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

SF 49ers special teams, coaching grades

The most basic part of the game, special teams, and the minds behind the performance for the SF 49ers both fell apart when they needed to be strong.

The SF 49ers officially lost the game when wide receiver Dante Pettis fumbled the ball on a kickoff return in the second half. Earlier, running back Jerick McKinnon made an ill-fated decision to take the ball out of the end zone.

And the two onside attempts from the SF 49ers didn’t even have a chance.

The punting was fine, though the punt coverage was bad. The punt returns were not much to write home about, but the minimum requirement of special teams is to not cost the team the game, and when so many things went wrong, special teams was one of them.

There are many things I could point out — the terrible Wildcat read-option play call on 3rd-and-5 on the first series, a failure to attack vertically with receivers or then to attack horizontally with end-arounds and reverses, a lack of preparation that permeated the entire roster.

On the defensive side, coordinator Robert Saleh did all he could, but he fell into the simple Cover 3 single-safety look that ends up giving one-on-ones to cornerbacks, which was exactly what Seattle wanted. Not to mention the illogical decision to keep big-bodied, speedy defensive back, Tarvarius Moore, the fastest and most physically gifted defender coming off his best game as a pro, off the field.

The SF 49ers coaches failed their team, and their team failed them.

There isn’t much to be positive about. The Niners will turn around for a tough game against the Packers that is a must-win if they are serious about pushing for the playoffs this year. Otherwise, with another performance like this, it’s time to start thinking about 2021 and maybe who’s going to be behind center.