San Francisco 49ers Week 14 Stock Report

Stock Up: San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Eric Mangini.

He seemed clueless at the beginning of the season. His defense gave 90 points combined Weeks 2 and 3, and his secondary couldn’t cover anybody. The zone pass coverage in particular left gaping holes all over the field.

In retrospect, the zone coverage may not have been Mangini’s fault. The Niners defense lost seven starters during the offseason—the new players needed time to jell.

They seem to have jelled the past two weeks. San Francisco’s defense allowed an average quarterback rating of just 73.3 despite generating little pressure against Carson Palmer and Jay Cutler.

Mangini’s stock hasn’t been this high in years.

This is the Week 14 stock report.

Stock Up: Kenneth Acker (CB)

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

Second-year cornerback Kenneth Acker seemed like the weak link of the defense when the season began. Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown schooled Acker Week 2, who finished that game with nine catches for 195 yards and one touchdown.

That was Acker’s second game in the NFL—he missed his rookie season due to a broken foot. So, of course, he got schooled. He was facing one of the best receivers in the NFL.

Week 13, Acker faced another one of the league’s best receivers—Alshon Jeffery of the Chicago Bears. According to Pro Football Focus, Jeffery caught just one pass out of four targets for 14 yards when Acker was covering him.

Suddenly, Acker seems like one of the top young corners in the league.

Stock Down: Gerald Hodges (ILB)

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

Starting inside linebacker Michael Wilhoite left Sunday’s game against the Bears due to an ankle injury, and his replacement, Gerald Hodges, received a plus-1.9 grade from Pro Football Focus.

With all due respect to Pro Football Focus, I have to quibble with their grade. Hodges was an utter liability against the run Sunday, constantly leaving his assigned gap and compromising the Niners’ run fits.

Hodges was a big reason the Niners gave up 170 rushing yards to the Bears and the main reason San Francisco almost lost the game at the end. With one minute, 23 seconds left, the Bears ran right at Hodges on 3rd-and-10 and picked up 11 yards because Hodges filled NaVorro Bowman’s gap by mistake.

Stock Up: Torrey Smith (WR)

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

The 49ers don’t often use Torrey Smith. But when they do, opposing defenses must respect him.

The Bears defense didn’t respect him Week 13—a big reason they lost the game in overtime.

Smith caught just one pass for five yards during regulation—he seemed like a non-factor. So on the first play of the Niners’ second possession in overtime, Chicago’s defense hardly noticed as Smith ran right by. Smith was wide open when he made the game-winning 71-yard touchdown catch.

This season, Smith is averaging a career-low 1.9 receptions per game, but he’s averaging a career-high 23.0 yards per catch as well. He’s as dangerous as he ever was.

Stock Down: Joe Staley (LT)

Michael Zagaris/Getty Images

What happened to Joe Staley?

He used to be the 49ers’ best player and one of the best left tackles in the NFL. He was a super athlete who blocked equally well in the running and passing games.

He still is pretty good as a run-blocker but not as a pass-protector. Against the Bears, he mostly faced defensive end Willie Young, who had just 3.0 sacks coming into Sunday’s game.

Young dominated Staley. According to Pro Football Focus, Staley gave up two sacks and six hurries—his worst game of the season.

The Niners may have to move Staley to right tackle if his decline continues.

Stock Up: Blaine Gabbert (QB)

Michael Zagaris/Getty Images

For three-and-a-half quarters against the Bears, Blaine Gabbert seemed like a high-level backup.

He didn’t commit any turnovers, which is good. But he struggled moving the offense and completed no passes longer than 10 yards downfield, per Pro Football Focus. He seemed barely serviceable.

And then, he made three clutch runs in the fourth quarter, including a 44-yard touchdown run to help send the game to overtime. Then in overtime, he made one of the most beautiful 71-yard game-winning touchdown passes you’ll ever see. All of a sudden Gabbert seemed like a Hall of Famer.

It's tough to say how good Gabbert really is. But he certainly will have plenty of time to show us. Sunday’s performance extended his career.

Follow @grantcohn.