Breaking down every 49ers player

Breaking down every 49ers player

 

Here’s the player-by-player rundown of the 49ers’ roster from their 21-20 exhibition-game victory over the Raiders on Saturday night at Candlestick Park. Thankfully, I completed this at a somewhat-reasonable hour.

 

Quarterbacks

7-Nate Davis: Played the entire second half. . . . The one throw he wanted back was his first. He threw behind a wide-open Micheal Spurlock on a crossing route. . . . Hit Jason Hill for three passes, 31 yards. . . . Finished 6 of 11 for 67 yards and a touchdown – plus a two-point conversion pass. All in all, not a bad showing for the rookie.

11-Alex Smith: Started at played first 18 snaps. . . .He hit Vernon Davis for 15-yard gain to convert a third down. . . . Threw a little high to Davis on another third down. The catchable pass went through Davis‘ hands. . . . “De-cleated” Raiders DE Greg Ellis with a block on a reverse. . . Threw high to Josh Morgan on a pass that went through his hands and was intercepted . . . His stat line was abysmal: 3 of 9 for 30 yards and an interception. His throws weren’t perfect, but it was not as bad as the stats would suggest.

13-Shaun Hill: Entered at the beginning of the second quarter. . . . It looked dangerous, but he got a 7-yard pass to Morgan against tight coverage . . . Had a fourth-down pass batted down at the line of scrimmage when he tried to throw three-quarters sidearm. . . .  Overthrew Michael Robinson deep down the right side. . . .completed just 3 of 7 for 20 yards. Although it was not particularly impressive, Hill remained on solid ground to win the starting job for the regular season.

14-Damon Huard: Did not play; coaches decision.

 

Running backs

21-Frank Gore: Started at halfback and played first six plays of the game. He carried twice for 7 yards before calling it a night.

24-Michael Robinson: Showed his versatility with a solid showing at fullback and halfback. . . . Block on SS Tyvon Branch opened hole for Coffee on 18-yard run . . . Had another block on Branch to helped Coffee gain 35 yards around left end. . . . Ran with very good vision on one cutback that netted him 7 yards. . . . he gained 97 yards on 14 carries.

29-Glen Coffee: Entered the game for the 49ers’ second offensive series. He just had a nice all around game. He ran with power, and he showed a burst of speed, too, with four rushes of 16 yards or longer. He even did a nice job of picking up a blitz. . . . He was outstanding, rushing for 129 yards on 16 carries.

30-Kory Sheets: He’s already corrected a mistake from his first game. Last week, he ran out of bounds in the final two minutes when the 49ers were protecting a lead. This time, he went down inbounds at the end of an 11-yard run with 1:55 remaining. . . . Finished with 51 yards and a TD on 12 rushes.

33-Thomas Clayton: Sustained torn ACL in exhibition opener and after clearing waivers is on injured reserve.

43-Bill Rentmeester: New addition; but he started second half at fullback as lead-blocker for Robinson . . . .Big block on LB Slade Norris to open hole for Robinson on third-and-1 conversion . . . Then, had crushing block on CB John Bowie for 8-yard gain.

44-Moran Norris: Started at fullback and played about a dozen snaps.

45-Zak Keasey: Broken right forearm, out 8-10 weeks; team waived him with an injury settlement,

47-Brit Miller: Entered with 4 minutes remaining in the third quarter . . . Had a very nice lead block to help spring Sheets on his TD run.

 

Wide receivers

9-Chris Francies: If he played, it was only on special teams.

10-Maurice Price: Saw action only on special teams.

15-Michael Crabtree: Did not play, contract impasse.

17-Dominique Zeigler: Started second half at split end . . . Did not catch any passes.

18-Micheal Spurlock: Entered as the slot receiver with the first-team offense . . . Started second half at flanker. . . . He misjudged kickoff about 5-yard deep in the end zone, letting it bounce in front of him. He covered it quickly for a touchback. . . . He did not catch a pass.

