Grades, analysis from 49ers injury-riddled win over Panthers

While the injuries have continued to pile up, the San Francisco 49ers still managed to get above .500 for the first time this season against the Carolina Panthers. 

The first thing to get out of the way for the San Francisco 49ers, it really feels like there’s an injury curse that’s determined to affect this team every week.

EDGE Nick Bosa, safety Jimmie Ward, cornerback Emmanuel Moseley and kicker Robbie Gould all got hit with varying ailments during the Niners’ Week 5 win over the Carolina Panthers, which could be a big factor down the stretch.

The team has a tough game next week against an Atlanta Falcons outfit that was unlucky not to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the 49ers need all hands on deck to follow up on their win.

Injuries aside, however, this was a solid win over an opponent San Francisco was expected to beat handily. The 49ers got off to a hot start with a touchdown on the opening drive, and that was the last time the Panthers weren’t behind for the game.

The 37-15 win catapults the Niners to 3-2, finally putting them over .500 and assuring the spot on top of the NFC West for at least another week.

The turning point came late in the first half as the Panthers were attempting to tie things up. Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield had a weird play where he double-clutched a pass, firing it high and past running back Christian McCaffrey and into the waiting arms of Moseley, who took it back for a touchdown, the second interception return for a touchdown in as many games for San Francisco, and the 49ers were essentially home from that point onwards.

The Niners offense opened up much more in the second half, making sure the gift given to them was not squandered. With a game against the Falcons next week, San Francisco has a golden chance to get a good run going.

Let’s look at the grades.

49ers offensive grades vs. Carolina Panthers

Quarterback

The Panthers were down a few safeties but otherwise had a relatively strong defense anchored by a strong defensive line, so this was by no means an easy assignment for Jimmy Garoppolo despite Carolina’s 1-3 record entering the game.

Garoppolo was pretty good overall, going 18-for-30 passing for 253 yards and two touchdowns. He could have had better stats, but Deebo Samuel dropped the easiest pass you’ll ever see him drop this season and a two-point conversion to Brandon Aiyuk was called back due to a penalty.

There was a wayward throw here and there, but he got the offense rolling along. By no means a perfect game, but a perfectly fine performance to get the W.

Grade: B+

Running Backs

Jeff Wilson continues to impress, with him being the focal point of a rushing attack that managed to gash through Carolina’s decent front seven. He finished with 17 carries for 120 yards and a touchdown, along with a reception for 12 yards.

He was accompanied by two-time 49er Tevin Coleman, who got more integrated into the offense today. He finished with multiple touchdowns for the day with eight carries for 23 yards and a touchdown, while doing some damage as a pass-catching back with three receptions for 44 yards and a touchdown.

Finally, fullback Kyle Juszczyk got in on the action himself with two receptions for 27 yards and a hell of a stiff arm on a hapless Panthers defender to get the 49ers a first down.

This was a good all-around offensive effort on the day for the running backs.

Grade: A

Wide Receivers

Garoppolo likes to spread the ball around, and sure enough, that was the case here today as no wide receiver found himself with more than three receptions.

As mentioned before, Aiyuk had a conversion taken away due to a penalty but was still the top player yardage-wise with three catches for 58 yards.

Samuel didn’t have the impact we’re used to him seeing, but he still had a good day out with two receptions for 20 yards and a touchdown, to go with 12 rushing yards off two carries.

Jauan Jennings shockingly outgained Deebo today with 45 yards off two receptions, including an excellent play where he caught a slant and bounced off an attempted tackle before running into the red zone.

Nobody stood out, but they held their own, and all made plays.

Grade: B-

Tight Ends

Not the best day out for George Kittle, losing a big fumble as the team was getting into good field position early in the game. He made up for it though with five receptions for 47 yards on the day.

No other stats to speak of here, although everyone blocked pretty well overall.

