The San Francisco 49ers are 3-0, but paid a heavy price with the loss of Nick Bosa for the season with a torn ACL. The defense allowed 13 points, with two coming on a safety, and the offense did enough
with a game-winning drive to set up Eddy Piniero to drill the game-winning kick as time expired.
The 49ers’ defense stepped up after Bosa exited the game. Through three weeks, Robert Saleh and the defense look like a top ten unit, even with the loss of Bosa. The 49ers’ offense has answered the bell when the opportunity calls for it. Overall, the 49ers haven’t played a full, crisp game on both sides of the ball as of yet, and that is a big reason for optimism, along with the incoming reinforcements.
Which two players bounced back in Week 3?
Defense: Renardo Green
Following his Week 2 performance in New Orleans, where Green allowed four catches for 70 yards with a Chris Olave drop that could have been a touchdown, Green was targeted once on Sunday and allowed zero catches. Yes, Green was flagged for pass interference in the end zone, which led to Arizona’s first touchdown, but Sunday was a bounce-back for the second-year cornerback.
Pro Football Focus assigned a 37.8 coverage grade to Green in New Orleans; that grade jumped to 63.0 against Arizona after not allowing a catch. When targeted, Green allowed an NFL passer rating of 39.6 on Sunday. After two weeks of teams attacking Green, most likely to stay away from Deommodore Lenoir, the former Florida State cornerback had an excellent Week 3. The goal will be to maintain this level of play with Bosa’s injury. Green and the secondary will need to tighten their coverage to help offset the loss of Bosa.
Offense: Ricky Pearsall
Pearsall didn’t play poorly in New Orleans by any stretch. Six targets turned into four catches and 56 yards, but Mac Jones and Pearsall failed to connect on a deep, walk-in touchdown against the Saints. Pearsall should have had a bigger day in New Orleans, but Jauan Jennings was active and added a touchdown to give the 49ers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Fast forward to last Sunday, Pearsall was the clear number one target with Jennings inactive against Arizona. Eleven targets, eight catches, 117 yards, and a massive fourth-down conversion to set up the first touchdown drive of the game, while being the focus of Arizona’s secondary, is impressive. The second-year receiver is growing before our eyes, and it has fans dreaming of the moment Pearsall is on the field with Brandon Aiyuk.
