The San Francisco 49ers have one of the most talented defensive groups in the National Football League. Headed by defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans, they were one of the most formidable units in the sport. However, more changes have come to the 49ers coaching staff as Ryans accepted the job to become the head coach of the Houston Texans during the offseason.
With new defensive coordinator Steve Wilks calling the shots, can this side of the ball continue to be the best in football?
DeMeco Ryans is Underrated
DeMeco Ryans shares the mindset of the team at our Season Ticket Member Town Hall 🤘 pic.twitter.com/N62leLG3DY
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) June 8, 2023
The 2022 San Francisco 49ers were one of the best defensive teams we have seen in years. They were incredible as they led the league with just 16.3 points per game given up. They did a superb job of getting the offense back on the field quickly, and the average defensive drive would last 2:38, which was the fourth-fastest in the sport. It is not hyperbole to say that Ryans understands the defensive side of the ball well. He was a linebacker for the Texans and Eagles, the 2006 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, and a two-time Pro Bowler. Considering his time as the DC in San Francisco, transitioning to the coaching side of things should be easy. Admittedly, it is a little easier to coach the defense when you have the talent the 49ers do on defense. Last season, they had Arik Armstead and Nick Bosa on the defensive line, with Fred Warner manning the mike. In the secondary, they also had Charvarius Ward and Emmanuel Moseley as their top cornerbacks. Things go a lot smoother with that type of talent on the field. Even without much production out of the rookies last season on this side, they were able to do well. The quarterback carousel and the addition of running back Christian McCaffrey made the offense bolster up later in the season, but this was the most consistent part of the team.
Can Steve Wilks Continue the Defensive Output?
ICYMI:
Transcript: Steve Wilks talks defense ahead of #49ers-Chargers preseason finale#FTTB | #LACvsSFhttps://t.co/0UMPwTq7vG— 49ers Webzone (@49erswebzone) August 22, 2023
With DeMeco Ryans taking the Houston coaching job during the offseason, the 49ers decided to get a man with a lot of experience with former head coach Steve Wilks to replace him. This will be the third defensive coordinator in four years, as Robert Saleh also had the position before taking the New York Jets job. While Wilks looked a little overwhelmed by the head coaching job in Carolina, he is a solid defensive coordinator. The defense added another piece to the puzzle by signing defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and adding talent in the draft. The most pro-ready player that the 49ers selected was safety Ji’Ayir Brown, out of Penn State, to help the secondary. While this defense still has some elite talent under contract, they will take a step back without DeMeco Ryans. It is common for this to happen as Ryans was one of the best coordinators in football, and now, with a different voice, things can take time to build. This 49ers defense will take on some tough non-divisional opponents as they have games against Dallas, Cleveland, Minnesota, Cincinnati, Jacksonville, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. They have a softer landing to begin the year, but once Week 4 rolls around, things get a lot tougher for them on the defensive side of the ball. Steve Wilks has the experience, but going from arguably the best defensive coordinator in football to what many believe is somewhere between 10 and 14 on the list, there will be a dropoff.
Is This Defense Able to Do Great Again?
While the names on the defensive side of the ball are incredible, there are still question marks. The largest one remains the two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Nick Bosa, as he is in the midst of a contract holdout. He led the league with 18.5 sacks and was third with 58 quarterback pressures, but without a training camp or preseason to get back into things, will he be rusty? Then the pressure of the offense comes into play; if the offense takes a step back with Brock Purdy coming off elbow surgery, will the defense rise to the occasion? They will likely be on the field more often early on. It is challenging to dive straight into preseason stats because many starters do not play significant time, but it is the only tape we have on Wilks doing his job. Right now, the 49ers allow 27 points per game, the third-highest in the sport. That is not to say the defense will struggle this much when the regular season rolls around, but to expect them to remain the best defense in football seems to be a stretch. I expect a top-five performance overall, but nowhere near what we saw in the 2022 season.