Grade: C+

Offensive Line

They might be down Trent Williams but the offensive line did a good job blasting open running lanes for Wilson and keeping Garoppolo upright overall, although guard Aaron Banks was flagged for multiple holding calls.

To give up only two sacks to a strong defensive line is a good effort, especially since this is not a broken offensive line by any means.

Grade: A-

49ers defensive grades vs. Panthers

Defensive Line

Losing Nick Bosa to a groin injury was a big blow, but the defensive line is so full of talent they were able to compensate easily for it against a Carolina team that’s struggled to block.

Statistically, only Charles Omenihu and rookie Drake Jackson for the defensive line, but the eyeball test shows a lot more pressure being put on Baker Mayfield.

Christian McCaffrey was kept in check on the ground too, only finding 54 yards on 14 carries (and their lone touchdown) for only 3.9 yards per carry.

Hopefully, Bosa won’t be out for a significant period of time as he is the anchor of this offensive line, but this outfit can get on just fine if it needs to.

Grade: A-

Linebackers

San Francisco did blitz a few times to help compensate for the loss of Bosa, and Carolina was not ready for it whatsoever with the linebackers actually gaining half a sack more than the defensive line. A rarity for a 49ers team that doesn’t blitz often.

Fred Warner and Demetrious Flannigan-Fowles had a sack each, with Oren Burks being credited with half a sack. A strong pass-rushing effort for them.

The linebackers did their job on the ground as well, not allowing major gains for the most part. The Panthers only got to over 300 yards of offense for the first time this season because of some extended garbage time.

Tick off another solid performance to get the job done by the best linebacker corps in football.

Grade: B+

Secondary

Did somebody say pick-six? The second in as many games for the secondary, with Emmanuel Moseley breaking the spirit of the Panthers late in the first half from which they never recovered:

https://twitter.com/49ers/status/1579221921887133696

Mayfield struggled to move the ball down the field, for the most part, repeatedly trying to challenge Charvarius Ward and repeatedly finding out that’s not a good idea.

Some of the yardage numbers for Carolina look pretty, but that’s merely a result of garbage time.

They even got in on the sack party too with Talanoa Hufanga (can we just call him Baby ‘Malu?) recording a sack and Tashaun Gipson being credited with half a sack.

Grade: A-

49ers Special Teams and Coaching Grades vs. Panthers

Special Teams Grade

The one area that probably didn’t do a good job, but in fairness, some of that was out of the 49ers’ control.

The Niners had a blocked field goal and a missed extra point (the latter by Mitch Wishnowsky due to an injury to Robbie Gould, so we can forgive that) on the day which left some points on the board. Gould did kick all his extra points and a 49-yard field goal, while Wishnowsky also managed to convert his second extra point, though that was tipped as well.

Kick returner Ray-Ray McCloud didn’t have a good game, dropping the ball a few times which mitigated any potential gains. He didn’t turn the ball over at least.

Wishnowsky had a good day himself punting at least, pinning the Panthers inside the 20 both times.

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The coverage unit itself needs some work, with Panthers kick returner Raheem Blackshear gaining 200 yards all by himself off seven kick returns at a 28.6-yard average.

Grade: C-

Coaching Grade

Good performances by Kyle Shanahan and DeMeco Ryans throughout, Ryans especially as he managed to make key adjustments to compensate for the loss of Nick Bosa. Throughout the defense put monumental pressure on Baker Mayfield, stalling drive after drive.

Speaking of Ryans, his mannerisms show why he’s the protege of now-New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh:

This was the first time all season the offense hummed along nicely too. They could have had even more points if not for the blocked field goal, the missed extra point (following a two-point conversion called back due to a penalty) and George Kittle’s fumble leaving as many as 12 points more on the board.

There’s too much to complain about, though, with a minor nitpick being that Deebo Samuel should have been given a lot more touches than he was.

But that being said, it was hardly a requirement given how well the 49ers were on offense today.

Grade: A