Too few takeaways plague lackluster defense

Team has yet to recover a fumble

SANTA CLARA — Name the 49ers’ best defensive play this season. Stumped? That’s because a galling lack of turnovers, sacks and game-changing plays has plagued their 1-4 start. They have yet to recover even one fumble by an opponent, something that has never happened five games into a season in the franchise’s 66-year NFL history. “I would love some more fumble recoveries, more batted balls, more sacks and some more of all those things,” defensive coordinator Eric Mangini said Thursday. Next up are the Baltimore Ravens, who rank 10th in scoring (24.6 points per game) and have coughed up only seven turnovers in their own 1-4 start. Mangini addressed his defense Thursday about the need to enhance their practice habits so they finish off plays better. “You’ve got to build up muscle memory and get your body trained to consistently pressure the ball, consistently have the awareness of where the quarterback is in the pocket,” Mangini said. Defensive tackle Quinton Dial is among those who heard that message loud and clear. “It’s been mentioned,” Dial said. “There’s things we try to improve on during practice, and turnovers is definitely one of them.” Of the 49ers’ three interceptions this season — two by Tramaine Brock and one by Kenneth Acker — their most impactful one came when Brock intercepted Eli Manning’s pass in the end zone just before halftime of Sunday’s 30-27 defeat to the New York Giants. There might not be a more notable defensive highlight this year, at least one that counted. Dial and Ahmad Brooks combined on a first-series sack against the Green Bay Packers, only to have it nullified by Michael Wilhoite’s penalty in their Oct. 4 loss. Against the Giants, Acker dropped a potential interception in the end zone, and Brock had a lastminute interception overturned by a replay review. The 49ers had way more plays to choose from last year during a disappointing 8-8 season. They led the league last year with 23 interceptions, while collecting six fumble recoveries. Three seasons ago, when the 49ers headed for a Super Bowl showdown with the Ravens, they racked up 14 interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries. Players were rewarded for each takeaway with black bracelets, inscribed with NaVorro Bowman’s message: “To It + See It = Get It.” No such bracelets are around this season’s, nor are such a bevy of takeaways. Disrupting opposing quarterbacks would help the league’s 30th-ranked pass defense. The 49ers didn’t sack Manning while allowing the fifth-most passing yards in franchise history (441). Manning’s 41 completions were one shy of the 49ers’ record for an opponent. “In practice, it’s so important to go through the fits, go through the angles,” Mangini said. “I think it was (boxing trainer) Cus D’Amato who said you’ve got to rep it so much that you can’t mess it up, even if you want to. You have to train your body over and over again, outside of drill work, so it’s reactionary.” Running back Carlos Hyde’s foot issue flared up early in Thursday’s warmups and he gingerly walked off the practice field with lead trainer Jeff Ferguson and strength coach Mark Uyeyama. Hyde, who did not practice Wednesday, headed into the outdoor weight room, presumably for individual conditioning. His 83 carries this season are the same number he had all of last year as a rookie understudy to Frank Gore. Will he play Sunday? “I can’t say that one way or the other,” offensive coordinator Geep Chryst answered before practice. “I can only go back to the point of reference I have: Jonathan Stewart did a great job the years I was with him on the Carolina Panthers, where he didn’t do a whole lot during the week and then played great on Sunday. I’d expect the same out of Carlos. That’s what Carlos wants to do.” Hyde ranks seventh in the NFL with 375 yards (and three touchdowns). In the same number of carries last year, the second-round draft pick from Ohio State had 333 yards and four touchdowns. Colin Kaepernick’s elbow placement in his throwing motion — right or wrong — is not of urgent concern to Chryst. Kaepernick’s former coach at Nevada, Chris Ault, suggested in a recent interview that Kaepernick drops his elbow too much. “Biomechanics or techniques or technical, we’re at the point in the season where you kind of have to execute and hit the open jumper,” Chryst added. “And I think, like Colin did in the offseason, that’s a great thing to work on in February, March and April. “Another thing is, we’re only made a certain amount of way. We walk a certain way. We talk a certain way. To have a cookie-cutter, technical approach to things is probably not realistic. So, Kap is who Kap is.” Outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks returned to practice after missing the past week in the wake of his sister’s death. Andrew Tiller’s impressive debut last Sunday probably will keep him in the mix at right guard, even if it means rotating with season-long starter Jordan Devey. Coach Jim Tomsula praised both players for their recent strides. “I’m getting compliments every day, but I don’t let it go to my head, because I know I make mistakes every day, too,” Tiller said. Tomsula described Tiller as a “big, strong, heavyhanded guy.” Asked to define “heavy handed,” Tiller replied: “Once you get your hands on somebody, they don’t go anywhere.” Tight end Vernon Davis, after two games off, said his left knee is healing really well from a strained medial collateral ligament and bruise. “I like to go out and make sure I can help the team win,” Davis said. “And if I can’t, I’d rather not be out there.”