49ers vs. Packers: Analyzing quarterback C.J. Beathard’s performance in Week 6

Positive Takeaways from C.J. Beathard in Week 6

Fortunately, there’s far more to like from C.J. Beathard’s efforts in Green Bay than there is to dislike.

One might easily argue Week 6 was Beathard’s best game as a pro. It helped head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offensive play calling was excellent. And San Francisco’s offensive line, for the most part, held up its end in both pass protection and in run support, which gave the Niners’ ground attack some much-needed thump.

This led to Beathard being particularly effective off play action throughout the game.

While his 67-yard touchdown pass to Marquise Goodwin wasn’t off play action, the 49ers were in 21 personnel (two wide receivers, two running backs, one tight end), which suggests a running formation and forced Green Bay to field its slower run-stopping personnel.

And it worked to perfection, to put things lightly, utilizing Goodwin’s speed to get behind the defense:

A perfectly thrown pass and a much-needed Niners touchdown.

That was one of two touchdown hookups between Beathard and Goodwin, the other being a 30-yard touchdown completion in the second quarter that led to a 21-20 San Francisco lead at the time.

Beathard showed a much better ability to find his deep target. It certainly helped having Goodwin on the field, particularly after he missed Week 5 with an injury. Not only did this create some deep-threat opportunities, and Beathard cashed in on two of those, but it also opened up things underneath for a number of the Niners’ other pass catchers.

All the while too, Beathard displayed the ability to pick up yardage with his legs, rushing for 30 yards over the course of the game and even picking up 11 yards on a critical 3rd-and-9 situation in the second half.

Nicely done there.