49ers review: Defensive player-by-player

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Here's a player-by-player look at the 49ers' defensive performances from their 48-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday:Defensive linemen
90-Isaac Sopoaga: Inactive due to a staph infection. He was spotted at the 49ers' practice facility Monday with his left arm in a sling.
91-Ray McDonald: Started at left defensive end, and played every snap until the final drive of the game. . . . He was credited with one tackle . . . Appeared to have control of a fumble, but lost his grip and Patrick Willis recovered it in the third quarter.
93-Ian Williams: Suited up for the first time this season, and played the final six snaps of the game at left defensive end. (Follow on Twitter @IWilliams95
94-Justin Smith: Started at right defensive end, and played every snap in the game until the final series. . . . He recorded four tackles, a sack, a tackle for a loss and a quarterback hurry. . . . Recorded fourth-quarter sack while working against left tackle Donald Penn.
95-Ricky Jean Francois: Started at nose tackle and played every snap in the 49ers' base defense. . . He was credited with three tackles and and was a key component in helping the 49ers hold LeGarrette Blount to 34 yards rushing on 10 carries. . . . Read screen pass to Blount and cut off Josh Freeman's throwing angle to contribute to an incomplete pass in the second quarter. (Follow on Twitter @Freakyjean95)
96-Demarcus Dobbs: Suited up for the first time this season and played the final six snaps at right defensive end. He was credited with one tackle.Linebackers
51-Blake Costanzo: Honored as the special-teams captain, based on his play last week. . . Played exclusively on special teams, and made a tackle at the 13-yard line on Preston Parker's second-quarter kickoff return.
52-Patrick Willis: Started at middle linebacker and had a big day with 12 tackles, a pass defensed and a fumble recovery. . . . Made outstanding open-field tackle around the ankles on Blount as he tried to get to the outside in the second quarter. Blount gained 4 yards, but it could've gone for a much-bigger gain. . . Broke up pass to tight end Kellen Winslow on third-down play in the first half. . . Recovered third-quarter fumble after Dashon Goldson forced it. (Follow on Twitter @PatrickWillis52)
53-NaVorro Bowman: Started at inside linebacker, and was solid with six tackles. He played every snap until the final series of the game. (Follow on Twitter @NBowman53)
54-Larry Grant: Played on special teams, and also played six snaps of inside linebacker on the final series. He was credited with one tackle. (Follow on Twitter @LarryGrant59)
55-Ahmad Brooks: Started at left outside linebacker, and was credited with one tackle. But he made his presence felt. . . He lined up at left defensive tackle for the first third-down play of the game. He got pressure on Freeman, forcing a throwaway to end the first drive of the game. . . Set the edge against fullback Erik Lorig and stopped Blount for 2-yard gain in second quarter. . . .Third-quarter pressure rushed Freeman into throwing pass before tight end Collin Franklin turned around in third quarter.
56-Tavares Gooden: Played special teams, and took over at inside linebacker for final six snaps of the game.
98-Parys Haralson: Started at right outside linebacker, and played 33 snaps in the 49ers' base defense. He was credited with four tackles in the game. . . He bounced off block attempt of Lorig to stack up Blount for a 2-yard gain in first quarter.
99-Aldon Smith: Played 26 snaps in the game as a defensive end in the 49ers' nickel package . . . He recorded two tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries. . . He picked up second-quarter sack on a third-down while working against Penn.. . On a play that lasted more than seven seconds, Smith showed incredible determination to get a sack of Josh Johnson in the closing two minutes. Smith was working against Penn, who shoved him down as Johnson escaped to the left. Smith got up and pursued Johnson, throwing him for a 2-yard loss. (Follow on Twitter @AldonSmithJETS)Defensive backs
20-Madieu Williams: His playing time was relegated to special teams, as Donte Whitner returned to the starting lineup.
22-Carlos Rogers: Started at left cornerback, and made one of the big plays of the game when he dropped in front of Winslow to intercept a Freeman pass. He then returned it 31 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the second quarter. . . Read a wide receiver screen and dropped Arrelious Benn for a 3-yard loss. Rogers said he remembered that play from two years ago when he faced the Bucs as member of the Washington Redskins.
25-Tarell Brown: Started at right cornerback, and had another solid showing with three passes defensed (though he could've easily had a couple interceptions, too). . . . Good coverage deep on pass to Arrelious Benn, as he made lunging play to get his hands on the ball. . . Had another pass go off his hands as he broke up throw to Winslow in second quarter. . . . Good coverage deep against wide receiver Mike Williams on fourth-and-2 in third quarter.
26-Tramaine Brock: Inactive after undergoing surgery on his left hand last week. (Follow on Twitter @T26Brock)
27-C.J. Spillman: Played on special teams, and action on the Bucs' final drive at right cornerback. (Follow on Twitter @CJSPILLMAN27)
29-Chris Culliver: Played 26 snaps as part of the 49ers' nickel package, as he replaced injured Shawntae Spencer. . . . He had a key interception, three passes defensed and one tackle. . . Had coverage against Micheal Spurlock and took the ball away from him for his first career interception. He then got up and returned it 23 yards to set up the 49ers' third touchdown of the game. . . . Good coverage against Williams on third-down incomplete pass in second quarter. . . . Broke up third-and-2 pass to Williams in third quarter. . . A solid showing while getting the most playing time of his brief career. (Follow on Twitter @Cully_Man)
30-Reggie Smith: Entered at safety in place of Donte Whitner in nickel situations, and played nearly 30 snaps in the game. . . He was credited with two tackles and one pass defensed. (Follow on Twitter @superreg30)
31-Donte Whitner: Returned to the starting lineup at strong safety and recorded four tackles while playing a little more than 30 snaps in the team's base defense. (Follow on Twitter @DonteWhitner)
36-Shawntae Spencer: Suited up but did not play due to a toe injury.
38-Dashon Goldson: Started at strong free safety, had another good game with four tackles and a forced fumble. . . He got tied up by Penn on a wide receiver screen to Mike Williams that went for 33 yards. . . . He came from across the field to upend Blount with third-quarter tackle, and Blount did not return. . . Absolutely drilled Williams after the receiver took three steps after catching the pass to force a fumble in the third quarter that Willis recovered. . . . Later called for unnecessary roughness after completion to Winslow. (Follow on Twitter @thehawk38)
43-Colin Jones: Played exclusively on special teams. . . Made tackle of Parker on kickoff return to pin Bucs at the 8-yard line in fourth quarter.Specialists
2-David Akers: Did an outstanding job on kickoffs, as the Bucs' average starting point on Akers' nine kickoffs was the 21-yard line. He made field goals of 37 and 27 yards. His 46-yard FG was taken off the board, as the 49ers accepted a 15-yard leverage penalty. On the next play, the 49ers scored a touchdown. (Follow on Twitter @DavidAkers2)
4-Andy Lee: He had only one punt attempt, as Parker made a fair catch of Lee's 38-yard punt to the Tampa Bay 5-yard line.
86-Brian Jennings: Handled the long-snapping duties. (Follow on Twitter @Jennings141)

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