The San Francisco 49ers are shaking things up as they look to get back on track after a three-game losing streak. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has made a significant change involving defensive coordinator Steve Wilks for their upcoming Week 10 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Shanahan has decided to move Wilks from the coaching booth down to the sidelines, a shift in their approach that they’ve been considering for a while. According to Shanahan, this change comes with both positives and negatives, and they intend to assess its impact during this week’s game.
The 49ers have faced some challenges recently, losing three consecutive games and allowing an average of 24 points per game during this stretch. Their defense struggled notably against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8, giving up 31 points and 400 yards of offense in a 14-point defeat.
Kyle Shanahan explains why he wants Steve Wilks to be on the sideline this Sunday against the Jags pic.twitter.com/0EwD3xBB0X
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) November 8, 2023
While the 49ers have performed decently in terms of yards allowed, ranking 10th with an average of 315.0 yards per game, their issues lie primarily in the secondary. Surprisingly, their usually formidable pass defense is currently outside the top half of the league, allowing an average of 228.9 passing yards per game.
The departure of well-respected defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans, who became the head coach of the Houston Texans, created a void that Wilks was brought in to fill. Wilks previously served as the interim head coach of the Carolina Panthers in 2022.
The 49ers’ recent struggles have come against challenging opponents, including the Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings, and the Bengals, all of which are winning teams. Fortunately, the 49ers share the same record as the Seattle Seahawks, both standing at 5-3 and tied for the top seed in the NFC North. The two teams are scheduled to face each other in Week 12, setting the stage for a crucial matchup.