Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: 5 biggest questions facing the defense in 2017

By Peter Panacy

December 20, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) tackles Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard (25) during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
December 20, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) tackles Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard (25) during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
November 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) runs with the football against San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) during the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Falcons 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) runs with the football against San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) during the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Falcons 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1: How Effective Will the 49ers Run Defense Be?

Well, if it’s only slightly better than last year, that’s a huge improvement.

Take a look at these run defense stats from 2016 (hint: they’re not good):

49ers Run Defense Stats and Rankings Table
Rush Rush Rush Rush
Player PF Yds 1stD Att Yds TD Y/A
Opp. Stats 480 6502 358 548 2654 25 4.8
Lg Rank Defense 32 32 29 32 32 32 32

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/9/2017.

Until proven otherwise, the Niners run defense remains the critical weakness the team has to address this upcoming season.

Fortunately, the additions of players like nose tackle Earl Mitchell and defensive end Solomon Thomas should help. Linebackers NaVorro Bowman, fully healthy (we hope), and Reuben Foster should cut down on gains extending into the second level.

Still, it’s not hard to understand why this is such a concern. Combining the personnel with injury worries — the 49ers were awfully thin last year — it’s easy to see why teams simply had to run the ball right down San Francisco’s throat.

More from Niner Noise

It worked.

The change to a 4-3, with as many as 11 defenders in the box, should help cut down on open lanes and wide gaps just beyond the line of scrimmage. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh’s scheme is nothing like the read-and-react and multiple-stunt approaches from a year ago, now allowing defenders to simply hold their assignments and gaps.

This should would well and cut down on the big gains the Niners were forced to endure in 2016.

Next: 5 biggest questions facing the 49ers offense

But if it doesn’t, the 49ers may have to go back to the drawing board once again.