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The San Francisco 49ers earned a big win over a good team in the Tennessee Titans, moving to 3-0 in their last three games, all started by Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback.
It wasn’t a perfect game on either side of the ball. I’m not feeling good about where the run blocking is at right now, and many will blame Carlos Hyde, but it’s hardly on him. Trent Taylor had a bad drop, and those are infuriating. Luckily, that was most of the trouble for the offense.
On the defensive side of the ball, things got ugly. Dontae Johnson had another bad game and there were some ugly penalties.
As usual, we’re going to take a quick stroll through some of the highlights I posted on my Twitter throughout the game. These aren’t in-depth film breakdowns, and they follow no pattern other than the fact that this one is about the offensive side of the ball. Let’s get to it.
OPI on Goodwin?
Titans player with a fist full of facemask, 49ers OPI. Cause of course. pic.twitter.com/zzzaOCvnUL
— James Brady (@JamesBradySBN) December 18, 2017
This is one that really upsets me, because the broadcast also got it so wrong. They talked about blocking after a certain number of yards, but I don’t see any kind of offensive pass interference here. I see a wide receiver blocking. If that’s not OK, how do screen passes even exist? Not to mention the Titans player has a fist full of Goodwin’s helmet.
Bourne time?
Marquise Goodwin pulls the coverage back, and Kendrick Bourne is more than happy to pick up a nice chunk of yardage. Thank you, Goodwin. #49ers #TENvsSF pic.twitter.com/Q5jjHvWbir
— James Brady (@JamesBradySBN) December 18, 2017
Kendrick Bourne is wide open on this play, thanks to Goodwin pushing back the coverage due to him being an established deep threat. Great route, great pass, great catch, great everything. Just a real solid play.
This was ugly
Garoppolo sacked. This play had no chance. pic.twitter.com/gIR2u5dN59
— James Brady (@JamesBradySBN) December 17, 2017
The 49ers didn’t really have a chance on this play. Hyde goes like he’s expecting to block someone wide, and can’t get back in time to chip the defender, who runs right over Garoppolo for the sack.
Celek wide open
Garoppolo hits Celek deep. I think even Celek was surprised by how open he was. pic.twitter.com/TQhwOMZNXc
— James Brady (@JamesBradySBN) December 17, 2017
I think Garrett Celek was just as surprised as the Titans defense in how open he managed to get on this play. He sure has played well since I suggested that the 49ers need radical changes at the tight end position!
Drops continue to hurt the 49ers
Trent Taylor with the third-down drop. Drops have hurt the 49ers bad this season, more than any other team in the league. pic.twitter.com/v9HahzTWZo
— James Brady (@JamesBradySBN) December 17, 2017
Trent Taylor has been very good this season. Good enough that I’m excited to see where he goes from here. But this drop on a perfectly-thrown pass on third down really hurts. The 49ers lead the league in drops, and Taylor isn’t helping at the moment.
Celek Time!
Garoppolo rolls out and ... hang on, let me check my watch. Yes, it's Celek time. #49ers pic.twitter.com/eissyiyqy0
— James Brady (@JamesBradySBN) December 17, 2017
Speaking of Celek time, here’s some Celek time for ya’ll. Garoppolo makes a great play, rolling out, keeping calm, and finding Celek. This play could have gone poorly in so many different ways. In years past, it would have. Heck, four weeks ago, it would have. But now it’s a touchdown.
Tomlinson, get out of the way
Laken Tomlinson's stomach makes a good tackle on teammate Trent Taylor. #49ers pic.twitter.com/6I18kb5z20
— James Brady (@JamesBradySBN) December 17, 2017
Here is Taylor making a catch, trying to get something going and ... running into Laken Tomlinson’s stomach. At the very least, Tomlinson didn’t seem egregiously bad in pass protection on Sunday. But he also couldn’t do anything as a run blocker.
50/50?
That looked like Walden's INT on first glance. But replay looks a lot like it was more even, or Goodwin. pic.twitter.com/yh4JHrqJwB
— James Brady (@JamesBradySBN) December 17, 2017
This one was a very hard judgement call. Watching live, I thought the Titans player clearly caught it. But looking at this angle on the replay, I feel like Goodwin either had enough of it, or it was close enough to 50/50 that it makes sense it wans’t overturned.
Couple Goodwin catches
Oh, hello Marquise Goodwin. You happy about the QB change? pic.twitter.com/Tqerz5kjbp
— James Brady (@JamesBradySBN) December 17, 2017
Marquise Goodwin continues to make his case! pic.twitter.com/9w3cGIXIsP
— James Brady (@JamesBradySBN) December 17, 2017
Here are a couple catches from Marquise Goodwin, because why not? He had himself a game, and is making a very strong case for being a starter going into the offseason and into next year, a year where the 49ers are expected to try and upgrade the wide receiver position.