The game plan called for the 49ers to try to beat the Arizona Cardinals with their passing game.The results were not good, as there were problems of every kind area -- except interceptions.Quarterback Alex Smith didn't turn the ball over. But he also completed fewer than half of his attempts. Smith completed 18 passes, but only three of those plays went for more than 10 yards. Only eight passes produced first downs.Smith was sacked five times, and pressured throughout. But there were few one-on-one breakdowns in protection. More often than not, after a quarterback pressure, offensive linemen were looking at each other -- confirming that there were missed assignments.
Smith could've gotten rid of the ball quicker and more decisively on occasion. His receivers could've helped him out. And there should've been more quick-hitting passes to get the ball out of his hands before the blitz could get to him.What kind of day was it? Perhaps Smith's two best plays were on passes that fell incomplete.Here is the entire offensive player-by-player review from the 49ers' 21-19 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday:Quarterback
3-Scott Tolzien: Inactive (coaches' decision).
7-Colin Kaepernick: Did not play. (Follow on Twitter @Kaepernick7)
11-Alex Smith: Smith was 18 of 37 for just 175 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He was also sacked five times for 32 yards. Smith felt the pressure from the Cardinals' blitzes throughout. His two best individual plays resulted in incomplete passes. On the first, he made a play-action fake and his back foot slipped on the turf. He regained his balance and threw deep to Ted Ginn just as Vonnie Holliday had gotten around Mike Iupati and hit him. The pass, which traveled 52 yards in the air, landed near Ginn's feet. Ginn never saw it or he could've easily adjusted to make the catch. Then, on a fourth and 1 from the 41, Smith kept the play alive for nearly 12 seconds and threw a catchable ball to Kendall Hunter, but the rookie was unable to make the catch. And that was the ballgame.Running backs
21-Frank Gore: He started at running back, and carried for 8 yards on the first play of the game. But he took himself out of the lineup. When he returned three plays later, he gained 2 yards and took himself out again. That's the kind of day it was for Gore, who is battling a myriad of bumps and bruises. He played 39 of the 49ers' 63 offensive snaps. When he touched the ball, he was productive. Gore gained 72 yards and a touchdown on 10 rushing attempts. . . He looked just fine on a 37-yard TD run to open the second half. But he touched the ball just twice after that. For the fourth time this season, Gore did not catch a pass. . . Got across formation a little late in blitz pickup on play in which cornerback Michael Adams hit Smith's arm while throwing on a third-down incomplete pass in the fourth quarter.
24-Anthony Dixon: Did not play any offense, but he made a good solo tackle of Patrick Peterson on punt coverage for just a 3-yard return. (Follow on Twitter @Boobie24Dixon)
32-Kendall Hunter: He played 24 snaps in the game (the third-most playing time for him in any game this season). He carried eight times for 20 yards, and caught two passes for 19 yards. . . Entered for the second play of the game after Gore removed himself. One play after losing 2 yards on a first-quarter sweep, he leaked out of the backfield to catch a 9-yard pass on a fourth-and-5 situation. . . Got both hands on the ball but could not hold onto Smith's pass on their final chance on a fourth-and-1 play with 1:57 remaining.
44-Moran Norris: Inactive (coaches decision).
49-Bruce Miller: Started at fullback and played 25 snaps. . . He caught two passes for just 5 yards, and did an acceptable job as a blocker. (Follow on Twitter @bmiller_49)
90-Isaac Sopoaga: He did not play any on offense.Wide receivers
10-Kyle Williams: For only the second time in his career, he played as many as 30 offensive snaps in the game. . . And he continues to make a bid for increased play time with four receptions for 42 yards. . . He also had a 7-yard run on a reverse. . . Made outstanding David Tyree-esque reception against his own helmet in the second quarter for an 11-yard gain. . . Caught a 15-yard pass on a third-and-12 play in the second quarter. (Follow on Twitter @KyleWilliams_10)
15-Michael Crabtree: Started at flanker and played 50 snaps. He led the 49ers with seven receptions for 63 yards, but was not targeted at all when the 49ers got into the red zone. . . On a third-and-8, he worked inside of cornerback Patrick Peterson to catch a 10-yarder for a first down in the second quarter. . . Knocked down safety Rashad Johnson with a block downfield on Gore's TD run. (Follow on Twitter @KingCrab15)
17-Braylon Edwards: Returning from knee and shoulder ailments that kept him out of action for a game, Edwards was a non-factor. He played just 11 snaps and did not catch a pass. Two passes were thrown his way. . . Intended target of a back-shoulder throw in the end zone in the second quarter, but the pass was off-target. . . Later, got tied up with cornerback Richard Marshall and did not get his head around in time. The pass hit him in the back. (Follow on Twitter @OfficialBraylon)
18-Brett Swain: Inactive (coaches decision).