19-Mark Bradford: If he saw action, it was only on special teams.

81-Brandon Jones: Did not play, fractured right shoulder (expected to be out through September).

82-Dobson Collins: Did not play on offense. He saw action as a gunner on punt coverage, and ran out of bounds illegally for a 5-yard penalty late in the game.

83-Arnaz Battle: Entered game at flanker when Bruce retired to the sideline after first series. He picked up the necessary yardage (7 yards) on third-down play in first quarter . . . He lost 6 yards on a reverse. . . picked up another first down on 12-yard catch from Hill. . . . He caught two passes for 19 yards.

84-Josh Morgan: Started at split end . . . Targeted on five passes, but caught just one for 7 yards. He tried to snatch a high pass from Smith, but it went through his hands and was intercepted in the first quarter.

88-Isaac Bruce: Started at flanker and played first six snaps of the game. . . . Saw one pass come his way. He was open over the middle, but Smith’s pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage. . . .

89-Jason Hill: Caught a 13-yard pass from Davis late in third quarter. . . . Caught three passes for 31 yards – both team-highs.

 

Tight ends

46-Delanie Walker: Entered with first-team offense in two-TE formations. . . . Got beaten by DE Jay Richardson in pass protection, forcing Davis to throw a pass away to avoid the sack. . . . Showed good run-after catch skills as he came up with a 27-yard gain on a pass from Davis on a third-and-8 situation. . . . caught 1-yard scoring pass and two-point conversion pass from Davis.

48-Bear Pascoe: Entered late in third quarter and stuck with a nice block on DE Greyson Gunheim on a 22-yard gain by Robinson. . . . Did not have any passes thrown his way.

49-J.J. Finley: Played a lot in the second half. Really hung with his block on a defensive end on Sheets’ TD run. . . . caught one pass for 8 yards.

85-Vernon Davis: Started and caught 15-yard pass on third down on first drive. . . .Failed to catch a high-albeit-catchable pass on third down three plays later . . . Stayed with his blocks on DE Trevor Scott to help Coffee gain 18 yards on back-to-back plays . . . . Had two receptions for 16 yards.

 

Offensive line

59-Cody Wallace: Started second half at center . . . Showed his athleticism to get downfield and into the second level on Robinson’s runs. . . . moved to right guard at beginning of fourth quarter. . . . he played very well.

61-Joe Toledo: Entered at left guard with 4 minutes left in the third quarter. . . . Rode LB Slade Norris out of the way to help Robinson gain 22 yards . . . .  DT Ryan Boschetti beat him to drag down Sheets for 2-yard loss.

62-Chilo Rachal: Started at right guard . . . Allowed a QB pressure to Tommy Kelly, which forced Smith to escape pocket and throw it away. . . Was much better in run blocking than pass protection . . . pulled around to left side to open hole that Coffee used to pick up 4 yards on third-and-1.

64-David Baas: Did not play (foot strain).

65-Barry Sims: Started second half at left tackle. . . . Did his job, and did not make any glaring mistakes.

66-Eric Heitmann: Started at center . .. Did a nice job of picking up DE Trevor Scott on a stunt, allowing Smith to hit Coffee for 8 yards over the middle. . . . Rode DT William Joseph out of way to open hole for Coffee’s 18-yard gain . . . Took out two guys to help Coffee gain 35 . . . Got pushed back by Kelly when Coffee was stopped for 3-yard loss near the goal line.

68-Adam Snyder: Started at right tackle . . . Showed athleticism, as he got out front to lead Coffee on 16-yard gain on sweep around right side. . . . Allowed DE Greg Ellis to take the long route around him to hit Smith as he was throwing for an incomplete pass. . . Got rolled up on by Coffee late in the second quarter. He left game with sprains to knee and ankle. It does not appear serious, as he was walking without a limp after the game.

69-Tony Wragge: Started at left guard . . . Pulled and got rid of Jon Alston to help open initial hole on Coffee’s 35-yard run . . . yielded some penetration on a couple plays, but generally did a nice job.

