Niner Noise
FanSided

Position grades, analysis from 49ers NFC West-clinching victory over Seahawks

By Akshaj Dwivedula

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 29: Wide receiver Deebo Samuel #19 of the San Francisco 49ers scores a touchdown against the during the first quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on December 29, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 29: Wide receiver Deebo Samuel #19 of the San Francisco 49ers scores a touchdown against the during the first quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on December 29, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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49ers Jimmy Garoppolo
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

49ers offensive grades

The Niners offense didn’t always finish out drives, but they carried this team to this victory.

Quarterback: A

Jimmy Garoppolo had been heavily scrutinized leading up to this game. After all, some statistics paint him in a favorable light, others show him as the beneficiaries of a terrific offensive support system and others just saw him as a winner.

Well, when the 49ers needed their offense to step up, their leader was more than ready for the challenge.

Jimmy G threw a near flawless game, hindered only by some questionable play calls and a lack of touchdown passes. He facilitated the offense if he needed to, made the throws he had to and had timely QB sneaks when necessary. He finished 18-22 for 285 yards and a victory.

Running Backs: A-

Running back Raheem Mostert had two touchdowns and averaged 5.7 yards per carry. Matt Breida had incredible burst on his four runs. Even fullback Kyle Juszczyk had a monster 49-yard completion that gave the Niners offense burst when they needed it.

This grade is slightly marred only by the play of Tevin Coleman, who after his injury, hasn’t looked the same. He finished with 18 all-purpose yards on six touches: not great production from the Niners “lead” back.

The running game still managed to make things happen, hence the A grade.

Wide Receivers: A

This game saw wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders not exit the field with an injury, a tremendous boost for the offense in need for spacing. However, Sanders was not the star of the show this time. That honor went to Deebo Samuel, who finished with 135 all-purpose yards on seven touches, including a 30-yard reception and a 30-yard run for a touchdown:

https://twitter.com/49ers/status/1211466058353139712

He and Sanders were the only two receivers who received targets, but they made the most of them, catching all but one target they had. They changed this game for the Niners, and unlike the last encounter with the Seahawks, this was in a positive way.

Tight Ends: A+

What more can be said about George Kittle?

He finished with seven receptions for 86 yards, constantly moving the chains with every reception. He was a monster the Seahawks couldn’t handle. Apart from his terrific play as a receiver, his play as a blocker was superb.

There’s not much more to say. Almost any game for Kittle is an A-level performance.

Offensive line: B+

There was an ugly sack given up by left guard Laken Tomlinson, and that was it. That’s the only sack that was the direct fault of the offensive line. Sure, sometimes the run blocking wasn’t perfect, but that’s to be expected against this Seattle front. On the other hand, Joe Staley took care of Seahawks EDGE Jadeveon Clowney in a big way.

The reason this is a B-plus and not an A is because of a few whiffed blocks here and there. One thing that’s not a factor is center Ben Garland‘s unnecessary-roughness penalty late in the fourth quarter, because that was a penalty which simply occurs during the course of a game. He didn’t hear the whistle and finished his block.

You’ll take a ticky-tack call like that in exchange for the hustle.