Grading each SF 49ers position after disgusting Week 5 loss to Dolphins

SF 49ers Defensive Grades

Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick can get hot and cold, and Sunday’s contest proved he was in the former category.

While the Niners defense managed to do a decent job defending against Miami’s run game, allowing Fitzpatrick to toss for 350 yards and three touchdowns was nothing short of embarrassing.

And it still starts up front.

While EDGE Kerry Hyder, who managed another sack to bring him to a team-high 3.5 on the season, looked good again in Week 5, the SF 49ers defensive line is clearly missing the pass-rushing thump it had a year ago.

For a four-man rush, the current D-line configuration is not equipped to get the job done. Maybe San Francisco can handle interior runs OK, although the pass rush remains mostly a non-factor, and Fitzpatrick’s mobility to escape pressure didn’t alleviate any concerns about coordinator Robert Saleh’s unit being able to contain quarterbacks from escaping the pocket.

The 49ers got linebacker Dre Greenlaw back from a quad injury, but that didn’t make enough of a difference in this unit getting a D-minus.

Linebacker Kwon Alexander, who managed the other SF 49ers sack on a blitz, also surrendered Miami’s first touchdown of the game, losing contain on Dolphins tight end Adam Shaheen in the first quarter.

About the only positive from this group was linebacker Fred Warner‘s 11-tackle effort.

Cornerback Brian Allen is going to catch a lot of flak from Niners fans after what happened in Week 5.

Allen, after all, gave up the 47-yard pass that led to Miami’s first score, surrendered another touchdown later in the game to Dolphins wideout DeVante Parker, was flagged for two defensive pass-interference calls and looked entirely lost in his spot start after being promoted from the practice squad.

San Francisco eventually replaced Allen with fellow corner Ahkello Witherspoon, who was still nursing a hamstring injury.

But if Witherspoon was OK to go at halftime, why wasn’t he starting over the clearly overmatched Allen?

Nickel corner Jamar Taylor, starting in place of the injured K’Waun Williams, also had himself a rough game, surrendering a touchdown and not alleviating any concerns about Saleh’s depth at the position. And on one Taylor blitz, Fitzpatrick threaded a touchdown pass between safeties Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt.

Perhaps the Niners should have added a defensive back or two during last April’s NFL Draft. They’re paying for not doing so now.