Hiring Steve Wilks as Defensive Coordinator Would be a Great Move by the 49ers
The most important decision of the 49ers offseason resides at defensive coordinator.
DeMeco Ryans is now the head coach of the Texans after steering San Francisco's defense to prominence the past two seasons. Finding his replacement is going to be extremely tough. Any chance of getting a coach as elite as him is probably unlikely. But there are options out there to consider even with Vic Fangio now off the table.
The coach I believe that would be a great hire by the 49ers is former Panthers interim head coach Steve Wilks. He is currently interviewing for the vacant position along with former Commanders defensive backs coach Chris Harris, but Wilks is the one I would go with.
This past season he had to take over a putrid head coaching job just a few weeks into the regular season. Carolina's offense was a joke, especially once Christian McCaffrey was traded to the 49ers. Defensively, however, they were solid considering the little to no help from the offense. Wilks can be credited for that, but what is most impressive is how the Panthers didn't fall off the rest of the season once he took over. It would've been justifiable had Wilks sunk with the ship. Carolina was poised to be a top-five draft pick team at the time.
Yet, he managed to keep the Panthers in the playoff race for the NFC South division title. And while the division was the worst in football, Wilks had the Panthers competing. He went 5-5 in his first 10 games with an offense that had no one outside of D.J. Moore and several impactful players on defense. He got his players to lock in, something his predecessor Matt Rhule couldn't do. Some players at the end of the season even raved about him and wanted him back as the permanent head coach.. That indicates how much he resonates with his guys and can be a leader players want to follow and fight for.
This is the criteria that is needed out of a defensive coordinator for the 49ers. Robert Saleh and Ryans were both coaches that players wanted to fight for. Wilks is someone these Niners' defensive players can get behind. The only real question is regarding how his scheme will be joining up with the 49ers and if he can maintain the structure that is already in place. I find it difficult to see Wilks completely fall flat on his face with immense talent throughout the defense. He would have to deliberately try to be bad for the defense to regress substantially.
Plus, I think it is about time Wilks gets his due. The guy gets handed the short end of the stick time and time again. Let him get a chance to be with a stable and successful team that has pieces in place for him to thrive in. He proved he can make it work in a bleak situation when he took over as head coach of the Panthers in the middle of the season.
I wouldn't doubt that he can do the same and beyond with the 49ers.
