San Francisco 49ers 2020 Season Preview

With Kyle Shanahan trusting himself to manufacture an offense with specifically curated skillsets, the bulk of the 49ers’ investment has gone onto their defense. This is an obvious philosophical point of emphasis, with the decision-makers recognising the need for elite talent on the defensive side of the ball to have consistent success down in, down out. 

This approach bore fruit in 2019, as the 49ers’ defense was rated second best in the NFL by Football Outsiders’ DVOA metric, despite their late season blip. The same (mostly youthful) defense that kept the Chiefs’ offense quiet for three quarters in the Super Bowl (and arguably just needed one successful drive from its own offense in the fourth quarter) returns largely intact in 2020 a year more experienced and healthy after an unusually long offseason.

The 49ers’ defensive success is predicated on the symbiotic relationship between high quality pass rush and sound coverage. The former took an enormous jump in 2019 following the additions of Nick Bosa and Dee Ford, despite the regular absences of the latter. If both players can be healthy for large chunks of 2020, expect the 49ers’ pass rush to continue to excel even after the aforementioned departure of DeForest Buckner. 

Alongside Bosa & Ford, the 49ers have an impressive roster of pass rushing talent, including Armstead, PFF’s highest graded pass-rushing DT of 2019 Javon Kinlaw, Solomon Thomas (now focusing exclusively at defensive tackle), Ronald Blair, Kerry Hyder Jr., Dion Jordan, D.J. Jones and Kentavius Street. Additionally, linebackers Kwon Alexander and Fred Warner and nickel corner K’waun Williams showed their own pass rushing prowess as blitzers.

The trio of Alexander, Warner and Williams also form crucial parts of the 49ers’ coverage unit. Warner had a breakout season in 2019 in which he showed his superlative processing abilities to routinely take away a quarterback’s first and second reads on concepts that were supposed to place him in conflict. Furthermore, his aggressiveness attempting to punch the ball out led to 3 forced fumbles on the season and his coverage ability was rewarded with 2 interceptions in the 49ers’ final 5 games of 2019. Warner looks set to be a game-changing linebacker for a long time as he enters his third NFL season.

The secondary is headlined by veteran cornerback Richard Sherman. Though his movement skills are not what they once were, his ability to read route combinations and his deep understanding of viable threats within the 49ers’ scheme ensures he remains a high calibre NFL corner. The 49ers also possess the NFL’s most underrated and versatile safety tandem of Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt. Ward has played every position in the secondary since being drafted in 2014 & has immense value in coverage as a result due to his versatility and the ability to disguise pre-snap looks as a result. Tartt too has enabled the 49ers to disguise their pre-snap looks, with his superb efforts as a box defender against the pass & run and, unusually for a safety of his size, his quality as a deep cover player. The pre-snap disguise elements & his safeties’ versatility allowed DC Robert Saleh to make what is normally quite a predictable scheme more unpredictable for opposing offenses.

Emmanuel Moseley could be the 49ers’ breakout player if he wins the starting cornerback job opposite Richard Sherman. The former UDFA is sticky in coverage and a physical tackler and can also play at nickel corner. He has done enough in limited snaps to suggest he can become a valued member of the 49ers’ secondary in years to come. Oft-injured Jason Verrett is another candidate for the job and early reports are that the former Chargers standout has been impressive in training camp. Former incumbent Ahkello Witherspoon faces an uphill battle to reclaim his job, but if he can become more consistent, he has demonstrated the high level quality to be an NFL starter.