The 49ers' Nose Tackles Need Work

Now this is what I'm talking about -- actual game insight from a beat writer in the MSM. I didn't know those guys were capable of providing anything other than a few bland quotes and the occasional bit of soap-boxing (for everything of substance, trust nothing less than Football Outsiders), but The Press Democrat's Matt Maiocco does a good job of offering up analysis on where the 49ers went wrong against the Steelers.

By my count, the Steelers ran the ball 28 times when the 49ers were playing with a true nose tackle. The 49ers' nose tackles occupied a double-team block on just six of those plays. Aubrayo Franklin was one-on-one 15 times, and five times he received a double-team. Isaac Sopoaga saw just one double-team on eight running plays.

It's pretty simple math. If the offensive line has five guys, and the defensive line has three, one or more of those defensive linemen are going to have to occupy double teams to be successful. If not, the offensive line advances to block the linebackers, and the next thing you know Willie Parker's got 133 yards and 5.5 yards per carry.

The 49ers have just played their third game in the 3-4, so they've obviously got some path left to travel on that learning curve. And let's be fair, this is a Steelers team that historically has been known for running prowess (though Franklin should have known what he was getting into from his days in Baltimore). That performance was an abberation for a defense that has played really well so far this season. Now that offense .... eek.