49ers snap count: Dante Pettis plays well, focuses on finishing strong

In an otherwise forgettable showing by the 49ers’ passing game, rookie wide receiver Dante Pettis made the best of his most extensive playing time of the season.

“It’s always nice to play more and be able to feel the game out, instead of always going in and out,” Pettis said Sunday following the 49ers’ 27-9 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “You do get into a groove and get a feel for it.”

Pettis caught four passes for 77 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Quarterback Nick Mullens targeted Pettis seven times in the game.

Pettis and second-year pro Kendrick Bourne played 58 and 56 snaps, respectively, as veteran receivers Pierre Garçon and Marquise Goodwin were not available. Garçon has missed three of the past four games with a knee injury. Goodwin was excused from the game so he could handle a personal matter.

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The 49ers selected Pettis in the second round with the No. 44 overall pick this year. He missed three games earlier this season with a knee injury, and he now has 11 catches for 185 yards and two touchdowns on the season.

Now that he considers himself 100 percent healthy, Pettis said he is looking to finish strong in the final five games to carry momentum for next season.

“These last few games are important because I’m finally feeling good, and being able to build off that into next year is going to be big,” Pettis said.

Here are some other notable 49ers metrics from Sunday’s game, courtesy of Pro Football Focus:

-- When Mullens was blitzed, he completed 4 of 10 passes for 69 yards and one touchdown. When he was not blitzed, he was 14 of 22 for 152 yards and no touchdowns with two interceptions. He also was sacked three times when Tampa Bay did not bring extra pass rushers.

-- Left tackle Joe Staley struggled, allowing a sack, a quarterback hit and two hurries. According to Pro Football Focus, Staley's runblocking graded out as the best in the league.

-- Running back Matt Breida had three catches for 34 yards, yet he had 36 yards after the catch.

-- Defensive tackle Arik Armstead played just 33 snaps and was responsible for a team-worst three missed tackles. But he also had a team-best six quarterback pressures with one hit and five hurries.

-- On 30 pass-rush snaps, Solomon Thomas had two quarterback hurries. He played the most of any 49ers defensive lineman, as he was on the field for 53 of 73 defensive snaps.

-- DeForest Buckner had a sack and three pressures. He now has seven sacks on the season, the highest individual output for the 49ers since 2013. That season, Aldon Smith and Ahmad Brooks tied for the team lead with 8.5 sacks.

-- Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon was targeted nine times but yielded just four receptions for 23 yards. He also was called for a 23-yard pass interference penalty. He had another PI penalty declined.

-- Richard Sherman had his most difficult game with the 49ers, as he was targeted five times and gave up five catches for 113 yards. Mike Evans caught three passes on Sherman for 89 yards, including a 42-yarder.

Here are the total numbers of snaps of every 49ers player who saw action on offense, defense and special teams:

Offense

Total offensive snaps: 64
Quarterback – Nick Mullens 64
Running back – Kyle Juszczyk 38, Matt Breida 31, Jeff Wilson 25
Wide receiver – Dante Pettis 58, Kendrick Bourne 56, Richie James 31, Trent Taylor 9
Tight end – George Kittle 60, Garrett Celek 12
Offensive line – Joe Staley 64, Laken Tomlinson 64, Weston Richburg 64, Mike Person 64, Mike McGlinchey 64

Defense

Total defensive snaps: 73
Defensive line – Solomon Thomas 53, DeForest Buckner 52, Earl Mitchell 38, Arik Armstead 33, Cassius Marsh 31, Sheldon Day 29, Dekoda Watson 21, Ronald Blair 18, Jullian Taylor 17
Linebacker – Fred Warner 72, Elijah Lee 49, Mark Nzeocha 27, Malcolm Smith 26
Defensive back – Ahkello Witherspoon 72, Jaquiski Tartt 65, Richard Sherman 62, Antone Exum 46, K’Waun Williams 46, D.J. Reed 22, Tarvarius Moore 12, Marcell Harris 8, Jimmie Ward 4

Special teams

Total special teams plays: 28
Nzeocha 26, Moore 26, Lee 25, Harris 21, Greg Mabin 19, Watson 18, Marsh 17, Matthew Dayes 14, Bradley Pinion 12, Ross Dwelley 12, Celek 12, James 11, Wilson 19, Exum 10, Kyle Nelson 9, Witherspoon 9, Tartt 8, Juszczyk 7, Buckner 7, Reed 7, Thomas 5, Mitchell 5, Robbie Gould 2, Garry Gilliam 2, Staley 2, McGlinchey 2, Tomlinson 2, Richburg 2, Armstead 2, Blair 2, Taylor 1, Ward 1