Cornerback Charvarius Ward has come a long way since leaving the Chiefs to join the 49ers.
He was always an adequate player, and one that the Chiefs surely did not want to lose. But Ward's value was rising and the Chiefs couldn't afford him. That played into the fortune of the 49ers who were easily able to give him the deal he sought out. His addition came at a time where the 49ers really needed an anchor at cornerback.
And boy, has Ward accomplished that and more. When he faces his former team in the Super Bowl, they will see a different player. One who has become an All-Pro and Pro Bowl player for the first time in his career. But how exactly did Ward become that player today? Kyle Shanahan gave his thoughts on how Ward has grown from the Chiefs to the 49ers.
“We ask him to do a little bit more just with the coverages, just the way their scheme was. Not more, different things," said Shanahan. "He was primarily always bump (and run) back then and played a lot of two-shell defense. We mix it up a little with off (coverage) in our three deep and the bump when we're doing man and stuff. So we had to see him do some things here that he hadn't done before. His game's grown. He really couldn't do anything ask him to do.”
I'd argue that Ward would never have ascended as far as he has with the Chiefs as he's done with the 49ers. It is exactly because of how the 49ers utilize him. The Chiefs have a more focused style, while the 49ers can mix it up at times. He's everything and anything they could've asked for when they signed him two-years ago. Now, Ward looks like a bargain contract for what he is giving them.
He is sure to prove his worth in the Super Bowl to limit the Chiefs' passing attack. They are going to desperately need it since their opponent is the great Patrick Mahomes.
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