49ers’ offense
49ers hope defense gets boost from Jimmy Garoppolo addition.
SANTA CLARA (AP) — While the addition of Jimmy Garoppolo under center dramatically changed the look of the 49ers’ offense on Sunday, it had a huge impact on the defense as well.
Garoppolo helped San Francisco to control the game by nearly doubling up the Bears in time of possession, 38:47 to 21:13, which meant the defense played a season-low 36 snaps while putting together one of its best performances of the year.
“I honestly felt like I could play another full game after that game,” defensive lineman DeForest Buckner said.
Buckner is San Francisco’s resident iron man. He led NFL defensive linemen in snaps as a rookie last season by playing more than 1,000 despite missing a game due to injury. Playing 26 on Sunday was welcomed after entering the week averaging 59, again near the top of the league.
The 49ers (2-10) came out of Chicago with their first road victory thanks to a balanced effort with Garoppolo moving the ball up and down the field. The offense logged 388 yards and converted 10 of 18 third downs to extend drives.
The defense allowed just 147 nets yards, the fewest since November 2012, and eight first downs, the fewest by any opponent since 2010. They were fresh in the fourth quarter, which helped them force a punt leading to Garoppolo’s game-winning drive that ended with a field goal to pull out the 15-14 victory.
“It was awesome to be able to sit back and watch the offense go to work,” defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said. “You don’t get many opportunities at that. I don’t care what team you play for. You just don’t get opportunities to be able to be a spectator as much. So, it was pretty cool.”
Salah is charged with turning around a defense that was among the worst in franchise history last season. The team has promising young talent starting with Buckner and linebacker Reuben Foster, who was named the league’s defensive rookie of the month for November.
If the Garoppolo-led offense can replicate its performance this week against the Texans, it will give Saleh’s unit another chance to make strides in its development as the season winds down.