49ers vs. Rams: Full Report-Card Grades for San Francisco
The San Francisco 49ers staged a come-from-behind win over their division rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals, in Week 6 on Monday Night Football by a score of 31-17.
San Francisco got off to a slow start, which allowed quarterback Austin Davis and the Rams to get out to a 14-0 lead early in the first quarter. This was assisted by a fumble by second-year tight end Vance McDonald, which led to a Lance Kendricks touchdown.
But the 49ers started to answer back late in the second quarter. After a Phil Dawson field goal, quarterback Colin Kaepernick connected with veteran wideout Brandon Lloyd for an 80-yard touchdown that put San Francisco within four points going into halftime.
The 49ers dominated the game from halftime onward. San Francisco outscored St. Louis 21-3 in the second half en route to its fourth victory on the young season.
In the meantime, St. Louis fell to 1-4—currently at the bottom of the vaunted NFC West.
Unfortunately, the physicality of the game took its toll upon the 49ers. Linebacker Patrick Willis, defensive back Jimmie Ward and offensive guard Mike Iupati all departed the game with injuries.
Still, San Francisco's defense held firm against Davis and a desperate Rams offense that tried to surge in the fourth quarter.
An interception by rookie cornerback Dontae Johnson was returned for a touchdown, all but sealing the 49ers' victory in this prime-time matchup.
"#49ers can smile after a 31-17 #MNF win. pic.twitter.com/sXlGzG6ZCY
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 14, 2014"
Kaepernick was the offensive star of the game for San Francisco. He totaled 343 yards through the air and recorded three passing touchdowns against zero interceptions.
With the offense's second-half surge, the 49ers have to feel pretty good as they begin the preparations for a much-heralded Week 7 matchup on the road against the Denver Broncos.
In this slideshow, we take a look at a position-by-position breakdown of San Francisco's Week 6 performance in St. Louis.
Quarterback
1 of 10
Coming into Week 6, we probably expected the 49ers to run the ball frequently and often against a Rams defense that had given up an average of 152.5 yards on the ground, previously.
But with St. Louis doing its best to stuff Frank Gore and the running game, the pressure fell on quarterback Colin Kaepernick to deliver in a big way against a solid Rams pass defense.
In this, Kaepernick excelled to a tremendous degree.
Kaepernick totaled 343 yards passing and hooked up with Brandon Lloyd, Anquan Boldin and Michael Crabtree for touchdown passes. This came against zero interceptions, and Kaepernick posted a 120.5 quarterback rating in the process.
The quarterback's legs were also a factor. Kaepernick rushed three times for 37 yards, including a 23-yard rush.
Week 6 marked one of Kaepernick's best performances of his young career, putting him in some elite company per ESPN's SportsCenter.
"Colin Kaepernick's career with the 49ers is off to a great start. pic.twitter.com/VD7hJVT9Lu
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 14, 2014"
Kaepernick and the offense did not panic after falling behind 14-0 early. Instead, Kaepernick showcased some of his best skills against a Rams defense that was dead set on stopping him and San Francisco's offense.
It's easy, and warranted, to give Kaepernick a high grade in this spectacular performance. He excelled on the national stage, and at a time when the 49ers offense needed him to do so.
Grade: A+
Running Back
2 of 10
As stated previously, we probably expected the 49ers offense to take advantage of a poorly ranked Rams run defense in Week 6, utilizing Frank Gore and Co. to a large extent.
But it was not the running game that garnered most of San Francisco's offense.
Why was this? From the outset, signs pointed to St. Louis' defense doing its best to stop Gore and the running game, forcing Colin Kaepernick to air it out instead. Unlike previous games, this circumstance worked into San Francisco's favor.
"RT @Bosox1998 why do the 49ers keep going away from the run? > Because the Rams are selling out to stop the run.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoCSN) October 14, 2014"
In total, Gore notched just 38 yards on 16 carries—an average of 2.4 yards per carry.
Rookie back Carlos Hyde fared even lower, notching an average of just 1.3 yards on 11 carries.
