Every-49er review of win over Rams Posted By Staff on October 5, 2009 Before we get to the every-player review from the 49ers’ 35-0 victory over the Rams, we’re going to check in with a perspective from St. Louis. I spoke with Jim Thomas, the Rams beat reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, to get his thoughts on the 49ers before he caught his red-eye flight back home. Not surprisingly, he was very impressed with the 49ers’ defense. He also wonders if receiver Michael Crabtree might be the piece of the puzzle that the 49ers need on offense. Listen to the podcast of our conversation . . . * * * In Monday’s Press Democrat . . . “Resisting 49ers is pointless” and “49ers offensive line struggles.“ * * * And, now, here’s the 49ers’ every-man review from their win over the winless Rams on Sunday at Candlestick Park: Quarterbacks 7-Nate Davis: Designated the team’s No. 3 quarterback. Did not play. 11-Alex Smith: The backup QB. Did not play. 13-Shaun Hill: He’s now 7-0 as a starter at home in his career. Hill completed 14 of 24 passes for 152 yards with two TDs and no interceptions. He had a passer rating of 104.9. But Hill was sacked four times, and he probably could have avoided nearly every one of them. He made a perfect pass to Vernon Davis for a 13-yard TD, and he went back to Josh Morgan for a 24-yard TD after Morgan dropped a deep pass earlier. Running backs 21-Frank Gore: Inactive due to ankle injuries. He is expected to miss next week’s game vs. the Falcons, too. 24-Michael Robinson: Saw limited action as Coffee’s backup. Did not carry. . . . Had one pass go off his hand. . . Solo tackle of Kenneth Darby on kickoff return at 14-yard line. 29-Glen Coffee: Made first career start. He gained 74 yards on 24 carries, and caught four of the seven passes on which he was targeted for 32 yards. . . . He was very decisive with his runs – probably too decisive. He missed some cutback lanes, and he seemed intent to take the ball where the play was designed, whether the hole was open or not. . . Dropped pass on pass thrown behind him on third and 5 in the first quarter. Not sure he could’ve made first down, anyway. . . Picked up blitzing corner Jonathan Wade off Hill’s blind side on TD pass to Josh Morgan. 44-Moran Norris: Had two carries for eight yards. . . He did a better job blocking than you’d expect, as Coffee averaged just 3.1 yards a rush attempt. . . . Had a big block on LB Paris Lenon in the second quarter but Coffee stayed inside and did not take advantage of the hole. Wide receivers 18-Micheal Spurlock: Inactive; coaches’ decision. 81-Brandon Jones: Suited up for first game with 49ers. . . . Entered the game on offense for the first time in fourth quarter when the 49ers went with almost all run plays. . . . Did not see a pass go his way. 83-Arnaz Battle: He saw limited action as the No. 3 wideout. Caught one pass for 8 yards with it coming on a third-and-4 on final play of third quarter. . . Took over punt-return duties for Allen Rossum and did not look sharp. . . . Muffed punt near sideline in the third quarter . . . Muffed another punt late in the game when he tried to make catch at helmet level. 84-Josh Morgan: Started at split end. . . . Caught two passes for 39 yards, including TD. . . . Had his 14-yard reception wiped out by his own pass-interference penalty. . . . Dropped deep pass that would’ve been a 56-yard TD in the third quarter. . . . Came back to catch 24-yard TD over Atogwe and Justin King. . . 88-Isaac Bruce: Started at flanker and caught three passes for 20 yards during a relatively quiet game. 89-Jason Hill: Suited up for the first time this season. Saw action as gunner on punt team . . . . Unsung hero on the 49ers’ special-teams touchdown as he hustled down field knocked Danny Amendola into Quincy Butler, preventing both players from recovering ball in end zone. Scott McKillop recovered it for the touchdown. . . . Did not see action on offense. Tight ends 46-Delanie Walker: Officially got the starting assignment, as the 49ers opened game in two-TE set. . . .Saw a lot of action on offense, as the 49ers played a lot of two-back, two-TE sets . . . Gained 16 yards on a tight-end around in the third quarter . . . Also had 10-yard reception. 85-Vernon Davis: Started at tight end and played every snap. He caught three passes for 43 yards. . . Made nice third-down catch with O.J. Atogwe hanging all over him for first down on first series. . . . Got off the line quickly to beat safety Anthony Smith and linebacker James Laurinaitis into end zone for 13-yard TD. . . . Leonard Little got around him for a sack in fourth quarter. . . . All in all, a good day for the Davis family, as Vernon’s brother, Vontae, had interception return for TD for the Dolphins. Offensive line 59-Cody Wallace: Inactive; coaches’ decision. Wallace has yet to suit up for a game in his NFL career. 