Here are the top takeaways from Saturday night’s 49ers-Broncos game, including the highest-graded players for each team:
49ers:
–LB NaVorro Bowman put together some impressive displays against Denver. He finished the game with six stops, including two sacks, and also a QB hurry. He did fail to get off blocks in the run game a few times, but overall he looks well on his way back to his pre-injury form.
–San Francisco’s two rookies in the front seven struggled Saturday night. First-round pick Arik Armstead followed up his +2.6 overall graded performance in Week 2 with a -2.5 overall grade against the Broncos, as he struggled to shed blocks in the run game. Third-round edge rusher Eli Harold didn’t register a pressure on 16 pass rushes, missed a tackle, and was penalized for a neutral-zone infraction. His -3.5 overall grade was easily his lowest to date.
–Second-round pick Jaquiski Tartt earned a positive grade for the third-straight game. Tartt has allowed three catches for 28 yards, and just two total yards after the catch, on 61 snaps in coverage. He currently sits as the second-highest-graded safety this preseason (+4.3) heading into Sunday’s final two games.
Top 5 graded players:
CB Kenneth Acker (+2.3)
LB Shayne Skov (+1.8)
G Alex Boone (+1.6)
TE Vernon Davis (+1.2)
S Jaquiski Tartt (+1.2)
Broncos:
–The Denver offensive line put on an impressive display for the most part. Six of the 10 linemen earned +1.7 overall grades or higher, and the entire group combined for a +10.5 run-block grade.
–DE Malik Jackson played just 17 total snaps, but came away with the second-highest overall grade of the game. He did particularly well rushing the passer, with three pressures on eight pass rushes and one more that was negated by a penalty.
–QB Peyton Manning earned his second negative grade in as many games this preseason. He has been particularly ineffective on passes targeted 10-plus yards downfield, where he has completed just three of 10 passes, including last night’s interception in the end zone.
Top 5 graded players:
NT Darius Kilgo (+3.8)
DE Malik Jackson (+3.4)
OL Max Garcia (+2.8)
G Ben Garland (+2.7)
OL Ty Sambrailo, OT Ryan Harris and WR Jordan Norwood (+2.4)