Missed Tackles Pose Challenge for San Francisco 49ers Defense

The San Francisco 49ers are navigating a challenging start to the NFL season, marked by injuries and late-game offensive struggles. However, a critical issue that has surfaced recently for the 49ers is missed tackles, which have significantly affected their defensive performance.

In a closely contested Week 5 game, the 49ers were narrowly defeated by the Arizona Cardinals, losing 24-23. This loss brought their season record to 2-3. While much of the responsibility for the defeat was attributed to the offense, the defense’s recurring problem with missed tackles was prominently noticeable as the game progressed.

Over the past two games, San Francisco has recorded 29 missed tackles, totaling 43 for the season. Defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen addressed the situation, stating, “I wouldn’t say it’s fatigue. I think we miss tackles sometimes because we’re aggressive. We do coach our guys to take their shots.” Sorensen explained that while some missed tackles may appear problematic, others are part of the strategy of aggressive play, accepting missed tackles if they contribute to reducing the opponent’s yardage.

Pro Football Focus (PFF) reports that Nick Bosa has led the team with seven missed tackles, followed closely by DeVondre Campbell with six, and Malik Mustapha with four despite limited playtime. These numbers have raised concerns as the team prepares for upcoming matches.

The issue of missed tackles was particularly evident towards the end of the Cardinals game. Arizona’s running back, James Conner, capitalized on this weakness, using his physicality to evade defenders and contribute to the Cardinals’ last-minute drive that culminated in a game-deciding field goal.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged the team’s tackling challenges, admitting postgame, “We got a little sloppy with tackling towards the end, but held them to a field goal.” Linebacker Fred Warner also expressed dissatisfaction with the second-half defensive play, saying, “We gave up too much leaky yardage and missed tackles. We were just not good enough.”

As the 49ers look ahead, tackling will be an essential focus, especially with an upcoming matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, whose running back, Kenneth Walker, has excelled with a high average gain per carry this season. Success against such potent offenses will depend significantly on San Francisco’s ability to improve their tackling efficiency without compromising their aggressive defensive strategy.