49ers 30, Rams 23: Grades
INGLEWOOD -- The 49ers just beat the Rams 30-23. Here are the 49ers' grades for this win.
BROCK PURDY: B
He managed the game, as opposed to Matthew Stafford, who threw two picks which were the difference in the outcome. Purdy didn't turn the ball over at all, although he fumbled once, and still led the 49ers to 30 points, which is impressive. But for the first regular season game in his career, he threw zero touchdown passes, and he missed three wide open deep passes that he should have completed -- one to Brandon Aiyuk, one to Deebo Samuel and one to Jauan Jennings. As the game went on, the passes Kyle Shanahan called for Brock Purdy became shorter and shorter -- it seemed like Shanahan was losing confidence in Purdy the way he used to lose confidence in Jimmy Garoppolo. Because those two quarterbacks have one thing in common -- neither has a good deep ball. Both are limited to 20-yard throws downfield. Eventually, the 49ers will need a quarterback who can throw farther than 20 yards. Today was not that day, because the Rams are not that good.
RUNNING BACKS: A
Christian McCaffrey rushed 20 times for 116 yards and one touchdown. He also had a beautiful 51-yard run around the left end, plus three catches for 19 yards. If he stays healthy, he could be the Offensive Player of the Year. But the 49ers will get him injured if they keep giving him 23 touches per game. They have to find a running back they trust to close out games. Why don't they trust Elijah Mitchell or Jordan Mason anymore? And why is Ty Davis-Price on the team? He was inactive today. The 49ers drafted him in the third round. What a mistake.
WIDE RECEIVERS: B-PLUS
Deebo Samuel had six catches for 63 yards plus a rushing touchdown, Jauan Jennings had two catches for 51 yards and Brandon Aiyuk had three catches for 43 yards despite injuring his shoulder on his first catch of the game. And all three should have had one more long catch each, but Purdy overthrew them.
TIGHT ENDS: C
George Kittle had a typical George Kittle game -- 3 catches, 30 yards and a few nice blocks. He has slowed down considerably the past few seasons.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: B-PLUS
They neutralized Aaron Donald, which they seem to do every time they face him, and the left side dominated in the run game. But the right side of the offensive line continued to struggle. Right guard Spencer Burford can't move anyone, and right tackle Colton McKivitz can't move.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: C
They generated pressure but no sacks, which is why Matthew Stafford played so well in the first half. In the second half, the 49ers had to blitz and bring extra rushers to pressure Stafford, which worked, but that's not what the 49ers are built to do. They spend big money on their defensive linemen specifically so they don't have to blitz. But Nick Bosa has zero sacks through two games after holding out all offseason. They'll need him to show up eventually.
LINEBACKERS: B
Dre Greenlaw committed his weekly 15-yard penalty, which was not so good, but led the 49ers with 12 tackles. Fred Warner had 11 tackles and one sack. He was the 49ers' most effective pass rusher today.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: B-PLUS
Ambry Thomas started again and was so awful that he got benched for the second game in a row. Fellow starter Charvarius Ward played soft zone coverage all game and gave up lots of short catches -- he was nothing special. Fortunately for this group, Isaiah Oliver intercepted a pass that tipped off the Rams' running back, and Deommodore Lenoir jumped a route to intercept a second pass. These turnovers were the difference in the game.
SPECIAL TEAMS: A-MINUS
Jake Moody made all three of his field goal attempts and all three of his extra points, but he also shanked a kickoff out of bounds.
COACHES: A-MINUS
Kyle Shanahan's offense is as good as it ever has been on the 49ers -- he just needs a quarterback who can hit the occasional deep pass, and the 49ers would score 40 every week. Today, they would have scored 44 points if Purdy could have hit a couple wide open deep shots. Credit to Shanahan for scheming those receivers so wide open and calling those shots at the right time against the right coverages. He can't throw the ball, too. On defense, Steve Wilks' game plan was much too conservative -- he called four-man rushes and soft zone coverages all first half and gave up 17 points in two quarters. Then he made halftime adjustments, started blitzing and calling more man-to-man coverages, and suddenly the 49ers gave up just six points while intercepting two passes in the second half. Excellent adjustments by Wilks. Eventually, he and Shanahan will need their players to execute better, but it's still extremely early in the season. The 49ers are 2-0 and they haven't come close to playing their best football yet. Scary.
