02-16-2024, 09:19 AM
Mick dateline='[url=tel:1708098164' Wrote: 1708098164[/url]']
lex24 dateline='[url=tel:1708096776' Wrote: 1708096776[/url]']
Mick dateline='[url=tel:1708054271' Wrote: 1708054271[/url]']
Giants dateline='[url=tel:1708052860' Wrote: 1708052860[/url]']
BobK dateline='[url=tel:1708042800' Wrote: 1708042800[/url]']
Yes wilks would be fired. A personality problem. Boss wins
I agree with Bob. Regardless of the outcome of the games, Wilks was toast for reasons Shanahan cited in his press conference (Shanahan wants the D coached from front to back, Wilks coached from back to front).
Great. Hope they can fix the 20th-ranked OL issues, the 3 for 12 3rd down conversions, figuring out a way to pay for Aiyuk and the special teams fiascos. Cause those coaches are still there. And the 49ers led the NFL in interceptions with 22, most since they had 23 in 2011. I'm guessing their former DC/defensive backfield specialist had a little bit to do with that. We'll see if they exceed that number next year.
Pretty good article in The Athletic on Wilks. Just a bad fit. The Niners have run the same defense for years. Heavy cover 3. Based on what Seattle did defensively for years. Wilks was not well versed in that defense when he came to SF.
In the past, Niners built defense from the d-line back. Wilks builds from the d-backs to the front.
He also had a different personality - not as fiery.
And watching their defense this year, it was obvious it wasn’t clicking. They were poor against the run, especially last half of the season. Niners had been very stout against the run for years. It was one of their hallmarks. And they couldn’t get off the field. One of the worst defenses in football on 3d down.
Wilks is a good defensive coach. He just wasn’t a good fit.
And yes, if they won SB I still think he gets fired. This was a season long issue. The Niners defense underperformed most of the year. IMO, he didn’t get fired cause they lost SB.
Personnel wise, I agree Mick. Niners need to improve their o-line. And I’d add - their bd-backfield. Especially safeties.
Totally agree with all of that. He should never have been hired in the first place. And that's on Shanahan...and I really, really like Shanahan. He makes mistakes sometimes, and that one was a doozy.
Saw an article listing 11 potential defensive coordinators, 1/2 of whom are comfortable with a 3-4 versus the 4-3 that the 49ers use. They won't get a call. Shanahan will likely try to recreate Saleh or Ryans.
Read an interesting comment on Shanahan the other day, a pseudo-comparison of Shanahan and Walsh...gist of which was that Walsh had the flexibility to fit his system to his personnel, while Shanahan can only have personnel who can thrive within his rigid system, hence his long obsession with Kirk Cousins, the perfect QB for his system. Not sure if it's correct or not, but it resonated.
lex24 dateline='[url=tel:1708096776' Wrote: 1708096776[/url]']
And watching their defense this year, it was obvious it wasn’t clicking. They were poor against the run, especially last half of the season. Niners had been very stout against the run for years. It was one of their hallmarks. And they couldn’t get off the field. One of the worst defenses in football on 3d down.
Agreed on this point in particular. The 49ers were 27th in the NFL in preventing 3rd down conversion in 2023 and 13th in 2022. They were 20th in 2021, and third in 2020 and second in 2019 (when they had DeForest Buckner). Saleh did a fantastic job, Ryans not quite as good. Maybe wait a year and Saleh will be looking for a DC job again...Saleh took a 2-14 Jets team, went 4-13 his first year and has had two 7-10 years in a row. This is a make or break year for him, I think. His defense with former 49er Jeff Ulbrich has been strong enough (12th in 2023), but his offense is hurting. CBS Sports ranked him the third most vulnerable head coach in the NFL.
End on some agreement!!
I feel for Saleh. Jets have been a sh-t show for a long long time.