San Francisco 49ers: 5 statistics needing massive improvement in Week 4
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: Dropped Passes
Quarterback Brian Hoyer has been disappointing through two-plus games this season, although he managed to turn things up over three quarters against the Rams in Week 3.
San Francisco 49ers
While not promising, Hoyer hasn’t been the beneficiary of numerous dropped passes either.
To date, Niners receiving targets have dropped eight passes. Two of those by wide receiver Marquise Goodwin, who leads San Francisco in this not-so-heralded category, have come at key moments that, if those balls were caught, could have easily shifted momentum in the Niners’ favor.
Not surprisingly, the 49ers’ eight drops are the most in the NFL. The next-highest team, the Chicago Bears, have six.
Aside from a wasted down, essentially, momentum is easily sucked out by a dropped pass on offense, putting a larger burden on Hoyer and Co. to convert a first down with one less opportunity.
If the offense isn’t unable to do this, it’s possible to see how that same burden carries over to the defensive side of the ball.