49ers report card vs. Rams: Defense leads amazing win in Australia

MELBOURNE, Australia – Here is how the 49ers graded in their 27-7, season-opening win over the host Los Angeles Rams in a game that started locally here Friday at 10:35 a.m.:

PASS OFFENSE: A-

Brock Purdy threw three touchdown passes, did not get sacked and was hit just twice, all while Myles Garrett was kept off the stat sheet thanks to stout-enough blocking by Colton McKivitz and Trent Williams. Mike Evans’ debut was sensational as 5-of-6 receptions resulted in third-down success, including a 2-yard touchdown catch on a 50-50 ball that he worked on all camp with Purdy. Deebo Samuel overcame an early drop to dominate in true Deebo fashion: 15-yard touchdown catch, six receptions for 48 yards, 12-yard run, 45-yard kick return. Almost lost in the shuffle was George Kittle’s inspiring comeback, and although he had just a pair of 6-yard catches on the opening drive, his blocking and presence was positively cool.

RUN OFFENSE: A

A 30-carry, 174-yard rushing debut was an adamant statement that this isn’t last season’s feeble ground game. “That’s the biggest thing: to play our brand of football,” left tackle Trent Williams said. Christian McCaffrey may have rushed for a team-high 68 yards, but right behind him was Kaelon Black, who had 65 yards. Black had runs of 9, 5 and 4 yards on three consecutive snaps before Purdy’s first touchdown pass, to Demarcus Robinson. Purdy had 18- and 8-yard scrambles on a 99-yard, win-clinching drive.

PASS DEFENSE: A-

Matthew Stafford did not get sacked. No big surprise. But he also didn’t flourish. A couple of his passes sailed, and one got intercepted by Renardo Green to offset the Rams’ interception of Purdy in the previous series. Fred Warner dominated from the start, breaking up a pass to Puka Nacua and punching a completion for his 18th career forced fumble. Deommodore Lenoir’s first- and third-down tackles led off the goal-line stand. Of the eight hits on Stafford, half came from Osa Odighizuwa, an one apiece from Nick Bosa, Upton Stout, Ogbo Okoroknwo and C.J. West.

RUN DEFENSE: B-

Fred Warner’s 11 tackles made him the 49ers’ all-time tackle leader with 459, surpassing the 450 of Hall of Famer Patrick Willis, who was in attendance. The Rams opened first-half drives with great success running the ball, then they eschewed that to have Stafford unsuccessfully air it out. Kyren Williams and Blake Corum combined for 95 yards on 21 carries, often bouncing outside to test the 49ers’ edges. Nick Bosa had two tackles for loss and supplied pressure on Stafford even if the sacks weren’t there.

SPECIAL TEAMS: A

Samuel’s 45-yard kick return opened the second-half floodgates for this blowout win. Eddy Piñeiro has now missed as many field goals as he did last season (one, from 52 yards) but he made a 20-yarder on the first series and a 56-yard boomer to cap the scoring with 9:43 left. Malik Mustapha and Ashtyn Davis made big tackles on first-quarter kickoffs, and Jacob Cowing was flawless with two punt returns and a fair catch.

COACHING: A

The 49ers won the logistics’ battle with their week-long acclimation, but there also was top-notch coaching that went into on-field play calls. Several offensive players were surprised the Rams’ defense skirted its base formation for a nickel package. Raheem Morris’ debut as defensive coordinator made for a … g’day.