"VIDEO: #49ers' Carlos Hyde gives credit to #Rams' run defense http://t.co/H48nRCBLV0 #49ersTalk #NFL pic.twitter.com/fLGLO6jZo3
— Comcast SportsNet (@CSNAuthentic) October 14, 2014"
Indeed, the Rams run defense came prepared to stop San Francisco's ground attack. But by limiting the running game, St. Louis set up the 49ers for a huge night through the air.
At least the combination of backs is garnering respect from other teams, even if the numbers do not reflect it.
Grade: C-
Wide Receiver and Tight End
3 of 10
Whereas the 49ers' ground game struggled, the aerial attack came up in a huge fashion.
While none of San Francisco's wide receivers totaled more than 100 yards, each of its top receivers stepped forward with some key plays that helped lead the team to a victory in Week 6.
Anquan Boldin led all 49ers receivers with 94 yards on seven receptions. Boldin's touchdown came at the 9:58 mark of the third quarter, which gave San Francisco a 17-14 lead.
But it was Brandon Lloyd's 80-yard reception that proved to be a turning point during the game.
"That 80-yard pass to Brandon Lloyd was the longest completion of Colin Kaepernick's career. pic.twitter.com/HOKB9Mhtd2
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 14, 2014"
Lloyd finished the night with just the one reception, but it was indeed a significant moment as the veteran beat cornerback Janoris Jenkins in coverage.
Not to be outdone by the other veterans on the roster, Michael Crabtree was also able to contribute with a three-catch, 37-yard night that was capped by a 32-yard touchdown.
Crabtree's post-route catch was a thing of beauty to watch, proving that his route running is a legitimate part of his game.
"Michael Crabtree breaking ankles + Colin Kaepernick throwing a laser = TOUCHDOWN!! Every. Single. Time.
— SportsNation (@SportsNation) October 14, 2014"
Stevie Johnson also contributed with five receptions for 53 yards. Unfortunately, Johnson was injured recovering a fourth-quarter onside kick.
In all, San Francisco needed to get a lot out of its receiving corps, considering the efforts St. Louis put forth in slowing down the 49ers running game.
This unit came up in a big fashion.
While the 49ers wide receivers came up huge in Week 6, the tandem of tight ends fell far short of expectations over the majority of the game.
Vernon Davis, who missed Week 5 with a back injury, looked as if he was rusty in his first appearance back. Davis dropped two passes, according to Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee, the second of which came at a crucial third-down spot.
"Vernon Davis' second drop. He also has a false-start penalty. Safe to say he's not close to 100 percent.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) October 14, 2014"
Davis finished the night with three receptions for 30 yards.
But it was second-year pro Vance McDonald's second-quarter fumble that spoke the worst of the 49ers' tight end woes during the game.
McDonald hauled in a 21-yard pass from Colin Kaepernick, only to fumble it right after making the catch. According to Andrew Pentis of 49ers.com, McDonald looked as if he was trying to leap over a Rams defender on the play but ended up losing control of the ball in the process.
"That would have been the biggest play of Vance McDonald's career. Instead ... #49ers
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) October 14, 2014"
After the fumble, St. Louis was able to march down the field and tack on another touchdown in the process. At that point, the Rams boasted a 14-0 lead. Had it not been for the 49ers' second-half comeback, this moment in the game would certainly draw much more scrutiny.
But this wasn't the end of the 49ers' tight end problems.
In the fourth quarter, both McDonald and Davis ran into each other attempting to haul in a red-zone pass from Kaepernick.
"Geez. Vernon Davis and Vance McDonald run into each other on a wide open touchdown catch
— Niners Nation (@NinersNation) October 14, 2014"
Had either tight end broken off the route, the other would have certainly hauled in the touchdown grab. That didn't happen, however, and we might continue to speculate whether or not McDonald will be a bona fide receiving threat for the 49ers moving forward.
The wide receivers receive top marks here, but their performance is brought down by those of the tight ends.
Grade: B
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Offensive Line
4 of 10
Right tackle Joe Staley versus Rams defensive end Robert Quinn was a matchup to watch heading into Monday Night Football.
Quinn posted 19.0 sacks last season and looked to get beyond his zero-sack total in Week 6 against Staley and the 49ers offensive line.
But Staley ensured that would not happen, and then some.
"Joe Staley makin' Robert Quinn look like a straight jabroni.