71-Marvel Smith: Entered at right tackle late in first half when Snyder was injured  . . . Had some nice blocks in the run game to open things up for Robinson.

74-Joe Staley: Started at left tackle and had a solid evening.

75-Alex Boone: Entered at right tackle at beginning of fourth quarter . . . Got to the outside to block CB Jerome Boyd on Sheets’ TD run.

76-Kyle Howard: Started second half at left guard and played just one series before getting removed. . . . Re-entered at left guard at start of fourth quarter.

77-Jacob Bender: Entered at left tackle at beginning of fourth quarter. . . . Anticipated snap count and was called for false start, turning third-and-4 to a third-and-9 . . .   good block on LB Sam Williams for 11-yard gain.

78-Matt Spanos: Started second half at right guard . . . He did a very nice job. . . . took Desmond Bryant down with a cut block on Robinson’s 22-yard gain . . . . moved to center at start of the fourth quarter.

 

Defensive line

60-Khalif Mitchell: Entered at nose tackle in fourth quarter . . . Had one assisted tackle.

67-Pannel Egboh: Entered at right defensive end in fourth quarter. . . .tripped up scrambling Charlie Frye for 2-yard gain.

90-Isaac Sopoaga: Started at left defensive end . . . He continued to play into the fourth quarter, as he moved to nose tackle. . . It’s very interesting that a starter played that long . . . . Managed one tackle.

91-Ray McDonald: Did not play (PUP list, knee).

92-Aubrayo Franklin: Started at nose tackle . . . Was very active on first series with a solo stop of Darren McFadden on first play of scrimmage for 1-yard loss, then helping Manny Lawson stop him for no gain on next play.

93-Demetric Evans: played a lot in the second half and recorded one tackle.

94-Justin Smith: Started at right defensive end . . . Stayed at home and was not fooled by reverse . . .  Had one assisted tackle.

95-Ricky Jean-Francois: Saw action in the fourth quarter with linemates Mitchell and Egboh. . . . Had to contest with a lot of double-team blocks.

96-Kentwan Balmer: Saw action at nose tackle early in the second quarter . . . This was the best I’ve seen him play. He was getting upfield with the pass rush, and he looked stout against the run, too. . . . Did a great job, while working against RT Erik Pears of reaching out to swat the ball as Gradkowski was throwing, leading to McKillop’s interception .

 

Linebacker

47-Diyral Briggs: Played left end in pass-rush situations, entering late in first half. . . . Bounced off an attempted block by a wideout to stop Bush for 2-yard gain  . . . Showed quickness coming off both sides. . . He made three tackles on defense and added one on special teams.

50-Justin Roland: Played on punt-return team . . . Entered at inside linebacker in the third quarter . . . recorded two tackles on defense and one on special teams.

51-Takeo Spikes: Started at strong inside linebacker . . . Stopped McFadden for just 2-yard gains on back-to-back plays in the first quarter. . . Turned away Justin Fargas at the goal line on a second-down run.

52-Patrick Willis: Did not play (ankle/Achilles strain).

53-Jeff Ulbrich: Started at weak inside linebacker. . . .Was right there to help Spikes stuff up the inside run to Fargas in a goal-line situation in the first quarter.

54-Marques Harris: Entered at left outside linebacker late in first half. . . . He shook free to get some heat on QB Jeff Garcia on play that was intercepted. . . . Batted down QB Bruce Gradkowski’s pass. . . . added a tackle on special teams.

55-Ahmad Brooks: Started at left outside linebacker. . . . Showed great agility to leap over attempted cut block from RT Cornell Green and put pressure on Russell on incomplete pass attempt at the goal line . . . . Did not record a tackle.

56-Scott McKillop: Entered late in the first half and made a stop of Michael Bush on a short pass for a 1-yard loss on his first play . . . Grabbed interception on pass tipped at the line of scrimmage. . . .Then, he forced a fumble on a late punt return to wrap up the game. . . . tied for team-high honors with four tackles.

