San Francisco’s defense is ranked 21st overall, while its offense is ranked 12th, which doesn’t really tell you what’s wrong with the team this year.
Upon a closer look, however, the offense cannot be blamed for the defense’s woes, in my opinion.
Turnover statistics show that our defense is not opportunistic enough and its sack attack is feeble.
For a team with supposedly the most-experienced secondary in the league, we only have five interceptions in four games and Baltimore has five in three. Even though we’re in the upper echelon by being ranked sixth (tied), we trail teams that we should be ahead of.
Experience doesn’t mean you’re good.
In terms of fumbles, which casts a pall over the entire defense, we have a pitiful two fumble recoveries. That’s earned us a 15th rank. The frustrating part of fumbles is that we are ranked third in forced fumbles with six. The problem is that we are not aggressive and/or skilled enough once the ball is out.
Implausible.
With eight sacks, the 49ers appear to be in the middle of the statistics, but in reality San Francisco’s pass rush is abysmal and it is far behind the sack totals of elite teams.
In fact, only 14 of the NFL’s 32 teams have fewer sacks than the 49ers’ eight. That means 17 teams are ahead of us.
Pathetic.
In reality, the 49ers are in the cellar, significantly trailing the league-leading Philadelphia Eagles (17 sacks, four games), Pittsburg Steelers (15, four games) and Tennessee Titans (15, four games).
The proof of our poor pass rush is also illustrated by the stat that we have two less sacks in one more game than the lowly Miami Dolphins.
Depressing.
Another key stat pointing to the lackluster 49er defense is the 335.8 average yards per game it allows. Twenty-one defenses are statistically better at this point in the season.
Woeful.
In terms of which defense allows more offensive plays, the 49ers are in the cellar again because they have allowed 265, followed by only four other teams. Before you blame the offense for this stat by saying it does not stay on the field long enough, I have more stats for you.
Thirteen teams have run less offensive plays than San Francisco’s 231, including the first-place New York Giants (199), first-place Pittsburgh Steelers (227), the barely second-place San Diego Chargers (226) and the second-place Baltimore Ravens (208).
2 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment
russ autin 9 months ago
it all goes back to the pass rush,if any nfl qb gets that much time ,with no fear of getting hit,no secondary will hold up.i thought the safety,lewis, had a great game against the saints ,what a hit on the goal line, the best hit of the week.
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Glenn Franco Simmons 9 months ago
I guess some times things get left out in such critiques, Russ, but it's a great point you have made. We have to remember the individual efforts, for sure. Thank you for point that out and thank you for commenting. I still think they can gel, but I believe they read too many stories about how great they were gonna be. I wish there was better news to report. We'll see this weekend. Go, 'Niners!
Oh, yeah, you're correct about that darn pass rush. Justin Smith for such big money? Six years for $45 million and he's not even an edge rusher worth a salt? I don't get the 'Niners' spending spree on Clements, Smith, etc. I realize they are under the cap and have money, but why throw it away? Why not build with some rookies? That's what Walsh did. He mixed rookies with so-so veterans and look what happened. Of course, he had Joe.
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