Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Progress-report grades for each position a quarter through 2017

By Peter Panacy

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 01: Quarterback Brian Hoyer #2 of the San Francisco 49ers walks on the field during the first half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 01: Quarterback Brian Hoyer #2 of the San Francisco 49ers walks on the field during the first half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
8 of 11
Next
SANTA CLARA, CA – SEPTEMBER 10: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers gets tackled by Kurt Coleman #20 of the Carolina Panthers during the second quarter of their NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on September 10, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – SEPTEMBER 10: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers gets tackled by Kurt Coleman #20 of the Carolina Panthers during the second quarter of their NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on September 10, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Tight End

It was almost comic to see former 49ers tight end Vance McDonald drop an easy pass for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4.

But it isn’t as if the Niners’ overhaul of this position during the offseason has generated any better results:

Over four games of 2017, San Francisco tight ends have just 12 catches for 90 yards. That’s not exactly top-tier production, especially after all the hype that accompanied former Iowa tight end George Kittle after he was selected in this year’s NFL Draft.

What the 49ers Are Doing Well

Run blocking. That’s about it.

Through four weeks, Niners tight ends have the following run-blocking grades, per Pro Football Focus:

  • George Kittle — 68.3
  • Garrett Celek — 77.1
  • Logan Paulsen — 73.3

Aside from Celek, neither Kittle nor Paulsen’s pass blocking has been stellar.

And there is little show for any of their efforts in the receiving game.

What Needs Improvement

Head coach Kyle Shanahan has tried to work his tight ends into the receiving game, but the stats haven’t exactly been stellar:

49ers Tight End Receiving Table
Game Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece
No. Player Age Pos G Tgt Rec Yds Y/R TD Lng R/G Y/G Ctch%
85 George Kittle 24 TE 4 14 10 83 8.3 0 21 2.5 20.8 71.4%
88 Garrett Celek 29 TE 4 3 2 7 3.5 1 6 0.5 1.8 66.7%
Team Total 25.5 4 1712 12 90 7.5 1 21 3 22.5
Opp Total 4 92 961 10.4 7 23.0 240.3

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/3/2017.

Note Paulsen’s absence from this table. He’s seen just 36 snaps this season.

Needless to say, the 49ers need to get some added production from their tight ends in coming weeks. Otherwise, general manager John Lynch will have to add this group to one of the many needs the Niners have in 2018.

Grade: D