Position grades, analysis from SF 49ers maddening loss to Cowboys

SF 49ers defensive grades

The SF 49ers defense looked like it got gashed on the box score, but stats without context can be misleading. With several short fields and a kick-return touchdown, the defense itself played fairly well, though not to the elite standards it has met at times this season.

Defensive Line: B+

Defensive end Arik Armstead had been playing decently well the entire season, but he hadn’t been finishing plays.

That changed this week.

Armstead finished with two sacks in the game and eight total tackles, finally getting the box score recognition his play has warranted. The rest of the SF 49ers line played well throughout. Rookie defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw flashed in the run game and forced a fumble that was incorrectly called. The other pieces rotated in and created constant pressure.

Good showing from the 49ers line.

Linebackers: A-

Second-year linebacker Dre Greenlaw quietly had a fantastic game, playing well in coverage and continuing his efforts as an efficient and secure tackler. The No. 1 linebacker, Fred Warner, did more Warner-like things, continuing to play as an All-Pro should. There isn’t much to say for the linebackers because they took care of business as they should have.

The one time a linebacker was in a negative play, Greenlaw got taken out by his own team as he started to drag Cowboys running back Tony Pollard down on his eventual touchdown run

Secondary: C+

Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon had a strong game in coverage, a welcome sight for a player who had seemed destined for an unceremonious dumping following the season. Nickel corner K’Waun Williams also provided a spark in coverage.

Yet the secondary got this grade for something that is taken as a given: tackling.

Veteran cornerback Richard Sherman had at least two bad whiffs when tackling, which led to multiple touchdowns. Most notably, the secondary failed to wrap up Pollard on that long touchdown run that essentially iced the game.

Coverage was strong for the most part, in fact that wasn’t a major issue. But the touchdowns, when they did happen, weren’t the fault of the front seven.

The backend bears the brunt of this game.