49ers report card: Grades for offense, defense in Week 9 loss to Packers

Hey, what did you expect?

The 49ers looked nothing like the team that beat the Green Bay Packers twice last season, including in the NFC Championship Game.

They looked nothing like that team because, well, they are nothing like that team.

Only three offensive starters and a handful of defenders were around Thursday night from the 49ers’ team of a year ago.

We could completely blister the 49ers’ performance from their 34-17 loss to the Packers, but what would that accomplish?

This team was so completely overmatched and had no real chance at any point of competing against the Packers.

Jerick McKinnon got the start, and he ran the pretty well. McKinnon had 52 yards rushing and one touchdown on 12 attempts.

JaMycal Hasty mixed into the action but was not a factor, gaining just 3 yards on four attempts. The 49ers fell behind big through one half, which took their running game out of the picture.

Grade: C-minus

Nick Mullens made his third start of the season, and this was a rough one. Justin Skule had a difficult time at left tackle, filling in for Trent Williams.

Richie James was 50-50 to play when the week began due to an ankle injury. He looked like the team’s only NFL-caliber receiver in uniform. James caught nine passes for 184 yards and one touchdown.

Mullens ended up completing 22 of 35 pass attempts for 291 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Grade: D-plus

Aaron Jones, who entered the game listed as questionable with a calf injury, helped the Packers get going on the first drive of the game. He finished with 58 yards on 15 carries.

The 49ers missed some tackles early in the game that enabled Green Bay to pick up some extra yards. As far as 49ers’ few bright spots, look no further than linebacker Fred Warner. He piled up a game-high 13 tackles.

Grade: C

Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams had their way with the 49ers’ pass defense. The pass rush was not able to generate much pressure on Rodgers, and he completely picked them apart.

Rodgers and Adams teamed up on a 36-yard touchdown over Emmanuel Moseley on the first drive, and the rout was on. Marcell Harris entered the game for Jaquiski Tartt in the second quarter and immediately gave up a long touchdown Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

Rodgers threw for 305 yards and four touchdowns. Adams had 10 catches for 173 yards.

Grade: F

Punter Mitch Wishnowsky had a good game with a 44.8 net average on four punts. The 49ers’ average starting point on kickoffs was the 29-yard line, as McKinnon had a one return for 30 yards, while rookie Austin Walter averaged 21.3 yards on three returns.

Robbie Gould made his only field goal attempt, a 22-yard kick.

Grade: C

I’m not sure what the 49ers’ coaching staff could have done that would have made a difference with the lineup they put out on the field for this game.

The team made some adjustments on the offensive line. Daniel Brunskill took over at center for Hroniss Grasu, and veteran Tom Compton moved into right guard. The pressure came from the edges, so it looked as if Brunskill and Compton played just fine.

The 49ers planned to feature Brandon Aiyuk in this game. But when he was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, they moved James into that spot.

Grade: C-minus