49ers vs. Eagles: 3 areas DeMeco Ryans must improve in Week 2
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: DeMeco Ryans, 49ers need to cut down on Cover 1
One of the minor tweaks DeMeco Ryans was going to implement this season was moving away from the primarily zone-style Cover 3 defenses and into more of a Cover 1 with boundary and nickel corners playing man-to-man with a free safety providing the single-high zone coverage at the very top.
In theory, this can work well if cornerbacks are good at man coverage and can stay with their receivers, either by jamming them at the line of scrimmage or staying in stride with them as route trees develop.
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The problem, though, is the 49ers’ massive loss of veteran cornerback Jason Verrett to a season-ending ACL tear negates the top-end experience needed, and it’d be a lot to ask rookie corner Deommodore Lenoir to maintain one-on-one coverage against an Eagles wide receiver corps that boasts one of college football’s most exciting players from 2020, wide receiver DeVonta Smith.
Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert is a threat, yes, but nowhere near as much of one as the Lions’ T.J. Hockenson, who abused the Niners to the tune of 97 yards and a touchdown in Week 1.
Instead of those Cover 1 looks, Ryans shouldn’t be afraid of some Cover 2, dropping strong safety Jaquiski Tartt back a bit to provide over-the-top help on that side of the field, while letting free safety Jimmie Ward help defend whichever corner winds up being on the weak side, perhaps Josh Norman.