Kurtenbach: ‘Next man up’? For the 3-0 49ers, it’s not just an empty saying

Kurtenbach: ‘Next man up’? For the 3-0 49ers, it’s not just an empty saying

SANTA CLARA — “Next man up” is the kind of football phrase that gets tossed around locker rooms like used spat tape. And it’s usually a desperate Hail Mary — a coping mechanism for a team that’s already on life support — limping to a six-win season like the one the Niners did last year. We’ve heard “next man up” quite often in Santa Clara over the years. And we’re hearing it a lot this season, too. But after Sunday’s 16-15 comeback win over the …