One of the hallmarks of the 49ers defense is their ability to limit explosive plays. They do that via a stout run defense, a strong pass rush and disciplined coverage that forces quarterbacks to take short throws where a fast, instinctual group in the second level can rally to the ball and tackle.
While explosive plays were a small problem for this group last season, they’ve shut the faucet off under new defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.
Buy 49ers TicketsNate Tice of the Athletic tweeted out a remarkable stat about San Francisco’s explosive plays allowed, where an “explosive” is defined as a run of 12-plus yards and a pass of 16-plus yards. The 49ers have allowed such plays on only 4.76 percent of their snaps – a low through four weeks since the league went to 32 teams in 2002.
It’s worth noting that the 49ers haven’t played many explosive offenses. The Steelers, Giants and Cardinals have all had their struggles on that side of the ball, while the Rams are working without their best wide receiver.
Still, even in blowouts they’ve not lost focus and surrendered many big plays. It’s also their ability to limit those big plays that they’ve never really gotten a scare in four games.
So, when have teams managed to actually rip off a big play against San Francisco’s defense? We dug through the play-by-play of each game to come up with all the instances of teams gaining 12-plus yards on a run or 16-plus yards on a pass vs. the 49ers this season:
Week 1 at Steelers, 2 plays
1. Run
Steelers RB Najee Harris broke off a 24-yard run on a third-and-1 near the end of the half to spark the Pittsburgh’s only scoring drive of the game. That run accounted for 24 of Harris’ 31 rushing yards.
2. Pass
Late in the fourth quarter of the 49ers’ 30-7 win, Steelers QB Kenny Pickett found WR Allen Robinson deep down the left sideline for a 31-yard pickup.
Week 2 at Rams, 3 plays
1. Pass
The Rams had the 49ers defense on its heels for much of the first half in their Week 2 meeting. LA’s first explosive came early in the second quarter when WR Puka Nacua took a short throw and turned it upfield for a 20-yard gain. Nacua racked up 18 yards after the catch on that throw.
2. Pass
Later in the second quarter, QB Matthew Stafford connected with WR Tutu Atwell for 18 yards. It was a good deep throw down the left sideline that didn’t need any YAC to be an explosive.
3. Pass
The 49ers tightened up in the second half and didn’t allow another explosive play until LA’s penultimate offensive snap. Nacua took another short throw and turned it upfield for eight yards after the catch and a total pickup of 17 that put the Rams in field goal range to cover the spread.
Week 3 vs. Giants, 2 plays
1. Pass
That New York had any explosives vs. the 49ers is pretty surprising given how bad their offense looked overall. Still, on their first drive the Giants got an 18-yard completion from QB Daniel Jones to RB Gary Brightwell thank to 8 yards after the catch.
2. Pass
There’s something about the 49ers and end-of-half explosive plays. The Giants got a 17-yarder from Jones to WR Darius Slayton in the final 40 seconds of the first half in their Thursday night showdown.
Week 4 vs. Cardinals, 4 plays
1. Pass
More end-of-half trouble for the 49ers. QB Joshua Dobbs connected on consecutive explosive pass plays on Arizona’s TD drive at the end of the second quarter. The first one was a 33-yard deep shot to rookie WR Michael Wilson.
2. Pass
One play later Dobbs found Wilson from 16 yards out for a TD. That’s the longest TD the 49ers have allowed all season.
3. Pass
Arizona also managed the longest play of the year against San Francisco overall. Dobbs midway through the third quarter found WR Marquise Brown for a 41-yard completion. The pass traveled 25 yards, and Brown extended it with 16 yards after the catch.
4. Run
Dobbs is responsible for the second explosive run against San Francisco this year. He broke off a 12-yard scramble early in the fourth quarter of their Week 4 matchup.
