49ers: Position grades, analysis from convincing playoff victory over Vikings
Offensive Position Grades
The San Francisco 49ers offense went retro against the Minnesota Vikings, and it worked in a big way.
Quarterback: B
Jimmy Garoppolo had a stellar first drive, a not-so-stellar interception, and overall a solid performance. This was a game in which reading the box score would lead to a horrible grade, but seeing how Garoppolo stood in the pocket and guided the offense gave him a major bump.
He finished 11-of-19 for 131 yards and a touchdown, mostly getting his yards in the first half before a relentless running game took over. This was a game in which both critics and defenders can use as fodder, but one thing cannot be debated: Jimmy G is 1-0 as a postseason starter.
Running Backs: A-
Tevin Coleman, who had been ineffective for most of the year, finally broke out in a big way. He finished with 105 yards on 22 carries, while running back Raheem Mostert pitched in 58 yards on 12 carries of his own.
The only real blemish was running back Matt Breida‘s ineffectiveness as a runner, but in the grand scheme of things, that wasn’t a terrible concern.
The running game was the reason that the 49ers’ offense was clicking for 60 minutes, and that’s reflected in the grade of the position group.
Wide Receivers: B+
Again, given the game flow, the wide receivers didn’t have a major opportunity to make an impact. They finished with 8 receptions for 96 yards as a unit, making some terrific catches to convert on third down, but they also had a bad drop or two that stymied a few drives.
Deebo Samuel had his typical hard-nosed runs, Emmanuel Sanders had two nice catches, and Kendrick Bourne caught a touchdown.
It was a good game from the position group, given the context of it.
Tight Ends: A
George Kittle was not a featured component of the passing attack, but his impact on the run game cannot be understated. He manhandled defensive linemen on his own, becoming a critical part of the 49ers attack.
The fact that Kittle made such an impact despite a limited receiving day should be clear evidence of his overall ability.
Offensive line: B
Right tackle Mike McGlinchey had some underwhelming moments, giving up a sack and committing a false start. But that was the only major outlier from a fine performance by the 49ers’ offensive line.
A B might be a little harsh, but Garoppolo seemed to be dealing with minor pressure the entire game, beyond his two sacks. Overall, the pass blocking was adequate and the run blocking superb, springing the Niners to victory.