49ers hope Chase Young can boost underachieving defense،
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Given the San Francisco 49ers’ track record since coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch took over in 2017, it’s no surprise that the Niners traded a third-round pick to the Washington Commanders against defensive end Chase. Young Tuesday.
What’s surprising is that the Niners, who have never been shy about investing serious capital or money in defense or defensive line, were in a position where they felt they needed to make another big step there.
In three of the last four years, the 49ers reached the NFC Championship Game, largely because defense served as the foundation on which their championship hopes rested.
This seems to be the case again this season. But the last three games – all lost – have radically changed that perception. That’s why adding Young isn’t necessarily about making the Niners’ defense the reason they can win the Super Bowl, but rather about ensuring it doesn’t become the reason they don’t.
Following a 2022 season in which they ranked first in points allowed per game (16.3) and expected defensive points added (89.58), among other key categories, the 49ers signed the defensive tackle Javon Hargrave to a four-year, $84 million contract this offseason. .
The addition of Hargrave was supposed to help make up for the loss of coordinator DeMeco Ryans, who left to become head coach of the Houston Texans, and key defenders such as defensive back Jimmie Ward, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and players defensive line Charles Omenihu and Samson Ebukam, all of whom left in free agency.
Shanahan hired veteran coach Steve Wilks as defensive coordinator. Shanahan believed Wilks’ experience as a defensive backs coach could bolster the secondary’s production without changing how the Niners stuff the run and rush the passer.
Early feedback on these offseason changes was good, as the Niners ranked first in the NFL in points allowed per game (13.6), fifth in defensive EPA (33.98), and sixth in takeaways. takeaway (9) while winning their first five matches. Over the past three weeks, those rankings have dropped to 24th (24.0), 32nd (minus-16.49) and 13th (4), respectively, as the Niners have lost three straight to fall to 5-3.
During this three-game stretch, the Niners’ defensive issues have been considerable. They struggled to stop the run, didn’t consistently pressure or sack the quarterback, and didn’t even tackle consistently.
“This whole thing alarmed me the most,” coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday.
While it’s too much to ask of Young to fix all of these issues, the Niners are once again betting that fixing their pass rush issues will lead to more holistic defensive improvement.
Through the first eight games, San Francisco ranks 24th in pressure rate (26.3%) and 27th in sacks per drop back (5.3%), despite a 50.6% win rate that placed ninth in the league. The disconnect between the first two numbers and the third can be attributed to teams getting the ball out quickly, but also the lack of a constant threat to win one-on-one chances against winger Nick Bosa.
Because of the talent he joins on the line (Hargrave and Arik Armstead join Bosa as starters), Young should have plenty of favorable matchups and help create a few more.
And even if the Niners didn’t bolster their secondary Tuesday, Young’s presence should give opposing quarterbacks fewer escape options when the pocket collapses and allow Wilks to dial up tighter coverage calls.
“We can do a better job on the back end in terms of covering, whether it’s man or zone, and allowing the quarterback to hold the ball a little bit longer,” he said. Wilks said last week. “Looking at the tape, I think we’re close, I think we’re very close. We’re going to get there eventually. I’m not really harping on the lack of production right now because I feel like that it will come.”
Perhaps Young can speed up this process. Finally healthy after tearing the ACL and patellar tendon in his right knee in 2021, Young looks a lot more like the 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year who had 7.5 sacks than the player who totaled 1, 5 sacks in 12 games over the last two seasons.
In seven games this season, Young has had 25 pressures (eighth in the NFL), five sacks and created 16 incompletions (tied for fourth) while posting a 24.8% win rate (11th). He was also solid in the running game, with six tackles for loss.
In San Francisco, Young should immediately assume the starting role opposite Bosa, his close friend and former teammate at Ohio State. The Niners have this week off, giving Young more time to get used to his new team and scheme.
And if he matches the form the Niners envision, it should go a long way toward returning their once vaunted defense to championship caliber.
