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

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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 31: Quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals eludes the tackle of defensive end Dee Ford #55 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of the NFL football game at State Farm Stadium on October 31, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images) /

49ers Week 9 Defensive Grades

San Francisco’s pass defense entered this contest with a top-tier 3.9 pass yards allowed per play. The Cardinals, with a rookie quarterback, managed to pass for an average of 7.6 yards per attempt.

Arizona also made the most out of its ground game, averaging an astounding 6.7 yards per rush and picking up an impressive 153 yards in this aspect, too.

C+. . . . DEFENSIVE LINE

Yes, the 49ers managed to sack Kyler Murray three times, which marks the fifth consecutive game they’ve achieved such a feat against an opponent.

But there were also some gaffes from San Francisco’s up-front defenders, too, including backup defensive end Ronald Blair missing some edge contains, allowing Murray to scramble and pick up yardage to the eventual tune of 34 rush yards.

Last week, the Niners D-line literally took over the contest against the Panthers. This wasn’t the case in Arizona.

C-. . . . LINEBACKER

It’s unknown yet whether or not the 49ers dodged a bullet with what appeared to be a pectoral injury suffered by linebacker Kwon Alexander, who’ll undergo an MRI on Monday.

Alexander had range of motion, yet exited the game in the second half and didn’t return.

Positive news is that Alexander was not wearing a sling and was moving around his locker area like normal.

When I asked him how he was feeling he said: “Legendary“ https://t.co/ggcTpkLXqB
— Jennifer Lee Chan (@jenniferleechan) November 1, 2019

Still, there were more than enough missed tackles by San Francisco’s linebackers, including a number of plays where they ran into each other, thanks largely to the Cardinals’ pick-play designs.

Fellow linebacker Fred Warner led the defense with nine tackles, as well as a pass defended. But Alexander’s recovery will be the story to watch here in coming days.

D+. . . . SECONDARY

Second-year cornerback Emmanuel Moseley has been a surprising story, filling in for the injured Ahkello Witherspoon, who is expected back soon after spraining his foot some weeks ago.

But Moseley didn’t exactly fare well in Week 9, and this particular play against rookie wide receiver Andy Isabella, who beat the bad route ran by Moseley for an 88-yard score:

https://twitter.com/thecheckdown/status/1190105135059365888

Richard Sherman also missed tackles, and nickel cornerback K’Waun Williams was also banged up.

All in all, San Francisco’s secondary has to be feeling better about getting Witherspoon back, as well as receiving some added rest with the mini bye week. Thursday Night Football wasn’t anywhere close to this unit’s best performance.