62-Chilo Rachal: Started at right guard. He had a rough, rough game . . . Got pushed back by C.J. Ah You as Hill got sacked on 3-step drop. . . DT Leger Douzable, just brought up from practice squad, gave Rachal and club move and blasted Hill on 5-step drop . . . He seemed to be constantly off-balance. 64-David Baas: Started at left guard and played the entire game. . . . James Hall, working against Baas, got a sack in the third quarter but Hill probably held the ball too long . . . Pulled to make block on Chris Long on Coffee’s best carry of the day, a 17-yarder in fourth quarter . . . It was a mixed-bag kind of game. 65-Barry Sims: Did not see action on offense. Saw some duty on special teams. 66-Eric Heitmann: Started at center . . . He held his own, but he did not get great push in the run game. Also was unable to get to the second level like he’s done in the past. 68-Adam Snyder: Started at right tackle and split the playing time with Tony Pashos . . . Got block on James Laurinaitis down the field that helped Morgan pick up 15 yards on third-and-8 . . . His pass protection was solid. 69-Tony Wragge: Did not see any play time on offense. Saw some action on special teams. 74-Joe Staley: Started at left tackle and played an OK game. . . . Beaten by Chris Long with an inside move that forced Hill to step to his left and into unblocked Larry Grant for a sack. . . . Got out front on receiver screen to Josh Morgan that picked up first down on drive that resulted in TD. . . 77-Tony Pashos: Entered game at right tackle on 49ers’ third possession and again after a couple series in the second half. It was his best showing since joining the 49ers. Defensive line 90-Isaac Sopoaga: Started at left defensive end. He leaves game in pass-rush situations, but his hit on Boller on second play of game forced incompletion. He was credited with one tackle, but did a nice job to clog run lanes for Rams running back Steven Jackson. 91-Ray McDonald: Scored first NFL touchdown after scooping up fumble in fourth quarter and returning it 11 yards for a touchdown. He stayed with Jackson who cut it all the way back to the right side for no gain on a third-and-9. 92-Aubrayo Franklin: Started at nose tackle, and was credited with four tackles. . . . Got into the backfield to shut off run lane for Jackson, who had to bounce out a play for 3 yards. . . . Showed great strength to make late-third-quarter stop of Jackson despite Rams center Jason Brown all over him. 93-Demetric Evans: Saw limited action on defense, and was not credited with a tackle. 94-Justin Smith: Started at right defensive end. He was credited with only one tackle, but – as always – he hustled and was always around the ball. . . . Forced Boller out of pocket on third and 10, resulting in his getting stopped short. He had two QB hurries. 95-Ricky Jean-Francois: Inactive; coaches’ decision. 96-Kentwan Balmer: Got into the game on Rams’ third series. Saw probably about a half-dozen snaps and although he was not credited with any statistics, he was around the ball. Linebacker 51-Takeo Spikes: Had eight tackles, one sack and two tackles for loss. He had a very good game. . . Abused Steven Jackson in blitz pickup to get to Boller for second-quarter sack for 10-yard loss . . . Big hit on swing pass to fullback Mike Karney for 1-yard loss. 52-Patrick Willis: It might have been the most complete game of his NFL career with an interception return for a TD, eight tackles, 2.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, three QB hurries. . . Times blitz perfectly to shoot between guard and center, and arrived at QB before Jackson could pick him up for first sack. . . . Did a great job of reading Boller and sliding in front of receiver Keenan Burton to intercept third-quarter pass and return it 23 yards for a touchdown. . . Tackled Jackson for 3-yard loss on throwback screen . . . Avoided low block from Samkon Gado to bring down Boller for late-fourth-quarter sack.. 53-Jeff Ulbrich: Got down in the pile and helped Scott McKillop secure the ball for his TD recovery in the second quarter. . . Played exclusively on special teams. . . Left game late with a concussion. He seemed fine after the game, but will be re-evaluated on Monday. 54-Marques Harris: Saw limited action on defense, recording one tackle, and also played on special teams. He was on the team’s injury report afterward with a left hamstring strain. 55-Ahmad Brooks: Did not see a whole lot of action on defense, but made one of the better plays in the game when he came off the right side to stop Gado for 1-yard loss from backside on third-and-1 in first quarter. 