The 49ers remain as one of only three unbeaten teams in the NFL after four weeks.
Quarterback Brock Purdy and the offensive line’s pass protection and run-blocking have gotten a lot of the credit for the team’s strong start.
Well, the 49ers’ defense under Raheem Morris deserves a lot of credit, too.
The 49ers’ run defense is allowing just 3.7 yards per rushing attempt. And the secondary has allowed only four touchdown passes in four games against the Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos.
Next up is a showdown in Seattle against last season’s Super Bowl champions.
But before we get there, it’s time for another installment of 49ers Overreactions.
Here we go . . .
Morris is a better and more innovative DC than Saleh. (@ReviewsDavid)
Overreaction? No.
When the 49ers’ defense was thriving in Robert Saleh’s first tenure as defensive coordinator, it was a self-running machine.
He could call for a four-man rush and play cover-3 on the back end, and the 49ers were difficult to beat.
Last year, the 49ers simply did not have a lot of high-caliber players on defense. The 49ers did fine, all things considered.
But, so far, that unit is much-improved.
What was fascinating during training camp this summer was how the players spoke about new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris in comparison to Saleh.
“He allows us to play fast,” cornerback Deommodore Lenoir said of Morris during camp. “He broke the defense down and made it as simple as possible to where we’re able to just read and react and just play, and not think about it too much.”
Morris’ defense has been a lot less predictable with five-man fronts, pressure coming from different places and mixing up coverages on the back end.
It has not been perfect, but it has been very, very good through four games. The 49ers’ defense is built around outstanding, game-changing linebackers Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw.
Morris’ success has been a result of what the players in front of and behind Warner and Greenlaw are doing.
They are constantly rotating defensive linemen to keep them fresh and active. The defensive backfield has been better than expected, as Lenoir, Renardo Green, Upton Stout, Ji’Ayir Brown and Marques Sigle are playing very well as a unit.
Brock Purdy is the best QB in the NFL. Period. (@cctate)
Overreaction? No.
It is difficult to argue with that statement through four weeks of the regular season.
The 49ers are one of only three unbeaten teams in the NFL. Purdy leads the league with a passer rating of 126.2. He has thrown 11 touchdowns (tied for the lead) and just one interception. He is second in the league with an average of 8.9 yards per pass attempt.
And Purdy has not been sacked this season. Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers and Baker Mayfield have been sacked 13 times, while Jalen Hurts, Justin Herbert and C.J. Stroud have been sacked 12 times.
Purdy clearly is showing he is as good as it gets. And anybody who tells you anything different is a bad liar.
It’s time to trade for Deforest Buckner to get the whole band back together, and go get that ring. This is the year. The time is now! (@kgerman)
Overreaction? Hey, why not?!
Yep, why not just go ahead and add one of the best interior defensive linemen to the team? That sounds like a great idea.
Pulling it off, however, is the difficult part.
The Indianapolis Colts are 2-2 and believe they are in strong contention for a spot in the playoffs. So there is no reason at this point for Indianapolis to consider trading him.
Buckner (or any player the 49ers could acquire) would be a half-season rental. That would have to be taken into account when that time comes for teams that have fallen out of contention to dangle players as trade bait.
The 49ers have been aggressive on the trade market in the past with the acquisitions of Trent Williams, Christian McCaffrey, Emmanuel Sanders and Chase Young.
When it comes to midseason trades, the 49ers have been willing to part with picks as high as the third round. It would seem that giving up a first- or second-round selection is not an option.
The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 10, so do not expect much activity involving high-caliber players for quite some time. General manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan say they are always looking for ways to improve.
So, yes, they could be in the trade market down the road.
At the same time, the 49ers expect to get Mykel Williams, Nick Bosa, CJ West, Sam Okuayinonu and James Thompson back on the field this season.
Next man up is working so far. (@DoubtingTom_)
Overreaction? No.
The 49ers are 4-0, so what they are doing is working.
A year ago, the 49ers suffered all those injuries to their best players and they still lined up in Week 18 with a chance to earn home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs.
Their depth was sneaky-good last year. And, thus far, they have managed to piece it together despite injuries at wide receiver and the defensive line.
While their lack of a pass rush is a continued concern, the 49ers have been winning games with a nine-man rotation on the defensive line that is lacking star power.
And they also have managed to compensate for injuries at wide receiver with a balanced offensive approach.
Niners are the best team in the league but if we don’t trade for a receiver good defenses are going to give us trouble in the playoffs. (@TejasThirumalai)
Overreaction? Yes.
Right now, the 49ers are thin at wide receiver. There’s no doubt about it.
But the 49ers are expecting De’Zhaun Stribling, Demarcus Robinson and Christian Kirk to be back off injured reserve for the stretch drive.
Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, Stribling and Robinson could be the 49ers’ top wide receivers for the final month of the season and heading into the playoffs. That group should place the 49ers in good shape to make a run.