19-Ted Ginn: He played 36 snaps on offense and caught two passes for 14 yards. . . . He lost track of the ball on a well-thrown deep pass in the first quarter and it fell just a couple feet away at his feet after he had beaten cornerback A.J. Jefferson. . . Made good leaping catch for a 7-yard gain on a third-and-5 late in the first half. . . On the next play, had a chance at a miraculous over-the-shoulder catch in the right corner of the end zone but couldn't hold on.Tight ends
46-Delanie Walker: Played 31 snaps as the 49ers' second tight end. . . He did not catch a pass. In fact, he has now gone four games without catching a pass since catching six balls for 69 yards against the N.Y. Giants on Nov. 13. . . Dropped third-down pass at the right sideline about 3 yards short of the first-down marker. With Jefferson closing in, he would've had to make him miss to pick up the first down in the third quarter. (Follow on Twitter @Dwalk46)
81-Justin Peelle: Entered as the No. 3 tight end and played four snaps from scrimmage.
85-Vernon Davis: Started at tight end and played every snap. He was targeted on just three passes, and caught one for 32 yards. . . Smith found him all alone on a short crossing route, and Davis turned upfield and was brought down at the Arizona 13. . . Called for a false start on the final drive, as it went from second-and-5 to second-and-10. (Follow on Twitter @VernonDavis85)Offensive linemen
59-Jonathan Goodwin: Started at center and played every snap. Did not get a big enough piece of nose tackle David Carter, who dropped Hunter for a 1-yard gain near end of first quarter. . . Looked to his right and was preoccupied long enough for nose tackle Nick Eason to get past him and guard Mike Iupati to throw Smith for an 8-yard loss on a second-quarter sack. . . Lined up at right wing on kicks. He made a nice catch of an Andy Lee pass on a fake field-goal attempt, but the play never happened as the Cardinals threw a challenge flag before the snap of the ball. . . Thoroughly controlled Eason at the line of scrimmage to allow Gore to blast through on his 37-yard TD run. . . Defensive lineman Darnell Dockett got past him in the fourth quarter for a 6-yard sack. (Follow on Twitter @Jgoody59)
62-Chilo Rachal: Did not play any on offense, but made some good blocks as one of the up-men on kickoff returns.
67-Daniel Kilgore: Inactive (coaches' decision).
68-Adam Snyder: Started at right guard, and played every snaps. . . He pushed Dockett into the backfield to allow Gore to gain 8 yards on first carry of the game. . . Called for false start on first drive. . . Got out front on a screen pass to Hunter to block linebacker O'Brien Schofield on a 10-yard gain. (Follow on Twitter @ASnyds68)
74-Joe Staley: Started at left tackle. He sustained a concussion on the first play of the game when he tried to cut block Calais Campbell. Staley's helmet hit Campbell's knee. He played seven more snaps before leaving the game for good. (Follow on Twitter @jstaley74)
75-Alex Boone: Entered the game at left tackle on the second series of the game when Staley sustained a concussion. He played the final 55 offensive snaps for the 49ers. . . He more than held his own, as he was not beaten one-on-one. . . He had a mix-up with Iupati on a Daryl Washington sack in the first quarter. . . Got enough of Washington to allow Gore to get through into the secondary on his 37-yard TD run.
76-Anthony Davis: Started at right tackle, played every snap, and rebounded with a solid game after struggling against Baltimore and St. Louis in back-to-back games. . . Made good block on inside linebacker Paris Lenon to enable Gore to pick up 8 yards on first play of the game. . . Called for false start in second quarter. . . Good block on Eason on a Hunter 5-yard gain in second quarter. . . Held up well in pass protection. (Follow on Twitter @AnthonyDavis76)
77-Mike Iupati: Started at left guard and played the entire game. Holiday got past him to hit Smith as he was throwing on a deep incomplete pass. . . . Looked to his left and allowed Eason to get past him and Goodwin to throw Smith for an 8-yard loss on a second-quarter sack. . . Made block on Lenon on Gore's TD run in third quarter. . . Allowed penetration to Campbell, who got a hand up to deflect Smith's third-down pass on 49ers' final chance.
78-Mike Person: Inactive (coaches' decision).