The Arizona Cardinals have experienced difficulty protecting rookie quarterback Josh Rosen. But against the 49ers on Sunday, they generally gave him plenty of time.
According to Pro Football Focus, Rosen was under pressure on 45 percent of his pass plays through seven games. But on Sunday, the 49ers generated pressure on him just 22.2 percent of the time. Rosen completed 23 of 40 passes for career-highs of 252 yards and two touchdowns. He was sacked three times for minus-19 yards.
Coach Kyle Shanahan seemed to be referencing the 49ers' lack of a pass rush on Monday, as he talked about the team's failure to shut the door on the Cardinals late in the game.
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"It comes down to, you can do a lot of things throughout a game, but when it comes down to the end when we need to close people out and we need some closers to do that," Shanahan said.
The 49ers’ best pass-rusher was Ronald Blair, who had four pressures with one sack, one hit and two hurries. DeForest Buckner had a quiet game with just two hurries in 43 pass-rush snaps.
Solomon Thomas had one hurry in 21 pass-rush snaps. Cassius Marsh was responsible for forcing a safety when Rosen was called for intentional grounding in the end zone. But Marsh had just one hit and one pressure in 31 pass-rush attempts, according to PFF.
Here are some other PFF metrics from the 49ers’ 18-15 loss to the Cardinals on Sunday:
San Francisco 49ers
--Cornerback Richard Sherman was targeted just 10 times and allowed 28 yards in his first five games. On Sunday, he allowed four receptions for 81 yards on seven targets. He recorded his first sack since 2012. It was his first blitz of the season and just the 12th snap in his career as a pass-rusher.
--Safety Tyvis Powell replaced Antone Exum, who was playing in place of injured Jaquiski Tartt (shoulder). Powell was on the field for just 21 snaps, and allowed three catches for 35 yards and two touchdowns.
--Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon allowed five catches on six targets but the Cardinals gained just 26 yards on those plays.
--Quarterback C.J. Beathard completed just three of 10 pass attempts of 10 yards or more down the field for 54 yards.
--Right guard Mike Person had a strong game as a run-blocker and did not allow a quarterback pressure.
Here are the total numbers of snaps of every 49ers player who saw action:
Offense
Total offensive snaps: 66
Quarterback – C.J. Beathard 66
Running back – Kyle Juszczyk 47, Matt Breida 31, Raheem Mostert 12, Alfred Morris 11
Wide receiver – Marquise Goodwin 61, Kendrick Bourne 54, Trent Taylor 19, Dante Pettis 7, Victor Bolden 5
Tight end – George Kittle 60, Garrett Celek 23
Offensive line – Joe Staley 66, Mike McGlinchey 66, Laken Tomlinson 66, Mike Person 66, Erik Magnuson 66
Defense
Total defensive snaps: 66
Defensive line – DeForest Buckner 57, Cassius Marsh 39, Ronald Blair 38, Arik Armstead 38, Solomon Thomas 35, Earl Mitchell 31, Sheldon Day 22
Linebacker – Fred Warner 66, Malcolm Smith 39, Elijah 23, Reuben Foster 22
Defensive back –Jimmie Ward 66, Richard Sherman 66, Ahkello Witherspoon 65, K’Waun Williams 52, Jaquiski 25, Tyvis Powell 21, Antone Exum 20, Tarvarius Moore 1
Special teams
Total special teams plays: 27
Mark Nzeocha 23, Moore 23, Mostert 19, Lee 19, Powell 18, Exum 17, Bradley Pinion 14, Ross Dwelley 14, Marsh 13, Richie James 11, Celek 11, Kyle Nelson 10, D.J. Reed 9, Juszczyk 7, Bolden 7, Witherspoon 7, Warner 5, Taylor 5, Buckner 5, Smith 5, Tartt 5, Bourne 4, Ward 4, Robbie Gould 3, Garry Gilliam 3, Joshua Garnett 3, Staley 3, McGlinchey 3, Tomlinson 3, Blair 3, Armstead 3, Thomas 2, Mitchell 2, Pettis 2