Defensive notes and players to watch
As poor as the team’s offense was last year, the 49ers’ defense was relatively stingy. According to ESPN, they allowed the 13th fewest total yards, 11th fewest rushing yards, and 14th fewest passing yards. What killed them in the end was points allowed, of which field position is a significant factor.
Given both the offense and special teams play a huge role in field position, I won’t put all the blame on the defense for those points. In fact, I think the defense has a shot to be pretty good this year. They now have some serious playmakers on the defensive line who should help all facets of their defense.
The first player to watch is Ford. Obviously, Chiefs fans are very aware of what Ford brings to the table. Ford was a Chief all the way through his rookie contract, and showed some flashes early on. He finally broke through with a career year in 2018, only to be traded to the San Francisco 49ers. Will he have a chip on his shoulder and exceed his performance in 2018? It’s tough to say.
He’ll reportedly be playing the LEO position in the 49ers’ 4-3 under scheme, which could make the 49ers susceptible to the run. There will undoubtedly be some scheme differences between their 4-3 under and ours, but Ford was traded in part because he wasn’t a great fit for the scheme with his size and play style. The 49ers gave themselves an early out in his contract, so it will still be important for him to perform at the top of his game over the next couple seasons.
The second player to watch is Dre Greenlaw, the 49ers fifth round pick out of Arkansas. While scouting expectations were consistently low for Greenlaw, he has reportedly been having a great training camp.
I’m told his ranginess is far greater than expected and, combined with his football IQ, he looks to be pushing for the starting SAM position. This could leave veteran Malcolm Smith out in the cold, and this game will go a long way in showing which player the defensive coaches prefer.
The final player to watch is Richard Sherman. Sherman is now in the twilight of his career, but he should still have a few years left in the tank. He had a decent season in 2018, even dealing with some reported injuries. Now that he’s presumably healthy, can he return to his All-Pro form or are his best days behind him?
If this defense can stay healthy, there’s a possibility that it’s a top 10 defense. While it’s still preseason, this should give the Chiefs’ starters a decent final warm up before their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Other Players of Note:
- Malcolm Smith – SAM Linebacker – With his sizeable contract and the emergence of Greenlaw, will he have a place on the team in 2019?
- Tarvarius Moore – 2018 3rd Round Pick – Will the switch from corner to free safety help him live up to his draft pick?