Pro Football Focus doesn't think too highly of the 49ers' run defense as it stands right now and ranked the unit as the worst in the league against the run.
While analyst Michael Renner acknowledges that San Francisco worked hard this offseason to bolster its struggling pass rush on the edges, he believes it may have been at the cost of the ability to stop the run.
"The 49ers once again invested heavily in their front-seven this offseason," Renner wrote, "but almost all those moves came with the expressed intent of affecting the pass. Dee Ford has a career-high run-defense grade of 67.6, and Kwon Alexander's is 53.3. Nick Bosa should hold his own in that regard, but this is still a rough unit overall."
Even defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, with his career-high 12 sacks last season, ranked No. 50 among interior defensive lineman against the run. The analytics site had him registering 37 stops but with six missed tackles. Buckner's tackling grade of 49.4 was a career-low.
The rest of the NFC West didn't fare much better within the Pro Football Focus ranking. The Los Angeles Rams ranked No. 31 while the Arizona Cardinals came in at No. 30. The Seattle Seahawks did a bit better coming in at No. 20.
Click here to read the full Pro Football Focus run-defense ranking.
H/t to Patrick Tulini for the find.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers vs. Seahawks PFF grades: Best and worst from the game, plus snap counts
The San Francisco 49ers improved to 5-0 with a 32-29 win over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 5. Pro Football Focus (PFF) released its grades and snap counts from the game, offering a closer look at which 49ers players stood out and who still has work to do. Highest-graded 49ers:... -
49ers vs. Broncos PFF grades: Best and worst from the game, plus snap counts
The San Francisco 49ers improved their record to 4-0 after a 24-14 win over the Denver Broncos in Week 4. Pro Football Focus released its grades and snap counts from the game, providing a closer look at which 49ers players stood out and who has more work to do. Highest-graded... -
Kyle Shanahan shares how Raheem Morris is making 49ers' defense more aggressive
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan likes what he's seen from defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, particularly the aggressive approach Morris has brought to the defense this season. That should come as no surprise. The two have been close friends for years. But it... -
How Different is the 49ers Defense Under Raheem Morris?
For most of Kyle Shanahan's tenure in San Francisco, the 49ers' defense has been built around a familiar formula: an aggressive four-man front, zone coverage and a pass rush capable of getting home without constantly blitzing. Robert Saleh's return to San Francisco last season...