The 49ers and Cardinals defenses are headed in opposite directions

Following a dominant performance by the San Francisco 49ers' defensive line against the Patriots, Kyler Murray and the Cardinals present a different set of problems for the 49ers at all defensive levels. The goal is to contain Murray in the pocket, but the run game with Murray and James Conner will cause conflict and test the 49ers’ discipline.

Arizona's defensive line is injured, and its secondary has been routinely torched. Let’s examine all three defensive groups for Arizona and San Francisco.

Defensive Line

RE L.J. Collier - 5 pressures, two QB hits, three hurries, 5.6% Pass-rush win rate

EDGE Dennis Gardeck - 6 pressures, three sacks, 1 QB hit, two hurries, 12.5% Pass-rush win rate

NT Roy Lopez - 5 pressures, a sack, four hurries, 10.2% Pass-rush win rate

EDGE Zaven Collins - 4 pressures, a sack, three hurries, 9.1% Pass-rush win rate

LE Bilal Nichols - 1 pressure, a QB hit, 3.7% Pass-rush win rate

EDGE Nick Bosa - 19 pressures, three sacks, 4 QB hits, 12 hurries, 16.9%

EDGE Leonard Floyd - 11 pressures, two sacks, three QB hits, six hurries, 7.7%

DI Maliek Collins - 10 pressures, three sacks, a QB hit, six hurries, 17.6%

DI Yetur Gross-Matos - 5 pressures, a QB hit, four hurries, 10.4%

The Cardinals and 49ers are missing key pieces on the defensive line with Javon Hargrave and Justin Jones out for the season. Arizona’s defense lines up as a 5-2-4 defense with a down lineman and uses Collins in multiple ways.

Against the Patriots, the 49ers had a season-high blitz rate and continuously got home. Arizona’s offensive line is better than New England’s, but the nod goes to the 49ers defensive line over Arizona’s.

Edge: 49ers

Linebackers

Kyzir White - 21 tackles, 14 assists, five defensive stops, 13 receptions allowed on 16 targets

Mack Wilson Sr. - 14 tackles, nine assists, eight defensive stops, five receptions allowed on seven targets

Fred Warner - 20 tackles, eight assists, 14 defensive stops, four receptions allowed on nine targets

De’Vondre Campbell - 13 tackles, nine assists, seven defensive stops, 17 receptions allowed on 20 targets

Warner is playing like the defensive player of the year but is dealing with an ankle injury. On top of turning the football over constantly, Warner is all over the field and the best linebacker in football. That alone gives the 49ers the edge despite Campbell’s four-week struggles. The 49ers need Dre Greenlaw back.

The Cardinals’ pass defense is at the bottom of the league, and the linebacker group hasn’t fared well covering in space. Both have combined for eight missed tackles.

EDGE: 49ers

Secondary

CB Starling Thomas V - 8 receptions allowed on 13 targets, 85 yards, two touchdowns allowed

CB Sean Murphy-Bunting - 10 receptions allowed on 11 targets, 99 yards

S Budda Baker - 9 receptions allowed on 11 targets, 100 yards

S Jalen Thompson - 11 receptions allowed on 11 targets, 128 yards, one touchdown allowed

CB Charvarius Ward - 10 receptions allowed on 19 targets, 131 yards, one touchdown allowed

CB Deommodore Lenoir - 13 receptions allowed on 21 targets, 108 yards

S Ji’Ayir Brown - 6 receptions allowed on nine targets, 67 yards, one touchdown allowed

S Talanoa Hufanga - 0 receptions allowed on zero targets (one game played)

The 49ers' defense hasn’t impressed through four weeks, and part of that is the secondary play. Coming off an all-pro season, Mooney Ward hasn’t played to his expected level. Through four weeks, Lenoir has been the best cover corner, playing inside and out. According to PFF, Brown wasn’t charged with the long Justin Jefferson touchdown from Week 2, and Malik Mustapha stepped in for the injured Hufanga, who has a chance to play on Sunday.

The Cardinals’ pass defense has been porous, to say the least. Brandon Aiyuk will bounce back on Sunday, and the 49ers passing game will continue to roll against the Cardinals’ secondary. The 49ers secondary needs to step up as a whole, but they still hold the edge on Arizona.

Edge: 49ers

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