Cardinals vs. 49ers: 5 Arizona Weaknesses San Francisco Needs to Exploit in Week 5

No. 2: Sell Out to Stop the Arizona Running Game

Losing linebacker NaVorro Bowman stinks. Not only is he the 49ers’ best defender, he’s also the most sound tackler and strongest player against the run.

San Francisco’s run defense ranks dead last in the NFL with opponents averaging 140.5 yards per game.

And Cardinals running back David Johnson? He’s averaging 4.7 yards per carry. He’s also a receiving threat. Per Pro Football Focus, Johnson’s elusiveness has earned him 24 missed tackles on the year. No other tailback has more than 16.

So how do the 49ers counter?

First, they move safety Eric Reid down into the box and leave fellow safety Jaquiski Tartt in a traditional defensive back role. We talked about this here, and it makes sense. Reid is solid against the run and is one of the better tacklers on the Niners defense.

But this also means gap coverage, controlling the edge and protecting against the wider rushing lanes in sub packages.

All three of these factors have been problematic for San Francisco since Week 1.

Selling out against the run opens up a slew of problems. But they aren’t issues which may necessarily doom the 49ers’ efforts.