Steelers face tall task in revamped 49ers defense
PITTSBURGH – The outlook was bleak for the San Francisco 49ers coming into this season.
Retirements, free agent defections and other issues were forcing the 49ers to basically start over, especially on defense, where seven of the 17 players who played at least one quarter of the snaps were no longer there.
Despite playing without such stars as defensive end Justin Smith, linebackers Aldon Smith, Patrick Willis and Chris Borland and cornerbacks Perrish Cox and Chris Culliver – players who had helped the 49ers rank in the top 10 in the NFL in defense in each of the previous five seasons – the 49ers had an impressive display in their opener against Minnesota.
San Francisco limited All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson, who figured to be motivated in his return to football after being suspended for all but one game last season, to 31 yards on 10 attempts in a 20-3 victory.
The Steelers, who host the 49ers Sunday at Heinz Field in their home opener, came away impressed with San Francisco’s 3-4 defense.
“I thought the story of the game, was their ability to minimize Adrian Peterson on first-and-10, often times, doing so, in two-high safety defenses,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “I think that speaks to their stout front. They did a nice job of controlling the line of scrimmage, from inside out.”
The Steelers controlled the line of scrimmage with their offensive line last week, despite losing, 28-21, at New England. Running back DeAngelo Williams, subbing for suspended Le’Veon Bell, had 127 rushing yards on 21 carries.
The key, as it is for most 3-4 defenses, was the play of San Francisco’s front line of ends Glen Dorsey and Quinton Dial and nose tackle Ian Williams.
Williams, in particular, looked dominant at times against the Vikings and will be a challenge for Steelers center Cody Wallace, starting in place of the injured Maurkice Pouncey.
“Yeah, he’s good. He plays with good leverage,” Wallace said of Williams. “We saw some double teams, where he got through both guys and got off and made the play. It’s something we’ve got to be sharp on and take as much of them as we can and don’t let them get through us.”