Emmanuel Moseley is quietly putting together this best NFL season. The fifth-year cornerback's overall Pro Football Focus grade of 70.4 through four games is his highest mark since 2019 (also 70.4). Moseley's overall defensive grade has improved each week, with his 70.9 grade in Week 4 being his best since last season's playoff game against the Green Bay Packers.
Moseley believes the best is yet to come. He knows how much potential this year's 49ers defense has, and they look to prove themselves each week. Much of that is due to defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans' influence. The coach has pushed confidence into his players' mindsets.
"We trust him, and we want to go out there and get it done," Moseley told NFL Network's Steve Wyche and James Palmer. "He's done a good job putting this secondary together. He did a good job putting the whole defense together, and it's paying off."
Ryans' defense ranks second in the NFL in total yards allowed, second in passing yards allowed, second in rushing yards allowed, and first in points allowed. Palmer asked Moseley if this defense is better than the one the 49ers boasted in 2019 when the team reached the Super Bowl.
"This team, right now, we're definitely putting it together," Moseley responded. "It's early in the season, so I don't want to speak too early, but I know we can be special. And I know all we've got to do is just keep honing in on the things we didn't do wrong. When games go like [the one against the Rams], you tend to get happy and excited. But you've got to look at yourself and see what happened and what went wrong. And then you can be the best."
Rams wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson lined up against Moseley 39 times on Monday night, per NFL Nest Gen Stats. However, during those snaps, the 49ers cornerback limited the duo to a combined eight targets, five receptions, and 19 receiving yards.
"I think it's preparation throughout the week," Moseley shared as the reason for his success. "Definitely film study. I played Cooper plenty of times in my career now. I played Allen Robinson—I think this is my second time playing him. So just knowing that I can go out there and do it, I've got to trust myself, trust my coaches to put me in the best matchup. And when you've got a D-line like we've got, a linebacker group like we've got, and DBs like we've got, we can stop anybody."
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