The San Francisco 49ers’ defensive line is running on fumes right now, managing only 12 pressures on Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett in their Week 3 win, with just two sacks coming from Ogbo Okoronkwo and Keion White. That’s a razor-thin margin for a unit that’s supposed to anchor the defense, especially when they’re missing key guys like Nick Bosa and rookie Romello Height, plus rookie defensive tackle Gracen Halton bailing out with cramps in the second half.
Shanahan Sees Grit Through the Strain
You’d think head coach Kyle Shanahan would be tearing his hair out over those numbers, but get this, he was more than satisfied with his young, depleted D-Line’s performance. The dude actually sounded proud! He hit us with the real talk in his Monday conference call, saying, “By no means was it perfect, but I was real proud of how they played. They really competed their asses off. They were running to the ball, working real hard.” Shanahan knew they were gassed, especially after Halton went down, but they adapted. “I think they all kind of died out a little bit as the game went, just getting those plays up into the 80s and then losing Gracen to the cramps and stuff, which just took the numbers down some. But, we were able to change up our fronts throughout the game. We asked a lot of them and considering the circumstances for them, I thought it was a real successful game for them.” That’s high praise for a unit that was clearly pushed to its physical limit.
Morris’ Multiple Fronts & Incoming Help
Credit where it’s due, defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is really working some magic, making this line more multiple. He’s throwing five-man fronts out there and mixing up looks like crazy, even having Fred Warner blitz from linebacker to speed up Brissett’s clock. This isn’t just about scheme, though. Guys like Osa Odighizuwa (82%), White (69%), Khalid Kareem (62%), and Okoronkwo (55%) were playing over half the defensive snaps. That’s a massive mental and physical grind for a thin group, and for them to still hold Jeremiyah Love to only 90 yards on the ground and get two sacks? That’s a testament to their fight. Shanahan definitely doesn’t want them to play like this every week, and thankfully, help is on the way. Romello Height is back practicing after hand surgery, Matthew Judon just got signed to the practice squad, and Mykel Williams’ practice window opened up from the PUP list.
Emerald City Showdown on the Horizon
These reinforcements are arriving just in time because the challenges are about to get a whole lot tougher for the 49ers. They’ve got the Denver Broncos up next, and then, get ready, Seattle, because our **Seattle Seahawks** are on the schedule the following week. This depleted San Francisco D-Line might be holding their heads high after the Cardinals game, but they are going to need every ounce of those incoming reinforcements to stand a chance against the Emerald City. The stakes are getting real for the Niners, and you know the Hawks are ready for that test.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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