San Francisco 49ers: The good, bad, and ugly in preseason loss to Colts

Bad: Pass Rush

Despite having big, athletic bodies on that defensive line like Arik Armstead, Solomon Thomas, and DeForest Buckner, the 49ers ranked tied with Miami for twenty-sixth in the league in sacks, with a total of 30.

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Last year, Elvis Dumervil (no longer with the team, and a current free agent) led the team with 6.5 sacks. The next closest was Buckner and Thomas, who tallied three sacks each.

A lack of consistent pressure was a common theme for the 49ers last year – and through three preseason games now, this year. They just can’t seem to get a sustained rush to the quarterback. They can’t seem to knock him off his spot and get him moving – or just flat drop him – with anything resembling consistency.

That was on display again against the Colts, when – despite having some terrific opportunities – the defense couldn’t seal the deal and drop the Colts quarterbacks. On the night, San Francisco registered one sack – Jeremiah Attaochu ringing one up – but they could have had several more.

The play that perhaps, best epitomizes San Francisco’s pass rush problems came in the fourth quarter, when Pita Taumoepenu essentially had a free run at Colts quarterback Phillip Walker. Instead of dropping him though, Taumoepenu let him pick up five yards on the third-and-six play – the Colts kicked a field goal on the next play.

Had Taumoepenu dropped Walker, at the very least, it would have necessitated a longer field goal try, or perhaps even forced Indianapolis to punt.

That lack of solid pressure not only resulted in points the Colts may not have otherwise had, but it exemplifies just how big of a problem it is for the 49ers.

If they are going to give themselves a chance this season, they’re going to need to figure out how to best use some of those big, athletic bodies on the line to generate some consistent pressure.