The San Francisco 49ers suffered defeat to the Indianapolis Colts in a preseason game defined by missed opportunities. Here we look at three big takeaways.
The San Francisco 49ers third preseason game ended in a 23-17 defeat to the Indianapolis Colts in a performance defined by missed opportunities. Jimmy Garoppolo and the rest of San Francisco’s first-stringers were superior to those of the Colts as the starters played the entire first half, and one second-half series, but struggled to find the endzone despite moving the ball well.
With the starters now set to watch the final exhibition from the sideline, Kyle Shanahan and his team can look ahead to the regular-season opener at the Minnesota Vikings with plenty of reasons for encouragement but also still with lots to work on.
Here we look at three big takeaways from the final tune-up for the starters.
Drops, penalties stall offense
The 49ers first-team offense easily moved the ball on the Colts, with Alfred Morris finally getting what had been a stagnant running game going.
Garoppolo was not perfect, and threw two interceptable passes in the red zone on the same series. However, playing behind an offensive line that again kept him clean, he also produced some excellent throws. A 47-yard strike to Pierre Garcon was the highlight, at least of the passes that were caught.
His best throw came on a 19-yard pass up the seam that would have been for a touchdown had tight end Cole Hikutini been able to hang on. Hikutini’s drop summed up the Niners offensive performance. The starters went 0-3 in the red zone, with promising drives derailed by a total of four drops as well as penalties.
The 49ers finished with 10 penalties for 98 yards across the board, with numerous holding infractions seeing positive plays called back as the starting offense failed to muster what its performance merited, a touchdown.
With Garoppolo under center, the Niners should not have problems putting up points when competitive football starts. However, better execution, particularly inside the 20, will be required to make sure they do.
Armstead returns fuels improved pass rush
An inability to get to the quarterback has long since been the Achilles heel of the Niner defense. They have attempted to fix that problem with continued investment in the defensive line and the first-round pick who has received the most scrutiny helped that group deliver an improved display.
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Arik Armstead, the 17th overall pick in 2015, returned from a hamstring issue and consistently collapsed the pocket from his big end spot, enabling the Niners to affect both the pass and the run on a consistent basis.
The Colts were limited to 2.3 yards per carry on the ground yet, while Andrew Luck was regularly pressured, the frustration for the 49ers will be that they only ended the game with one sack.
Solomon Thomas, rushing from the interior, and DeForest Buckner produced the pressure that led to Jeremiah Attaochu sacking Luck, yet the Niners wasted multiple opportunties to add to their tally. San Francisco’s defensive staff will be pleased by the disruption generated by the D-Line but, as with the offense in the red zone, the Niners cannot afford to waste so many chances when the regular season rolls around.
Elsewhere on the defense, Richard Sherman made both his preseason and 49ers debut and came through his half of play with no issues. The former Seattle Seahawk was only tested once and recorded a pass breakup on a short Luck throw to Ryan Grant. There was nothing to suggest Sherman is not all the way back from his Achilles surgery, but the Vikings figure to challenge him more in Week 1.
Morris makes his mark
Morris’ debut with the Niners could hardly have gone better. The former Washington Redskins tailback made a huge and perhaps decisive claim for the third running back spot as he rushed for 84 yards on 17 carries, a clip of 4.9 yards per run.
Running room has been hard to find for almost every 49ers back in the preseason, but Morris demonstrated vision and elusiveness to make the most of the holes the offensive line opened, while also proving supremely effective in short yardage.
It is the last point that may well have won Morris the job. Until Morris signed prior to the game with the Houston Texans, the Niners did not have a back on the roster who was proven in short yardage and goal-line situations. Morris consistently fell forward to convert on third-and-short situations against the Colts, offering the Niners an extra dimension to what Jerick McKinnon and Matt Breida provide.
For all the talk surrounding young backs Joe Williams and Jeremy McNichols, it appears a late-season veteran addition is the player the 49ers should have the most confidence in to fill the third-string role.