SAN FRANCISCO – The 49ers lost to the Rams 16-13. Here are the grades for the 49ers defense.
Defensive line: A. Justin Smith may have had the best game of his season. He had a team-high 8 tackles, including three for losses, 1 sack and 1 QB hit. Isaac Sopoaga and Ray McDonald helped limit Steven Jackson to 48 yards on 21 carries.
Linebackers: A-. Aldon Smith had a sack and two QB hits. NaVorro Bowman had seven tackles. Willis had four, and he gave up the 7-yard two-point conversion pass from Bradford to Kendricks.
Secondary: B. They didn’t give up any points, but they couldn’t stop rookie wide receiver Chris Givens, either. Givens caught 11 of the 14 passes Bradford threw his way, including some key catches at the end of the game. None of the 49ers cornerbacks could stop him.
Special teams: D. Everyone played well except David Akers, who missed a 51-yard field goal that would have won the game in overtime. He has been awful on kicks longer than 40 yards this season, and he is currently the player who is the weakest link on the team. It’s going to be hard to win a Super Bowl with Akers missing every other kick.
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” It’s going to hard to win a Super Bowl with Akers missing every other kick”
It’s going to “be” hard to win a Super Bowl with an inexperienced QB starting
How many years in the league did Big Ben have when the Steelers won the SB?
I finally agree with you on something. Akers has to go.
Let’s go with the “hot hand (or foot)” and have Sopoaga kick field goals.
with no KW and Hunter this is the best time to rely on the chemistry Alex has built with the other players, CK is still green and he will cost us games like he did today.
Akers sucks their was a reason why the Eagles got rid of him.
yup the eagles were a year early and the niners are a year late. Also I think it would help Akers if the made sure he kick from the center of the field. If you’re going to play for the field goal that’s the least you should do.
“Akers sucks their was a reason why the Eagles got rid of him.”
Neal. That comment consists of two sentences.
“Their” indicates possession. You wanted “there”, which would have been the first word of your second sentence.
If you’re going to comment in writing, you should know how to write.
Time to retire Akers to some acreage on the south forty. Time for the coaching staff to stop playing for the FG.
Kaepernick makes the easy TD to Moss who was alone in the endzone with no defensive player within 10 yards and the score is 14-13 even without the two Akers FG’s. Can’t blame that on Roman.
Yep! Wide open!
@spaceborn
Which play (quarter) was that?
Akers has got to be nursing an injury – the drop off in effectiveness is almost too much just to be the stereotypical mental slump. thankfully Harbaugh is decisive about roster moves (cue reflexive moaning from Alex fans) so I imagine he wont be shy about making a change here if he thinks Akers cant get healthy in time for the playoffs.
defense played well – without the 6 points on the ill fated pitch play, this game is merely a Niner victory we are grumbling about because it’s an ugly win
Grant
Both Brown and Culliver made critical plays when it counted. Brown on 4th and goal to slap the arm away what would have been a completed TD pass, and Culliver several times for making some nice tackles.
Seems like CK wasn’t the only one who had a bad day. Your grades today suck Grant. We shut out a team in regulation with our Defense. They never gave up a TD. That is an A+ game. CK screwed it up because JH screwed up.
My key stats:
0 turnovers generated.
6 points given up by defense.
Akers missed another game-winner.
Geezus!!! Mr. Automatic has become Mr. Auto-tragic. What the hell is up with this dude? We can’t trust him once in the playoffs. Damn Akers.