You can’t fault the 49ers’ effort in Sunday’s 29-17 loss to the Dolphins.
You can, however, knock the team’s execution — or lack thereof — in the loss.
The 49ers had ample opportunities to win in South Florida — and it’s clear they wanted to win — yet 11 penalties for 90 yards, a missed field goal and terrible situational play on both sides of the ball did San Francisco in.
Have we heard that from the 49ers before?
Oh, right, we’ve heard it nearly every week this season.
Here are the studs and duds from a game that was, overall, a dud:
Deebo Samuel • WR
Where has this guy been all season?
Samuel looked like his old self on Sunday, breaking tackles, dragging defenders and making critical plays while chipping in as a running back.
Samuel had seven catches for 96 yards, a touchdown (his second receiving touchdown this season) and added 25 yards on the ground. He broke at least a dozen tackles, too.
If this guy had been playing all year, I wonder where the Niners would be today.
George Kittle • TE
You can always count on Kittle.
The Niners ran some screens for the tight end and it worked again and again and again Sunday. This man is unmatched at the position, catching eight passes for 106 yards despite bleeding throughout the second half.
He’s the 49ers’ MVP.
Ricky Pearsall • WR
Yes, Pearsall. Good things happen when you throw him the ball. I’m glad the 49ers started doing it. Pearsall had four catches for 37 yards Sunday. Why’d they stop throwing to him in the meaningful portions of the second half? Beats me.
Kyle Shanahan • HC
I really liked the offensive play calls Sunday — Shanahan took advantage of a Dolphins defense that didn’t receive the memo that you should play press man-to-man against San Francisco.
But it was so lame that Shanahan didn’t go for a fourth-and-goal from the 3-yard line at the end of the first half.
What do you have to lose, Kyle?
Because whatever it is, I doubt it’s more embarrassing than kicking a 21-yard field goal in a game that has no meaning in the standings.
The Niners’ coach just can’t help but be conservative and by-the-book. It’s a shame that aggressiveness is necessary to be successful when you have middling talent, which the Niners certainly have.
Fred Warner • LB
The Niners’ middle linebacker looked lost without Dre Greenlaw next to him in this game, particularly as the Dolphins quick-passed and screened the Niners to death. Understanding that Warner is injured and playing next to Dee Winters (who had a nice game, in my opinion) and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (not bad), this might seem unfair, but he was not good.
Patrick Taylor • RB
He can’t run the ball well, can’t pass protect and absolutely cannot catch the ball. So, what’s the point of playing him? The Niners must have a better option, even with Taylor being the No. 5 option this season.
Every 49ers offensive lineman
Did any one of them play well? Yes, I’m asking about all seven of them.
If you had any doubt that the 49ers need to rebuild their line this offseason — inside out — this game is all you need.
The starters looked terrible and the backups for Jaylon Moore and Aaron Banks (who both had disastrous games before injuries sidelined them) were somehow worse.
It’s, frankly, incredible that Brock Purdy was able to complete as many passes as he did. The Niners’ offensive line was abysmal.
The 49ers’ strange pass-game formations
Were Pearsall’s two illegal formation penalties bad? Yep! Both came with the Niners putting their outside receiver — Jauan Jennings — off the line in an effort to give him more cushion to release. It’s a strange thing to need to do and I want to provide some deference to a rookie who has practiced very little for not thinking he should be on the line while playing flanker. Alas, it was his mistake, though. Add it to the Niners’ pile.
