[New post] 49ers’ Kittle, Cardinals’ Ertz rank among NFL’s best in one category
gqlshare posted: "SANTA CLARA – Two of the NFL's most reliable receivers will share the Levi's Stadium field Sunday. Their unofficial job title: sure-handed tight ends.George Kittle, jersey No. 85, has caught a pass in all 85 regular-season games he has played for the 49er" Daily Democrat
SANTA CLARA – Two of the NFL's most reliable receivers will share the Levi's Stadium field Sunday. Their unofficial job title: sure-handed tight ends.
George Kittle, jersey No. 85, has caught a pass in all 85 regular-season games he has played for the 49ers, marking the NFL's fifth-longest active streak since 2017, his rookie year.
Among those he studied entering the NFL: Zach Ertz, a Monte Vista High-Danville and Stanford product who has a catch in 119 consecutive games entering Sunday's game with the Arizona Cardinals (1-2) against the host 49ers (3-0).
"People sleep on Zach Ertz for some reason," Kittle said Thursday. "A couple of years ago, he broke a NFL record for most catches in a season by a tight end (116 in 2018). He knows what he's doing, he's a heck of a player, and I'm excited to play him and see him."
Kittle was unaware of his consecutive-game reception streak until apprised of it, though it didn't stun him, nor did he consider it a taboo topic that might jinx him.
"I like it when they call my number and I have a chance to do something with that opportunity, whether it's catching the ball or in the run game," Kittle said. "Fortunately for me, it's been a lot of catches, with a lot of blocking."
Which is he better at? While he's developed into arguably the NFL's best blocking tight end, Kittle sided with being more reliable as a receiver. For instance, that showed on a fourth-down reception on the 49ers' opening series of the season in Pittsburgh.
San Francisco 49ers' George Kittle (85) runs after a catch against New York Giants' Jason Pinnock (27) and New York Giants' Xavier McKinney (29) in the third quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
In the following game, a Week 2 win over the Los Angeles Rams, Kittle reached 400 career receptions faster than any previous 49er, doing so in 84 games; Jerry Rice did so in his 89th game, in 1990.
Rice holds the NFL record with a catch in 274 consecutive games, 225 coming with the 49ers (1985-2000) before that stretch ended when he played on the 2004 Raiders. The 49ers' next-longest streaks are by Terrell Owens (115 games; 1996-2003) and Dwight Clark (105 games; 1980-87).
The NFL's longest active streaks: DeAndre Hopkins (148), Travis Kelce (145), Stefon Diggs (122), Ertz (119) and Davante Adams (117). Hopkins, however, has only played 84 games since 2017, one less than Kittle.
Ertz, 32, is in his 11th season, and he is four catches shy of 700 for his career through 147 games. Only Kelce, with 126 games, and Jason Witten, 145, have reached 700 faster among NFL tight ends.
"Ertz is known for his in-cuts or branch routes, like 8-yard routes," Kittle said. "The way he would stem routes, they would always look the same, so when he gets to the top of his route, the DB is not entirely sure where to go."
Kittle gleaned some of that knowledge when Ertz was among the NFL tight ends who came together in Nashville two years ago for the first Tight End University, co-hosted by Kittle.
"He's a very, very smart route runner," Kittle said. "He knows exactly how to set guys up and he's one of the most sure-handed guys in the league."
Ertz has one touchdown in five career games against the 49ers, that score coming in a 2017 home win when he was with the Philadelphia Eagles.
"He's good in the run game, as a blocker, and can do a great job right here creating matchups really and can stretch it down the field," 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said. "Good seem (route), runs a great seven route. They do a great job with the tight end screens, hiding him at times and he's a red zone threat as well."
Ertz did not play in either of the Cardinals' losses last year to the 49ers. He did participate in wins the last two times he's played at Levi's Stadium: in 2020 with the Eagles (four catches, nine yards) and in 2021 with the Cardinals (three catches, 27 yards).
"It's not going to be the same thing every week where the tight end is prominently featured. It's going to vary based on what the defense does," Ertz told reporters last week. "That's the best part of being a tight end: You're going to have a key in every game plan. Some days you're going to have to run block or pass block, some days get to run more routes.
"But you have to be able to do everything, and you have to do it at a high level," Ertz added. "That's why I love to play the position, because there's not one thing to focus on."
Kittle, who turns 30 on Oct. 9, has echoed that same sentiment throughout his career. He had a season-high 90 yards (seven catches) in last Thursday night's 30-12 win over the New York Giants. He's still looking for his first touchdown this season, after a career-high 11 last season.
"Just throw me the ball every time. I'm always open. That's how I view it," Kittle said with a smile.
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