49ers notebook: Blaine Gabbert earning teammates' praise for QB play

SANTA CLARA - The 49ers have lost eight games, many fans and a healthy dose of respect during this trying 2015 campaign. But they may have gained a quarterback.

Blaine Gabbert was far from perfect in a 19-13 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. His first-quarter interception was too easy for safety Tyrann Mathieu, and the QB admitted he should have avoided a sack on San Francisco’s next-to-last play.

But since taking over for the up-and-down Colin Kaepernick on Nov. 8, Gabbert has proved that the reputation he brought from Jacksonville - high draft pick, scattershot passer, no confidence - doesn’t fit his abilities. Sunday he threw for a career-high 318 yards and helped the 49ers erase a 10-point deficit in the second half.

“He’s a heck of a quarterback,” San Francisco wide receiver Anquan Boldin said. “You guys see it. He’s poised, he’s under control. He has a good control of the offense. He understands where to go with the ball.”

Boldin’s fellow pass catcher, Torrey Smith, echoed the sentiments.

“Blaine played awesome,” Smith said. “The plays that he made, he was able to showcase his skills and prove that he belongs in this league. Blaine can play ball. I’m just glad that he can go out there and prove it, but we need to get some wins to show for it.”

Gabbert’s passer rating in three games this season is 91.0. Kaepernick’s was 78.5; he is now on injured reserve.

A LINE IN THE TURF

The Arizona running game had been more than solid this season, averaging 119.7 yards per game. But the Cardinals found the going tough against the 49ers, with 70 yards on 29 attempts - a 2.4-yard average.

True, both starter Chris Johnson and No. 2 guy Andre Ellington left the game with injuries, leaving the carries to third-stringer David Johnson. Then again, Johnson did almost nothing before he left, with 17 yards on 12 attempts.

It was another change of direction for the 49ers’ run defense, which allowed, in succession, 197 yards to the Rams, just 17 to the Falcons and a whopping 255 to the Seahawks coming into the Arizona game.

“I feel like last week was a slap in the face to the offense and I feel like we didn’t do a good enough job last week,” San Francisco linebacker Eli Harold said. “Coming into this week we stressed it a lot: Tackle the ball, tackle the ball, get after the ball. I feel like we did a great job stopping the run.”

NON-INNOCENT BYSTANDER

It wasn’t the most controversial of the calls that went against the 49ers on Sunday, but it may have been the strangest. Wide receiver Torrey Smith, watching his defense from the sidelines, drew a flag when an official bumped into him while trying to rule on a deep pass down the left side.

“He was moving, I wasn’t, so he bumped into me,” Smith said. “I was too far from where I was supposed to be, so that was my fault.”

And the zebra wasn’t happy about it.

“Oh, refs, when you bump into them, you’d think you punched ’em in the face,” Smith said.

The receiver’s penalty didn’t matter too much. Nickel back Jimmie Ward was whistled for pass interference on the play. But yeah, Smith took full responsibility for the transgression, and formed a plan for future games.

“There’s that little yellow line we’re supposed to be behind, we practice it all the time,” Smith said. “I’m probably gonna catch hell from (49ers coach Jim) Tomsula for it. … You best believe when we’re on defense, I’m sitting down, I’m watching that big screen.”

WHY HE’S NOT A WIDE RECEIVER

Arizona’s second field goal was sort of a gift. Just before Chandler Catanzaro hit from 41 yards, 49ers cornerback Tramaine Brock dropped a sure interception in the end zone. Brock was looking into the sun at the time. To his credit, he didn’t use that as an excuse.

“I took my eye off it for a moment, because I was trying to see if I was gonna run it out or take a knee.”

INJURY REPORT

Running back Carlos Hyde (foot) and outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks (concussion, toe) both sat out the game with injuries. Tight end Garrett Celek left in the first quarter with a high ankle sprain.