© Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
SANTA CLARA — After Richard Sherman suffered a calf strain in Week 3, Kyle Shanahan said postgame that Sherman would miss a couple weeks. He did not play in Week 4, holding true to the diagnosis. With the 49ers’ Week 5 matchup with the visiting Arizona Cardinals looming Sunday, Shanahan updated Sherman’s status Monday.
“I’m not expecting Sherman to be back [in Week 5], but I wouldn’t put it past him,” Shanahan said.
As you’d expect, Sherman hasn’t ruled it out, either. When asked whether he expects to sit his second straight game, he wouldn’t concede.
“Not in my eyes,” Sherman said. “I am practicing today. We will see if I can go.”
And there he was at the beginning of Thursday’s practice, participating with the rest of the defensive backs group. Sherman was limited on the day.
It should not be surprising that he is trying to accelerate his recovery. The 49ers need him. He allowed just one catch this season through three games. After Sherman, the 49ers currently do not have another cornerback who has proven he deserves a major workload.
Friday will likely provide a better indication of Sherman’s status for Sunday, but his comments and practice participation Thursday lend some hope for his Week 5 availability.
Saleh wants communication to improve
Robert Saleh identified a central reason for the 49ers’ defensive struggles during his Thursday afternoon press conference.
“When you lose players on defense and people are in and out of the lineup, the biggest thing that hurts is the communication part of it,” the 49ers defensive coordinator said Thursday.
Miscommunication is less identifiable than San Francisco’s other glaring defensive issue: missed tackles. On select plays, however, the lack of communication has recently been obvious.
In last Sunday’s 29-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, the 49ers gifted tight end Antonio Gates a wide open touchdown on third and goal. Reuben Foster and Ahkello Witherspoon bumped into each other on a crossing pattern. Quarterback Philip Rivers floated the easy touchdown to Gates, who stood a whopping 13.62 yards from the closest defender, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
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Foster later blamed himself for the mistake, saying he was not lined up correctly. Saleh said it was “unacceptable at all levels.”
“(There was) a lack of communication, and that’s very, very frustrating,” Saleh said. “Very frustrating. As a group, both coaches and players, those are the things that we’ve got to take personal because that should not have happened.”
These miscommunication issues— a hallmark of a young, inexperienced team — are growing pains that have plagued the 49ers defense all year long.
The majority of San Francisco’s defensive starters are in their first full seasons within those featured roles. Three starting defensive backs, including the safety duo of Adrian Colbert and Jaquiski Tartt, along with Sherman, did not start last Sunday. Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon has struggled mightily during his second NFL season. The 49ers have produced just eight sacks and one interception, while allowing 29.5 points per game, through four weeks.
Much of their struggles hearken to poor communication and mis-tackles, which have only amplified with the recent attrition.
“The biggest loss isn’t so much the level of play because everyone’s expected to perform; that’s the whole “next man up” (mantra),” Saleh said. “But what needs to be great is the ability to communicate. That has to accelerate. When one person is gone, the next person has to come in and elevate his ability to communicate so there is no hitch in the defense. So, when you’re having all the mixing and matching, especially between the two safeties and the two linebackers, communication is where it hurts.”
Foster has experienced the challenges for a young defense when players are being rotated in and out.
“You are so accustomed to hearing that person’s voice at practice,” Foster said. “It comes in and out, but at the end of the day, that’s not an excuse. We have to dial in and lock in.”
One of the players who made his 2018 debut in the Week 4 loss was second-year cornerback Greg Mabin. On his first two snaps, he made a tackle and forced a fumble.
When Saleh was asked about what impressed him about Mabin, the 49ers defensive coordinator identified a few areas: “great physicality, competitive toughness, (and) communication skills.” That latter trait has taken precedence as this 49ers defense searches for answers with Arizona visiting Levi’s Stadium Sunday afternoon.
When will Jullian Taylor and Pita Taumoepenu get the nod?
The early preseason endeared 49ers fans to a new face: rookie defensive tackle Jullian Taylor. The seventh-round draft pick started in the preseason opener and was disruptive all game long, logging a sack in the fourth quarter. When Arik Armstead returned from injury, Taylor took a backseat. He has not been activated on the game day roster through four weeks, despite the struggles among the defensive line.
When asked about Taylor’s progress, Saleh gave a bit of a non-answer.
“Jullian is doing good,” Saleh said. “He’s working his tail off. I actually just talked to him during walk-through on what he needs to do just to get better. I’ll leave it between him and I, with respect, but he’s moving in the right direction and we’re trying to find a way to get him up.”
Saleh was subsequently asked about linebacker Pita Taumoepenu, who has also not been activated yet this season, and gave slightly more clarity with the current roster situation.
“He’s doing a great job, too,” Saleh said. “It’s just the amount of injuries that we have on our team right now, there’s not much wiggle room to try to get people up.”
Practice report
With all the injuries the 49ers experienced last Sunday, they were fortunate that none have long-term implications.
Dante Pettis (knee) is the only 49ers player hurt in Week 4 who has been ruled out for Week 5. Pettis and Joe Staley, who hurt his knee and did not return last Sunday, were the only non-participants in Thursday’s practice. Staley (knee) went through individual drills, slowly stepping over hurdles, on the side field. He was later spotted in the weight room.
Among the 49ers players limited Thursday are: Matt Breida (shoulder), Marquise Goodwin (hamstring, quad), Mike McGlinchey (knee), Mike Person (knee), Weston Richburg (knee), and Sherman (calf).
