49ers Tumble Fueled By Defensive Collapse
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (CBS-SF) – Sports radio and commuter chatter was all abuzz in the Bay Area Friday over the latest on-field collapse of the San Francisco 49ers.
The team continued its decline into mediocrity with a 20-3 Thursday night setback at the hands of the struggling Seattle Seahawks.
While the 49ers offense under the guidance of quarterback Colin Kaepernick certainly has been struggling, it's the collapse of the club's once heralded defensive unit that has most fans shaking their heads.
"That game today was not what we want. It was not acceptable," first-year coach Jim Tomsula said after the game. "We did not play well. We don't have an excuse. Again, that lies right here and we need to do a better job."
Tomsula – a veteran defensive line coach -- and others were confident before the season started that the defensive unit would be strong.
But the loss of Ray MacDonald and Aldon Smith to legal troubles, the retirements of Patrick Willis, Chris Borland and Justin Smith and the loss of other key defenders to free agency have proven to be too much to overcome.
The stats detail the stunning decline.
- 2011 -- (Jim Harbaugh's first season as head coach) the 49ers ranked No. 4 in total defense, but were No. 1 against the run yielding just 77.3 yards per game and only 3 rushing touchdowns all season.
- 2012 -- San Francisco ranked 3rd in total defense, giving up just 94.2 yards rushing per game.
- 2013 – The 49ers ranked 5th in total defense, giving up just 95.9 yards rushing a game and 221 yards a game in the air.
- 2014 – San Francisco ranked 5th in total defense, but with both Willis and Navarro Bowman missing much of the season with injuries the club gave up 100.3 yards per game rushing and 21.3 points per contest.
- 2015 – The 49ers rank last in the total defense, yielding 292.7 yards per game through the air, 113.3 yards on the ground per contest and an average of 25.7 points per game.