— Anthony Ly (@AnthonyLy49) October 14, 2014"
Staley dominated Quinn almost entirely throughout the game, and the rest of the O-line enjoyed similar results against the Rams defense.
Jonathan Martin started once again for Anthony Davis at right tackle. While Martin's pass-blocking abilities have been inconsistent this year, the third-year pro was able to hold up well enough to prevent any sacks on Colin Kaepernick from his side.
On top of that, Martin was able to bring some edginess to his game, per @Tre9er of Niners Nation.
While Kaepernick was flushed from the pocket on a handful of occasions, San Francisco's quarterback was still able to elude any pressure and kept the vast majority of plays alive.
St. Louis came into this game with just one sack on the season. That number still stands after Week 6.
But the 49ers' run blocking did not quite measure up to the same success enjoyed the previous two weeks. As stated previously, the Rams did an excellent job in trying to limit Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde.
St. Louis' defense blocked off many of the running lanes San Francisco's O-line tried to create. While this unit was not exactly overwhelmed at the point of the attack, the 49ers' run blockers were not quite as effective as we might have speculated coming into this matchup.
Still, they were able to provide the necessary pass protection for Kaepernick, which led directly to San Francisco's lofty numbers through the air.
Left guard Mike Iupati came out of the game due to a concussion, per KNBR 680. He was replaced by backup O-lineman Joe Looney.
Grade: B-
Defensive Line
5 of 10
Another heralded matchup was between 35-year-old defensive end Justin Smith versus Rams rookie offensive lineman Greg Robinson.
Robinson held his own against the seasoned veteran, according to Andrew Pentis of 49ers.com, but the rest of the 49ers defensive line was able to generate significant pressure on the Rams offensive front as the game wore on.
Smith was held to just three tackles over the course of the game. At the start, the D-line struggled against both the passing and running games.
St. Louis' first two drives were highlighted by big plays, both on the ground and through the air, which unquestionably led to the team taking an early 14-0 lead.
Fortunately, the D-line was able to clamp down in the latter portion of the second quarter. In total, this unit helped hold the Rams to 309 total yards. Much of the prowess fell on the defense's ability to stop the run. While St. Louis had some nice gains on the ground early on, the Rams rushing attack all but disappeared as the game drew on.
No. 1 back Zac Stacy was held to just 17 yards on eight carries. In total, St. Louis gained 93 yards on the ground.
"Zac Stacy looks like he’s running in mud tonight. #rams
— Tyson Langland (@tglangland) October 14, 2014"
This forced the Rams to rely more heavily on the passing game. While the D-line failed to register a sack, they did help create some of the necessary pressure to allow the 49ers linebacker corps to make some big plays.
We'll get to that in a moment.
Ian Williams had a nice game and describes via CSN Bay Area how this pressure was essential in defeating Austin Davis and the Rams.
"VIDEO: Ian Williams breaks down how #49ers got to #Rams' Austin Davis http://t.co/USOTTcjaTl #49ersTalk #NFL pic.twitter.com/0Mk2qmhVXW
— Comcast SportsNet (@CSNAuthentic) October 14, 2014"
Had it not been for the first quarter, the D-line would have scored pretty high. But St. Louis gained some early push against this unit. It wasn't a perfect performance, but pretty decent nonetheless.
Grade: B
Linebacker
6 of 10
One might wonder if San Francisco's crop of linebackers would suffer some drawback if it knew that it would lose All-Pro Patrick Willis to a toe injury in the third quarter.
That would leave this group without Willis, NaVorro Bowman and Aldon Simth—a group that comprises one of the best linebacker corps in the NFL.
But backup inside linebacker Michael Wilhoite continues to prove that he is capable of filling the void for Bowman until his eventual return. Wilhoite led all 49ers linebackers with six tackles on the night.
While Wilhoite's 2014 performance has been impressive, it was Dan Skuta's night to shine on defense.
Skuta has gone from a special teamer to an essential part of the 49ers defense amid the suspension to Smith. He logged two sacks of quarterback Austin Davis. He would have had another had it not been for a 49ers penalty early on.
"Anytime Dan Skuta makes a play, remember Harbaugh said he could fight for either side in the Civil War. Versatility! pic.twitter.com/pYIxMESt0E
— Kevin Clark (@KevinClarkWSJ) October 14, 2014"
After a slow start to the season, Ahmad Brooks made his presence felt as the game wore on. He also netted two sacks, along with five tackles and two quarterback hits.
