Out of 32 teams, it is allowing 4.3 yards per carry, which is 19th place. That is not up to par.
Given that teams rarely run the ball against the 49ers, perhaps this is not a huge deal.
However, the Niners’ run defense is subpar. Out of 32 teams, it is allowing 4.3 yards per carry, which is 19th place. That is not up to par. The 49ers nearly always have a sizable lead, forcing opponents to pass in order to close the gap. Despite this, teams have only run the ball 20.9 times per game against the 49ers, the fewest in the NFL.
Probably because it’s all they can do, the Cardinals committed to running the ball against San Francisco this past Sunday. Their quarterback struggles to see over the linemen when he’s in the pocket, and they lack quality wide receivers. They thus ran the ball thirty times, gaining an incredible 234 yards and two touchdowns through the air.
The 49ers must now get ready to play the Ravens, who rank second in the NFL behind Miami with an average of 5.0 yards per carry this season. Given that both teams have large, potent offensive lines and quarterbacks who are incredibly quick and elusive, they are comparable to the Cardinals. Considering that the Cardinals are 3-11 and the Ravens are 11-3, the Ravens are simply superior.
Their run defense won’t be a problem if the 49ers offense keeps scoring between thirty and forty points per game. However, they might not defeat the Ravens with a 30-point score. This season, Baltimore has allowed the fewest points per game in the NFL—just 16.1 points.
The 49ers risk losing if they can’t stop the run in a close, low-scoring game. The 49ers’ run defense will undoubtedly benefit from the return of Arik Armstead and Javon Hargrave, but their defense will suffer if Nick Bosa keeps getting past the quarterback and creating lanes for scramblers. Next week, he must exercise greater discipline than he did against Arizona.