Steve Wilks won't earn any fans after what Deommodore Lenoir just revealed

Former 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks might have been a Super Bowl scapegoat, but according to Deommodore Lenoir, that label might be warranted.

It's never fun for San Francisco 49ers fans to recall what happened last February against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII.

The number of what-ifs stemming from that game are almost insurmountable. What if running back Christian McCaffrey didn't fumble early? What if right guard Spencer Burford held that block at the goal line? What if linebacker Dre Greenlaw didn't tear his Achilles? What if the Niners opted to kick instead of receive on the overtime coin toss?

What if then-defensive coordinator Steve Wilks listened to cornerback Deommodore Lenoir?

Wait, what?

Yes, what if the coordinator who seemingly became a San Francisco Super Bowl scapegoat heeded the advice of one of his best defenders?

Steve Wilks ignored Deommodore Lenoir's Super Bowl advice

Lenoir spoke with former 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman on the latter's podcast (h/t Jordan Elliott of NBC Sports Bay Area) recently, and the Niners' up-and-coming defender revealed yet one more painful aspect of last February's showdown.

After taking a look at plenty of KC film, Lenoir concluded he'd be best utilized playing nickel and not on the boundary during the game.

"I watch a lot of film," Lenoir told Sherman. "So, I was just seeing where the ball was going. And I was like, 'It's mainly between the hashes, it's going to the slots.' They don't really got no dominant outside guy, so I was telling them I feel like I should be in the slot this game."

Instead, Wilks rebuffed the suggestion and kept Lenoir on the side.

In an ironic twist of fate, Kansas City's game-winning touchdown came in overtime when slot receiver Mecole Hardman broke free and ended up in the end zone to give the Chiefs their second Super Bowl victory over San Francisco.

"I'd never question a coach, never question decisions or nothing," Lenoir added. "That was the only time I came to them and I said that. They have philosophy and what they felt worked, what was going to work and they made that decision. I was like, 'alright, I'm going to just roll with it, and I'm going to try to do what I can to help us win.'"

Hindsight has its bias, of course. But, considering Lenoir is one of the league's best nickel defenders, one can't help but think this slight defensive tweak could have potentially helped deliver the 49ers their first Super Bowl since 1995.

Sigh.

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