4 reasons why 49ers coordinator DeMeco Ryans impressed us in 2021

Reason No. 4: DeMeco Ryans stayed the course during 49ers struggles

Let’s rewind to that San Francisco four-game losing streak, a period when the 49ers seemingly figured out ways to lose each game in one form or another.

Perhaps the worst clunker was after that streak, a Week 9 loss to a shorthanded Cardinals squad led by quarterback Colt McCoy at Levi’s Stadium.

Inexcusable as that loss was, and it would have been easy to pin the loss almost entirely upon Ryans’ shoulders, the Niners’ defensive coordinator didn’t shirk away or drastically alter his game plan. While hard to quantify by any measure, it’s nevertheless important.

If anything, Ryans remained a constant.

Ryans earned some serious praise from one of San Francisco’s captains, linebacker Fred Warner, who told the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch the following:

"I think the best thing he did was remain the exact same person every day, through the highs and lows. …Even though we had some rough patches, we had the right foundation, so over time, with more repetition, you’re going to get better."

Sure, Ryans never would have admitted being overwhelmed by the pressure. But on paper at least, it wouldn’t have been shocking if Ryans crumbled in the wake of the 49ers defense seemingly falling apart.

Perhaps having played 10 years in the NFL taught Ryans a crucial lesson, specifically just how rapidly things can change and turn around.

Ryans turned around his first year as a coordinator, and the Niners defense has turned into a bona fide force worthy of a playoff push.