Overview
- Head Coach: Jim Tomsula
- Defensive Coordinator: Eric Mangini
- Defensive Back Coach: Tim Lewis
- Base Defense Scheme: 3-4
- Transactions: CB Chris Cook released. Perrish Cox and Chris Culliver left in Free Agency
- Draft Picks: SS Jaquiski Tartt
Projected Starters
| CornerBack # 1: | Tramaine Brock | |
| CornerBack # 2: | Shareece Wright | |
| Strong Safety : | Antoine Bethea | |
| Free Safety : | Eric Reed | |
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The Numbers
Total Fantasy Points Allowed to WR: 342.40 Average Fantasy Points Per game against to WR: 21.40 Total Receiving Touchdowns Allowed: 17 Total Receiving Yards Allowed:2,406 Average Receiving yards per game against: 150.38
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Strengths
To say the San Francisco 49ers should have a new look to their defense in 2015 would be a drastic understatement. From top to bottom no defense will have more new starters in 2015 then the 49ers. Add a new head coach, a (somewhat) new defensive coordinator and you have a complete makeover on the defensive side of the ball. The 49ers will still run a 3-4 defense but it will be much more of a hybrid, aggressive scheme under Mangini. It will focus on getting play makers in the right position to do what they do best. And they will need to perform at their best if this defense is going to have any chance at replicating the success of recent past. Strong Safety Antoine Bethea is the lone bright spot returning to the secondary in 2015. He had a dominating 2014 performance in all aspects of the game but his coverage skills were some of the best in the league last year. I would avoid tight ends against the 49ers to start the season.
Weaknesses
Eric Reid had an up and down year at free safety in 2014 and after contemplating retirement this offseason because of concussions he has decided to play again. In his 3rd year he will need to take a big step forward in order for this secondary unit to have any chance at holding it together for the rest of the defense. Most of the stud pass rushers from last year are gone so he will need to keep with his receiver even longer which should result in even worse stats then last year. I think Reid succeeded mainly due to those players around him so 2015 could be a very long year for him. Although not currently listed as a starter on the depth chart Jimmie Ward should be expected to take over that duty when he is fully healthy. He will most likely start the season in nickel and dime packages coming in on the outside which will allow Tramaine Brock to slide into the slot corner position. Ward was a high draft pick two seasons ago and has flashed some potential so he will be one to closely monitor once he is fully back from injury. Keith Reaser is the other corner expected to start and he is another young corner who should have some definite growing pains early on. The aggressive scheme Mangini will implore is going to make it very difficult on these young corners.
Overall Outlook
This 49ers defensive backfield is setting up as the perfect storm for DFS matchup purposes. Gone are the all pro rushers and linebackers who wrecked havoc on oppposing team quarterbacks. But Mangini will try to dial up a more aggressive scheme which will leave his young corners on an island more often then they should be. This is going to lead to some huge plays coming against this secondary which is fantasy gold for our DFS lineups. I will avoid tight ends but look to get a number of different wide receivers going against this secondary in the early part of the season. If Mangini’s scheme is successful at getting to the quarterback I will reevaluate in the early part of the season. I do not think it will be successful though so this will be a defensive backfield I am targetting all season long.
