49ers-Cowboys film breakdown: C.J. Beathard sacked 5 times

The San Francisco 49ers allowed five sacks on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, and looked poor on the other side of the ball when it came to getting after Dak Prescott.

San Francisco started rookie C.J. Beathard at quarterback, and the absolute worst case scenario going in was the offensive line not giving him enough time. Beathard rarely had enough time and his receivers rarely got open in time.

Most worryingly, the worst offensive lineman in the game, from my point of view, was Joe Staley. And just as worryingly, Staley was the worst lineman in previous games as well. It seems he’s finally lost a step, and I think that is born out when you see the film.

Speaking of film, we’re going to jump right into an analysis of the five sacks allowed by the 49ers.

12:19 of 1st Quarter, 2nd and 8 from SF 27: Beathard sacked at SF 26 for -1 yard (D. Wilson)

Joe Staley is the one who first loses containment on his man. He does get his guy far outside, but it’s play action and Staley should be well aware that wasn’t far enough. Garret Celek also loses his man, but by then Beathard is already on the move. I like the hustle from Trent Brown to give his guy one last shove.

I didn’t like Beathard attempting to run this ball the first time I saw it, so let’s check out the coaches film. After looking at it, I think Beathard made a big mistake. When he gets out of the pocket, his receiver at the top of the screen is open on a comeback and it’s a throw that an elite quarterback makes. Beathard isn’t there yet. Bad play from a few key players, including Beathard.

1:14 of 1st Quarter, 3rd and 11 from DAL 43: Beathard sacked at SF 45 for -12 yards (D. Irving)

One again, it’s Staley who struggles. Laken Tomlinson doesn’t do any good in his assignment, and is too late to realize that Staley is struggling. That forces Beathard, who has sort of a pump fake, outside. But Daniel Kilgore’s man gets free and his closing speed on Beathard is astounding. Beathard has no chance. But what was he seeing?

When Beathard pump fakes, it looks like he’s looking at the outside man, which is a shame because at the same time, his guy in the middle of the field gets open. He has nobody egregiously open though, not until the receiver at the bottom of the screen gets free, but Beathard is already being hassled at that point.

7:18 of 2nd Quarter, 2nd and 12 from SF 44: Beathard sacked at SF 36 for -8 yards (T. Crawford)

Celek is the one who loses his man here, and Carlos Hyde does a poor job of trying to chip the blocker. Brown also loses his man, or he’s passing him off to Brandon Fusco, but really, it’s on Celek and Hyde.

When Beathard finishes his dropback, he has nobody even remotely close to being open, and shortly after finishing that dropback, he’s got a guy in his face. At no point is there any danger to the Cowboys in the second level.

0:46 of 2nd Quarter, 2nd and 5 from DAL 5: Beathard sacked at DAL 14 for -9 yards (D. Lawrence) FUMBLES, recovered by DAL

I didn’t include the coaches film for this gif because it’s in the red zone and there really isn’t anything to be gained from it. Staley, once again, gets beat by the outside man and that outside man annihilates Beathard, who has nobody open. He might have a shot at Marquise Goodwin at the right corner, but before Goodwin can clear the linebackers, he’s getting hit.

0:03 of 3rd Quarter, 2nd and 4 from SF 42: Beathard sacked at SF 36 for -6 yards (J. Smith) FUMBLES, recovered by DAL

This is just a poorly called play. The 49ers can’t handle the delayed blitz, and bunch up far too much on the left side. Staley and Tomlinson are both on one guy for the most part. Hyde blocks a guy, but Beathard is not prepared for this hit to his blindside.

This is a second and short, so I’m expecting a quick pass. Beathard doesn’t have anybody super open, but he has throws he can make if he leads his guys on the right side, and on the left, he has to guys past the line of scrimmage who are well away from the guys covering them. Unfortunately, Beathard is looking to his right, not his left, where the open guys are.