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Top 5 performances from 49ers Week 6 win vs. the Rams

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 13: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 and cornerback Jimmie Ward #20 of the San Francisco 49ers take the field for the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 13, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 13: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 and cornerback Jimmie Ward #20 of the San Francisco 49ers take the field for the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 13, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 13: Running back Malcolm Brown #34 of the Los Angeles Rams gets away from middle linebacker Kwon Alexander #56 of the San Francisco 49ers as he gains a first down in the first half of the game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 13, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 13: Running back Malcolm Brown #34 of the Los Angeles Rams gets away from middle linebacker Kwon Alexander #56 of the San Francisco 49ers as he gains a first down in the first half of the game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 13, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

No. 4: Linebacker Kwon Alexander

The 49ers have gotten a lot out of one of their big free-agent pickups of the offseason, linebacker Kwon Alexander, who has been a major reason why the team’s defense has undergone a complete resurgence since 2018.

It’s not hard putting Alexander on this list after such a defensive shutdown in Los Angeles.

All Alexander had to do was lead the defense in tackles with seven, which included one for a loss. And Alexander was a major reason why the Rams averaged only 3.1 yards per play.

There were some issues early stopping L.A.’s rushing attack. But like the rest of San Francisco’s defense after its first stand, Alexander and Co. adjusted. The Rams were never quite able to generate the same kind of ground prowess they experienced early, largely due to Alexander flying all around the field.

Paired with second-year linebacker Fred Warner, this duo is quietly emerging as one of the better linebacking tandems in the NFL.

But Alexander was a major standout during the game and a key reason why the Niners defense was so effective against one of the league’s more potent offenses.