When Mike Nolan was hired, I thought it was a great move because the team needed a no-nonsense coach.
However, that was then.
This week, Nolan proved to be the king of understatements (sorry, Al Davis) when he said the “explosive plays” by Drew Brees and his merry band of second-string receivers were “inexcusable.”
Duh.
Why did a veteran secondary—the league’s most-experienced—implode in Seattle and New Orleans?
This extremely expensive unit is costing the 49ers precious millions, yet it consistently underperforms.
It allowed fourth-stringers to chew up yardage in Seattle, but Nolan explained that away by saying Mike Holmgren always has great offensive schemes to attack defenses.
To counter Holmgren’s attack, Nolan said he changed San Francisco’s defensive scheme.
The result? Seattle had 22 first downs and 182 yards, with two unknown receivers slicing through the secondary for 78 and 48 yards, respectively.
It was an amazing display of an overpriced defense playing poorly.
Then, here come the Saints two weeks later.
Granted, Drew Brees is hot right now; however, this is supposed to be one of the best defenses in NFL history—at least that was what Mike Singletary said before any regular-season games were played.
Brees looked like Joe Montana passing to Jerry Rice and John Taylor, compiling huge gains while passing for 363 yards, three touchdowns, and a 65.7 completion percentage.
Two unknown receivers (I’ve already forgotten their names) tallied 101 and 99 yards, respectively.
The team’s defense is awful, ’Niner fans, and it doesn’t please me to write this.
It is ranked 22nd in passing yards allowed and 17th in passing touchdowns allowed.
The secondary also has a role to play in rushing, and the news here isn’t any prettier.
The defense ranks 23rd in rushing yards allowed and 16th in rushing TDs allowed.
So, that quote is a Nolan gem, and it underscores a terrible defense that has only played one good team.
With a team like this, I can explain to younger San Francisco fans why longtime 49er fans see the 1973-1980 49ers in the 2003-2008 49ers.
They are not pleasant memories.
6 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment
Kenji Kaneko 9 months ago
its just nolan is playing that dumb 4-2-6 defense and getting no pressure on the QB. they'll be playing it again this week against the pats.
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Glenn Franco Simmons 9 months ago
Is there a name for this defense? The Nolan Nuances of how to lose? Doesn't this defensive scheme open up the middle too much, allowing fast receivers to catch balls on slants, etc., and then make a ton of yards before the secondary can get to him? I still think the Niners' defense was far overrated this summer. I bought into it, but no matter what scheme is being used, I don't think we're that good, but I could always be wrong. I liked your Vernon Davis article. Great insight.
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Stephen Purtill 9 months ago
Isn't there something to said about the offense here, though? Think about the games we've seen. Should the 49ers have beaten Arizona? I think so. Do you know why they couldn't? The defense couldn't get off the field. Granted, in that game they started to really break late in the 4th quarter, but this is a reoccurring theme in the past couple of years. The longer the defense is on the field--and this can apply to just about any defense, save Baltimore--bad things are going to happen.
It's up to the 49ers offense to sustain some strong 8-9-10-11 play drives and chew up some clock. Hand it off to Gore, and swing it out him and Vernon Davis (who has been NON EXISTENT through 4 games) and get them in space. The game-plan should be that of Arizona's against San Francisco in week one.
Look, we know that the WR's still aren't great, but you've still got some good pieces, and an underutilized Delaney Walker, that can aid in at least winning a field position battle and not letting the defense have to cover only 60 yards of field. It's tough on any defense.
I'm not saying the defense isn't ultimately accountable for a lot of their poor play, but there is a symbiotic relationship that exists in football between the units. The 49ers have to play with fire and intensity on both sides of the ball. I haven't seen that in maybe 4-5 years .That's really what this team is lacking.
That all being said, it was a great article to get this conversation going, for sure. Great read.
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Glenn Franco Simmons 9 months ago
You are 100 percent correct, Stephen, with one exception, but it's just my opinion.
I remember when Joe Montana would led very quick, successful drives, leaving the defense on the field for prolonged periods.
The difference between those championship defenses was turnovers.
This defense just doesn't get them. They are partly to blame in terms of prolonged exposure on the field.
Sure, the offense sucks, but Baltimore's offense sucked during its Super Bowl year. The difference -- and Nolan knows this -- is that Baltimore had an opportunistic defense.
I give the defense no excuses. If they want off the field, then make turnovers.
The offense should sustain longer drives, that's for sure, but the defense should first look at its lack of ability to stay with receivers who sliced and diced the secondary like it's been Joe Montana and Rice and Taylor.
The overpriced secondary is awful and they have been cremated by second- to fourth-stringers. I don't care how long they were on the field, allowing that to occur is ridiculous.
Thank you for writing.
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Stephen Purtill 9 months ago
GFS--
I actually didn't look at that way. I do agree with you. The defense ought to be able to force more turnovers. They should be more opportunistic. It's one thing to make a ton of tackles, but you've got to get some picks and strip the ball.
Well done, sir.
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Glenn Franco Simmons 9 months ago
I just did a statistical analysis of the 49ers. You might like or not like it. Time of possession, historically, is not always an indication of a defense's strength. Baltimore had five games without a TD in its Super Bowl year, but it ran it a lot.
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