Despite a lengthy injury history, Garoppolo has come back time after time again to do his best to lead the 49ers to victory. It hasn’t always been perfect, and that’s been apparent throughout his time as starter, but so has the toughness. That’s why it’s hard not to be sympathetic for Garoppolo as his time with San Francisco comes to an end. He was a part of two NFC Championship teams and the team’s first Super Bowl appearance since…

All offseason long the 49ers implied that the Trey Lance era was underway, and it is now clear any questions suggesting otherwise would put to rest. Head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Tuesday that San Francisco moved onto Lance as the starter. Lance made brief appearances in his rookie season when Jimmy Garoppolo could not start, keeping them in the playoff hunt during Week 17 with a win over the Texans. Some showed annoyance that the 49ers did not keep Lance in the starting role, but in the middle of a playoff race it’s understandable why Shanahan did not…

The 2021 Buffalo Bills were inconsistent in their 11-6 season, but when they were on, they were arguably the league’s best team. That shows in their +194 point differential, which ranked first among all teams that year. It also shows in Madden’s ratings of the team for the 2023 edition of their annual release, where they are ranked as the No. 2 team with a rating of 89. They’re even higher than the defending Super Bowl champion Rams (88) and only trail the Buccaneers (92). Bills’ Madden Rating This is a rating that makes a ton of sense. Both the…

Yet again, we are reacting to Madden ratings over here at Gridiron Heroics. As this series continues to tackle the ratings of the Buffalo Bills’ players, none will be bigger than quarterback Josh Allen’s placement. On Friday morning, the ratings dropped, so let’s react to where Allen ended up. Josh Allen (92) After the roller coaster ride that was the 2021 Bills season, that they ended 13 seconds away from playing the AFC Championship game at home was a testament to how good that team was at its peak. They led the NFL in point differential, and were Football Outsiders’…

Once again it is time to react to Madden ratings for Bills players. Right now we will be taking a look at EDGE rusher Von Miller and cornerback Tre’Davious White. Von Miller (92) It’s been quite the 2022 for one Von Miller. In his first season beyond Denver he managed to earn his second Super Bowl ring as a member of the Rams, becoming an integral piece of the defensive front. In the playoffs Miller had four sacks (including two in the Super Bowl), six tackles for loss, and six quarterback hits. Though he’s moved onto Buffalo, the Rams…

It’s that time of year where Electronic Arts decides to drop its annual player rankings for its Madden franchise. As such, the rankings make for all sorts of debate and content, and it only makes sense to take a deep dive and react to what everyone thinks of the Bills’ skill players. For this edition, we’ll take a look at how EA rated stud wideout Stefon Diggs. Stefon Diggs (95) Bills Mafia loves itself some Stefon Diggs, and it appears the rest of the league is in agreement. Diggs’ 96 Madden rating is fifth among all wide receivers, only…

There’s no shortage of Josh Allen love in NFL circles as of late, and for good reason. In the 2021 postseason, Allen was as perfect as one could get. In the Wild Card Round he led the first perfect game from an offense in league history, and in the Divisional he was toe for toe with Patrick Mahomes in one of the best playoff games ever. With 637 yards, 9 touchdowns, and no interceptions, this was something special. Coming off the postseason performance of a lifetime against the Patriots and Chiefs, anticipation is high. As a matter of fact, one…