49ers film room: How Jets Jamal Adams would take Niners to next level

2 of 11

Jamal Adams #33 of the New York Jets (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

No. 10: Jamal Adams not getting blocked would change 49ers defense

Short answer: opposing offenses cannot afford to leave him unblocked. Jamal Adams will ruin the play.

Adams is a playmaker and is never out of the game. Take this play from 2018, when the Indianapolis Colts had three tight ends lined up on the left side of their offensive line. Adams has outside contain and is a pass-first defender.

Adams pauses when Colts quarterback Andrew Luck turns to hand the ball off to the running back. Adams pauses in case it’s play action, as Adams’ first responsibility is to play the pass and then the run. When Adams has seen the ball is in the running back’s hands, he keeps outside leverage as he pursues the running back. Adams meets the running back and expertly places his helmet on the ball, causing the fumble, whilst also securing the tackle with both arms. The Jets recovered the ball.

Adams wasn’t blocked on this play:

Leaving him unblocked would give Adams opportunities to force fumbles and would lead to offensive coordinators having to rethink who they will leave unblocked.

It shouldn’t be Adams.