49ers midseason position grades issue 'barely passing' marks

If someone told a San Francisco 49ers fan before the season that All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey would not played a snap, Pro Bowl defensive tackle Javon Hargrave was out for the year, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL and MCL, and the Niners were only one game worse than the 2023 season heading into the bye, they would first be terrified at what happened, but probably relieved.

Despite the constant fluctuations of the 49ers season, they do enter their Week 9 bye only one game off their pace last year. Of course, they never had a losing record in 2023, and the games they lost this season have stung particularly more, with multiple blown leads.

A 4-4 record does not feel so bad with that in mind, yet with the heightened expectations for San Francisco heading into the season, everything feels disappointing.

It's difficult to grade the Niners outside that context. That said, the early season has brought surprise performances and readied the 49ers depth considerably for the back half of the season.

Consider these position grades, like San Francisco's season to date, a work-in-progress.

After all, there's still half a season to go.

49ers Offensive Grades

Quarterback:

Brock Purdy's play has symbolized the 49ers' performance this entire year. At times, he has been downright lethal, pushing the ball down the field unlike ever before. Of all QBs to thrown at least 100 passes this season, Purdy has the highest air yards per attempt at 5.7.

Air yards are the number of yards down the field the ball travels in the air before being caught. The higher the number, the more a QB is pushing the ball down the field. Purdy has continued to mix the offense's rhythm with his own desire to be aggressive, resulting in more chunk plays.

The flip side, though, is that Purdy's aggressiveness may be coming at a detriment to the 49ers' offensive scheme overall. Purdy has been holding the ball longer than before in the pocket, and his propensity to try and create has caused sacks that kill drives and, in the worst case, interceptions. Purdy has thrown seven interceptions, and most of them have not been pretty.

Overall, Brock's play has been paradoxical. Calling him a game manager feels like a complete mischaracterization; in fact, Purdy may need to reign in his play and become more efficient like a game manager would be.

Grade: C+

Running Backs

The Niners' best player on offense, McCaffrey, has been out for the entire season due to bilateral tendonitis in his Achilles. Though reports indicate that CMC may return after the bye, his absence looms over the rest of the running backs. McCaffrey is one of one in his ability to impact the passing and running game; the 49ers offense has scuffled without him.

Not being McCaffrey should not ding the incredible play of the other tailbacks, though. Jordan Mason, who has clawed his way onto the roster, was third in the NFL in rushing before Monday Night Football in Week 8, and he has missed essentially a game and a half due to scrapes and bruises. He has given the Niners a lift with his physical downhill rushing style, and they've used it to good effect.

When Mason has been out, other backs have filled in well. Rookie Isaac Guerendo had a coming-out party on Sunday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys, and his speed has given San Francisco another look in the backfield. Meanwhile, Patrick Taylor Jr. has been serviceable as a pass-protecting running back. Even Kyle Juszczyk has been more involved, serving as the 49ers' primary third-down running back.

The major issue comes from an inability to impact the passing game, but again, none of them are McCaffrey.

Grade: B

Wide Receivers

San Francisco's wide receivers have been all over the place this year, and part of that has to do with availability. Aiyuk started the season off slow, due to his training camp holdout, prompting the Niners to shuffle more players in. His torn ACL and MCL ends his season right as he was beginning to find his stride. In his stead, Chris Conley and Ronnie Bell have done good work as blockers, but they have not provided much if any assistance in the passing game, and in Bell's case, their drops may have cost the 49ers a win.

The Niners' best receiver this season has been Jauan Jennings, whose injury against the Seattle Seahawks was the only way to slow down an otherwise exceptional season. Jennings has put together his savvy route running with an expanded route tree, letting him attack down the field more. His game against the Los Angeles Rams, with three touchdowns and several highlight catches, was the only reason the 49ers had a chance to begin with. Deebo Samuel Sr. has shown off his athleticism, although attempts to utilize him in his "wide back" role have been less successful.

Then come the 49ers rookies. Jacob Cowing was not targeted until Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs, and there he played well in limited snaps. Cowing's contributions this year will likely come only from special teams, though. Finally, Ricky Pearsall, the Niners' first-round draft pick, managed to make it onto the field just a few weeks after being tragically shot in the chest at the end of training camp. That, itself, is an incredible acheivement. The fact that he has already showcased great route-running and explosiveness is icing on the cake.

Grade: C

Tight Ends

Tight ends can be separated into two groups: George Kittle and everyone else. When Kittle is involved, good things happen. Now fifth in the 49ers' all-time receptions list, Kittle has become a focal point for Purdy, particularly in the end zone. Kittle leads San Francisco in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns heading into the bye.

The other tight ends, however, have combined for four receptions, all from Eric Saubert. The 49ers have consistently struggled to find a consistent spark from the TE2 spot, and that has continued this year as well.

