Offensive Line
Rams – 1st run blocking, 9th pass protection (according to Football Outsiders)
49ers – 2nd run blocking, 26th pass protection
The biggest obstacle to the 49er pass rush reproducing its Week 6 performance in Week 7 is a stellar offensive line. Ranked ninth in Adjusted Sack Rate allowed by Football Outsiders, the Rams have done an excellent job of giving Goff time to execute what most believe to be the best scheme in the NFL.
Gurley has also benefited significantly from superb play up front. Football Outsiders ranks the Rams O-line first in Adjusted Line Yards, which takes all running back carries and assigns responsibility to the line, with an average of 5.68.
San Francisco’s O-line, which has flourished with the additions of Weston Richburg, Mike McGlinchey and Mike Person, is second with 4.99, but ranks a lowly 26th in Adjusted Sack Rate having given up 20 sacks this season.
However, those numbers are not entirely reflective of the play of the line, but rather the collective inability of first Jimmy Garoppolo and now Beathard to get rid of the ball quick enough. McGlinchey and Joe Staley in particular have been excellent in recent weeks, but it is the play of the guys on the interior that may be most important to keeping Beathard clean and putting him in a position to move the ball.