Grades for Chargers-49ers

Here are the top takeaways and highest-graded players from the Chargers-49ers preseason game:

San Francisco 49ers

–Rookie DE Arik Armstead lead the 49ers in defensive snaps with 58 and also finished with his team's highest overall grade at +3.5.  He was especially proficient against the run (+2.4), as he did an excellent job throughout the game of using a variety of moves to shed blockers at the line of scrimmage.

–TE Xavier Grimble ended his preseason with a game he’d likely prefer to forget, as his atrocious night of run blocking (-2.4) highlighted what was the 49ers’ worst overall performance for the game (-3.9).  He struggled mightily when trying to set the edge, as San Diego’s OLBs consistently out-leveraged him at the POA.

–While it was generally a very solid night for San Francisco’s offensive line, it’s most experienced member to see the field against the Chargers was a major disappointment. Joe Looney saw time at both center at guard, but struggled at both positions (-2.8). He has not enjoyed the strong preseason he needed to stay in front of youngsters like LG Andrew Tiller and RG Brandon Thomas, as he finished the exhibition season with a dismal overall run blocking grade of -4.6.

Top performers:

DE Arik Armstead +3.5

LG Andrew Tiller +2.8

RG Brandon Thomas +2.4

ILB Nick Moody +1.8

LT Patrick Miller +1.4

San Diego Chargers

–OLB Cordarro Law continued his domination of NFC West offensive lines, saving his best performance of the preseason (+5.4) for last.  His quickness and length was too much for San Francisco’s OTs and TEs to handle, as he consistently beat blockers and made plays against both runs at him and against him. Law posted positive grades in run defense in all four preseason games (for an aggregate grade of +10.9) and also tallied a combined 12 hits and hurries when rushing the passer during exhibition play.

–While his alma mater clearly could have used a CB of his talents against explosive Baylor this weekend, former SMU CB Richard Crawford certainly pleased his current team with a steady all-around performance. He posted positive grades in every major category against the 49ers, en route to being San Diego’s highest graded secondary player on the night (+1.6).

–The Chargers’ coaching staff and front office can’t be happy with their pass rush against the 49ers, as the defense was only able to post a cumulative grade of -1.3.  Throughout the game the front seven struggled to defeat blockers, posting only five hurries, four hits and two sacks on the night.

Top performers:

OLB Cordarro Law +5.4

LT Chris Hairston +2.7

ILB Nick Dzubnar +1.7

CB Richard Crawford +1.6

ILB Kavell Connor +1.6