Nick Sorensen feeling the heat in light of 49ers' defensive woes (is it deserved?)

Fans are beginning to turn on Nick Sorensen, but is it time to place blame on the 49ers' first-year defensive coordinator?

Three weeks into the 2024 season, the San Francisco 49ers defense is failing to live up to expectations.

Despite boasting a plethora of All-Pro talent at all three levels, the Niners have allowed an average of 6.1 yards per play, which is tied for third worst in the league along with the Las Vegas Raiders. Additionally, San Francisco has given up a combined 50 points over the last two weeks, which stands out in light of general offensive production being down thus far this year and despite said plethora of defensive talent at the 49ers' disposal.

So, what's wrong?

The natural response would be to turn to the individual at the top of the chain, defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen, who received the offseason promotion after the Niners parted ways with one-and-done coordinator Steve Wilks following last February's Super Bowl loss.

With San Francisco boasting a 1-2 record after three weeks, including a debacle of a meltdown against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3, it's understandable to place heat on Sorensen.

But is it deserved?

49ers may be wise to exercise patience with Nick Sorensen

Sorensen could very well be in over his head. Considering he inherited an elite defense but has largely failed to capitalize with it makes a lot of sense. Plus, the addition of a defensive-minded former head coach, Brandon Staley, hasn't seemed to help matters either.

There is no shortage of examples of problematic play calling, too, both in Weeks 2 and 3.

And the net results have been bad:

Time to panic or take drastic action?

Not necessarily.

Fans may recall similar discourse back in 2017 and 2018 when now-New York Jets defensive coordinator Robert Saleh was feeling the heat for underwhelming 49ers defenses. Granted, those years saw less-than-stellar talent on that side of the ball, so it doesn't fully illustrate the point. But Saleh, also a first-time coordinator back then, needed time to evolve and learn.

A better example might be now-Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, who inherited an elite defense in 2021 but still underwent early growing pains that year as a first-time coordinator.

The Niners went 3-5 over their first eight games that season, and Ryans' defense gave up the following points each of those weeks:

• Week 1 @ Detroit Lions: 33
• Week 2 @ Philadelphia Eagles: 11
• Week 3 vs. Green Bay Packers: 30
• Week 4 vs. Seattle Seahawks: 28
• Week 5 @ Arizona Cardinals: 17
• Week 7 vs. Indianapolis Colts: 30
• Week 8 @ Chicago Bears: 22
• Week 9 vs. Arizona Cardinals: 31

That's an average of 25.25 points allowed per game, which stands right in line with what Sorensen's defense has given up the previous two weeks.

Remember that Week 3 contest against Green Bay? Ryans couldn't figure out ways to defend against All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams despite the entirety of Levi's Stadium knowing he'd be the preferred target for quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

The narrative on Ryans, particularly after that tough loss, was not unlike what Sorensen is experiencing now.

Ryans, like Saleh, eventually turned things around. That's the hope for Sorensen, who should understandably catch some flak for many of San Francisco's defensive miscues early in 2024.

And there'll probably be more in the forthcoming weeks, too.

It doesn't mean the 49ers should simply punt on him yet, and prior history suggests that's the wiser choice.

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