San Francisco 49ers: Is Jim Harbaugh's Defense the Best in the NFL?

The 49ers have been shutting down opposing offenses all season long, and have done it with some relatively unknown players. Their latest win on Monday night was against a team with an equally good defense, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Patrick Willis, a pro bowler in all four seasons of his career, is the best known star on San Francisco’s defense, but remember that he didn’t play Monday night. Instead, replacement Larry Grant and company dominated Pittsburgh.

So, who on that defensive unit is responsible for leading the 49ers to their first playoff berth since 2002?

Experience is the driving force behind the 49ers front three linemen, at 27, LE Ray McDonald is the youngest starter on the line and is having his best season with 4.5 sacks. On the other end is Justin Smith, 32. In the last two years, Smith has had his only two pro bowl seasons, with a third possibly coming up. He has 6.5 sacks on the year, and in Week 10, his batted pass in the fourth quarter sealed the 49ers victory against the Giants.

Rookie outside linebacker Aldon Smith has had the biggest impact for the defense. The seventh overall pick leads the team with 13 sacks.  Smith manhandled the 6-8 345-pound Max Starks on Monday night and recorded 2.5 sacks on Ben Roethlisberger; no easy task even against the wounded big man. Vic Fangio couldn’t have picked a better time to take San Francisco’s defensive coordinator position. He will continue to build up that defense around Smith and obviously, Patrick Willis who can’t be left out of the conversation. 

Willis is at his best against the run; an anticipator of plays, he can single-handedly bring any half back down behind the line. He is a huge part of the reason there hasn’t been a 100-yard runner or a rushing touchdown allowed all season. Only the Eagles managed to gain over 100 rushing yards as team, and that was due to 75 yards from Michael Vick. 

Another reason is NaVorro Bowman, who, in his sophomore season is seventh in the league in tackles with 121. These three neophytes are fast, aggressive and swarm to the ball carrier.  Michael Irvin has said they look like the Ravens of 2000, and if they stay on the same team they will have the same success. Willis is signed through 2016.

While the front seven is where this strength of the defense is located, the back four are no hacks; they were laying the lumber on Pittsburgh receivers Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown all night.

Though it’s been said that they don’t have that stand out player in the secondary, San Fran is second in the league in interceptions with 21. Both free safety Dashon Goldson and corner back Carlos Rodgers have six on the year. When Justin and Alden Smith are rushing from the right side they push the quarterback to the left and force him to throw on Rodgers and Goldson, who are tall defensive backs at 6' and 6'2", respectively.

Like all good defenses, the 49ers force turnovers, in addition to the 21 picks, they have the best differential in the league (+25) and the most recovered fumbles (14). With all the youth in the box and in the secondary, San Fran has placed themselves in the elite level of defense with Pittsburgh and Baltimore. In the coming years, it’s likely this unit will overtake the title of the best defense in the league.

This article was posted on my blog earlier today at http://digdeepovertime.tumblr.com/