The 49ers' biggest need at midseason is no easy fix
Week 9 is over and done with. Now it's time for us to look back at the first half of the San Francisco 49ers’ season. All this week we're going to be doing a series of midseason articles. We'll be talking about both the good and the bad of this year so far. Here's what […]
Week 9 is over and done with. Now it's time for us to look back at the first half of the San Francisco 49ers’ season. All this week we're going to be doing a series of midseason articles. We'll be talking about both the good and the bad of this year so far. Here's what we've done to this point:
- 49ers' rookie report card
- 49ers' midseason grades
- 49ers' best and worst free agent signings at midseason
- 49ers' biggest surprise at midseason
- 49ers' biggest disappointment at midseason
The next phase of our midseason review sees us analyze what needs remain on a roster that is underdelivering despite being 5-3.
When assessing the 49ers at the midway point of the season, there are two answers to the question of what they need for the second half of the campaign to be a success.
Avoiding the injury bug
The big picture response is health. While the talking heads on the incessantly loud debate shows will continue to discuss where Brock Purdy's career as the starting quarterback is headed following a three-game losing streak defined by his turnovers in crunch situations, the reality is the Niners' slump is largely the product of injuries.
Trent Williams' ankle injury and, to a lesser extent, Deebo Samuel's shoulder issue played a massive role in the 49ers' previously unstoppable freight train coming off the tracks. Williams' absence deprived the Niners of pass protection consistency and sent the run game into a stall, with Samuel's injury robbing Purdy of a versatile weapon who creates gimme throws by his mere presence.
Samuel is set to return but it not known whether Williams will be ready to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 10 after missing two games, his presence made all the more important by a toe injury to left guard Aaron Banks that is set to keep him out for two games.
The drop-off from Williams to backup Jaylon Moore is massive, and the fall from the 49ers' star-studded group of starting skill-position players to the reserves is similarly precipitous.
For all the blue-chip talent on one of the best rosters in the NFL, the 49ers don't have great depth in a lot of areas save for defensive line and linebacker, with cornerback a spot where the Niners absolutely cannot afford any starters to go down.
Simply put, this team must stay healthy to realize its ambition of getting back to the Super Bowl after successive NFC Championship Game defeats.
Finding a slot solution
Beyond that need for better health than they have had in recent weeks, there is a burning personnel issue for the 49ers to solve, and it is in that thin secondary.
San Francisco made a big-time move to address a pass rush struggling to get home on its pressures with a trade deadline deal for former second overall pick Chase Young.
Young lining up across from former Ohio State teammate and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa may go a long way to minimizing the issues behind the D-Line, yet the Niners still have the problem of the play of slot corner Isaiah Oliver in coverage, which has gotten progressively worse in recent weeks.
Oliver was picked on continually by Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8, giving up eight catches for 71 yards and two touchdowns.
Since Week 5, all of the 20 targets he has faced have gone for completions, his form dropping off dramatically since a Week 2 performance against the Los Angeles Rams that suggested he could be the answer despite an unconvincing preseason, which briefly led to a timeshare with starting outside corner Deommodore Lenoir.
His struggles leave the 49ers with a decision to make. Stick with a player who is bordering on becoming a coverage liability, or find an alternative.
Lenoir playing inside more often is one such alternative. The potential return of Samuel Womack III from a knee injury could facilitate that. Womack has inside-out versatility himself and was the starting nickel early in 2022 before losing the job to Lenoir. A straight swap that brings Womack in for Oliver is also an option.
The 49ers could also pivot to using three-safety looks and giving top pick Ji'Ayir Brown, some playing time at nickel, though some may see replacing Oliver with a safety as an unnecessary move. Size is not Oliver's problem, and he certainly has the frame to matchup with bigger wide receivers and tight ends in the slot.
Instead Oliver's problem is that he appears extremely ill-equipped to handle the responsibility of matching with premier slot receivers and has allowed breakdowns in zone coverage to creep into his game.
If the 49ers are to truly contend to emerge as the NFC's Super Bowl representative, they can't afford to have a player at a key spot dealing with such issues.
It's unlikely at this stage that the Niners will bring in anyone from outside the building to start in the slot. The solution will be an in-house one, but the 49ers need to decide what it is sooner rather than later.
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