Grades for 49ers' offense, defense in rough loss to Seahawks
The 49ers took a big step backward in Sunday's loss to the Seahawks.
The Seattle Seahawks built a 23-point lead over the 49ers at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
And that was that.
The 49ers’ starting quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo, was out of the game with an ankle injury. All-Pro tight end George Kittle was soon to follow with a foot injury.
The 49ers showed a little bit of life in the closing minutes, but there was little disputing the Seahawks were ready to perform in this key NFC West game.
And the 49ers were not.
Here is the 49ers’ report card from their 37-27 loss, which keeps them in last place in the division, three games back of the Seahawks in the loss column.
Tevin Coleman was activated off injured reserve on Saturday. On Sunday, he got the start. However, Coleman lasted for just three rushing attempts before leaving the game with an aggravation of the knee injury that kept him out of action in the previous five games. He did not return.
And the 49ers had a difficult time getting anything going consistently in the running game. The 49ers’ usually reliable running game stalled. The 49ers averaged just 2.4 yards on 22 rushing attempts. JaMycal Hasty had 29 yards and a TD on 12 carries.
Grade: D-minus
Garoppolo had a sub-standard game, as the 49ers’ passing game never looked remotely sharp. For as many times as Seattle brought blitzes, Garoppolo was never able to make them pay for having fewer players in coverage. Garoppolo completed 11 of 16 passes for 84 yards and a costly interception to former 49ers defensive back D.J. Reed. Garoppolo was also sacked three times for minus-23 yards.
Nick Mullens entered and got the 49ers’ offense moving. He put together a nice final quarter, completing 18 of 25 for 238 yards with two TDs and no interceptions.
Grade: D-minus
The 49ers’ run defense was not great, but it was pretty darn good in comparison to the other phases of the team. However, considering the Seahawks were playing without running back Chris Carson and Carlos Hyde, and the 49ers should have thoroughly dominated this area.
In all, the Seahawks gained 101 yards and a TD on 28 rushing attempts.
Grade: C-minus
It’s not as if Emmanuel Moseley was in a trail position and unable to keep up with DK Metcalf. Moseley, however, could do nothing to prevent Metcalf from having a career game. Metcalf used his uncommon size and strength to simply outmuscle the 49ers’ secondary. Russell Wilson was on top of his game, and he got the ball to Metcalf again and again.
Wilson threw for 261 yards and four touchdowns. Metcalf had 12 catches for 161 yards and two TDs.
Grade: F
What little chance the 49ers had came to an end when Dante Pettis fumbled a kickoff return midway through the third quarter. Punter Mitch Wishnowsky saw far more action than the 49ers wanted to see from him. He had a good showing, averaging 50.5 yards on five punts with a 44.5 net average. Robbie Gould made his three extra points but was 0-for-2 on onside kick attempts.
Grade: F
The Seahawks were the aggressors, and the 49ers never adjusted. There are not too many play calls that are so easily second-guessed from Kyle Shanahan as the one that ended the 49ers’ first offensive possession of the game. It was a crucial time in the game, and an opportunity for the 49ers to take a quick lead. That’s when he unveiled the Wildcat formation. Shanahan said he likes that play call, as the 49ers planned to go for it on fourth down.
However, the Seahawks came with an all-out blitz, and Jerick McKinnon was stopped for a 3-yard loss. And the Seahawks’ defense seemed to feed on that momentum. On the other side, the 49ers seemed to play too much man coverage against Metcalf.
Grade: D
Coming off two impressive victories, the 49ers looked nothing like that team that beat the L.A. Rams and New England Patriots in back-to-back weeks. They were completely overwhelmed in every imaginable way.
Who would’ve thought that Ken Norton would out-scheme Shanahan? Who would have thought the 49ers would be completely shut down by a defense that entered the game as one of the worst in NFL history through six games?
Grade: D-minus
