49ers elite defense is slumping ahead of playoff run
SANTA CLARA — The 49ers were getting interceptions in bunches during the first half of the season. They had 10 over their first seven games after setting an NFL record in futility with just two during all of 2018.
San Francisco’s defense was healthy and dominant over that span leading to the team’s 2019 resurgence. It was allowing a paltry 224.4 yards per game while playing mostly backup or also-ran quarterbacks.
But things have changed with the playoffs quickly approaching and the Rams coming to town Saturday after the 49ers defense faltered last week against the Falcons.
Injuries hit 49ers hard — Attrition has taken a toll. Linebacker Kwon Alexander and nose tackle D.J. Jones have been lost for the season with pectoral and ankle injuries, respectively. Pass rusher Dee Ford has missed a handful of games with a problematic hamstring strain, which will keep him from playing against L.A.
The depth along the defensive line took hits when productive reserve Ronald Blair III went down with a season-ending ACL tear Nov. 11 against the Seahawks. Then his replacement, Damontre Moore, was lost with a fractured forearm, compounding depth issues along the elite defensive front.
In the seven games since recording those 10 interceptions? The 49ers have just one.
It came in overtime in the loss to Seattle. And San Francisco’s overall yardage totals have climbed from 224 yards per game to 313.6 over the last seven weeks, which is still a strong number, albeit almost 30 percent higher than the first seven games.
“From a statistical standpoint, it was almost historic,” defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said this week. “I almost feel like we kind of spoiled people. We’ve still been playing good defense and doing all those things. It’s something that we’ve got to just continue
to keep grinding and getting better with the different guys that are coming in and out of the lineup.”
Saleh also pointed out the competition has improved dramatically from the 49ers’ opening slate of games.
Jared Goff of the Rams, Saturday’s opponent, was likely the best quarterback San Francisco faced during the first two months of the season. Since then, the team has played Super Bowl winners Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees, the MVP frontrunner in Lamar Jackson, 2016 MVP Matt Ryan and emerging rookie Kyler Murray.
No one in Santa Clara is panicking over the play of San Francisco’s defense. The loss to the Falcons came without 60 percent of the usual secondary as top corners Richard Sherman (hamstring) and K’Waun Williams (concussion) joined strong safety Jaquiski Tartt (rib fracture) on the sideline with injuries. Their absence played a role in All-Pro wideout Julio Jones torching the 49ers with 134 yards and two crucial touchdowns (he set up a third by drawing a pass interference in the end zone).