The 49ers Should Fire Steve Wilks

The 49ers' biggest problem isn't Steve Wilks -- their problems run much deeper than their defensive coordinator. But they still need to fire him right now.

Frankly, they never should have hired him. More specifically, Kyle Shanahan never should have hired him. Because Shanahan didn't let Wilks run Wilks' defense. Instead, Shanahan forced Wilks to run Shanahan's Wide 9 defense, which Wilks never has run before. He's learning it and coaching it at the same time. No wonder he's struggling.

At this point, Wilks can only make matters worse for the 49ers. They can't afford to wait around for him to figure out the Wide 9. They could fall out of the playoff picture by the time he masters it. They need to fire Wilks and promote a position coach who has been with the 49ers for a few seasons.

But the biggest issue with Wilks isn't his poor fit with the Wide 9 -- it's his poor fit with Kyle Shanahan. Shanahan isn't a natural born leader. Robert Saleh is. DeMeco Ryans. The past six years, those defensive coordinators created the culture of the team and stood on the sideline during games to infuse the 49ers with their enthusiasm and energy.

Wilks doesn't stand on the sideline during games. He sits in the booth, far away from the players. So he can't energize them, and neither can Shanahan because he's lost in his play sheet. So the 49ers have become a team without leadership. And that's a big reason they can't end their current losing streak.

The 49ers need to replace Wilks with a leader who knows the Wide 9 and will call plays from the sideline. Shanahan always needs an enthusiatic defensive coordinator who can lead.