SF 49ers not containing Chase Young was key in loss vs. Washington

The SF 49ers failed to take rookie EDGE Chase Young out of the game in Week 14 against Washington, and the outcome spoke the result.

There are plenty of reasons why the SF 49ers lost their crucial Week 14 matchup against the Washington Football Team.

But none bigger than rookie EDGE Chase Young.

Few players completely take over a game. Yet Young showed why he was such a highly touted player coming out of Ohio State and why Washington used the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft on him.

It was hard not to see Young all over the field when the Niners were futilely trying to move the ball on offense during their 23-15 loss in Week 14. Not only was Young a factor in the pass rush to a massive extent, he was also more than effective against the run, too, forcing a fumble by running back Jeff Wilson Jr. that Washington recovered and eventually turned into three points.

That’s one highlight, sure. But there were plenty more.

Young’s stat line — six tackles, two quarterback hits, one sack, one forced fumble, a fumble recovery for a touchdown — tell two stories. First, Young is emerging as an elite-level player. That’s fine.

Yet the bigger problem was San Francisco’s inability to recognize the threat Young presented. It was something pointed out by Niner Noise in advance of the game.

And there were literally plays where the SF 49ers blockers simply let Young have a free run at quarterback Nick Mullens, too:

Sure, fill-in tackle Justin Skule has a tough assignment going against Young there. But this should have been a play and situation where Skule is simply told, “no matter how far back Young ‘appears’ to drop into coverage, stay on him and block him.”

In fairness to Skule, nobody on the SF 49ers did an effective job containing Young.

Washington’s own offense had trouble all day, too. But no one on the Niners defense came close to proverbially taking over the game like Young did. His fumble recovered for a touchdown late in the second quarter set the tone for what was going to be an ugly game for San Francisco’s offense.

Even after that, the SF 49ers didn’t do their part to ensure Young wouldn’t be any bigger a factor.

But he was. And the Niners learned the hard way why not putting a prime focus on an opponent’s prime player can be problematic.

At least Young is making life hard for most every other team he’s facing so far in his young career.