49ers vs Cardinals Recap: A look at all 7 sacks
By Rich Madrid
Fifth and Sixth Sacks, Fourth Quarter 4:21/4:14, 2nd and 3rd and 4 from the SF 31
These two are lumped together but Gabbert’s lack of awareness, vision, etc., are all on display here.
On the first sack, he has Smith open in the flat and sees him, but doesn’t pull the trigger.
The stunt on the outside by Golden and Xavier Williams (94) working on Brown and Garnett breaks the protection. Golden stunts to the inside and Garnett stays with Williams. Kilgore takes a bad angle and gets beat by Golden, causing Gabbert to escape the pocket.
Gabbert’s lack of awareness ultimately leads to the sack. As he scrambles left, he should realize that he can throw the ball away if he cannot pick up yards. Instead, he holds it and runs out of bounds while being chased. Safety DJ Swearinger (36) ultimately gets credit for the sack.
On the sixth sack, Gabbert again has time to get rid of the ball on a check-down to running back Carlos Hyde (28). Golden (44) again beats the right side of the line against Staley and Beadles on an inside stunt.
Instead of hitting Hyde as quick as possible, Gabbert elects to run and escapes left. His lack of awareness again leads him to keep the ball instead of throw it away and he gets tackled by Minter as he’s running out of bounds.
Minter gets credit for the sack.