After the handshakes and smiles that come with a preseason victory, it’s time for the San Francisco 49ers to evaluate all aspects of their performance. While the team had a few standout players, one weak spot was glaringly obvious.
The offense was the well-oiled machine that fans have come to expect, but the defense showed reasons for concern. After spending so many resources to fix the defensive front this offseason, it still seems to be a major issue.
49ers' weak run defense sours preseason win over Raiders
2024 was a season to forget for the 49ers. Their offense was plagued by injuries, unable to reach the incredible heights they had achieved in years past. On defense, San Francisco lacked the physicality necessary to compete for championships, especially up front. They allowed 4.4 rushing yards per attempt and the second-most rushing touchdowns in the league. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, it was unacceptable.
So, general manager John Lynch spent the entire offseason trying to fix the problem. San Francisco drafted former Georgia Bulldog Mykel Williams in the first round. Williams is a physical specimen with upside as a pass rusher and the ability to hold his own immediately in run defense.
The 49ers followed up the Williams pick by taking two more front-seven defenders in the first three rounds. Defensive tackle Alfred Collins and linebacker Nick Martin are both expected to play significant roles as rookies.
But Saturday’s preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders proved that the problem isn’t solved yet. Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty looked like he was back in college at times, bouncing off San Francisco defenders like they were his old Mountain West opponents. Jeanty finished the day with seven carries for 33 yards and a touchdown. It was a big improvement from his abysmal performance against the more stout Seattle Seahawks front in the Raiders' preseason opener.
Las Vegas backup Chris Collier had an impressive day too, averaging 6.5 yards on his four carries.
Luckily, there is still time to improve. With more than two weeks to go before the start of the regular season, San Francisco needs to focus their efforts on developing their rookie defenders. It takes time for every rookie to adjust to the physicality of the NFL, so some preseason missteps are to be expected.
But if this issue continues into the regular season, it could be the thing that holds the 49ers back from returning to the Super Bowl.