This unit helped generate four of the five total sacks San Francisco enjoyed during the contest. The total number tied the amount of sacks the 49ers had on the season coming into Week 6.
"VIDEO: #49ers' Ahmad Brooks: 'We rushed as a team today' http://t.co/70n76IwxOl #49ersTalk #NFL pic.twitter.com/rYB5JXN9RK
— Comcast SportsNet (@CSNAuthentic) October 14, 2014"
Unfortunately, the 49ers lost Willis to a toe injury. This forced rookie linebacker Chris Borland to make his presence felt alongside Wilhoite.
Borland performed admirably enough, logging two passes defensed along with two tackles in the process. We'll have to monitor the injury situation to Willis, but at least this unit did not suffer a drastic setback when Willis came out of the game.
Grade: A
Secondary
7 of 10
Like the D-line, San Francisco's secondary suffered some early lapses against St. Louis in the first quarter.
Many of these fell upon cornerback Chris Culliver, whose coverage concerns continued at various points throughout the game. His biggest mistake was on a play fake during the first quarter. Culliver bit, according to Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area, which gave way to a Lance Kendricks touchdown catch.
"Chris Culliver bit on the play fake, and Austin Davis makes the easy pitch and catch to Lance Kendricks for the TD.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoCSN) October 14, 2014"
Culliver's mistakes aside, San Francisco's secondary was able to clamp down on Austin Davis and his receivers as the second half began.
Perrish Cox continues his impressive play as he fills in for the injured Tramaine Brock. While he did not add to his three interceptions on the season, Cox has proved that he is more than adequate as a coverage cornerback at this level.
He finished the game with five tackles and two passes defensed.
"A postgame message from @pcox16... https://t.co/t3jWeAu44Y
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 14, 2014"
Cox is also showing his versatility.
An injury suffered by rookie Jimmie Ward forced the 49ers to shift Cox to the nickel cornerback position. Chris Cook took over on the outside, with the exception of one of the final plays of the game.
Rookie cornerback Dontae Johnson, who wouldn't have been on the field had it not been for Ward's injury, made the final pick that sealed San Francisco's victory.
Johnson grabbed a would-be pass from Davis and returned it 20 yards for the final touchdown of the evening.
In all, San Francisco's secondary held Davis and the passing game to just 236 yards through the air. While Davis notched two touchdown passes in the effort, his 65.2 passer rating gives us enough indication that the 49ers defensive backfield held its own.
Oh, and we can't forget safety Antoine Bethea's sack, either.
Grade: B+
Special Teams
8 of 10
The 49ers did not have to rely on kicker Phil Dawson as their primary offensive weapon in St. Louis.
Dawson tallied 15 of the 22 points netted by San Francisco the week prior, earning him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week accolades. While that is nice to have, the 49ers clearly needed more touchdowns.
Fortunately, this turned out to be the case. Dawson was counted upon just once—a 54-yard field goal in the second quarter that gave San Francisco its first points on the evening.
"Phil Dawson, the "trusty pick-up," strikes again. pic.twitter.com/oqyq4ESmx2
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 14, 2014"
Andy Lee averaged 43.0 yards on five punts as well.
Rookie return man Bruce Ellington had one gaffe on a punt return, which pinned San Francisco's offense deep within its own territory.
"Observation: #49ers rookie Bruce Ellington needs some work on his punt returns. Hesitant and tentative.
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) October 14, 2014"
Much of this can be expected out of a rookie in this position. Fortunately, these setbacks did not thwart the 49ers' efforts against the Rams, but it is something to keep an eye upon moving forward.
On the flip side, San Francisco held St. Louis' punt returner Tavon Austin to just 12 yards on two returns.
The 49ers special teams unit has had its share of problems this season. Fortunately, few of these surfaced against the Rams in Week 6.
Grade: A-
Coaching
9 of 10
San Francisco potentially solved two of its preeminent problems after its Monday Night Football performance—the ability to make in-game adjustments and finally being able to score a fourth-quarter touchdown.
