Halftime report: 49ers 7, Rams 7
LOS ANGELES — Here are Sunday’s first-half studs and duds as the undefeated 49ers sit tied at 7-7 with the reigning NFC champion Los Angeles Rams:
STUDS
George Kittle: He’s overcome a Friday groin injury to have a phenomenal first half: 7 receptions, 7 targets, 94 yards. Highlighting that was a 45-yard catch-and-run ended at the Rams’ 6-yard line with four defenders on him. He had a third-down conversion on their only scoring drive, and his edge block helped spring Coleman’s TD run.
The People's Tight End
#SFvsLAR pic.twitter.com/6QMD8ojP61
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 13, 2019
Goal-line stand: The 49ers’ best (only?) goal-line stand this year was sealed once they stopped Malcolm Brown for no gain on back-to-back carries from the 1. DeForest Buckner and Sheldon Day helped clog the lanes while D.J. Jones and Kwon Alexander got credited for those stops. Richard Sherman made a touchdown-saving stop at the 1 on second down. The bipartisan crowd cheered, and leading that chorus was defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
Rams go for it on 4th down at the goal line and Robert Saleh's defense has other plans. Watch the
#SFvsLAR pic.twitter.com/tVI2CfOH4m
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 13, 2019
Pass defense: The 49ers produced a third-down sack on their first pass-rush opportunity, and Ronald Blair got the credit from the five-man rush that led Goff to trip over Alexander. It was Blair’s second sack this season. Goff was under consistent pressure as he had just 27 yards on 7-of-8 passing.
Tevin Coleman: His 2-yard touchdown run, complete with a desperate dive across the goal line, capped a 10-play, 75-yard drive that pulled the 49ers even at 7. Coleman used a right-handed stiff-arm to knock down safety John Johnson en route to the goal line.
Jimmy Garoppolo: An interception in the end zone qualifies the QB as a “dud,” and he should have thrown it away as Samuel slowed his route. Overall, Garoppolo is 17-of-23 for 174 yards and a 77.1 rating. He’s been sacked only once (on the opening series) behind a line missing starting tackles Joe Staley and Mike McGlinchey. Garoppolo must avoid further issues, as linebacker Cory Littleton nearly had a pick-six just before halftime.
Pregame handshakes: Sherman shook hands and exchanged hugs with the Rams’ four captains. Monday night, Sherman believed Baker Mayfield slighted him and thus fired him up in an eventual win over the Browns, and thus evolved a lame controversy in the ensuing days that led Sherman to apologize to Mayfield.
DUDS
Fade to right: A fade pass to the right side of the end zone ended in disaster. What is this, the 2012 season’s Super Bowl? On third-and-goal from the 1, Garoppolo lobbed a pass toward Deebo Samuel, who slowed up on his route and allowed Marcus Peters to intercept the pass 12:35 before halftime.
This was apparently a throw to George Kittle. Coulda fooled me. pic.twitter.com/eRPybptpCr
— Dieter Kurtenbach (@dieter) October 13, 2019
Marquise Goodwin: A flea-flicker almost worked to perfection as Goodwin broke free down the left sideline, only to miss Garoppolo’s heave at about the Rams’ 15-yard line to open the second quarter. (Goodwin did make an 11-yard catch just before halftime.)
Robbie Gould: He came up short on a 55-yard field-goal attempt to close the first half, and that sixth miss this season (13 attempts) matched a season-high in his 15-year career.
Run defense: Aside from the goal-line stand, the 49ers started shaky. They gave up their first rushing touchdown of the season to fall behind 7-0, and it came on the Rams’ opening drive that strictly consisted of seven runs. With Todd Gurley inactive, the Rams immediately showcased their still-capable rushing attack. Malcolm Brown had five carries for 40 yards, and Robert Woods had the other two carries, including an 8-yard score around the left end. Rookie Darrell Henderson had 22- and 14-yard runs to set up a score just before halftime. The 49ers entered with the No. 5 run defense (81.8 yards per game); the Browns with the No. 22 rushing offense (96.2 ypg.).
Left tackle Justin Skule: Aaron Donald beat him around the edge for a third-down sack on the opening series. It was only the fifth sack this season of Garoppolo, who held the ball too long in a collapsing pocket.
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