Cloverleaf graduate Kyle Juszczyk looking forward to playing Browns, keeping 49ers rolling

The San Francisco 49ers and 2009 Cloverleaf graduate Kyle Juszczyk could not have drawn up a better start to their season. With victories over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers, the 49ers (3-0) entered Sunday as one of three undefeated teams in the NFL and the only one in the NFC. "It's been great, man. It's been awesome to get off to a hot start," Juszczyk said in a phone interview. "We knew that was going to be important for us, because we knew we had potential and we had all the belief in our building, but to go out there and prove it with some W's was going to go a long way for our confidence." Next up for San Francisco and its three-time Pro Bowl fullback is a visit tonight from the AFC North-leading Browns on Monday Night Football. "I'm very excited," Juszczyk said. "Cleveland is probably my favorite team to play in the NFL, just because I grew up in Cleveland as an AFC North guy and got drafted into the AFC North in Baltimore, so it's a brand of football that I'm familiar with. "We're excited to play against a good team. We feel like this is one of the better teams we've played so far this season. We're excited to go out and show the country what we can do on Monday Night Football." The prime-time game is the 49ers' latest chance to prove this season can be more than just a fast start. San Francisco is looking to make its first trip to the playoffs since a run of three straight appearances in the NFC Championship game ended in 2013. "I try to remind the younger guys that after winning games, nothing changes and you still have to come in and put in the work," said Juszczyk, who made the playoffs in his second season with Baltimore. "You really can't let off the gas, because that's when things are going to start catching up to you." San Francisco enters tonight with the second-ranked rushing offense at 175.0 yards per game and is coming off a bye week. Meanwhile, the Browns head to Levi's Stadium after a 40-25 victory over the Ravens and have the top-ranked rushing offense (205.8). "For our offense, protecting the ball has been huge, and we've been able to run the ball very well," Juszczyk said. "We've really been able to lean on our offensive line and our running backs." Coach Kyle Shanahan's zone blocking scheme, in which Juszczyk is often a lead blocker for a stable of tailbacks, has produced 200-yard season rushers in Matt Brieda (226) and former Cleveland back Raheem Mostert (202). Jeff Wilson has all four rushing touchdowns. San Francisco has the NFL's fourth-ranked offense at 421.0 yards and has averaged the third-most points in the league at 32.0. "It starts with can you lead block, and he is physical enough to do it," Shanahan told Browns reporters in a conference call. "He is not going to turn anything down, and he has the body to do. Then it's how do you move, how quick you can get out of the I-formation and how smart are you. He is as smart of a fullback as I have ever had and as athletic of one as I have ever had. He has great hands. He understands our run game. We can move him all around. We put a lot of pressure on him mentally that probably most players do not deal with. "I think he allows us to do a lot formationally and to call a couple run plays within one play. He is just extremely versatile. People notice him when we give him the ball, which he has the ability to make some plays with the ball. He makes plays every week, whether he's touching the ball or not. I don't think he gets enough recognition for that." Juszczyk, who has 1,556 yards on 187 touches in his seven-year NFL career, had his most prolific game of the season in Week 3. He then found himself at the center of a tidal wave of social media attention when he caught a pass from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in the seam and obliterated Steelers defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick with a stiff arm for a 22-yard gain. "It's funny how many thoughts go through your head in a quick moment of a football game," Juszczyk said. "I was thinking to myself, 'Should I try to outrun this guy and go down the sideline or do I meet this guy with physicality and bring it to him?' I went with Option 2 because at the end of the day, you know, I am a fullback." While the attention on social media was fun, Juszczyk said what he enjoyed the most was the reaction of his teammates and how much the play helped turn the tide of the game. "I did have a ton of former teammates and friends reacting on Twitter, and my Twitter account literally almost broke from how many notifications I had," he said. "Really, the best part was hearing from my own teammates now, because them telling me during the game and after the game that play really energized the team and got everybody else going was the coolest thing to hear." In addition to that catch, Juszczyk added a diving 27-yard grab and another 4-yard gain on his other targets. he had 51 yards on three catches. Meanwhile, San Francisco's defense, which was built on first-round draft picks DeForest Buckner, Arik Armstead, Solomon Thomas and Nick Bosa and 2019 trade acquisition Dee Ford, has held its first three opponents to 20 points or fewer. The 49ers have surrendered the third-fewest yards in the league at 283.3 per game. "I feel like our defense has kept us in every game," Juszczyk said. "Our front seven that we have is a force to be reckoned with. Our defensive line is rotating a bunch of guys and anybody who gets in there gets a ton of pressure, and our linebackers between Kwon Alexander and Fred Warner, are just sideline-to-sideline players and high-energy guys." Contact John Urchek at sports@medina-gazette.com.