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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Obituaries Weather Archive Hot Topics Forum Photo Gallery Past Readers Polls Revels Etcetera Backpage O-Zone Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Online Games Movie Preview October 21, 2006 Niners' woeful defense anchoring another losing season; players frustrated By Greg Beacham The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO — By the sixth play of the San Francisco 49ers' sixth game of the season, their defense was in complete disarray. The wrong players took the field as the coaches called an inappropriate scheme, leaving a reserve linebacker in coverage on an elite tight end. To nobody's surprise, San Diego's Antonio Gates dusted T.J. Slaughter for a 57-yard touchdown catch that started an avalanche of points — the most allowed by the 49ers at Candlestick Park — in the Chargers' 48-19 victory. So many things went wrong in just one snap — and it's hardly the first time this season the 49ers' defense has dissolved into such "mass confusion," as the play was described by veteran defensive lineman Bryant Young. After six games, the 49ers (2-4) are near the bottom of the NFL in several defensive categories for the second straight season. They have allowed 194 points — a league-worst 32.3 per game — and 2,172 total yards, while opponents have converted on more than half their third downs. "We haven't been too happy with what's going on with our defense," linebacker Jeff Ulbrich said. "Last year was a tough season for us, but this one hasn't been any better. It feels worse." The 49ers still have hope of salvaging a winning season in coach Mike Nolan's second campaign. The offense has been promising, with quarterback Alex Smith and running back Frank Gore rapidly growing into starring roles in just their second NFL seasons. But San Francisco will be doomed as long as its defense is so pathetic — and nobody knows that better than Nolan, a defensive coordinator for four teams over 11 seasons before taking over the Niners. The defense's struggles are embarrassing both to Nolan and coordinator Billy Davis, one of the NFL's top young assistants with the New York Giants before getting this job. "The problems on defense are collective," Nolan said. "That falls on the coaches' and the players' shoulders. We need to do a better job of putting our guys in situations that will help them, but we also need to make some plays when we're there." The 49ers' defense last season was historically bad, allowing a stunning 428 points and yielding a franchise-record 6,250 yards while finishing dead-last in the NFL in pass defense and total defense. So the basic reason for the current defensive problems is obvious: After fielding an awful defense last season, San Francisco then allowed two of the best players on that defense to leave as free agents — yet didn't replace them, using seven of the club's top eight draft picks over the last two years on offensive players. Linebacker Julian Peterson, a two-time Pro Bowl player and an ebullient source of optimism and big plays during his six seasons in town, signed a free-agent contract with Seattle. Capable defensive end-turned-linebacker Andre Carter, often the 49ers' best pass rusher, moved to Washington. The 49ers were well under the salary cap — and still are. They probably had plenty of room to retain either player, or even overbid for a free-agent replacement. Peterson was one of San Francisco's only popular players during three straight losing seasons, and the 49ers stuck with him through a season-ending foot injury in 2004 — but Nolan and personnel chief Scot McCloughan decided the price was too high, even declining to apply the franchise tag to Peterson after doing it in the previous two years. "We lost a couple of players who aren't bad players, but that's part of the growing pains in getting it corrected," Nolan said. "I'd like to think that, in the future, that won't be the case. We'll be able to take care of our people before it gets to free agency." In their absence, Nolan still hasn't found anyone capable of rushing the passer consistently. San Francisco got nine sacks in its first two games — including six while St. Louis' Marc Bulger held the ball for far too long in the pocket — but has just four since. Nolan planned to use a 3-4 defense when he took the job last year, but that project has been delayed indefinitely. Without a true nose tackle or four standout linebackers, Nolan and Davis have shuffled the 49ers among 3-4, 4-3 and even 4-4 fronts this season, creating even more confusion despite a relatively simple playbook. "I think we need to find a home we can go to, whether it's a 3-4 or a 4-3," said Young, in his 13th season with the Niners. "We've done well in some games with multiple fronts, and other games we haven't been on the same page." The lack of any discernible pass rush from those fronts has exposed the defensive secondary — particularly San Francisco's starting safeties, who might both lose their jobs when the club returns to face Chicago next week. The 49ers have allowed 242.3 yards passing per game, more than all but three clubs. Strong safety Tony Parrish, who started the first 126 NFL games he played, was benched last week in favor of Mark Roman, a training-camp signee cast off by Green Bay. Free safety Mike Adams, who has struggled in recent weeks, could be replaced by hard-hitting Keith Lewis, San Francisco's special teams captain. Cornerback Walt Harris has played well in his first season in San Francisco, but Shawntae Spencer and the Niners' backups have struggled. From front to back, San Francisco's defense has problems — and unless Nolan can come up with some answers, that defense will be his young club's weakest link all season long. "We all know we can get better as a defense, but we've got to do it," Spencer said. "It's time to stop talking about it." Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising Inkjet Printers Student Loans Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Advertisement: Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.