Grading the San Francisco 49ers at quarter mark of 2022 NFL season
Jesse Reed • Oct 04, 2022
The San Francisco 49ers are in first place in the NFC West four games into the 2022 NFL season. It's time for some grades.
If you asked me a month ago how I'd feel about the San Francisco 49ers going 2-2 to start the 2022 NFL season, my response wouldn't be very positive. After all, the team's schedule was supposed to be a relative cakewalk early on, if there is such a thing at this level.
My, my how perceptions change. The injury bug has bitten into this squad with a vengeance, forcing Kyle Shanahan and his revamped coaching staff into some tough situations.
There is plenty to be excited about as the 49ers move into the second quarter of their long campaign, though. Sitting in first place in the NFC West, San Francisco is in great shape to keep stacking wins and establish itself as a dominant force in a conference that seems to be defined by mediocrity.
I'll be looking at what's next for the 49ers a bit later this week. Right now, it's time to take a critical look at the team. On to the grades!
Offense: C-
Losing Trey Lance, Elijah Mitchell, Trent Williams (and his backup, Colton McKivitz), Tyrion Davis-Price, George Kittle, and Tyler Kroft to injury has taken its toll on the San Francisco offense. It's impossible to overstate just how difficult it is to overcome attrition like that, especially so early in the season.
That being said, the 49ers offense must be held to the highest possible standard given the other players thathavebeen available. And, of course, because offensive guru Kyle Shanahan is running the show.
The 49ers are averaging just325 yards of offense per game, which is the ninth-worst total in the NFL. They are also scoring just under 18 points per game, which is tied for fifth-worst in the league.
Clearly, the injury to Lance has complicated matters. Even with Lance, the 49ers were going to be in a feeling-out process early on in 2022. Now that it's the Jimmy Garoppolo show once more, and given the fact he didn't have a training camp or preseason with the club, it will take time for the offense to rediscover its identity.
The thing that bothers me is that, philosophically, the 49ers appear to not be playing to their strengths right now. Since Garoppolo took over for Lance, the run game has taken a back seat to the passing game. In his two starts, Garoppolo has thrown 56 passes, and the 49ers have run the ball just 41 times.
You give Garoppolo that many chances, and there's a good chance he will throw the ball to the other team. He was brutal against the Denver Broncos.This is well documented. Garoppolo also had some scary throws against the Los Angeles Rams and continued his trend of missing wide-open guys.
Heck, his 57-yard touchdown to Deebo Samuel Monday night was nearly a pick-six the other way.
Deebo went 57 yards to the house after making multiple Rams defenders miss 😤
If the 49ers are going to climb the rankings on the offensive side of the ball, they absolutelymust establish a consistent rushing attack. This is a team that is defined by its physicality. In years past, the offense won by dominating the time-of-possession battle and by stacking first downs. The past two games, the 49ers have a grand total of 26 first downs and lost that battle in both of them.
History has taught us that Garoppolo, if given enough opportunities, will turn the ball over. Run the damn ball, Kyle.
Defense: A+
The 49ers currently feature the best defense in the NFL. It's not a matter of opinion. It's just a fact.
San Francisco is first in total yards allowed, second in both passing and rushing yards allowed, first in points allowed, and has the best pass-rushing defense in the league.
Nick Bosa is currently on pace for 25.5 sacks and an absurd 128 pressures in 2022, currently leading the NFL with six sacks and 30 quarterback pressures.
Samson Ebukam is playing the best ball of his career right now, and everywhere you look on the defensive line guys are making plays.
Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw are sideline-to-sideline demons who give guys fits in coverage, and they are both dynamic playmakers against the run.
Emmanuel Moseley, Charvarius Ward, and Deommodore Lenoir may be the best trio at cornerback in the league. That theory will be tested soon enough when the Kansas City Chiefs come to town on October 23. But right now, they are putting clamps on dudes, complementing the pass rush to perfection.
Oh, and there's this guy named Talanoa Hufanga. You may have heard of him.
Instincts, smarts and athleticism. All through the roof. He's a future All-Pro and may hit that esteemed mark in this, his second career season at the age of 22.
Star safety Jimmie Ward will soon be back after missing the first part of the season with a hamstring injury, but in his stead Tashaun Gipson has been outstanding.
Simply put, the 49ers have All-Pro players at all three levels.
Tying it all together is the best defensive coordinator in football, DeMeco Ryans. His play-calling instincts have become nightmarish for opposing offenses. With all these stars to execute his vision we're witnessing art and beauty on the football field.
Special Teams: B
The 49ers recently gave punter Mitch Wishnowsky a nice contract extension, and he's definitely earning his paychecks. Field position is a huge part of the NFL game, and Wishnowsky is doing an outstanding job of helping the 49ers win that battle.
Nine times (out of 18 total punts), Wishnowsky has pinned opponents inside their own 20-yard line., and he executed the punt of the season in Denver during Week 3. He's also giving the team's coverage unit excellent opportunities to stop returners in their tracks, allowing just three yards per return attempt, which is second in the NFL.
#49ers
Mitch Wishnowsky is your NFC Special Teams Player of the Month 👏
The reason that San Francisco's special teams aren't getting an "A" grade is that kicker Robbie Gould hooked an easy 42-yard field goal against the Rams. Additionally, Ray-Ray McCloud has been underwhelming as a kick returner, and he nearly turned it over when he coughed up a fumble on Monday night.
With their defense and special teams playing at very high levels, the 49ers have a lot to build on going forward.
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