Grade; B+

Offensive Line

The offensive line has been phenomenal in a few key areas and otherwise poor in others. Left tackle Trent Williams has continued his dominant ways after his holdout, and rookie Dominick Puni has been a sensation at right guard, providing needed stability. However, both center Jake Brendel and right tackle Colton McKivitiz have struggled at times this season in pass protection and run-blocking.

It is difficult to separate the offensive line from the quarterback, as Purdy's extended plays put extra stress on the linemen to block for inordinate periods of time.

But overall, the unit has played well, all things considered.

Grade: C+

49ers Defensive Grades

Defensive Line

Nick Bosa only has five sacks on the season, not even cracking the top 10 in the NFL. However, according to Pro Football Focus, he has 46 pressures, leading the NFL. The number of "almost" sacks Bosa has had is symbolic of the defense this season, and particularly the defensive line.

The other edge rushers, with roughly 100 more snaps among themselves, have combined for the same number of pressures, but three more sacks. The best performer out of that group is Sam Okuayinonu, a practice squad addition at the beginning of the season who has been a complete revelation.

The Niners defensive tackles have been decent but not spectacular, cobbling together a threat without Javon Hargrave for the rest of the year.

As a team, the 49ers have struggled at times to command the line of scrimmage. They rank in the top-10 in the NFL for rushing yards per game and play, but that has more to do with game script and teams passing the ball in the end of games against San Francisco.

Overall though, the defensive line certainly has another gear to find in the second half.

Grade: C+

Linebackers

The linebackers are a tale of two groups: Fred Warner and everyone not named Fred Warner.

Warner leads the team with 66 tackles, has one sack, two interceptions, one touchdown, six pass defenses, and he leads the NFL with four forced fumbles. This does not include his otherwise game-breaking coverage in the middle of the field, the most subtle yet impactful of Warner's contributions.

He is in the shortlist for Defensive Player of the Year.

The other linebackers have not come close to Warner's level, which is almost impossible. But DeVondre Campbell and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, the 49ers' other starting linebackers to begin the season, have two of the four worst PFF grades for the team. Flannigan-Fowles, the third linebacker, has not played many snaps, but the continued injuries to Dee Winters kept this linebacking group teetering.

The linebacking grade is a mix of the amazing play of Warner and the not-so-amazing play of everyone else.

Grade: B-

Secondary

The Niners secondary has been, from top to bottom, the best defensive position group, largely because of its depth. Cornerback Mooney Ward has not lived up to his lofty play from last year, but he has been more than serviceable. On the other side, though, Deommodore Lenoir co-leads the 49ers with two interceptions and has excelled in his contract year, locking down the slot position. Rookie Renardo Green has been a revelation at the other outside spot with his own ball skills on full display.

The depth has extended to the secondary elsewhere, too, where the primary actors have excelled. Rookie Malik Mustapha burst on the scene to replace the injured Talanoa Hufanga, and the former has played excellent in support. Ji'Ayir Brown has been equally solid in the safety tandem, with an interception of his own.

There have been growing pains and miscues, but the unit overall has helped stabilize the defense

Grade: B-

49ers Special Teams and Coaching Grades

49ers Special Teams

Special teams has cost the Niners at least two games this year, and it may in fact be more. The return game has been relatively ineffective (although not actively damaging), and they've only missed one field goal the entire year, which is perhaps the only bright side for the unit.

The 49ers rank 31st in the NFL in net yards per punt and have allowed at least one punt to decide a game for them, against the Rams. They have been ineffective on kickoff coverage, which reared its ugly head when starting kicker Jake Moody had to make a tackle and sprained his ankle. They have allowed a blocked punt, muffed a kickoff return, and given up a kick-return touchdown.

All in all, this has been San Francisco's unquestioned worst aspect.

Grade: F

49ers Coaching

Grading coaching is difficult because the line of responsibility between execution and preparation can be difficult to see on the football field.

That said, there are a couple key areas where the coaches have struggled this year.

Kyle Shanahan's normally robust game plans have been significantly stalled in the red zone, leading to the 49ers' average record despite an above-average offensive performance. Without McCaffrey, it has seemed as though the offense cannot work through the condensed area of red zone, and part of that comes from a lack of originality from the play calling.

Defensively, Nick Sorensen's first year at the helm has produced an inconsistent product. The 49ers have been capable of dominant performances, like their third quarter against the Dallas Cowboys, but they have also given up back-breaking plays and have lacked a certain edge to them. It is not clear if that is solely on Sorensen, but it is his onus as defensive coordinator to help the Niners find their spark.

Grade: C-

The 49ers, at 4-4, are not currently a dominant team, nor are they close to a finished product. But, luckily for them, they enter the bye in striking range of the division lead and all their goals ahead of them.

If they can pull things together, these grades, and their season, will trend upwards.

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