San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals: Full Report Card Grades for 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers defied Vegas oddsmakers and kept the game within striking distance for four quarters. Ultimately in the end, they fell short, losing to the division rival Arizona Cardinals 23-30 on a last- second field goal.
There is no such thing as a moral victory, but there were positives from this game. For one, the run defense came to life behind the stout play from NT Glenn Dorsey in the middle, while DB Jimmie Ward displayed his elite ball skills with four pass breakups in the first half.
However, it wasn't enough as the 49ers offensive line was unable to generate running lanes for RB Carlos Hyde and RB DuJuan Harris.
Quarterback
1 of 8
One week after throwing for a season-high 398 yards, 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick regressed in Week 10. A player who continues to struggle with his accuracy on deeper routes, it was the Cardinals' No. 1-ranked defense that benefited from Kaepernick's inefficiency downfield.
However, despite the setback, Kaepernick played relatively well, completing 17 of 30 passes for 210 yards and 1 touchdown.
A player who is considered a dual threat, Kaepernick also paced the team in rushing yards by rushing 9 times for 51 yards.
Grade: B-
Running Back
2 of 8
A running back is only as strong as his offensive line, and unfortunately for 49ers running backs DuJuan Harris and Carlos Hyde, they had little real estate to work with throughout the day. From being contained between the tackles to bouncing outside the C-gaps, Harris and Hyde were suffocated early and often, as the Cardinals' No. 1-ranked defense made the 49ers offense one-dimensional.
Down in and down out, the Cardinals showed no respect for Kaepernick's passing game, basically daring him to beat them over the top with his arm. Kaepernick couldn't do it, and as a result, Harris and Hyde were facing a stacked box, which meant a lot of dancing around behind the line of scrimmage. It's not all their fault, but 18 carries for 28 yards to close out the game is not a good look.
Grade: F
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
3 of 8
The 49ers' best wide receiver midway through the season has been WR Jeremy Kerley. A late pickup as the team traded away underachieving 2014 third-round pick OG Brandon Thomas to the Detroit Lions in exchange for Kerley's service, it's Kerley's play that has been one of the lone bright spots during a bleak season.
However, that has changed in recent weeks, as Kerley has a new starting quarterback, and it's been WR Quinton Patton not Kerley, who's benefited from the switch.
In Patton's last three games, he's recorded 13 catches for 171 yards. Not eye-popping stats, but one that is encouraging, considering Patton's potential as a full-time starter. That production continued today with Patton hauling in 3 catches for 52 yards including a 45-yard catch-and-run.
However, Kaepernick's go-to security blanket today was Kerley. The shifty wide receiver would extend drives while scoring the unit's lone touchdown, finishing with seven catches for 71 yards and 1 touchdown.
Aside from the wide receivers, it was TE Vance McDonald shining for the second consecutive week, as the Rice product amassed four catches for 50 yards.
Grade: C
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Offensive Line
4 of 8
The 49ers offensive line allowed a season-high seven sacks at the hands of the Arizona Cardinals in their week 5 matchup earlier this season. Things didn't improve the second time around, as defensive ends Chandler Jones and Calais Campbell, along with OLB Markus Golden, proved to be too much for the 49ers offensive line to contain.
The trio would combine for nine tackles (three tackles for loss), and 3.0 sacks. Combine that with 28 total rushing yards from the 49ers running backs and that spells disaster.
Grade: F
Defensive Line
5 of 8
The 49ers defense came into the game as the league's absolute worst at stopping the run. Sunday, it played like the league's best. From setting the edge to pushing the pocket, the 49ers defensive line played lights-out as it held Cardinals RB David Johnson to just 55 rushing yards.
Why did the 49ers play so well? It all starts up the middle as the team rolled with NT Glenn Dorsey as the starting nose guard. He is the team's best two-gap defensive lineman and makes the players around him better—mainly DEs Quinton Dial and DeForest Buckner.
Buckner finished with flying colors, recording three tackles, 1.0 sack and one fumble recovery.
Grade: A
Linebackers
6 of 8
This group has been by far the team's weakest link on the defensive side of the ball. No pass rush, no setting the edge and no gap containment will do that. Too many missed tackles, too many false steps and too many run-fit errors have become more of the norm than the exception.
Not this week.
Forty-niners ILB Gerald Hodges recorded a crucial interception while recording six tackles. OLB Eli Harold came to life in setting the edge with a nice strip-sack. Not to mention, OLB Ahmad Brooks looked like his 2013 Pro Bowl form. The unit played extremely well in all phases.
Grade: A
Secondary
7 of 8
The 49ers cornerbacks continue to play on an island under defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil's scheme. It hasn't worked through the first eight games of the season and didn't work Sunday.
Outside of DB Jimmie Ward, the 49ers secondary was erratic to say the least. On one play, CB Tramaine Brock would make a nice pass breakup but then give up a costly pass-interference call a few plays later. As a unit, it allowed 376 yards via the air to QB Carson Palmer.
On the brighter side, Ward did rack up four pass breakups during first-half play but then was called for three penalties (one pass-interference and two defensive-holding penalties), which add up to 48 yards of field position.
Consistency is key, and right now this unit hasn't shown that.
Grade: C
Special Teams
8 of 8
Forty-niners K Phil Dawson remained perfect on the day, connecting on all four of his field goals and PATs. A player who has been the rock on the team, it was Dawson's leg that kept the 49ers in the game, as he boomed a 53-yard field goal.
Combine that with second-year P Bradley Pinion pinning three of his seven punts inside the 20-yard line and you have an exceptional grade.
Grade: A
Odds courtesy of Odds Shark and stats via ESPN.com unless otherwise noted.
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