Steve Wilks Explains Why the 49ers Run Defense Struggled Against the Browns

SANTA CLARA -- On Sunday, the 49ers gave up 160 rushing yards to the Cleveland Browns. On Friday, Steve Wilks spoke to the media to the first time since that game and explained why the run defense struggled in Cleveland.

ME: In regards to the run defense, DL Nick Bosa said yesterday that there was an issue setting edges. What did you see there?

WILKS: “It's always something that we emphasize and talk about because we know that's where teams are going to try to attack us. Just with our perimeter, we got to do a much better job, as you just mentioned, with the defensive end, the nickel, linebacker scraping over the top and the safety running the alley. So that was the issue. That's been a point of emphasis this week.”

Q: The Cleveland Browns seemed to run the same play three times. That pitch left to RB Jerome Ford when they brought TE Harrison Bryant in motion, WR Donovan Peoples-Jones had a down block. It looked like they just blocked it very well. Defensively when you look at that, what should have happened?

WILKS: “Well, number one, we play a wide-nine, so it's certain runs that we know that we're not going to get right. And then it's certain ways that teams are going to attack us, which is really trying to pin the nine and get outside on the edge. So we got to do a better job, there as far as getting vertical and trying to knock someone off. Then we can't have guys running to the sideline. It's about trying to get downhill. Once we emphasized and talked about that in trying to clean things up, so therefore the backers and the safeties can run the alley. That's what it's all about. I think guys are just running too parallel when they got to get vertical.”