What's Interesting about Cardinals vs. 49ers Starting Lineup Comparisons

by Walter Mitchell




Defense:

* LDE-AZ  - Calais Campbell - 71.6

* LDE-SF -  Jordan Elliott - 69.3


* NT-AZ - Dalvin Tomlinson - 59.5

* NT-SF - CJ West - 51.3


* RDE-AZ - Darius Robinson - 39.7

* RDE-SF- Kalia Davis - 43.5


* LOLB-AZ - Baron Browning - 66.2

* LOLB-SF - Mykel Williams - 52.4


* LILB-AZ - Mack Wilson Jr. - 53.1

* LILB-SF - Fred Warner - 93.2


* RILB-AZ - Akeem Davis-Gaither - 77.4

* RILB-SF - Dee Winters - 78.5


* ROLB-AZ - Josh Sweat - 74.3

* ROLB-SF- Nick Bosa - 84.3


* LCB-AZ - Max Melton - 62.7

* LCB-SF - Renardo Green - 52.4


* SS-AZ - Jalen Thompson - 59.5

* SS-SF - Marquis Sigle - 46.9


* FS-AZ - Budda Baker - 61.5

* FS-SF - Jason Pinnock - 49.3


* RCB-AZ - Denzel Burke - 64.1

* RCB-SF - Deommodore Lenoir - 50.7


*NB-AZ - Dadrion Taylor-Dmerson - 76.7

* NB-SF - Upton Stout --- 51.8


Special Teams: (2024 stats)


* P-AZ - Blake Gillikin - 58.6

* P-SF - Thomas Morshead --- 62.2


* K-AZ - Chad Ryland - 73.3

* K-SF - Eddy Pineiro - 53.5


* PR-AZ - Greg Dortch - 77.2

* PR-SF - Skyy Moore - 62.5


* KR-AZ - Emari Demercado --- 59.9

* KR-SF - Isaac Guerendo --- 59.1


Offense:


* QB-AZ - Kyler Murray - 75.8

* QB-SF -Mac Jones - 58.6


* RB-AZ --- James Conner - 66.1

* RB-SF --- Christian McCaffrey - 69.9


* TE1-AZ --- Trey McBride - 73.1

* TE1-SF - Jake Tonges --- 62.3


* TE2-AZ - Elijah Higgins - 78.6

* TE2-SF - Luke Farrell - 56.9


* WR1-AZ - Marvin Harrison Jr. - 66.0

* WR1-SF Ricky Pearsall - 74.1


* WR2-AZ - Michael Wilson - 65.2

* WR2-SF - Jauan Jennings - 62.5


* LT-AZ - Paris Johnson Jr. - 70.5

* LT-SF - Trent Williams- 70.6


* LG-AZ - Evan Brown - 52.4

* LG-SF - Connor Colby - 61.5


* C-AZ - Hjalte Froholdt - 65.1

* C-SF - Jake Brendal - 79.1


* RG-AZ - Isaiah Adams - 37.5

* RG-SF - Dominic Puni - 60.4


* RT-AZ - Jonah Williams - 56.8

* RT-SF - Colin McKivitz - 73.1


Team Grades:

OVER: ARI-73.0 --- SFO-72.3

OFF: ARI-67.4 --- SFO-71.9

PASS: ARI-76.0 --- SFO-65.1

PBLK: ARI-73.0 --- SFO-78.0

RECV: ARI: 70.5 --- SFO-72.5

RUN: ARI-67.8 --- SFO-61.0

RBLK: ARI-42.8 --- SFO-65.1

DEF: ARI-70.5 --- SFO-67.8

RDEF: ARI-67.1 --- SF: 55.3

TACK: ARI-62.6 --- SFO-60.9

PRSH: ARI-65.4 --- SFO-74.0

COV: ARI-71.8 --- SFO-69.9

SPEC: ARI-68.9 --- SFO-71.2

Team Grade Rankings: ARI-#12 --- SFO-#13

What's interesting:

1. Last week Mac Jones looked very much in command of Kyle Shanahan's offense. But it appears Calais Campbell got his wish when he admitted to the Arizona media that given the choice of Jones or Brock Purdy, he would rather see Jones get the start.

2. Both teams this off-season made numerous attempts to improve their defensive lines. After 2 games, the Cardinals are faring better thus far stopping the run, while the 49ers have the 5th highest graded pass rush in the NFL.

3. Both teams this off-season basically doubled down on maintaining their current starters on the offensive line. Through 2 games, the Cardinals have had the stronger pass blocking grade and the 49ers have had the stronger run blocking grade. And while PFF has graded the Cardinals higher in both the passing and running games, they have a higher grade on the 49ers' offense as a whole. Likely because the 49ers' player grades are higher.

4. On the injury front, it looks like the Cardinals, having already placed Garrett Williams and L.J. Collier on the IR (with a chance to return), will be without Will Johnson. For the 49ers, Jauan Jennings may not be able to play this week and with starting LG Ben Bartch (76.3) now on the IR, his replacement is Connor Colby (61.5), their 2025 7th round pick from Iowa. 

5. One has to wonder how the 49ers are going to cover Trey McBride because their two starting safeties Jason Pinnock and rookie Marquis Sigle's coverage grades thus far are 48.1, 43.8 respectively. Conversely, the 49ers' inside linebackers, Fred Warner and Dee Winters, have been absolutely outstanding in coverage at 91.8 and 91.5 respectively. But can Robert Saleh afford to have Warner or Winters consistently covering McBride and still be able to compensate for a secondary in which no one has a coverage grade over 60? Plus, how can Salek take away one of the ILBers when he has the 28th ranked run defense?

6. The most important question for Nick Rallis is who can he assign to cover Christian McCaffrey? CMC runs 4.45. Akeem Davis-Gather (67.6 coverage) runs closer to 4.65 and Mack Wilson Sr. (52.2 coverage) runs 4.68. If ADG struggles, then Nick Rallis could have to turn to Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (4.41). Slowing the multi-dimensional McCaffrey down is of paramount importance. 

7. 49ers' DC Robert Saleh said his game plan is to "set a bunch of mousetraps for Kyler Murray." OK, but while the mousetraps are being set, they are going to need bear traps for Trey McBride. Not sure how Saleh can pay extra attention to Kyler without leaving some of the Cardinals' receivers open.


Comments

  1. Since 61September 20, 2025 at 12:01 PM

    49ers still boast the sixth-ranked pass defense in the league this season, and will likely prioritize containing McBride given his overwhelming importance to the Cardinals' passing game. Petzing will want to use Higgins as another TE target if Niners shut down McBride.
    We will prioritize stopping McCaffery and they McBride.
    Kyler has compiled some pretty impressive stats against the Niners
    If we can't run the ball against them...? We'll see how Petzing adjusts his underperforming run game (averaging only 4.2 yards per carry using their preferred gap schemes)
    by incorporating more zone runs. Will he play Hernandez?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mac Speed MelSeptember 20, 2025 at 7:16 PM

      Hello Doctor Walt and Doctor 61.
      Very nice article and response from Doctor 61. Really important game tomorrow. For the team for Kyler for the future. I think the defense will maintain their equilibrium, both teams have losses, San Fran on the offensive side, Cardinals defensive side. I know we still have a long way to go but it all comes down to the General. Kyler. The time is now. Put the doubters to rest. Do your thing my man. We are all depending on you. And Doctor Walt and Doctor 61 keep up the good work. We the cardinals fans live for your commentary.

      Delete
    2. Since 61September 20, 2025 at 7:23 PM

      Great comment Doctor Mac! Time for General Kyler to lead the troops to the Playoffs

      Delete

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