57-Mark Washington: Did not see any action on defense, but got onto the field on kickoff team.

58-Jay Moore: Saw action in first quarter on punt-return team. . . Entered to rush the passer late in the first half from right end . . . He played a lot in the second half, made one tackle but did not get any pressure on the QB.

98-Parys Haralson: Did not play (foot).

99-Manny Lawson: Started at right outside linebacker . . . He was first one to touch Russell when he tripped while dropping back to pass. Lawson was not credited officially with a sack, though . . . Blanket coverage of TE Zach Miller to hold him to a 3-yard gain inside the 10-yard line. . . . He picked up a couple tackles.

 

Defensive backs

20-Allen Rossum: Handled return duties, but also saw significant action in the defensive backfield. He entered in second quarter as an extra defensive back. . . . He was in the right spot to catch deflection off hands of Higgins.

22-Nate Clements: Started at left cornerback . . . Got beaten badly deep by John Lee Higgins, so he just grabbed him to prevent the TD. It was a 22-yard pass-interference penalty, instead . . . Did not drop deep enough, allowing Murphy to get behind him for a 24-yard TD on a third-and-21 situation. (Update: Mike Singletary confirmed it was Clements’ responsibility to drop deeper on that play.) 

23-Marcus Hudson: Entered game as an extra defensive back late in the first half. . . . Came over to help contest a two-point conversion pass that fell incomplete.

25-Tarell Brown: Did not play (toe sprain).

26-Mark Roman: Started at strong safety in place of Michael Lewis. . . . Nice play to break up pass to Louis Murphy in the end zone . . . Also added a tackle on special teams.

28-Curtis Taylor: Entered game at strong safety late in first half. . . .Looked like he might have lost track of TE Brandon Myers on 2-yard TD pass . . . Did not find his way to the ball enough. No tackles.

30-Reggie Smith: Entered game at free safety late in first half. . . . was running with Myers down the field on play that went for 36-yard gain . . . Came up quickly to stop Todd Watkins for just 2-yard gain on completion. . . . was taking Frye down on safety blitz to force incomplete pass on two-point conversion late in game. . . . He recorded two tackles, and also recovered the fumble on a punt return late in the game.

31-Dre’ Bly: Started at right cornerback . . . Pretty good coverage on a pass over the middle for Darrius Heyward-Bey . . . came up in run support to stop Fargas for a 2-yard gain. . . . left the game midway through second quarter when he got the wind knocked out of him while participating in a gang tackle.

32-Michael Lewis: Did not play (concussion).

33-Eric Green: Did not play (coaches decision)

35-Jahi Word-Daniels: Got his hand on a high pass from Charlie Frye, leading to Carlos Thomas’ interception in the fourth quarter. . . . had good coverage from beginning to end on failed two-point conversion pass to WR Will Franklin.

36-Shawntae Spencer: Entered game early as a nickel back. . . .Took over at right cornerback . . . No action came his way.

38-Dashon Goldson: Started at free safety . . . upended TE Tony Stewart with a low hit after a 20-yard gain in the first quarter. . . . He came up to make four tackles.

40-Carlos Thomas: Played right cornerback in the fourth quarter . . . Got down the field quickly on kickoff coverage. . . . Recorded interception of a pass tipped by Word-Daniels. . . Looked to have good coverage during his time in the game.

41-Terrail Lambert: Entered at left cornerback late in the first half . . . Recorded one tackle.

 

Special teams

3-Alex Romero: Handled kickoff duties in the fourth quarter . . . He kicked a 28-yard FG early in fourth quarter that pulled 49ers even at 14-14.

4-Andy Lee: Averaged 50 yards on two punts with a very strong net 39.5.

6-Joe Nedney: Had a kickoff out of bounds. . . . hooked 51-yard attempt to the right . . . He made a 21-yard FG.

86-Brian Jennings: Performed his duties as long-snapper flawlessly.

 

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