49ers: 3 players who underwhelmed in Week 5 thrashing of Browns

3 49ers players who underwhelmed in Week 5 thrashing of Browns

KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 24: Kicker Robbie Gould #9 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on during pre-game warm ups, prior to a preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /

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SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 09: Richie James #13 of the San Francisco 49ers returns the opening kickoff against the Denver Broncos at Levi’s Stadium on December 9, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

PR Richie James

Wide receiver Richie James played mostly on special teams, a by-product of the 49ers’ run-first game-plan on offense. When he returned punts, he was electric, averaging 32 yards a return.

The problem was James only returned the one punt for 32 yards near the end of the first half. He constantly let the ball pass by him, calling fair catch after fair catch.

None of those times was a good decision.

Browns punter Jamie Gillan is a good player. James made him look elite. Because of good Cleveland bounces when James didn’t field the ball, Gillan had a 56.7 yards-per-punt average with four punts inside the 20-yard line.

On the only kick return of the night, James took the ball at the 6-yard line and stumbled out of bounds at the 10. Simply put, that should never happen.

Again, these are small issues which don’t matter in a blowout, but do in a slugfest the 49ers will eventually play.