And he’s got a good case
The 49ers’ defense allowed a season-high 29 points in Arizona. However, the team was without Javon Hargrave and Arik Armstead, with Deommodore Lenoir suffering an injury during the game. Charvarius Ward stepped up on Sunday and was active following his injury against Seattle. The focus becomes who will be available for Monday’s possible Super Bowl preview with the Baltimore Ravens.
Let’s look at the defensive snap counts and grades from Sunday.
Defensive Line – Nick Bosa 47 (84.8), Javon Kinlaw 45 (25.7), Kevin Givens 42 (38.5), Chase Young 40 (55.4), Randy Gregory 39 (57.4), Clelin Ferrell 30 (43.1), T.Y. McGill 29 (28.1), Kalia Davis 13 (40.6), Robert Beal Jr. 11 (50.3)
The line finished with 14 total pressures, three sacks, a QB hit, and ten hurries. After the injuries to the line, the team was down to their last few players. T.Y. McGill was recently activated off the practice squad, and Robert Beal, Jr has 22 total snaps on the season.
Nick Bosa led the team with three pressures. Javon Kinlaw, Chase Young, Clelin Ferrell, and McGill tied with two pressures. Beal, Jr and Randy Gregory each had one pressure.
Bosa, Kinlaw, and Young each had a sack. Bosa finished with a pass-rushing grade of 90.0.
Linebackers – Dre Greenlaw 62 (44.1), Fred Warner 62 (85.5), Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles 27 (52.4), Dee Winters 12 (29.0)
Fred Warner led the team with eight tackles and the second-highest coverage grade of 90.1. The issue is back with missed tackles. Warner finished with a tackling grade of 29.1 and missed three tackles (27.3 percent).
Dre Greenlaw had seven tackles of his own but finished with a 35.0 coverage grade.
Secondary – Ji’Ayir Brown 74 (59.6), Charvarius Ward 62 (90.8), Tashaun Gipson Sr 62 (57.3), Deommodore Lenoir 56 (84.0), Ambry Thomas 47 (61.6), Isaiah Oliver 18 (77.1), Darrell Luter Jr. 12 (59.2), Samuel Womack III 12 (77.0), Logan Ryan 12 (66.7)
Mooney Ward finished with the highest defensive and coverage grade (91.9). Ward had four targets, zero receptions allowed, and two interceptions on Sunday. The recent stretch of play from Ward has him firmly in the conversation as an All-Pro.
Deommodore Lenoir sustained an injury on Sunday but finished with a coverage grade of 84.9. On seven targets, Lenoir allowed four receptions but only allowed 14 yards after catch.
The question becomes who will be available Monday night, and is the missed tackles issue back as the team missed 16 tackles? Both will be important in slowing down Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.
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