49ers: 5 crucial takeaways from Sunday Night Football loss vs. Packers

Brandon Aiyuk. San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
Brandon Aiyuk. San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) /
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DeMeco Ryans, San Francisco 49ers
DeMeco Ryans, San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

No. 2: 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans was outcoached

After three games, it’s entirely too soon to make any opinions on DeMeco Ryans as a defensive coordinator. He has some very big shoes to fill with Robert Saleh now the head coach of the New York Jets, but Ryans has the talent to make it work.

But against the Packers, he was uncoached and there’s simply no way around it.

Green Bay had a game plan that was simple but effective: get the ball out quick before the stacked defensive line could make a difference.

It worked, Aaron Rodgers had a superb passing performance, and the 49ers were just unable to take advantage of the personnel matchups they had in the trenches. The Niners were able to sack Rodgers just one time, which isn’t nearly enough pressure to bring against an elite quarterback.

To make things worse, the run defense was lacking once again. Teams have had success running against San Francisco this season, and it’s one of the most disappointing things with the 49ers’ start to the year.

Ryans can still be a good coordinator, but he’ll have to chalk this up as a game that he simply didn’t perform well in.

With the Seattle Seahawks up next, the team will need to work hard on a game plan to contain the scrambling abilities of quarterback Russell Wilson.

Eyes will be on Ryans to see what he comes up with.