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San Francisco 49ers: Report-card grades & analysis from Weeks 1 through 4

By Peter Panacy

CARSON, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne #84 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after a touchdown in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center on September 30, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne #84 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after a touchdown in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center on September 30, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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CARSON, CA – SEPTEMBER 30: Quarterback C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers is rushed out of pocket in the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center on September 30, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA – SEPTEMBER 30: Quarterback C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers is rushed out of pocket in the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center on September 30, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

C. . . . QUARTERBACK

It’s hard to adequately grade this position, since Jimmy Garoppolo won’t grace the field until 2019.

That said, his efforts over the first three weeks were so-so, at best. In Week 1, some bad decision making ultimately led to three interceptions against the Vikings. Not every one of those were his fault, but still.

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Jaguars confident in QB CJ Beathard if he starts vs. Titans in Week 14
Jaguars confident in QB CJ Beathard if he starts vs. Titans in Week 14 /

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    • Garoppolo was then a bit too conservative in Week 2, holding onto the ball too long and taking six sacks in the process.

    Week 3 appeared to be the most well-rounded effort, aside from Jimmy G’s decision to not run out of bounds and avoid the late hit in Kansas City, tearing his ACL on the subsequent cut back.

    Garoppolo’s injury gives way to C.J. Beathard, who certainly didn’t lose the 49ers their chances at a Week 4 road win over the Chargers. Beathard was effective in that contest, tossing for nearly 300 yards, two touchdowns against two not-exactly-his-fault interceptions and showing all the grit and toughness that endeared him to Niners fans last season.

    So that’s improvement over 2017, one might assume.

    What’s Good

    Beathard looked much better in Week 4 than at nearly any point last year or during the 2018 preseason. What stood out was how much more accurate he was in Los Angeles, which was a big question mark his rookie year.

    Let’s see if San Francisco’s offensive cast can support him more in coming weeks.

    What Needs Improvement

    Pocket awareness is still an issue for Beathard, who still only took one sack during Week 4’s contest. But that same Chargers pressure ultimately led to Beathard’s second interception thrown on the game, coming at a time where the 49ers were driving and in position to take a game-winning lead in the fourth quarter.

    Beathard was better in the pocket in Week 4. But his efforts here are far from perfect.

    dark. Next. NFL power rankings: 49ers nosedive entering Week 4

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