Is Steve Wilks Responsible for the 49ers' Mediocre Run Defense?

The 49ers have way too much talent on defense to be this mediocre against the run.

Last season, the 49ers had the second-best run defense in the NFL -- it gave up a mere 3.4 yards per carry. And that was without Javon Hargrave and a fully healthy Arik Armstead (he was injured most of 2022). Now he's fully healthy, the 49ers have some of the best defensive tackles, linebackers and safeties in the league, and yet they've allowed 4.0 yards per carry, which ranks 15th out of 32 teams. Mediocre.

What gives?

Kyle Shanahan seems to think the issue is schematic. When asked on Monday why the Browns were able to rush for 160 yards against the 49ers, Shanahan immediately pointed to Steve Wilks, who for most of the game chose to use a two-deep shell, which is more effective against the pass than the run. Selling out to stop the run involves putting one safety in the box, not keeping them both deep.

And the 49ers should have sold out to stop the run against the Browns. Their quarterback, P.J. Walker, is horrible -- he was on their practice squad. He was a mistake waiting to happen on Sunday. The 49ers should have loaded the box and dared him to beat them.

Instead, they played a two-deep shell and allowed Kareem Hunt and the Browns run game to control the action.

So in that sense, Wilks is responsible for the regression of the 49ers' run defense. It was much better under the previous defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans.

But Kyle Shanahan is the head coach. He could get on the head set whenever he wants during a game and tell Wilks exactly what to call.

So Shanahan's responsible. The head coach always is.