Game grades, analysis from 49ers narrow Week 10 win over Chargers

49ers Special Teams and Coaching Grades vs. Chargers

Special Teams

A blocked punt and a missed field goal mean, that despite solid work in the return game, both by Ray-Ray McCloud gaining extra yards and the coverage units keeping the Chargers with minimal gains, this was a dreadful performance by the special teams unit that hasn’t exactly shaped up all that much this year.

Grade: F

Coaching

The Niners came out flat coming out of a bye week, and that’s an indictment of coaching, but something that eventually sorted itself out.

The real issue was a growing trend with Kyle Shanahan: conservative calls on third and fourth downs.

The 49ers had 3rd-and-goal from the 1-yard line on three separate occasions, and they wound up with 12 points. For a team that had a clear advantage in the trenches, one touchdown on three tries is unacceptable. The most egregious decision was on 4th-and-2 with a minute to go in the game.

There’s a lack of aggressiveness San Francisco might have at times, something at odds with the roster’s violent nature on the field.

While this decision resulted in a win, not being willing to attack may cost the 49ers in the future.

Grade: C-