How the 49ers Defended Lamar Jackson the Wrong Way

The 49ers don't fully get it.

They think they lost to the Ravens because they turned the ball over five times, and that's partly true. But that shifts all the blame to the quarterback position, when truthfully the 49ers lost as a team.

The defense stunk, too. It had the wrong game plan to defend Lamar Jackson, who won the MVP Award in 2019 and most likely will win it again this season. The 49ers should know his strengths and weaknesses. Everyone knows them.

And yet, the 49ers attacked him like he's a pocket passer who wants to win while standing from one spot. Like he's Peyton Manning. All week before the game, the 49ers complimented Jackson for staying in the pocket this season and going through his reads, as if he had evolved into a completely different quarterback than the one he has been his whole life.

Sounds like wishful thinking.

All game, Nick Bosa and the rest of the 49ers defensive ends rushed wildly at Jackson trying to sack him, frequently rushed past him and opened lanes for Jackson to escape the pocket and throw passes on the move.

Jackson beat the 49ers primarily by throwing on the move, and the 49ers invited him to do that. Jackson probably is the most dangerous quarterback in the league while scrambling, and he's brilliant at finding receivers while ad-libbing -- he doesn't just run when he leaves the pocket. The 49ers didn't seem to know that.

Next time these teams face each other, the 49ers have to keep Jackson in the pocket by any means necessary. Make him stationary. Make him go through his reads and make passes from one spot. He can do it, but not well enough to beat the 49ers.

Rush five. Clog the scramble lanes. Make him a pocket passer.

You'd think the 49ers would have known that already.