49ers film room: WR Trent Taylor’s third-down targets vs. Cardinals

We break down each of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brian Hoyer’s 12 third-down pass attempts to rookie wide receiver Trent Taylor during the Niners’ Week 4 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals.

Earlier this week, we discussed San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brian Hoyer’s reliance on wide receiver Trent Taylor on third down in the team’s overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

Today, we’ll take a look at each of Hoyer’s third-down attempts to his rookie wide receiver.

Taylor played only 56 percent of the 49ers’ offensive snaps on Sunday, but he was on the field for all of the team’s third-down pass attempts, and he was targeted heavily. Head coach Kyle Shanahan surprisingly used 11 personnel on each play.

On the 49ers’ first third down of the game, Taylor motions to a tight split and runs a slant route. Hoyer is correct to look to Taylor, who beats safety Tyrann Mathieu’s initial press. Hoyer throws the pass a bit high and behind Taylor, who is held by the Honey Badger, and is unable to make the play:

With 13 yards to go, Taylor lines up in the slot, and finds a hole in the Cardinals’ zone just short of the sticks.

Hoyer throws a good pass, which Taylor catches, but is unable to advance the additional few feet for a first down:

From a clean pocket, Hoyer hits Taylor on an out route, which has little chance of producing a first down, but moves the 49ers four yards closer for a field-goal attempt:

Under pressure, Hoyer lofts the ball toward Taylor, who goes to the ground along with Mathieu.

Hoyer’s pass lands in the hands of former 49ers safety Antoine Bethea for the interception:

Here, the 49ers run another slant to Taylor after the receiver motions tight to the formation.

Taylor is open but is unable to catch Hoyer’s attempt:

With 28 yards to go, Hoyer throws this pass toward Taylor in order to avoid a potential sack:

Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby is confused by the 49ers’ trips formation, and running back Carlos Hyde’s motion out of the backfield.

Dansby allows Taylor to run a slant behind him for an easy first down:

Taylor works his way open on a play that could have sealed the victory for the 49ers, but pressure forces Hoyer to throw an errant pass into the hands of a less-than-pleased Shanahan:

In overtime, Hoyer immediately throws the pass to Taylor, who is bumped by cornerback Patrick Peterson, drawing the pass interference call:

Hoyer throws this out route short of the sticks, but the play is negated by an Arizona offsides penalty:

Here, Taylor tries to work through more contact from Mathieu, and again goes to the ground with the safety.

This play was also negated, due to penalties on both teams:

With Mathieu anticipating the slant, Taylor beats him to the outside.

Hoyer throws behind Taylor, but the receiver catches the pass and falls down beyond the sticks for his second third-down conversion:

Next: WR Trent Taylor's third-down usage

After Week 4, Taylor has more third-down targets than starting wide receivers Pierre Garçon and Marquise Goodwin combined. We’ll see if the 49ers’ Hoyer-to-Taylor trend continues in Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts.