San Francisco 49ers Week 7 Stock Report
Stock up: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Earlier this season, Kaepernick struggled with throwing passes outside the painted numbers on the field. He was much more comfortable and successful when throwing passes over the middle because those passes travel a shorter distance and require less anticipation than throws to the outside.
“We gotta contain him and try to keep him throwing the ball outside the numbers, because we don’t think that’s his strength,” Arizona Cardinals safety Tony Jefferson told PFT Live (h/t ProFootballTalk) in Week 3.
Kaepernick has improved since then. In Week 6 against the Baltimore Ravens, Kaepernick’s passer rating on passes outside the numbers was 137.5.
Sure, it helped Kaepernick that he was facing a banged-up secondary, but he threw with beautiful touch and accuracy—especially on the deep throws to Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin.
Will Kaepernick have the confidence to throw outside against Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman and the Legion of Boom on Thursday night?
This is San Francisco's Week 7 stock report.
Stock Down: PR Jarryd Hayne
1 of 5
Former National Rugby League player Jarryd Hayne seemed like a good punt returner during the preseason. But that was the preseason.
He didn’t look so good in Week 6 against the Ravens. He returned one punt for four yards and fumbled at the end of the return.
Hayne is a 27-year-old rookie who never played football before this year. He’s still learning basic things like holding the ball against his chest when he runs.
Against the Ravens, he was carrying the ball carelessly away from his body when he got stripped. The Niners can’t trust this guy in real games. Hayne needs to keep learning before San Francisco puts him back on the field.
Stock Up: S Jaquiski Tartt
2 of 5
Rookie second-round pick Jaquiski Tartt has a chance to make a name for himself this week.
Tartt played only 15 snaps last week against the Ravens and hasn’t played more than 23 snaps in any game this season. That could change on Thursday night.
The Niners drafted Tartt specifically for this matchup against the Seahawks. Once Patrick Willis retired during the offseason, San Francisco needed someone athletic enough to cover Jimmy Graham.
Tartt has the requisite athleticism but has struggled in man coverage this season—he was a free safety in college and mostly played deep zone coverage. He should have safety help over the top on Thursday, which will make his job easier.
If the Niners shut down Graham, Tartt will be famous.
Stock Down: DT Tank Carradine
3 of 5
The Niners essentially play three nose tackles—Quinton Dial, Ian Williams and Glenn Dorsey—along the three-man base defensive line and expect them to stop the run. They’re not built to generate pressure.
On passing downs, the Niners take those nose tackles off the field and replace them with a nickel cornerback and two defensive tackles who are expected to generate pressure.
In 2013, the Niners spent a second-round pick on Tank Carradine believing he’d become a dominant pass-rushing defensive tackle. Midway through his third season in the league, he’s a total non-factor. He hasn’t even touched a quarterback since Week 1.
It's too bad the Niners didn’t draft Kawann Short instead of Carradine. Short had two sacks last week against the Seahawks.
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Stock Up: FB Bruce Miller
4 of 5
Bruce Miller might be the best fullback in the league. He certainly is one of the best players on the 49ers, but for some reason, the coaching staff didn’t want to use him earlier this season.
Offensive coordinator Geep Chryst chose to use pistol and shotgun formations that featured two or three tight ends. These formations don’t suit a fullback.
Miller is at his best when the quarterback is under center. Miller becomes an elite lead blocker and dangerous receiver out of the backfield in traditional I-formations.
According to Jeff Deeney of Pro Football Focus, Kaepernick was under center for 69.5 percent of the Niners’ offensive snaps in Weeks 5 and 6. As a result, Miller played 23 snaps and caught three passes for 89 yards—including a 52-yard catch down the sideline—against the Ravens.
It seems the Niners have finally rediscovered their fullback.
Stock Down: TE Vernon Davis
5 of 5
Vernon Davis missed Weeks 4 and 5 with an injured knee. He returned to the field in Week 6, although he did not start.
Garrett Celek was the Niners' starting tight end, and for good reason. He is the 49ers’ best tight end and should remain the starter. It’s too bad the Niners traded Derek Carrier to the Washington Redskins during the preseason because he and Celek would have made a good duo.
Instead, the Niners have Davis, who caught no passes in Week 6. He might as well have not been on the field.
The Niners probably would trade him to any team that would give up any draft pick for him, even a seventh-rounder. But why would any team trade for Davis at this point? He is done.
Advanced statistics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.
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