We are getting to the root of the 49ers' problems on this Christmas Eve, folks.
No sweeping generalizations about whether Brock Purdy is a $40 million or $50 million or $60 million quarterback (his deal will realistically be in the $35-40 million range over the first four years in real money, plus some funny money to make it seem like a $60-65 million deal, for what it's worth).
No. We are talking scheme, and whether the 49ers, with a defensive tackle group that has been exceedingly weak against the run, should stick with their Wide-Nine scheme. And who better to ask than Brian Baldinger, a man who loves trench warfare as much as anyone out there. He joined the Morning Roast Tuesday morning, with yours truly and Sam Lubman filling in for Bonta & Shasky.
The Wide-Nine, to be clear, stands for a "nine technique" defensive end who aligns, well, wide, outside of the offense's tight end. The 49ers brought that in with defensive line coach Kris Kocurek in 2019, to help maximize Nick Bosa and Dee Ford, who could fly off the edge and attack offensive tackles.
There are variations of how to employ it, but the 49ers love it, and it puts a massive onus on the defensive tackles to be sound, and hold up against double teams. When that doesn't happen, teams can run double-team run plays like "Duo" — the Lions did this and dominated the 49ers in the first half of the NFC Championship last year, and the Dolphins did it last week — and attack the 49ers' linebackers. With no Dre Greenlaw, it's been a major problem.
I asked Baldinger whether he thinks the 49ers should re-evaluate that scheme going forward, and he acceded.
"Yeah, I do. I do think so, because it has not been effective," Baldinger said. "I would say that they have to evaluate that right now. I know Nick loves it, and he gets to play in space. Now, I think a lot of teams started attacking Nick on that wide nine in the running, and just chipping him and some nasty chips. And he had to kind of cut it down because the splits were just too big, and receivers were just chipping him. And, I mean, knocking the hell out of them in the pass rush.
"So I do think it should be evaluated. But the defensive line has been a problem. Javon Hargrave goes down, Armstead's, not here. Maliek Collins has been the best interior defensive lineman. Givens got hurt.
"It has to be addressed. It's a weakness to this team right now. And I think, to your point, I think Fred has really struggled — hasn't really struggled. I mean, he was awesome earlier in the year. I'm sure the injury is real. He's not the same player the second half of the season, as we're used to seeing him, but a healthy Greenlaw, and Fred inside with stud defense tackles, I think you'll see some of the plays that we're used to seeing from those two guys."
Listen to Baldinger's full interview above. He addresses the 49ers' offensive line, their late involvement of George Kittle in the screen game, and more.