Re-Focused: 49ers @ Rams, Week 17

Job done for the San Francisco 49ers.

The end result was slightly less comfortable than it both should and might have been for the position they got themselves into, but they got that crucial bye week and at least one home playoff game on their first visit in a decade. The 49ers pushed the envelope giving extensive play to some backups and the Rams pushed them all the way with a late comeback, but at the end of the day, the 49ers have earned two weeks off.

For the St Louis Rams, this was a fine effort in what was–if you believe the reports–the final game for head coach Steve Spagnuolo. While some fine performances almost gave them another upset win over a playoff team, the Rams’ shortcomings on offense and defense bit them again. Once the uncertainty over the future of their head coach and general manager are decided, attention will turn to free agency and the draft. How to turn around the fortunes of a team that hasn’t had a winning season 2003?

Here are some intriguing performances from the final regular season outing for each squad.

San Francisco – Three Performances of Note

Filling the Void

With injuries affecting a number of the receivers still on the roster and Braylon Edwards cut this week, the San Francisco 49ers' receiving corps looked a touch thin on the ground coming into this game. Coming out of this game San Francisco’s Top 10 draft picks have re-asserted themselves as two players that could carry this passing game far enough to complement the defense and running game for a deep playoff run. With the 49ers in a hole at receiver both Michael Crabtree (+2.3) and Vernon Davis (+3.7) came up with two of their best games of the season, providing go-to targets for Alex Smith all game long. For their combined 17 catches, the two worked against eight different St. Louis defenders, making grabs irrespective of the coverage. Crabtree’s early touchdown pushing Ram corner Josh Gordy to ground set the tone and these two never looked back.

Right Side Raises Concern

If there is one area that has been a constant area of concern for the San Francisco offense it's the right side of the offensive line where Anthony Davis (-2.6) and Adam Snyder (-4.0) continue to put in performances which in a single game situation have the potential to make the 49ers playoff visit a short one. Once again, both players struggled in run blocking and in pass protection. They combined to yield a hit and eight pressures to Alex Smith and in the running game, the 49ers averaged less than 2.0 yards per carry on six rushes off right guard and right tackle. You don’t get second chances in the playoffs and if the 49ers face the Saints' blitz-happy defense in the divisional round, these two will need to raise their game.

Depth Defenders Shine

Whether you are 12-3 or 3-12, Week 17 generally offers you the opportunity to blood your depth and even though they still had a No. 2 seed to secure, the 49ers took the opportunity to do just that giving Ricky Jean-Francois (+3.1), in particular, more playing time. The 49ers’ backup defensive end (who until now was more notable for his comments regarding Andrew Luck and the SEC) took full advantage, turning in an accomplished performance. Against St Louis’ ramshackle offensive line he flashed his ability to play both the run and the pass, registering four defensive stops on the ground as well as pressuring Ram QB Kellen Clemens twice and knocking down one pass. This increase in playing time allowed Justin Smith to play a season-low 31 snaps and recharge his batteries ahead of the 49ers' playoff run.

St. Louis – Three Performances of Note

A Year to Forget Up Front

Well the season is finally over and for the Rams’ offensive line, it couldn’t come too soon. This makeshift unit can finally put a horror season behind it and move forwards in better health. By the end of the season, the Rams were playing two guards at tackle and two centers at guard and, unsurprisingly, the results were not good. Mark LeVoir (-6.0) took the starting left tackle spot back from Adam Goldberg this week and turned in his worst performance of the year, surrendering two hits to Clemens along with four pressures. In the middle of the line, Tony Wragge (-3.9) and Bryan Mattison (-3.4) were sieves against the 49ers' powerful defensive line, combining to yield a sack and eight pressures. The question for the Rams’ new coaching staff, if they get one as has been reported, will be whether they persist with the same personnel that went down injured this year or whether they re-tool. The only offensive linemen in this unit to show his class this year was Harvey Dahl (+1.6) who–even after playing the last six games of the season at tackle–was still the only Ram offensive lineman to finish the season grading positively.

No Fairytale Ending

The Rams played both squads playing for the No. 2 seed in this year’s NFC playoffs and were within a shout of putting a loss on both, but ultimately came up just short this time. It was Steven Jackson providing the heroics in that first game against the New Orleans Saints, and this time around–with Jackson leaving the game injured–it was Kellen Clemens (+2.8) supplying the sort of offensive spark the Rams have lacked all season. There were mistakes, but Clemens seemed to show the ability to throw off the shackles of a Josh McDaniels offense that has grounded the offensive talent they do have. Clemens’ touchdown scramble provided an early left and his touchdown pass at 4:57 in the fourth that cleared Donte Whitner nearly ignited a late comeback. It was a shame for Clemens that it ended in injury as the Rams came up just short of the double over the NFC’s No. 2 and No. 3 seeds.

Mixed Bag Defensively… Again

Seven more missed tackles by the St. Louis Rams this week takes their season total up to 105–31 more than the 74 they amassed last season when they fell just short of division title. Once again, the Rams were left with a tantalizing mix of the solid and the abject as they came up with enough plays to keep the 49ers in check, but rather than finishing those with a sucker punch, they allowed it in the other direction. As ever, players like Chris Long gave hope with one side of their game (+1.9 pass rush) but let down with the other (-1.3 run defense) and the big plays given up in the passing game were simply too much to overcome. There is talent hidden in this defense that still showed through this season. Long’s ability as a pass rusher was highlighted by his stunt to beat Adam Snyder at the 5:03 mark of the first and Gary Gibson showed that he can contribute on the inside with plays against Mike Iupati (Q1 1:32) and Snyder (Q2 5:22). However, at key times and in fundamental areas this defense seems to miss a beat. Fitting players into better roles with a little tinkering–reducing Long’s plays in run defense, for example–might allow this defense to flourish.

Game Notes

– Perfection. Of his 26 targeted passes Alex Smith threw 16 at either Michael Crabtree or Vernon Davis to the tune of 16 catches for 198 yards. More of the same come playoff time 49er fans will be hoping.

– Rams defensive backs missed a further six tackles in this game to take the unit’s season total up to 66.

– Quinn Porter waited until the final game of his second season as a pro to record his first offensive snap, a play on which he was targeted but failed to bring in the pass under duress from Patrick Willis.

PFF Game Ball

Snubbed of a Pro Bowl nod by Hawaii stalwart Brian Urlacher, NaVorro Bowman responded with one of his best games of the season as he carried the load with the returning Patrick Willis looking rusty after his spell on the sideline. Bowman ends the regular season with 70 defensive stops, more than Willis has recorded in any individual season from 2008-2010.