Lynch is confident that Wilks still has “what it takes” to lead a 49ers defense that has been an underperforming defensive unit coached by first-year San Francisco coordinator Steve Wilks.
Despite the defense’s recent struggles — and the increased scrutiny aimed at Wilks — 49ers general manager John Lynch remains confident in the team’s offseason recruiting.
“I keep saying: We believe in it very much.
There’s a reason we picked Steve Wilks,” Lynch told The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami on “The TK Show” podcast.
“I think he has what it takes.
Obviously we all have to show that.
I know the players believe in Steve, and you can hear that in a lot of their comments and feelings, and it’s up to them.
“They’ve got to play better to make everyone feel a little better.
” Lynch told Kawakami that the 49ers’ defense has been focused on finding its identity during the week.
After its third loss, San Francisco bounced back against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8.
The 49ers’ quarterbacks took responsibility for improving and refused to blame Wilks.
Wilks was the first outside recruit for the defensive coordinator position under coach Kyle Shanahan and Lynch, and the GM admitted his former DC, DeMeco Ryans, has been difficult to replace after growing up in the 49ers system and achieving sustained success, much like Robert Saleh before him .
But even Ryans and Saleh struggled with the 49ers, and San Francisco hired Wilks, formerly of the Carolina Panthers, because of his long career in the NFL.
“He knows the entire defense very well because he’s been a coordinator for a long time and has been in this league a long time,” Lynch told Kawakami of the veteran coach 17 years of the NFL.
“Even though [the secondary] is his specialty and we’re excited for him to put his mark on it, now it’s just a matter of tying it all together.
And you know, I truly believe it will happen.
” Heading into their Week 10 game in Jacksonville against the Jaguars, the 49ers, at 5-3, need to get back on track.
The adjustment from Wilks will play a key role in this and Lynch clearly has a lot of confidence in his DC.
