49ers fire defensive coordinator Steve Wilks in wake of Super Bowl LVIII loss

[Auggie]

The San Francisco 49ers have fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, head coach Kyle Shanahan announced Wednesday, three days after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII.

The team will look inside and outside the organization for Wilks' replacement. The decision to part with Wilks was foreshadowed Tuesday when Shanahan declined to answer affirmatively when asked if Wilks would return for a second season with the team in 2024.

The 49ers allowed the third-fewest points in the NFL and ranked eighth in yards allowed. But they led the league in both categories in 2022 and there was an expectation they could be even more dominant after adding Pro Bowl defensive tackle Javon Hargrave to their intact star-studded core in the offseason.

Before the 49ers’ defensive performance dipped in the playoffs, Shanahan asked Wilks at midseason to move from the coach’s box to the sideline to call plays. The move came a few weeks after Shanahan publicly criticized Wilks for an all-out blitz call with 16 seconds left before halftime that led to a 60-yard touchdown pass in a 22-17 loss at Minnesota on Oct. 23.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/49ers/article/49ers-fire-defensive-coordinator-steve-wilks-18667222.php

[Auggie]

1. Good

[lapfog_1]

2. not surprised... but the offense wasn't up to it's usual game either.

MCaffrey was great, as usual, but never broke a big play except for the dipsy doodle play to score the first touchdown. Deebo, I think, lost a step after he went out with an ankle injury, apparently had it taped and came back a few plays later.

As for Dre Greenlaw, he blew out his achilles tendon running onto the field... can't blame that on the defensive coordinator. And missing him was definitely a factor in the overtime drive that won it for KC.

[brewens]

3. I yelled at the TV a few times. "It's the Superbowl you guys!" I think stupid penalties on the offense killed them.

That took them off their game plan a few times. Handing off to McCaffrey is way better when you're not backed up five or ten yards.

[Auggie]

6. The best defense is a ball control offense ...

Fouls killed them, though many of those 3rd quarter drives featured passing calls exclusively. K.C. was also reportedly 31st in in the league when defending the outside zone, so why didn't the 49ers focus their running attack there?

[brewens]

7. How many passes did Purdy have someone right in his face or bumping him at least? I can watch and call out

coverage if they let me see. A lot of the time what's on TV won't let me. They need to be zoomed out a little more. I know the Chiefs were playing man most of the time though. If he had time, guys were open. Purdy didn't get much of a chance to take off running. More short passes to Kittle may have loosed things up for him.

[Auggie]

11. That's why I question the focus on passing, not running, especially on the edges

It didn't make sense. Coverage was good and Purdy was pressured. Run the goddamn ball.

[brewens]

12. Penalties took that option away too many times. The tried to cross the D up and run on long yardage anyway

a few times. Not the worst idea. McCaffrey can pull that off, but once or twice a game when it's going your way.

Too many times Purdy was throwing off his back foot and could have had a big gain if he'd had another half-second.

[ArizonaLib]

14. Was Deebo's ankle in such a condition to keep the Niners from relying the running more?

It seemed to me that their main path to winning was run set up to allow Purdy to play within himself. I was sort of expecting the 49ers to outplay KC but for KC's coaching to find a way to win. I don't keep up with game time personnel/depth, obviously, but I don't understand play callers wariness of forcing running with the same enthusiasm as they force passing.

[Auggie]

15. Possibly, probably ...

But Samuel was banged-up coming into the game, giving Shanahan ample time to devise a back-up strategy. I don't know why we didn't see Samuel used more as a decoy and/or run blocker, substituting his running plays using Jauan Jennings (this guy is a beast) or employing more misdirection outside sweeps with back-up RB Elijah Mitchel or FB Kyle Juszczyk complementing McCaffrey. The idea would have been to spread out the K.C. defense line, buying a little more time for passing plays.

My takeaway -- it was a total team loss. San Francisco blew it on defense, offense, and special teams.

1) Nick Bosa said in post game interviews the defense wasn't totally prepared for Kansas City.

2) Ray Ray McCloud's epic boneheaded stunt trying to pick-up and run on a touched punt return rather than falling on the ball. K.C. recovered on the 49ers 20 and scored a TD on the next play.

3) Offensive line penalties and missed blocks

4) Questionable play calling

[ArizonaLib]

16. Makes a lot of sense

Thanks - Lynch must be pretty frustrated.

[Auggie]

17. +1

[calguy]

5. Yeah, I think Dre going down sealed their fate

Hard to stop the arguably best QB of all time when you've lost half of your elite linebacker corps. I didn't expect Wilkes to survive after some of the bonehead plays he's called at certain points during the season.

[underpants]

4. He was their 3rd DC in 3 years. They did keep KC under 20 in regulation

I mean they did.

I remember some commentary during the season that he wasn’t clicking into their scheme. I think he was on shaky ground but he did get them to the SB and he did keep an NFL team under 20 which is hard to do.

[Auggie]

9. Wilks speciality is the Secondary, not the 4-3 alignment

Nick Bosa especially expressed his frustration with the defense in postgame interviews.

When Bosa speaks, the front office listens.

I think the injuries became insurmountable and Wilks and the assistants couldn't handle them. Three impact players: Safety Talanoa Hufanga (torn ACL) mid-season, DE Ferrell in Week 18 (knee) and Greenlaw (he had been nursing that sore Achilles' for weeks before it tore in the SB).

[Thunderbeast]

8. Anyone think that the missed PAT had anything to do with it?

[Auggie]

10. Do with what, Wilks firing? That's special teams.

[rickford66]

13. Blocked, not missed. I see a difference.

[ProfessorGAC]

18. What Would The DC Have To Do...

....with a blocked/missed kick?