Breaking down what the 49ers’ defense will look like in 2018

The San Francisco 49ers are heading into the 2018 offseason looking to bolster up their defensive unit. With the 49ers’ core pieces in place and some possible additions, Niner Noise analyzes what San Francisco’s defense will look like in 2018.

In 2017, the San Francisco 49ers improved their overall defense with defensive coordinator Robert Saleh after a disastrous outcome the previous year. San Francisco allowed 406.4 total yards and 30 points per game in 2016, which ranked worst in the NFL.

However, the 49ers’ defense progressed this past season by ranking 24th in total yards allowed and 25th in points allowed.

Even though the improvement was not drastic, San Francisco’s defense is still on an upward trajectory. By filling in the necessary gaps and developing their young players, the 49ers can become a force, defensively, next season.

Saleh brought the 4-3 scheme to the 49ers after coaching for the Seattle Seahawks and Jacksonville Jaguars. Throughout the 2017 season, the defensive unit played under the Cover 3 press scheme that has been effective when well-executed.

Although the defense was not consistent, addressing some positional needs would undoubtedly improve the team’s overall performance. Thus, let’s discuss San Francisco’s defensive levels and what each of them would bring in 2018.