Quarterback grades: Christian Ponder, 77.5; QB Colin Kaepernick, 74.9; Jeff Driskel 42.5
Colin Kaepernick proves to be threat on ground
Colin Kaepernick started the game for San Francisco, and was more effective as a runner than a passer. Kaepernick was just two for eight for 25 yards on passes thrown 10+ yards downfield, but added 38 rushing yards (two attempts for 15 yards on option runs and two attempts for 23 yards on scrambles). Rookie Jeff Driskel was the next man up, but was quickly benched after two of his three pass attempts were intercepted. Driskel was replaced by Christian Ponder, who finished with a passer rating of 99.7 with a clean pocket, compared to 59.8 when pressured. Ponder added a pair of rushing touchdowns.
Top offensive grades
QB Christian Ponder, 77.5
QB Colin Kaepernick, 74.9
TE Je’Ron Hamm, 74.2
WR Jeremy Kerley, 72.7
TE Bruce Miller, 72.5
Rookie LG Joshua Garnett struggles
San Francisco’s offensive line was ineffective throughout the game, and LG Joshua Garnett (40.6) and C Marcus Martin (36.9) were the team’s lowest-graded players on offense. Each player allowed just a pair of hurries in pass protection, but struggled in the run game. LT Colin Kelly earned the team’s best run-blocking grade (91.5), but allowed two hits and four hurries for a team-worst 33.3 pass-blocking grade.
Top defensive grades
LB Shayne Skov, 91.4
CB Rashard Robinson, 86.9
OLB Marcus Rush, 84.8
DE Garrison Smith, 83.6
DE B.J. McBryde, 82.9
Marcus Rush earns top preseason pass-rush grade among all NFL edge defenders
OLB Marcus Rush recorded two sacks, two hurries, and a forced fumble on just 12 pass-rush attempts, and finishes the preseason with the best pass-rush grade of any NFL edge defender. LB Shayne Skov had seven tackles (five defensive stops), and CB Rashard Robinson led the team with a 90.2 coverage grade after allowing two of four passes into his coverage to be caught for 12 yards, and added a pass defense and interception.