49ers’ Jim O’Neil finds positives in his struggling defense
49ers’ Jim O’Neil finds positives in his struggling defense
Say this for 49ers’ under-fire defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil:
Five losses later, it might be one of the best calls O’Neil has made this season.
The 49ers have followed their 28-0 victory over the Rams with a string of ugliness.
During their five-game losing streak, they have allowed five 100-yard running backs and averages of 37 points and 430.8 yards.
Given those unsightly stats, it was surprising that O’Neil began his weekly news conference Tuesday on a sunny note.
After surrendering 491 yards — and 28 points in the final 18 minutes — O’Neil acknowledged issues, but said he could see “growth” and offered that he did “see this thing turning.”
What does he say to the legions who see this turning very badly?
“I know we’re a long way from where we want to be, OK?” O’Neil said.
Quite frankly, I’m embarrassed by what happened on this past Sunday.
In fairness, O’Neil is without run-stuffing nose tackle Ian Williams, who sustained a season-ending ankle injury in the offseason, and All-Pro inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman, who made four starts before sustaining a torn Achilles tendon.
O’Neil pointed partly to the 49ers’ inexperience as a reason for the failures.
[...] the 49ers aren’t filled with novices:
Seven of their 11 starters Sunday had made at least 17 career starts.
“We have a lot of good, young talent,” O’Neil said.
Every time that they’re out there, they learn so much and those reps are so valuable for them.
The 49ers have eight defensive players selected by general manager Trent Baalke with a top-80 draft pick since 2013, but many haven’t provided a boost this season.
Outside linebackers Eli Harold and Tank Carradine don’t have a sack, safety Jaquiski Tartt is a role player and rookie cornerback Will Redmond has spent the season on short-term injured reserve because of a torn ACL he sustained in college.
The 49ers’ first picks in the past two drafts — defensive linemen Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner — were off to quiet starts before combining for three sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery Sunday.
O’Neil mentioned Armstead and Buckner as he searched for silver linings.
“We have some young guys that are really starting to trust the technique and really go,” he said.
The 49ers’ once-elite run defense has been going in the wrong direction the past two seasons.
[...] they have allowed at least 170 rushing yards in nine of their past 16 games.
Part of their recent problem is that fill-in inside linebackers Nick Bellore and Michael Wilhoite are physically overmatched, but O’Neil said mental toughness also has been an issue.
“We’re competitive in all these games and then something happens, and two or three series go by and then you look up at the scoreboard and you’re like, ‘What the hell just happened?’” O’Neil said.
[...] the 49ers have been outscored 54-17 in the second half the past two weeks, turning close games into blowouts.
[...] lots of yards and points happen.
Eric Branch is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.
The 49ers’ once-vaunted run defense has been in steep decline the past two seasons.
Here is where it has ranked in the NFL over the past eight seasons:
Family feud?
DeBartolo daughter unhappy
Count Lisa DeBartolo as another frustrated 49ers fan.
DeBartolo, the daughter of former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. and cousin of team CEO Jed York, tweeted two columns Tuesday that were critical of the state of the 1-5 team.
DeBartolo deleted the tweets from her account Tuesday afternoon.
In August, DeBartolo was her father’s presenter when he was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.