Keeping in mind almost everyone who played a prominent role in this game is no lock for the 53-man roster, here are your grades in the 49ers’ 17-13 loss Saturday night against the Tennessee Titans in Nashville:
PASS OFFENSE C
A couple of key drops hurt the stats (Tay Martin, Ronnie Bell) of starting quarterback Brandon Allen, who was 7 of 13 for 98 yards but looked better than that. Joshua Dobbs was 14 of 20 for 146 yards with a Hail Mary interception on the game’s final play. Dobbs is the one with the $2.25 million guarantee, but it was Allen who looked more at home in the system and has since camp opened. Dobbs’ ability to run was displayed on a 6-yard touchdown, but he took a 15-yard sack needlessly against a Tennessee blitz. Tanner Mordecai did not get in the game. Pass blocking of mostly reserve linemen was spotty.
Here comes the BOOM @ccam42
: Watch #SFvsTEN on @WKRN and NFL+ pic.twitter.com/GRN8dNMQBq
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) August 11, 2024
RUN OFFENSE C
The 49ers averaged just 3.5 yards per attempt (19 carries, 67 yards) but in his one drive Jordan Mason (6 carries, 34 yards) was breaking tackles and carrying defenders. If Shanahan is serious about reducing Christian McCaffrey’s work load for the long haul, Mason could gain 500 yards or more this season if he remains healthy. Cory Schrader, the undrafted free agent from Missouri, had 6 yards on five carries and Matt Brieda zero yards on six carries. Taylor got 21 yards on a reverse. After Mason, there was no consistency on the ground.
PASS DEFENSE C
A trio of Titans quarterbacks were 19 of 29 for 199 yards and one touchdown. The 49ers were beaten fairly consistently on passes in the flat and gave up passing gains of 36, 22, 18, 17, 12 and 10 yards against a team that will probably have a subpar passing attack and has three mostly shaky quarterbacks in Will Levis, Mason Rudolph and Malik Willis.
The rook trucked ’em at Nissan Stadium
NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4nCVJ pic.twitter.com/MW5hO0biGq
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) August 11, 2024
RUN DEFENSE C
The highlight of the game was rookie Malik Mustapha stuffing Julius Chestnut on a play near the goal line where Chesnut was originally given a first down but the play was reversed on appeal. It was a highlight reel hit and something Mustapha was unable to deliver in training camp since there is no tackling to the ground. But the Titans ran the ball 36 times for 138 yards, and while the 3.6 average wasn’t impressive, it helped compile a 35:19 to 24:41 advantage in time of possession.
SPECIAL TEAMS D
Tennessee’s first kickoff return was 63 yards by Kearis Jackson, who averaged 40.5 on two returns. The 49ers did not damage with Travis Taylor returning kickoffs (19.7 average on three returns) or punts (4 yards on his only return). Schrader did have a 33-yard kickoff return in the second half. The 49ers attempted no field goals. In what may be his only game as a 49er if Mitch Wishnowsky (knee irritation) is healthy, Pressley Harvin III punted five times for a 43.2 gross and 34.0 net. His first punt was returned 26 yards by Jha’Quan Jackson.
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COACHING C
Shanahan was called for being on the field of play while he was reviewing the previous series on his tablet. The 49ers did not game-planning but appeared to get out of the game without a debilitating injury. Hats off to Klay Kubiak or Shanahan (whoever made the call) after the Dobbs touchdown in going for two points, making overtime an impossibility. They didn’t get it, but it hardly mattered. It was the thought that counts. End this thing. Play-caller Kubiak’s opening series was a the highlight of the game. Nick Sorensen’s first game as defensive play-caller had little flair as the 49ers played it safe.