Why defensive line is a liability for 49ers after losing D.J. Jones
By Peter Panacy
Head coach Kyle Shanahan told KNBR 680 the San Francisco 49ers would be placing nose tackle D.J. Jones on season-ending injured reserve, creating problems on the defensive line.
The San Francisco 49ers defensive line, widely viewed as the team’s No. 1 strength entering this season, just got a lot weaker down the final stretch of the season.
This, after head coach Kyle Shanahan told KNBR 680’s Tom Tolbert, Larry Krueger and Rod Brooks on Thursday the team would be placing nose tackle D.J. Jones on season-ending injured reserve with an ankle injury.
“We’ve got guys who can come in and step it up,” Shanahan said. “Jullian [Taylor], who has been hurt, probably won’t be able to play this week but we expect to get him back, hopefully, next week, if not the week after. He’s going to have to step it up for us here with losing D.J.”
You can listen to Shanahan’s entire interview below:
There were rumors about this being a likelihood, so Shanahan confirming it isn’t a shock. But it does create a notable problem up front, as the Niners defensive line depth has already been put to the test this season.
Jones has had a phenomenal 2019 campaign, his third year at the pro level, locking up the interior of the D-line in base formations and performing well against both the run and the pass.
San Francisco has options to replace him, of course, but there isn’t exactly a clear-cut answer. One of those, particularly defending against the run, is reserve lineman Sheldon Day, who has been part of the rotation. But Pro Football Focus has Day graded with a merely OK 58.4 mark. Another option is the 49ers’ former first-round NFL Draft pick, defensive end Solomon Thomas, who has seen time on the inside in base formations spelling Jones at times.
Thomas has had previous success defending against the run on the outside, while using his pass-rush abilities better along the interior. This season, thought, not much has translated well in either spot, as PFF has grades for him of 54.7 and 63.4, respectively.
Second-year pro Jullian Taylor is likely to be ruled out for San Francisco’s Week 15 bout against the Atlanta Falcons with an elbow injury. And while he is likely activated from injured reserve, second-year pro Kentavius Street has yet to play a regular-season NFL snap.
With the Niners already having lost defensive end Ronald Blair to a season-ending ACL tear, the D-line depth could have a tough time overcoming this latest setback to Jones.
Something both KNBR’s Al Sacco and Grant Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat both pointed out:
Losing DJ Jones is just brutal for the #49ers run defense. The depth on the d-line isn’t what it was because of injuries, and the defense as a whole could take a hit.
— Al Sacco (@AlSacco49) December 11, 2019
On the plus side, the SF offense looks to be hitting its stride so maybe that can make up for the losses on D.
From Week 1-9, Bosa never played more than 43 snaps in a game. Since Week 10, he has played no fewer than 53 snaps in a game.
— Grant Cohn (@grantcohn) December 12, 2019
The depth is gone.
Speaking of EDGE Nick Bosa, he managed seven sacks between Weeks 1 through 8. He has just one since, although he has still provided solid pressure, which can be more important.
Sacks and tackles for a loss, however, are far more crucial. This was something Jones was providing, too, posting two sacks and four tackles for a loss before his injury — both career highs.
But the depth is the element which has been tested the most, and one can only hope some of the other supplementary players the 49ers have can provide enough spark and production to overcome the loss of a player like Jones.
Next. Ranking 49ers' 10 biggest disappointments of 2019. dark
San Francisco will get a firsthand look this Sunday when it hosts the four-win Falcons.