49ers Studs and Duds: Mac Jones, bruised and bleeding, shows total control in win over Giants

To some, the term “system quarterback” is a pejorative.

But in this 49ers’ offensive system, with Kyle Shanahan calling the plays and Christian McCaffrey making plays out of the backfield, it seems like calling Niners quarterback Mac Jones a “system” guy is a mighty fine compliment.

Not everyone can execute the game plan in the NFL. In fact, very few players can.

And boy did Jones execute against an inferior Giants defense on Sunday.

San Francisco beat New York 34-24 on Sunday to bounce back from a tough road loss to the Texans last week and move to 6-3 on the season ahead of a pivotal showdown with the rival Rams next week at Levi’s Stadium.

Jones was close to impeccable, but he was hardly the only stud (or dud, for that matter) in the contest:

STUDS

Mac Jones • QB

» Jones, with two injured knees, a gusher of a bloody nose, and enough bruises to be taken off a produce stand, didn’t post an incomplete pass until the second half, completing his first 14 attempts for 143 yards, two touchdowns, and a 17-7 lead. Jones didn’t have the most prolific game, but he was on point the entire contest (save for that “fumble” at the end of the first half), and kept the Niners on script. He ended the game with a 135.2 passer rating.

Christian McCaffrey • RB

» Still as good as it gets. MVP-level stuff. McCaffrey averaged more than five yards per touch Sunday, but it felt like so much more than that. He was far and away the best player on the field in New Jersey.

Brian Robinson • RB

» Perhaps I should credit the Niners’ guards — Dom Puni and Spencer Burford — who created big running lanes for Robinson on his five carries, including the 18-yard touchdown run where he was able to gallop into the end zone (his first as a Niner.) But bully to Robinson, who finally looked like the back the Niners saw a few years ago with Washington.

Given the Niners’ current defense, San Francisco needs to be a run-first offense. Having Robinson look strong behind the ever-reliable McCaffrey is a profoundly positive development for the Niners moving forward.

(He had a nice kick return, too.)

Dee Winters • LB

» Credit to Tatum Bethune, who had a nice game, but I found Winters to be the more impactful of the Niners’ two linebackers. Most of his impact came in pass coverage. The Giants tested the flats repeatedly, and if Winters was in coverage, those tests were consistently unsuccessful.

Winters’ breakout season could have gone off the rails with Fred Warner’s injury. Instead, he’s proving it wasn’t dependent on the All-Pro; he’s playing at a Pro Bowl level himself.

Renardo Green • CB

» Not tested often, but when the Giants did throw to somewhere other than the flat, Green made some big-time plays. He’s the Niners’ best 1-on-1 pass defender, and it’s not particularly close right now.

Eddy Pinero • K

» Remember when the Niners held onto Jake Moody? Let this be a reminder that NFL teams know nothing about kicking, and the first team to invest in really learning how their leading scorers operate will begin a dynasty.

DUDS

Deommodore Lenoir • CB

» It’s simply not getting any better. Lenoir has been soft in coverage as of late (though some of that is by design), and now he’s not tackling well. To do neither is inexcusable for any NFL starter, and it’s even more damning for a player who should be leveling up his play with the absences of other star players. Lenoir has not been a star this season. It’s barely been worthy of starting, at times. Sunday was such a time.

Mykel Williams • DE

» Williams, 20, might not be ready to be the top pass rusher on an NFL defensive line, but that’s what the 49ers need from him right now. At the very least, he can maintain his run-defense prowess. Neither showed up Sunday, with Giants All-Pro-level tackle Andrew Thomas having his way with the rookie all contest.

Colton McKivitz • RT

» Brian Burns is a tough assignment for every tackle, but particularly one that has struggled with speed off the edge. McKivitiz’s play was better than last week, but it was still below par.

The referees

Illegal motion penalty when only one player was moving? A hit to the head or neck area against a quarterback who was scrambling upfield and was hit on the shoulder?

Truly bizarre calls. Luckily for everyone watching and the NFL, neither mattered in the final outcome.