The San Francisco 49ers are on the hunt for a brand new defensive coordinator.
Kyle Shanahan introduced on Wednesday that Steve Wilks has been let go after the 49ers gave up 19 factors of their last 4 defensive possessions in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. Clearly, the Tremendous Bowl loss in itself absolutely couldn’t have been a fireable offense, however one thing has been brewing behind the scenes all through the season.
Here’s what Niners Nation needed to say about Wilks’ departure:
You possibly can see the writing on the wall throughout the season. Wilks moved from the sales space to the sideline mid-season. The run protection was constantly porous — one thing this unit has been in a position to dangle its hat on for years. The trouble within the NFC Championship was abysmal on a handful of performs. That can’t occur at any degree at any time, not to mention within the NFC Championship. The ultimate straw was when Shanahan referred to as a timeout in a two-minute state of affairs after surrendering a number of first downs.
Most of Wilks’ in-season press conferences have been awkward, and he typically apologized for one thing from the week prior. It’s powerful to disregard the disconnect that stared us within the face all season.
In addition to some quotes from Kyle Shanahan explaining his dissatisfaction with marrying the cross rush and the protection collectively:
“When you have got some good gamers who’ve performed at a excessive degree, I’m not simply attempting to vary that. I’ve to ensure that I discover the suitable individual of main our group.”
That chief higher know methods to marry the entrance seven and secondary. When requested if that was a wrestle, Shanahan didn’t shrink back from it:
“It has to do with the best way we play linebacker and stuff like that—the best way Fred and Dre have finished it over time. You wish to tie issues collectively. Simply along with his background, it was tougher than it wanted to be.”
The 49ers have been third in factors allowed and 4th in DVOA, indicative of one more excellent protection. Nevertheless, their run protection was not significantly good and their third down protection was one of many worst within the NFL. It was all the time going to be troublesome to take care of the requirements set by final 12 months’s No. 1 general DVOA unit below DeMeco Ryans, however San Francisco didn’t drop off that considerably in 12 months one with Wilks.
Maybe this San Francisco Chronicle column on Wilks was ominous, highlighting among the disconnect even from the likes of star cross rusher Nick Bosa.
“I feel he does a terrific job with the again finish,” Bosa stated. “Clearly, we had some points this 12 months all year long. However that’s a part of taking part in a full season — and I feel we have been taking part in our greatest ball on the finish.”
I do know this can be a Seahawks web site and we’re overlaying this as a result of the 49ers are fierce rivals, nevertheless it’s exhausting to not really feel sorry for Wilks. He was fired as Arizona Cardinals head coach after one season with a very terrible roster, then lasted one season because the Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator after Freddie Kitchens was fired, returned to the NFL in 2022 and did a good job as interim head coach of the Carolina Panthers when Matt Rhule was fired, solely to not be retained below any capability, and now he’s out as 49ers DC after virtually profitable the Tremendous Bowl.
