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3 49ers who underwhelmed in Week 9 victory over Cardinals

By Akshaj Dwivedula

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 31: Wide receiver KeeSean Johnson #19 of the Arizona Cardinals makes a reception over the defense of the Arizona Cardinals the game at State Farm Stadium on October 31, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 31: Wide receiver KeeSean Johnson #19 of the Arizona Cardinals makes a reception over the defense of the Arizona Cardinals the game at State Farm Stadium on October 31, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 28: Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh of the San Francisco 49ers during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the 49ers 18-15. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Defensive Coordinator Robert Saleh

Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh had gone seven games without a blemish. In each game, he’d see how the opposing offense would attack his defense in the first drive, typically through the run, and he’d adjust, stifling that attack.

This strategy didn’t work against the Cardinals.

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Arizona’s head coach, Kliff Kingsbury, had his opening drive work to perfection, and then had the offense stall as Saleh adjusted. But unlike most opponents the 49ers faced, previously, the Cardinals adjusted again. They went uptempo, taking the edge from the Niners pass rush and then mitigating it entirely with screens and shovels. They pounded the edge, taking advantage of the 49ers inexperience with mobile quarterbacks this year.

Whatever the case, the defense couldn’t adjust again, and the Cardinals came back in the game to cut the lead to just three points in the fourth quarter. The defense also committed more penalties than usual, another sign of a sloppy performance.

This biggest takeaway from this game is growth. Saleh didn’t call a terrible game, but he didn’t meet the standard he had set for himself after these first seven games either. His defense was clearly the weaker unit on the field, and at times, it looked like a sieve.

Next. 49ers position grades, analysis from Week 9 win vs. Cardinals. dark

The 49ers have set a standard with their first seven wins, and although they made it 8-0, they didn’t meet that defensive standard. But as Richard Sherman explained in his postgame presser, “it was a humbling game” (h/t 95.7 The Game).

That tells you what this team is focused on: February.