Cowboys vs. 49ers: Preseason Week 1 grades and analysis

Special Teams and Coaching

While 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan always wants to win, victory is never the primary goal of a preseason game. Injuries definitely affected the coaching staff’s game plan, but they were still able to gain valuable knowledge about their new players, while still putting the team in a position to win the game as time expired.

Unfortunately, the team wasn’t able to add clarity to their situations at inside linebacker or starting right guard, but the team’s injuries are no fault of the 49ers’ coaching staff.

Special Teams

Gould was successful in each of his field goal and extra point attempts, and the punt team held the Cowboys’ punt returners to just five yards on three returns. Dallas was more successful on kickoffs, as they averaged 27.5 yards per return.

Bolden didn’t have a great performance, as he returned three punts for seven yards, and one kick for 12 yards. However, Richie James’ lone kick return went for 33 yards.

Grade: B-

Coaching

Both Shanahan and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh were vanilla in their play-calling, which is expected for the team’s first preseason game. However, Saleh would be wise to test his young cornerbacks by forcing them into tighter coverage, in order to gain insight into their development.

When San Francisco was on offense over the latter part of the game, the Cowboys stacked the box — challenging the 49ers to throw deep — but Shanahan stuck with his conservative game plan. When Shanahan was forced to allow Mullens to air it out, the youngster showed both leadership and the ability to produce under pressure.

It’s difficult to find fault in the vast majority of preseason coaching decisions, since we don’t know the purpose of particular strategies, personnel moves or game plans. The coaching staff didn’t make any obvious mistakes, and the San Francisco 49ers came away with a victory.

Grade: B