Sorensen owns the 49ers’ defensive struggles, explains how the unit can improve originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Nick Sorensen knows the 49ers defense needs to correct its mistakes and improve its performance after a rough start to the 2024 NFL season.
Speaking to reporters Thursday, San Francisco’s defensive coordinator answered questions about the unit’s recent struggles against the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams.
“It’s never really been one thing or one cover,” Sorensen said. “It’s kind of a culmination of things, and it just hasn’t been good enough overall. It’s not about one person or one media coverage, as I I said, it’s just that we would be a little better here, a little better there.
“As always, I look at myself first. And I should. It’s my defense, I’m the coordinator, but I take responsibility for it. I think we all feel this way. That’s a good thing. All of us coaches need to coach better, and the players also feel this challenge for themselves.
The 49ers’ vaunted defense has been shredded for most of the last two games, both losses, giving up huge plays and missing coverages. For Sorensen, it’s a frustrating situation for such a talented team, one he’ll look to resolve in the coming weeks.
“Like I said, it’s not a thing,” Sorensen told reporters. “It was hard. It’s frustrating sometimes because sometimes it’s really good. I think things have been pretty inconsistent across the board. Sometimes in the running game we do really well or we have pressure.
“I think overall our expectations are high. We all do it. The players, the coaches, myself, we all understand what it must be like here. And I think it’s not one thing, we just have to constantly improve.
The defensive difficulties became particularly evident during last Sunday’s match. fourth quarter collapse against the Rams. San Francisco couldn’t contain Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford as he raced down the field in the final seconds, completing a series of big passes to set up the game-winning field goal.
Now at 1-2 on the season, the 49ers defense will look to bounce back against the New England Patriots Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.
