GM Scot McCloughan Needs To Kick Greg Manusky to the Curb

After today's game, it's absolutely clear that Greg Manusky's days as the 49ers' defensive coordinator should be numbered.

It's pathetic that over the last two weeks, the 49ers have given up 97 yards to Correll Buckhalter (not that he isn't a bad running back) but he's been injury prone. And to make matters worse, they allowed a 5.1 yard per average.

In last week's game against New England, the 49ers' defense allowed two rushing touchdowns to Kevin Faulk—who had never in his 10-year NFL career ever had a two-touchdown game. Both of them were on plays that it was clearly going to be a running play.

My problem with this defense is that they have three playmakers on the team. They have Walt Harris, who has 13 interceptions in two-plus seasons with the 49ers. They signed Nate Clements for eight years and $80 millions.

So far, in his one-plus season with the 49ers, he's had five interceptions, and he has been solid. He also has the problem of not going for the tackle but trying to strip the ball out and sometimes it works and sometimes he's thrown off, making it a bigger play than it should have been. The third—and best—playmaker for the 49ers is, of course, Patrick Willis.

The 49ers, during the offseason, brought in Justin Smith to help the pass rush. So far, it hasn't worked. So far this season, the 49ers have just 13 sacks, and this is including today's game against the Eagles. That is an incredibly low amount of sacks.

The first game of the season, the 49ers had three sacks, which is a mediocre amount, and it probably should have been more considering that Kurt Warner is 37 years old. In the second through sixth games, they've managed only one sack on Matt Hasselbeck, four sacks on Jon Kitna, zero sacks on Drew Brees, five sacks against Matt Cassel, which is much improved, and zero against Donavon McNabb.

So, that means that against the proven quarterbacks in the league in Hasselbeck, McNabb, and Brees, the 49ers' defense has had only one sack. Meaning, since there's no pressure on the quarterbacks, they can just pick the 49ers defense apart, seeing how Hasselbeck, even without his healthy, main wide receivers threw for 189 yards, which is pretty good actually. They also allowed Julius Jones to run for 127 yards, Drew Brees threw for 363 yards and three touchdowns, and McNabb today 288 yards and two touchdowns.

I have yet to see the 49ers play with any sense. They don't put any kind of pressure on the quarterback. There's rarely any blitzes, and the 49ers plays the bend-but-don't-break style. Well, that's all well and good when you can build a lead and your offense can be on the field. It just never happens that way because Manusky, for some strange reason, doesn't like to go after the quarterback.

It also seems that, when the 49ers do get some pressure—which is a rare occurrence—the quarterback manages to escape either by throwing the ball away or making a completion.

What the 49ers need to do is employ a more aggressive defense, starting with Patrick Willis. Let him be everywhere on the field. Blitz him, let him come from the outside, and maybe he can disrupt the quarterback. With the added pressure on the quarterback, it would allow the two playmaking corners the 49ers have in Clements and Harris that much better and be able to get more interceptions.

The 49ers' next game is against the defending champions, the New York Giants. Look for the 49ers to not even make a game of it, unless New York overlooks the 49ers since the Giants are going to be playing the Pittsburgh Steelers the following week.

Somehow, I don't see that happening, and the Giants will remain undefeated. If the defense doesn't show any type of improvement in getting to the quarterback, Eli Manning, as much as I hate saying this, will have a field day and throw for a ton of yards, and Brandon Jacobs will also have a huge game on the ground. No pressure on Manning equals easy victory for the New York Giants.

I'm going to predict a score of the Giants 35 and the 49ers 10. After the Giants game, if the 49ers' defense doesn't show any signs of improving on getting pressure, Greg Manusky should be shown the door. 

He should go and find a job coaching in the college ranks. The 49ers defense has been pathetic, and it's time for McCloughan to bring in someone who's willing to have the 49'ers blitz and put pressure on the QB to make quick decisions instead of all day to make their throws.