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Grades, analysis from 49ers nail-biting win Week 1 over Lions

By Akshaj Dwivedula

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 12: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass during the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on September 12, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 12: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass during the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on September 12, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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Jared Goff, Dee Ford, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions
San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Dee Ford (55) Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

49ers Defensive line

Players: Dee Ford, Samson Ebukam, Nick Bosa, Arden Key, Zach Kerr, D.J. Jones, Kevin Givens, Kentavius Street, Arik Armstead

Grade: C-

The defensive line’s performance was one of considerable ups and downs, much like the game overall. Without Javon Kinlaw, the interior lacked the freakish power that manages to swallow up and control run games. With a wide-9 defensive front especially vulnerable to runs up the middle, early runs have to be a committed effort on the defensive line in order to make the game be played on the defense’s terms.

The interior DL was… not successful in that regard.

Gut runs gashed the 49ers repeatedly, creating offensive flow where none should have been. It was disappointing to see a team whose offensive line should not have handled the Niners as well as they did simply maul up the middle.

The edge, however, was a different conversation entirely. Nick Bosa did not have the success many assumed he would against rookie tackle Penei Sewell, perhaps because Sewell moved back to his natural position of left tackle, but Bosa was disruptive as always and managed to rack up his first sack on the way to three tackles for loss and two quarterback hits. The pressures were equally amazing. Dee Ford had an explosive return, finished with several pressures, a sack, a pressure that led to an interception, and just overall a strong day of football. Samson Ebukam had himself a near forced fumble when he almost broke up an end-around, and it was his pressure that sealed the game for the 49ers.

Next Gen stats indicated the average separation from QB for defensive linemen (an indication of their pressuring ability and pass-rush wins) and the top four 49er pass-rushers were all better than or at the league average.

However, there was a lack of contain on naked bootlegs or Jared Goff scrambles that will only amplify with the more mobile quarterbacks the 49ers will face, and near the end of the game, the pass rush simply couldn’t get home because they were flat-out exhausted.

There was good here, but with the run defense being what it was, and the pass-rush missing a few times, much to improve for San Francisco.