SF 49ers position grades, analysis from disgusting loss to Seattle Seahawks

SF 49ers defensive grades

The SF 49ers defense came out hot, but this unit was never going to be able to shut down the Seahawks forever, and soon the floodgates opened.

The SF 49ers defensive line had some chances to swallow up Russell Wilson. The D-line converted on some and failed on others. All in all, though, the Niners simply lacked an edge, both literally and figuratively.

Without a Nick Bosa or a Dee Ford on the edges, the pass rush simply doesn’t have teeth to it, resulting in good pressure but no finishes. Eventually, and especially against a player of Wilson’s ilk, that’s going to end up a win for the quarterback. Wilson was pressured but wasn’t harassed enough overall, and the SF 49ers paid the price.

Last year, Dre Greenlaw made the play of the season when he stopped Seattle tight end Jacob Hollister at the goal line. This year at the site of his performance, Greenlaw had himself a tough day.

Bad angles, notably on the touchdown to D.K. Metcalf among other plays, an inability to finish tackles, it was not a good performance for the sophomore linebacker:

Fred Warner played fine, like he always had, though he was unable to make the spark play that he has done so many times this year. Azeez Al-Shaair was as competent as a backup SAM linebacker will be, and nothing more should be expected of him.

All in all, it was a bad performance for the SF 49ers second unit, one they’ll hope to get over very soon with Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers looming.

The Seahawks have weapons on the edge, and Metcalf is certainly a tough player to handle, but the way in which the SF 49ers simply fell apart on the deep end was frustrating to watch.

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It seemed the first 5 yards of every route run were easily given up, the last 5 with every deep ball had no safety help, and the corners were simply bullied. Seahawks wideout Tyler Lockett was taken out of the game, so there’s a positive, but the Niners gave up 161 yards on 12 receptions to Metcalf.

That’s not acceptable.

It was the same thing as what Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins did Week 1 or the Atlanta Falcons’ Julio Jones did last year. Simply put, this secondary needs to learn how to deal with elite receivers because it has no answer when a big physical freak comes its way.

Something has to change.