Where DC Steve Wilks Need to Improve When the 49ers Face the Chiefs in the Super Bowl

Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks has to be better in this specific area when the 49ers face the Chiefs in the Super Bowl.

Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks was on the verge of being fired after the first-half of the NFC championship game.

The Lions were able to get everything they wanted on the ground against the 49ers' defense. They put up 148 yards rushing against the 49ers in the first-half, which is the most allowed by the 49ers since Kyle Shanahan became the head coach in 2017. Detroit's rushing attack was pivotal in putting up 24 first-half points. 

If that had kept up, or if the 49ers lost, then Wilks certainly would've been canned and rightfully so. To put up such an atrocious performance in that game was inexcusable. Luckily for Wilks, he was able to find the adjustments going into the second-half. The Lions were only able to generate 32 yards of rushing in that half, so it was an incredible adjustment made by him. The 49ers also only allowed seven points in that half late in the fourth quarter. 

Credit to him for finding the right formula to render the Lions useless on the ground. However, it took him way too long to figure out or make those adjustments. That is where Wilks needs to improve on when the 49ers face the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. Wilks will not be able to get away with a poor defensive half against the Chiefs like he did against the Lions. Waiting an entire half for changes is ridiculous. If the Chiefs are finding great success with moving the ball against the 49ers early, then he needs to be able to implement any adjustments immediately. 

Now, Wilks has been doing that for the majority of this season. That is why the 49ers limit offenses to so little points in the second half. But when it is playoff time, and especially the Super Bowl, he needs to get that mindset altered. There is no "next game" for the 49ers. He cannot operate like it is the regular season, which is how he looked against the Lions. For him to not have the run defense better prepared against the Lions is embarrassing. It was obvious they were going to attack the 49ers there.

Just imagine what the Chiefs will do with Patrick Mahomes and the genius of Andy Reid. It feels like they are going to run circles around Wilks if he just sits on his play sheet until halftime to make corrections. If he continues to go on as he's done, then the 49ers' chances of winning the Super Bowl will be a struggle.