56-Scott McKillop: Lined up at right guard on punt-coverage unit and got down field to recover live ball in end zone for 49ers’ first touchdown of the game. . . . Got into the game at the “Ted” linebacker in fourth quarter and nearly had a sack – if Willis hadn’t gotten it first. 98-Parys Haralson: Started at outside linebacker . . . Coming off right side, nearly got Jackson in the backfield for a 2-yard loss. But he did not quit on the play. He got up and still made the tackle after a 2-yard gain. . . . Pursuing from backside, wrapped up Jackson for 2 yards on third-and-14 in the third quarter. 99-Manny Lawson: Started at outside linebacker and had one of his best games with five tackles, a half-sack and a tackle for loss . . . Closed quickly on Boller on third-and-10 scramble to stop him for 5-yard gain . . . Fought off Randy McMichael block to drop Jackson for 5-yard loss late in third quarter . . . Read the end around to Amendola and hit him as he was bobbling it to jar ball loose for McDonald fumble return for a TD. Defensive backs 22-Nate Clements: Started at left cornerback and made five tackles. . . Missed tackle on Donnie Avery that resulted in first-quarter first down . . . Came up hard to make an open-field tackle on Jackson on 4-yard gain . . . Hard hit when he flew up to level Jackson on 6-yard gain . . . 23-Marcus Hudson: Saw action on special teams, where he made a tackle on Amendola after a 3-yard punt return. 25-Tarell Brown: Saw action on special teams, making two tackles. . . .He ran down as gunner on punt, where Quincy Butler tried to block him only to have the ball hit off his cleats. The ball was live and McKillop recovered it in the end zone. 26-Mark Roman: Saw action in the 49ers’ six-DB alignment. He did not make any tackles, as the Rams rarely got the ball into the secondary. 28-Curtis Taylor: Inactive, coaches’ decision. 30-Reggie Smith: Inactive; severe groin strain. He will miss at least another game. 31-Dre’ Bly: The 49ers’ third cornerback broke up one pass. . . Strung out Jackson on run to the right side to allow Clements to stop him for no gain on third and 14 in first quarter. . . . Stepped in front of Burton to make Boller hold the ball on a third-quarter play. When Boller went back to Burton, Willis was there for the interception . . . left game briefly after sustained left elbow contusion. . . Recovered Battle’s muffed punt late in game and advanced it a yard. 32-Michael Lewis: He had an exceptional game, tying for team-high honors with eight tackles. . . . He came up strong in run support. On blitz on first series, he knocked down Boller as he was throwing to force incomplete pass. . . . Bottled up Jackson off the left side, forcing him to take it all the way back the right side, where he was stopped for no gain. 36-Shawntae Spencer: Started at right cornerback and had a relatively quiet game and he did not allow much on his side of the field. Had only one tackle, as it took him a while to bring down Jackson near the sideline. 38-Dashon Goldson: Started at free safety and had a good game with seven tackles and a sack. . . On third and 4, Boller rolled left and started to run when Goldson came flying up to record the sack. Special teams 4-Andy Lee: Punted seven times with a 43.6-yard average (39.4 net). He had one touchback and two punts land inside the 20. 6-Joe Nedney: Field-goal attempt from 43 yards in second quarter hit off left upright. . . He made all five PATs, and the Rams’ average starting point after Nedney’s six kickoffs was the 21. 20-Allen Rossum: Inactive; coaches’ decision. 86-Brian Jennings: The long-snapper got down the field quickly before end of the half to stop Amendola for 6-yard gain on punt return . . . * * * Practice squad T Alex Boone LB Diyral Briggs WR Dobson Colins TE Joe Jon Finley FB Brit Miller OL Drew Radovich RB Kory Sheets WR Dominique Zeigler (he’s returned to practice after being unavailable for the first couple weeks with an ankle sprain) * * * Unsigned WR Michael Crabtree: The No. 10 overall draft pick has yet to agree to contract terms with the 49ers. He must sign by Nov. 17 or he will not be able to play this season. Deion Sanders dropped some hints on the NFL Network that Crabtree will soon be joining the 49ers. He would know better than just about anyone. We shall see . . . In the meantime, click here to listen to what he said. Injured reserve CB Walt Harris: Sustained torn ACL in right knee during organized team activities on May 19. Harris, 35, is not under contract to the 49ers next season, but he said he plans to rehab and play again. RB Thomas Clayton: He sustained a torn ACL in right knee in the 49ers’ exhibition opener Aug. 14 against the Broncos. * * *
Comments are closed.