Check out some of the odds and ends from the 49ers game against the Packers.
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Gamers **
Wide receiver Josh Morgan led the receiving efforts with 5 catches for 114 yards and a touchdown, but he wasn't the only receiver making plays.
Second-year Jason Hill had two catches for 46 yards and a 14-yard run on an end-around. Hill demonstrated excellent run skills, both on a 3rd and 8 catch from J.T. O'Sullivan for a 27-yard pass play and then on the end around when he avoided a big loss in the backfield with his speed.
Linebacker Tully Banta-Cain led the defense in tackles with 5. He also had two sacks, two forced fumbles, and two tackles for a loss.
Defensive end Ray McDonald finished with 1.5 sacks, one tackle for a loss and two quarterback hurries, receiving a special mention from head coach Mike Nolan in his post-game press conference.
QB Track
J.T. O'Sullivan completed 8 of 17 throws for 154 yards with one TD, one interception, and a QB Rating of 74.1. O'Sullivan led the offense to 14 points under his direction.
Alex Smith went 5 of 12 for 62 yards and an QB Rating of 58.3. He led the offense to ten points.
Shaun Hill completed 2 of 5 for 21 yards and a QB Rating of 52.9. He led the offense on a field goal drive.
Nolan said he was pleased with all three quarterbacks but that he's not ready to yet name a starter.
"Not at this time," said Nolan." I need to look at the film before I make any decisions."
Winning in the Trenches
The defensive line notched six sacks of the Green Bay Packers quarterbacks.
The 49ers offensive line meanwhile, didn't once allow their quarterbacks to go down for a sack shutout.
Numbers to Note
The 49ers finished with 355 yards of total offense versus 182 yards of total offense for the Green Bay Packers. Not bad for the 49ers O, which last year ranked 32nd in the NFL. In comparison, Green Bay had the 2nd ranked overall offense in the NFL.
Turnovers
The 49ers won the turnover battle in Friday night's game 3-1.
Green Bay intercepted J.T O'Sullivan in the first quarter for the 49ers only mishap.
Defensive lineman Ronald Fields recovered a fumbled snap at the 16-yardline for the offense in the third quarter.
Tully Banta-Cain forced two fumbles on back to back sacks of quarterback Matt Flynn in the fourth quarter. Flynn recovered his first one, but defensive lineman Attiyah Ellison recovered the second one for the 49ers.
Linebacker Dennis Haley took Evan Moore's legs out in the Packers final series, causing the tight end to fumble. Larry Grant recovered and returned it 20 yards. The official stat sheet says he fumbled, but Grant said he was trying to get the ball to Dennis Haley for a longer return on the play. Either way, Haley ended up with the ball.
The Packers scored 3 points off the 49ers sole turnover, while the 49ers scored a touchdown.
Big Returns
After giving up a punt return for a touchdown in Oakland, the 49ers punt coverage unit allowed a long of 7 yards.
It was a different story on kickoff return with Jordy Nelson enjoying a 56 and 58 yard kickoff return.
The Packers might have gotten the edge on return yardage, but the 49ers finished on top, thanks to a 67-yard punt return for a touchdown by Allen Rossum.
Playing Time
RB Frank Gore and WR Isaac Bruce played in the first three series of the game.
Bruce went without a catch, while Gore finished with 6 carries for 29 yards, a 4.8 average. He enjoyed a long run of 14 yards.
LB Takeo Spikes saw his first game action with the 49ers, working with the first-team late in the first quarter on the series following the O'Sullivan interception.
Spikes didn't get to make any tackles in the series, but he made up with it by leaping on the back of Ray McDonald to celebrate after Ray's sack on 2nd and goal from the 7.
Ouch
Running back DeShaun Foster took a harsh shot by a Packers defender at the end of the first quarter on a short throw from O'Sullivan.
It wasn't nearly as bone-jarring as the hit cornerback Shawntae Spencer got on Aaron Rodgers when he ran a corner blitz. Rodgers managed to get the ball off, but he took a lick, reminiscent of the hit Spencer laid on Jon Kitna in Detroit two years ago.
Defensive Lineup
The 49ers starting defense employed their big sub package, which uses six defensive backs.
"They play a lot of 3 and 4 receiver sets so we needed more defensive backs out there," said Spencer. "We knew that coming in so we prepared for that this week."
Offensive Changeup
After stating that he would call the game from the box, and then doing so in week one against the Raiders, offensive coordinator Mike Martz opted to call Saturday night's game against the Packers from the sidelines.
Injuries
The 49ers didn't have any injuries to report after the game.