Granted, the fourth-quarter score—a first on the year—was the direct result of Rams desperation and a pick-six from Dontae Johnson, but the coaching staff was able to prove that it could adjust to what was facing the team over the course of the game.
In-game adjustments have been a problem, especially revealed during the 49ers' two losses on the season.
In Week 6, St. Louis did an excellent job of stacking up against the run. This limited Frank Gore and took away much of San Francisco's offensive game plan against a weak run defense. One might have thought that offensive coordinator Greg Roman would have either abandoned the run entirely or stick with an approach that wasn't working altogether.
At points, the former seemed like it was happening. Gore was scantly used during the first half, and it appeared as if the offense was going to rely heavily on the passing game.
But Gore did play a significant role down the stretch. While his 16 carries for 34 yards do not imply that Gore was the linchpin of San Francisco's offense, he at least commanded the respect of St. Louis' defense.
This, in turn, allowed Colin Kaepernick and the passing game to come up with some big plays.
Still, Roman did get a little too cute toward the end of the game—calling a misdirection play by Carlos Hyde that went nowhere.
"#49ers could have put game away, but Greg Roman decides to get cute & run some awful misdirection play to Hyde ... leads to punt. Sweet
— Drew Shiller (@DrewShiller) October 14, 2014"
But we have to be happy with the overall results. The 49ers gained a total of 432 all-purpose yards against a defense that had limited the high-flying offenses of the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys in weeks prior.
On defense, Vic Fangio was able to overcome some significant injuries to a number of key players. This, combined with the efforts of incumbent starters, helped lead to a doubling of San Francisco's sack totals—five in the contest after notching the same number in the previous five weeks.
It's hard to fault much of anything given those stats.
Yet one of the biggest concerns that drew attention early was the penalty issue. The 49ers committed some costly penalties early on, making us worry whether or not San Francisco would return to being heralded as the most-penalized team in the NFL.
"#49ers in first quarter: 3 penalties, 2 first downs, 0 points.
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) October 14, 2014"
But the 49ers finished the game with just five flags for 23 yards. In comparison, the Rams were penalized eight times for a total of 38 yards.
On top of this, the effort put forth by San Francisco suggests to a strong degree that head coach Jim Harbaugh has the support of his players.
"49ers' locker room is toxic, morale frighteningly low pic.twitter.com/RZsp8guLmO
— Bay Area Sports Guy (@BASportsGuy) October 14, 2014"
Perhaps those tales can be put to rest, only if Harbaugh and the 49ers fail to thrive without the added drama.
"Harbaugh: "It was a hard, tough win, on the road against a division opponent." #49ers
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 14, 2014"
All combined, San Francisco's coaching staff got the best out of a division rival. While the Rams' season has been problematic at best, Jeff Fisher's squad came out fighting. This forced the 49ers to make the needed adjustments that wound up being critical to San Francisco's success.
Grade: A-
Final Grades
10 of 10
QB: A+
RB: C-
WR/TE: B
OL: B-
DL: B
LB: A
Secondary: B+
Special Teams: A-
Coaching: A-
Cumulative Grade: B+
While there were some ugly moments—especially in the first quarter and a half—San Francisco came away with a hard-fought victory against a St. Louis team that looked to thwart the 49ers' recent resurgence.
The Rams attempted to accomplish this by shutting down San Francisco's ground game, the results of which gave way to Colin Kaepernick and the aerial attack.
The 49ers defense finally clamped down in the second half, holding the Rams to just three points during the third and fourth quarters.
San Francisco dialed up a win even when it looked like the team was about to implode early.
"SPORTS Kaepernick ignites 49ers to 31-17 win over St. Louis http://t.co/r5T5UWkMVy http://t.co/KCxy33dCfM
— Emergency Jobs Go (@EmergencyJobsGo) October 14, 2014"
Now, the 49ers will prepare for a tough matchup on the road against the Denver Broncos in Week 7. Denver is 4-1 on the season and will prove to be a difficult challenge for San Francisco.
Fortunately, the 49ers will go into the game riding a three-game winning streak and the momentum accompanied by it.
All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com unless otherwise indicated.
Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the San Francisco 49ers. Be sure to check out his entire archive on 49ers' news, insight and analysis.
Follow him @PeterMcShots on Twitter.
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