49ers vs Cardinals: Full Week 4 preview for San Francisco

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SANTA CLARA, CA – SEPTEMBER 21: Pierre Garcon #15 of the San Francisco 49ers makes a catch against the Los Angeles Rams during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on September 21, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Offensive & Defensive X-Factors for San Francisco

Solidifying the passing game

It’s pretty well established that Hyde is an integral component to the San Francisco offense. Even despite his best efforts though, Hyde can’t will the 49ers to victory. He can come very, very close, but not close enough.

We’ve seen what can happen when Hyde and the passing offense equal each other — San Francisco scores 39 points. That came with Hyde not being 100% healthy too, making it that more impressive. Now, that equaling of each other needs to be sustained.

Hoyer needs to be able keep the offense going, and not let it stall out drive after drive. Eliminating the dumb mistakes, which obviously isn’t easy to do and is something Hoyer has committed a lot of so far this season, would go a long way for the 49ers.

If passing offense is there, San Francisco wins this game. I fully expect Hyde to show up once again.

Rushing the passer

This was mentioned previously, but the 49ers have been lacking in the pass rushing department. A measly three sacks is all the team has registered through three games — that isn’t something you can afford to have when there’s three first-round draft picks on the defensive line.

Buckner is the lone bright spot. Outside of him, there’s been very little to be happy about with the line. No. 3 overall pick Solomon Thomas has had a slow start to his NFL career, and with Carradine being placed on the IR, the rookie is now the starting right defensive end.

The matchup the 49ers have could be a potentially juicy one too. This, from The Athletic’s David Lombardi:

"The whole D-line, we start licking our chops when we get stationary quarterbacks that won’t get out of the pocket and try to make something shake like Russell Wilson, Buckner said. So this defensive line has an appetite for immobile quarterbacks — and it absolutely drools over weak offensive lines. Buckner didn’t offer specifics, but he certainly remembers how easily the 49ers broke through Seattle’s front (although Wilson was his usual slippery self in spite of that), and he certainly saw the Cowboys’ Demarcus Lawrence repeatedly paste Arizona right tackle Jared Veldheer last week. The Cardinals are staggering up front — and although D.J. Humphries and former 49er Mike Iupati should return to health for them this week, it’s clear that Buckner smells opportunity."

Time to eat?