The 49ers, who had a slow start facing the Chiefs, got a fast start against the Chargers but couldn't keep the momentum going in the second half. Linebacker Reuben Foster said the defense was moving in “slow motion” later in the game and added “That’s not our defense.”
Foster, however, was happy and proud of the large number of 49ers fans in the stadium. He said it “does something to us” adding to the level of adrenaline on game day. Of the 27,000 plus fans in the stadium, the predominant color was red. Niners chants were heard throughout the game, and they were louder, or at least as loud, as any Chargers cheers.
One of the issues that the defense continues to have is missed tackles. Foster himself finished the day with five solo tackles, two combined, one quarterback hit and one tackle for a loss. While Foster confirmed that the team has worked on it in practice, they need to “harp on it” and have consistency throughout the entire game and “play our ball.” He added that “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish” which is what the team has been unable to do in the last two games.
What Foster continues to be proud of, is his quarterback, C.J. Beathard who has shown incredible toughness. Beathard finished the day 23 of 37 for 298 yards passing. He threw two touchdowns and two interceptions, but it could be argued that one of interceptions was definitely not his fault, getting coughed up by Garrett Celek.
Foster on Beathard’s attitude and grit:
Like I said, he ain’t no Roody-poo. He ain’t sweet. There’s nothing sweet about C.J. That’s why we got faith and we believe in C.J. but it’s really not surprising but it was surprising, I could see it in his eyes every time he came on the sidelines, “Defense, let’s go, we got your back, we run with y’all. Just by him saying that, just means a lot to me, and the defense because we know where his head was at.
The team will regroup after incurring more injuries in Los Angeles and may have to bring players in to work out at several positions. Thankfully, for now, linebacker is not one of them as Fred Warner and Malcolm Smith remain healthy with Foster.