49ers film room: First-team defense vs. Chiefs starting offense

1st-and-2 at SF 2

Alex Smith isn’t under center, but the Chiefs look to run the ball. The 49ers match the Chiefs’ personnel, but have their larger linemen in the game:

As the ball is snapped, the Chiefs line gets the initial push.

Surprisingly, TE Harris has Tank Carradine controlled, and Earl Mitchell is manhandled away from the hole, allowing the Chiefs’ tackle to head to the second level.

Seeing the gaping hole in the line, Smith hands the ball off to Spencer Ware. Rashard Robinson is the only defender who can possibly fill the gap:

With both linebackers controlled by the two linemen, Ware takes the ball toward the end zone:

Robinson hasn’t moved, and Carradine is still locked up by Harris. Ware sees daylight on the other side of the line:

Ware is untouched across the goal line and the Chiefs have their first score of the preseason:

As expected, the San Francisco 49ers’ first defensive drive of the preseason was far from perfect, but the team showed positive characteristics that bode well for the future. The 49ers nearly caused two turnovers, and with better discipline and fundamentals, would have stopped the Chiefs on each of their third-down attempts.

Next: 49ers vs. Chiefs: The good, bad and ugly

Just like Saleh recently preached, the Niners played with violence. In the future, hopefully the violence will be accompanied by corresponding discipline. It will likely be a rocky road for the first-year defense, but hopefully the 49ers’ defense will see more ups than downs in 2017.