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3 players who impressed in 49ers Week 3 win over Steelers

By Robert Morrison

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with fans after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers at Levi's Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with fans after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers at Levi's Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 22: Mason Rudolph #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is sacked by DeForest Buckner #99 and Kwon Alexander #56 of the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 22: Mason Rudolph #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is sacked by DeForest Buckner #99 and Kwon Alexander #56 of the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Linebacker Kwon Alexander

It should come as little surprise the balance of these impressive performances leans toward the defensive side of the football, seeing as the 49ers defense is the reason they stayed in the game on Sunday.

And through two-plus games so far as a 49er, linebacker Kwon Alexander is looking more and more like a bargain signing, no matter what the free-agent price tag might have been.

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The former Buccaneer has been flying around the field since his first snap with the team, and has, with fellow linebacker Fred Warner, helped clean up the middle of the defense.

Something that’s a key element of defensive success in today’s NFL.

Alexander ended Sunday’s game with seven more tackles, including one for loss, and featured on 98 percent of the 49ers’ defensive snaps. He has quickly become a stalwart for the defense, and is the answer for most of the more difficult questions the team has to answer about the opposition’s offense.

In this case, it was Steelers running back James Connor who, after a breakout season last year, has essentially disappeared in 2019, including on Sunday. Alexander helped the 49ers defensive front hold Connor to just 43 yards on 13 carries, and the linebacker was key in keeping the running back down in the passing game, where Connor had just four catches for 14 yards.

The 49ers success for 2019 is going to, in large part, hinge on how well the defense continues to play, especially if the offense is going to remain so hot-then-cold throughout the year.

Next. 3 49ers players who underwhelmed in Week 3 win over Steelers. dark

And with that pass rush combining with the top-notch play of Alexander behind them, that’s looking more and more likely each week.