San Francisco 49ers vs. New Orleans Saints: Full Report Card Grades for 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers drew first blood with a 49-yard field-goal, but the momentum stopped there. A team that continues to struggle on both sides of the ball, it was the 49ers' undisciplined run defense that allowed the New Orleans Saints to come out victorious.
From not maintaining gap integrity to being outleveraged at the POA (point of attack), the Saints proved to be too much down in the trenches for the 49ers to keep up in a lopsided 41-23 loss.
If you can't stop the run, it doesn't matter who is behind center for the opposing team. Unfortunately, the 49ers faced a first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback in Drew Brees, who torched cornerback Tramaine Brock all game long.
The 16th-year veteran would finish in style, completing 28 of 39 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns.
Quarterback
1 of 10
The 49ers' dual-threat quarterback was extremely erratic today. The storyline of Colin Kaepernick's young NFL career, he continues to be inconsistent on his intermediate passes, completing 24 of 39 passes for 398 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
By the looks of a quick glimpse at the box score, one would think that Kaepernick put on a show. But this isn't fantasy football, and Kaepernick could've sustained more drives had he been more accurate on those timing routes.
Grade: B-
Running Back
2 of 10
49ers running back DuJuan Harris was a lone bright spot for the team. A player who continues to shine with each snap, Harris put on a show, finishing the game with 143 yards from scrimmage on only 15 touches. If you're doing the math, that's 9.53 yards per touch, including a 47-yard catch-and-run into the end zone.
The team would be wise to keep him as its featured back while not rushing back third-year running back Carlos Hyde. Why? Because Harris may be the future as the team's complementary No. 2 running back. I said on 95.7 The Game this morning that Harris would have a big game today. He did just that.
Yes, Harris fumbled the ball, but other than that, he played a clean game, including bringing a huge boost in pass protection.
Grade: B+
Wide Receivers
3 of 10
I asked 49ers offensive coordinator Curtis Modkins earlier in the week if it was concerning that wide receiver Jeremy Kerley accumulated just 27 yards since Kaepernick was named the starter. He admitted to me that he needs to do a better job of incorporating Kerley into the team's passing game. It didn't happen. Kerley finished with just 22 yards on six targets.
Veteran Quinton Patton was a different story. The player known in the locker room as "Q" put on a show, finishing the game by pacing the team with 106 yards on only six catches (17.7 average). Whether getting open between the 20s or across the middle, Patton proved his worth today despite not reaching the end zone.
Grade: C+
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Tight Ends
4 of 10
Twelve. That's the number of targets Vance McDonald and Garrett Celek saw come their way. The unit converted on seven of those while amassing 160 receiving yards and one touchdown. Celek and McDonald both had their share of crucial drops, so it wasn't all good and dandy.
The No. 1 job of a tight end is catching the football when their number is called. Unfortunately, the two continue to remain inconsistent—the storyline of this young 49ers team.
Grade: C+
Offensive Line
5 of 10
The 49ers offensive line receives mixed review here. Why? Despite giving Kaepernick a clean pocket to work with in pass protection, the unit struggled generating running lanes for Harris to hit. If the 49ers want to get back into the win column, they will need to impose their will down in the trenches.
Grade: C
Defensive Line
6 of 10
Like I said on 95.7 The Game this morning, fifth-round pick defensive end Ronald Blair needs to be used in the team's base 3-4 defense. Today, he was, but it was short-lived. He played well. Arik Armstead didn't. Armstead would leave with an apparent should injury while the 49ers run defense allowed 248 yards on the ground.
Say what you want about defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil. You can say his scheme sucks. You can say he struggled in Cleveland with the Browns and now he's struggling in San Francisco. But let's be honest, we used defensive coordinator Eric Mangini as the scapegoat last season. What's the common denominator? It comes down to the players.
Run fits, gap integrity and missed tackles don't fall on the defensive coordinator. He puts the players in position to make plays, but it's up to them when they're on the field to follow through.
It's not happening. First-round pick (No. 7) DeForest Buckner gets outleveraged at times coming off his blocks, while the inside linebackers seem lost on which gap to hit. It's a recurring theme, and personnel changes need to be made from a player standpoint. Put in Blair.
Grade: F
Linebackers
7 of 10
This unit was downright awful. I'm not going to sugarcoat anything: It's apparent the inside linebacker unit needs help. It's the team's weakest link on the team. No praise from me here and nothing more to report. The fans see it. I see it. The coaches know it.
Grade: F
Secondary
8 of 10
What happens when you line up a 6'3", 212-pound wide receiver against 49ers cornerbacks Tramaine Brock and Jimmie Ward? How's five catches for 73 yards and two touchdowns. That's the stat line that rookie wide receiver Michael Thomas put up against the Belhaven and Northern Illinois products.
Combine that with the 49ers secondary being unable to contain third-year wideout Brandin Cooks, who caught all six of his targets for 66 yards, and it's a recipe for disaster.
To play a little devil's advocate here, strong safety Jaquiski Tartt and Ward both made some nice plays on the ball through the air, but that's about it.
Grade: C
Special Teams
9 of 10
This unit passes with flying colors. 49ers kicker Phil Dawson connected on all three of his field-goal attempts, while kick returner JaCorey Shepherd returned three kickoffs for 104 yards (34.7 average). Add in punter Bradley Pinion's two punts that went for an average of 42.5 yards, and you have a successful day from this unit.
Grade: A
Coaching
10 of 10
It's not a matter of being outcoached in this game. It was a nice game plan, but unfortunately for the 49ers, they just don't have the horses to keep up with the Saints' high-powered offense.
Grade: C
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