Niners Nation
While the 49ers will be far from happy with the porous nature of their defense in 2025 — even with a slew of injuries hampering that side of the ball — there will be an internal acceptance that, for Robert Saleh and his group, this season is as much about the development of young players as it is about results.
San Francisco’s reliance on the youth movement on defense increased with the injuries to the likes of Nick Bosa and Fred Warner. This is a unit relying hugely on players selected in one of the previous three drafts, with several rookies seeing significant playing time.
As such, regardless of what the overall numbers say this season, the 49ers will cling to signs that players who are likely remain prominent features of the defense in coming years are moving in the right direction.
And there were some very positive signs from two rookies whom the 49ers hope will develop into foundational pieces on the defensive line as San Francisco thrashed the Arizona Cardinals 41-22 in Week 11.
In terms of raw yardage, it was not a good day for the 49er defense, which allowed Jacoby Brissett to complete 47 passes — an NFL record — for 452 yards.
Yet the 49ers picked off Brissett twice in a game that saw three Cardinals turnovers and held Arizona to just 36 yards on the ground.
Brissett’s extraordinary passing numbers and the meagre rushing production for Arizona were a product of game script, with the Cardinals falling behind early on, and that it was obvious the hosts’ offense could find consistent success throwing on the 49ers.
But the 49ers also deserve credit for how they shut down the run — though a 60-yard Bam Knight touchdown run was nullified for holding — with their success owing a great deal to their two rookie defensive tackles.
Second-rounder Alfred Collins and fourth-rounder CJ West were each primarily drafted for their run-stopping prowess, each having excelled in college in holding ground against double teams, quickly and violently working off blocks, and finding the football.
Both did an excellent job in preventing push from the Arizona offensive line last Sunday, with Collins receiving special praise from George Kittle after the game.
“I can’t get over Alfred Collins and his effort on every single play. It’s one of the things that stands out to me the most, but Alfred Collins and justhis effort on every single play. I’m used to watching Bosa and Warner. That’s who I usually watch, but now I just watch the d-line and I’ve just got to pick and choose but Alfred has just stood to me. Just his constant effort of no matter where the ball is he just chases it down and I really appreciate that from a young player.”
Yet it was West who stood out the most in run defense up front. West was active for the eighth time this season, getting the nod ahead of...
