49ers: 10 items on San Francisco's to-do list over final four games of 2019

10 items on 49ers to-do list over final four games of 2019

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 17: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers walks on the field during warm ups to the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium on November 17, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

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Running back Kenyan Drake #41 of the Arizona Cardinals (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

No. 7: Shore Up the Run Defense

San Francisco’s defense has been exceptional this season, and it ranks No. 2 overall in scoring and No. 1 against the pass.

Defending against the run, however, has been an entirely different story.

On the season, the 49ers have given up a total of 1,400 rush yards, which ranks 22nd, and an average of 4.7 yards per rush, which ranks 25th. Football Outsiders has the Niners run defense ranked 30th on the season.

Again, there’s a correlation between San Francisco getting off to huge offensive starts, which put opponents into positions where they had to throw, not run. But in possible close games, particularly against run-happy teams like the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams upcoming on the remaining schedule, tightening up against the run is an area in which defensive coordinator Robert Saleh needs massive improvement.

It’s not as if the adjustments are impossible. The Ravens had great success moving the ball on the ground early in Week 13, only to see San Francisco make its adjustments in the second half.

Now, Saleh just needs to apply those adjustments situationally over the rest of 2019.