Pro Football Focus 49ers Defensive Review
A thorough review of the Niners defense by James Izzard at Pro Football Focus.
about 2 years ago
Brendan Scolari
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Nice article
Finally, somebody gives credit to Isaac Sopoaga who was the ONLY DL to get pressure on Rogers yesterday. Soap continues to just quietly push one or two offensive linemen back toward the QB and to clog up running lanes. Our front three deserve a lot of credit but without many sacks or QB pressure coming from the linebackers, it may well be time to go to a 4-3 with Sopoaga and Franklin at the tackles.
Kezarvet
Interesting
But then, who would play the ends and at outside linebacker?
I guess maybe Justin Smith and Haralson at end, Manny as strong side linebacker, and then… I’m not sure who could play the weakside. Also, Franklin and Sopoaga wouldn’t get much push for an interior pass rush.
by Brendan Scolari on Nov 25, 2009 12:51 PM PST up reply actions
This.
The 49ers definitely have the bodies that fit a stereotypical 4-3 mold, but the players talents themselves don’t lend to it. They simply don’t have the pass rushers that can play at 4-3 DE, and really don’t have a weakside OLB. I suppose one could argue that Willis could be moved away from MLB to play weakside and leave Spikes to play the inside, but that’s taking Willis, the defense’s best player out of his position.
I’m sorry, but Sopoaga and Franklin as DTs, the 49ers will have a solid run defense, however, the defense as a whole will be pretty bad. No on fears Haralson/Lawson at DE, so that leads to constant double teams on Smith at the other end.
They could play
Jean-Francois at DE on 1st and 2nd down, then McDonald, a big disappointment, on 3rd down.
Kezarvet
I'd also like to see
Briggs at the OL if we are using a 4-3. He’s a natural pass rusher, unlike Lawson who lacks the initial burst.
Kezarvet
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