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Cardinals vs. 49ers: Week 5 Grades and Analysis for San Francisco

By Peter Panacy

Oct 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) catches a 29-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter as San Francisco 49ers strong safety Antoine Bethea (41) and cornerback Tramaine Brock (26) defend during a NFL game at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) catches a 29-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter as San Francisco 49ers strong safety Antoine Bethea (41) and cornerback Tramaine Brock (26) defend during a NFL game at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jeremy Kerley (17) carries the ball against Arizona Cardinals strong safety Tony Jefferson (22) during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jeremy Kerley (17) carries the ball against Arizona Cardinals strong safety Tony Jefferson (22) during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

Offensive Grades

San Francisco managed 25 first downs, which is most the offense has had since Week 1 against the Rams.

OK, so that sounds good. But balance that with the 49ers offense going 4-of-14 on third downs, and those first-down conversions don’t seem anywhere near as promising.

Quarterback: D-

Quarterback Blaine Gabbert is, well, who he is. At least Niner Noise’s Rich Madrid pointed that out pregame.

Gabbert’s 18-of-31 for 162 yards plus two picks overshadows his lone touchdown pass to wide receiver Jeremy Kerley by a long shot. Head coach Chip Kelly might be pressed into making the switch to backup QB Colin Kaepernick. But is he going to be any better?

Running Back: B-

No. 1 tailback Carlos Hyde found the end zone for his sixth touchdown of the season. He managed 75 yards on 22 carries for a pedestrian 3.5 yards per carry.

Hyde is still a workhorse, but it’s clear the Niners’ offensive line isn’t vastly improved in run blocking. The former Ohio State running back’s numbers will suffer this season as a result.

October 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) scores a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the 49ers 33-21. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
October 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) scores a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the 49ers 33-21. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Wide Receiver/Tight End: C-

Thank you, Jeremy Kerley, for continuing to be the 49ers’ No. 1 receiving threat. Kerley became the first San Francisco receiver to net more than 100 yards in a game on the season. And he recorded his second-consecutive touchdown grab on the year.

Fellow wideout Torrey Smith was a non-factor with zero grabs on just one target. No wonder he’s frustrated right now.

And is weird to say the 49ers are hurting to get tight end Vance McDonald (hip) back into the picture?

Offensive Line: F

No, the 49ers O-line doesn’t look vastly improved over what was on the field a year ago. At least not in Week 5. Seven sacks allowed on the night isn’t a good look, and right tackle Trent Brown easily had his worst game of the season.

He’s struggling in run support too. And the rest of the O-line isn’t helping much either. Maybe it’s time to try out rookie guard Joshua Garnett and see if that first-round investment can pay off sooner than later.

Cumulative Grade: D