Grading the eight 49ers to watch in Week 10 at Jaguars
Huge questions surrounded the San Francisco 49ers during their three-game losing streak. Those concerns have now been emphatically dismissed after 34-3 rout of the AFC South-leading Jacksonville Jaguars on the road in Week 10. San Francisco's offense exploded for 437 total yards while a defense that has come in for significant criticism held the Jaguars […]
Huge questions surrounded the San Francisco 49ers during their three-game losing streak.
Those concerns have now been emphatically dismissed after 34-3 rout of the AFC South-leading Jacksonville Jaguars on the road in Week 10.
San Francisco's offense exploded for 437 total yards while a defense that has come in for significant criticism held the Jaguars to 221 and forced four turnovers in an outstanding bounce-back effort in edge rusher Chase Young's debut following his trade from the Washington Commanders.
We picked out eight players to watch prior to the game, identifying their performances as being key to the 49ers' hopes of getting back on track and improving to 6-3.
With a massive victory in the books, let's reflect on their efforts and grade those eight players. Unsurprisingly, most of them received high marks.
Christian McCaffrey – A
McCaffrey was on the list of 49ers to watch largely because of the touchdown record he was chasing.
Despite a concerted effort from the Niners late in the fourth quarter, the 49ers could not get McCaffrey into the endzone and help him become the outright holder of the record for the most successive games with a touchdown (regular season and postseason).
Still, McCaffrey’s devastating impact as a runner and a receiver was there for all to see as he finished with 142 yards from scrimmage.
Deebo Samuel – A
McCaffrey’s impact was furthered by the return of Deebo Samuel, with the gravity of having both players on the field putting tremendous strain on the Jacksonville defense from the jump.
Samuel essentially put the game to bed with a 23-yard run on an end around to make it 27-3 to the 49ers. He finished with 59 yards from scrimmage.
Trent Williams – A
San Francisco’s All-Pro left tackle moved better than anybody could have thought coming off an ankle injury.
He was his traditionally dominant self in pass protection and was consistently marauding down the field on runs to the outside, helping the 49ers’ rushing attack resume normal service.
Afterwards, he revealed he was only playing at "75-80 percent". That's a scary statement for the 49ers' forthcoming opponents.
Spencer Burford – A
The best thing you can say about right guard Burford, who had endured some significant struggles in recent weeks, is that his name was only called once, and that was when his push helped McCaffrey get a first down on the 49ers’ second field goal drive.
Going against a deep Jacksonville front that throws plenty of different looks at interior linemen, that is a big achievement by a much-maligned player.
Chase Young – A
Young wasn’t on the field for the first series of the game when the 49ers set the tone by forcing a quick three-and-out, but he quickly made an impact when he did get in the game, helping a revitalised San Francisco pass rush disrupt Trevor Lawrence throughout a dominant display.
Lawrence was sacked five times, with the highlight coming when former Ohio State teammates Young and Nick Bosa met at the quarterback to force a fumble and end a promising Jags drive.
One game in, the blockbuster trade of the deadline looks like an emphatic win for the Niners.
Arik Armstead – B
Armstead was picked as a player to watch with Javon Hargrave having suffered a knee injury earlier in the week in practice.
As it turned out, Hargrave played and was the more impactful interior rusher, but Armstead also had a big say himself. Registering a half sack after recording two against the Bengals before the bye.
Fred Warner – A
The pressure on Warner was significant, given the decision to move defensive coordinator Steve Wilks down to the sideline from the coaching booth was motivated by a desire for a better communication with the linebackers, specifically green dot wearer Warner.
In terms of defensive performance, there’s no arguing with the results of a dominant showing, and Warner’s individual display was that of a player sure of the adjustments being called, the best linebacker in the game having a typically massive influence.
Warner had seven tackles and an interception of Trevor Lawrence, his another performance that served to banish the memory of a hugely underwhelming defensive effort against the Bengals before the bye.
Isaiah Oliver – Incomplete
Oliver was conspicuous by his absence after a porous display in coverage versus Cincinnati last time out.
The 49ers’ starting slot corner was essentially benched, the 49ers kicking Deommodore Lenoir inside on nickel downs and moving Ambry Thomas to the outside.
Thomas held up well and forced a key redzone fumble that he retuned for a touchdown only for a penalty to wipe out the score. Oliver may be spending a lot more time on the bench.
Bonus: Brock Purdy – A
We stuck to non-quarterbacks on our list, but it’s impossible to leave Purdy out.
Under huge pressure after throwing six interceptions over the course of their three-game losing streak, Purdy did not commit a turnover, though his opening touchdown throw to Brandon Aiyuk was extremely risky, his performance defined by the poise and confidence that have been key features of his remarkable rise.
He finished 19 of 26 for 293 yards and three touchdowns with a passer rating of 148.9 and produced the finest throw of his NFL career on a 66-yard bomb to George Kittle to start the second half. As responses to pressure go, it’s tough to produce better.
Christian McCaffrey denied history in 49ers-Jaguars
They did everything to try get him the record.
