49ers Week 3 overreaction: Renardo Green should play over Isaac Yiadom

The San Francisco 49ers defense has been lackluster to start the season. Nick Sorensen will have his hands full moving forward, as he’ll be without Javon Hargrave for the remainder of the season.

Fred Warner has been his usual spectacular self. Nick Bosa has received extra attention but remains productive. But outside of those two, this is a unit that has left a lot to be desired, especially in the previous two weeks.

The 49ers have allowed the third-most yards per play through three weeks at 6.1 and the third most yards per pass. It doesn’t get much better on the ground, as the 49ers have allowed the fourth-highest EPA per rush. So, there hasn’t been much resistance so far.

Wholesale changes aren’t necessary, but the 49ers drafted a cornerback in the second round and are currently struggling at the position. Under Kyle Shanahan, the Niners haven’t been willing to play rookies early on. But could that change with Renardo Green?

Isaac Yiadom had a phenomenal season with the New Orleans Saints a year ago. He’s an experienced veteran with the size and speed to compete on all routes. For whatever reason, he does not look like the same player through three weeks.

Yiadom has lacked aggression and physicality as a run defender — something the cornerbacks on this team pride themselves on. But it’s through the air that has been the issue. Last year, Yiadom allowed 5.1 yards per target. This year, that number has nearly doubled to 9.7. He’s also allowed a third as many touchdowns through three games than his season total from last year.

Per NFL Pro, Yiadom has been targeted 12 times as the nearest defender and allowed nine receptions. He’s on the wrong side of the EPA and catch rate over expectation by a considerable amount, and Yiadom’s passer rating allowed is 109.1.

For reference, Deommodore Lenoir’s 61.3. Charvarius Ward, who has given up a few big plays himself after playing on a bum hamstring, is 99.8. The difference between Mooney and Yiadom is who they’ve defended most of the time and how they’ve been in a position to make a play on the ball.

It’s a dangerous assumption to project that a rookie could come in and perform at an above-replacement level. You could tell by his lone target, which was a penalty in Week 3, that Green is used to being handsy in coverage.

The schedule over the next five games ahead of the 49ers’ bye week could allow Green to gain confidence:

Patriots

Cardinals

Seahawks

Chiefs

Cowboys

Ward and Lenoir could match up with the opposition’s best receiver. Outside of Seattle, none of the offenses listed above pose a significant threat. Marvin Harrison Jr. and CeeDee Lamb are the “stars,” but that’s where Mooney or Lenoir should head.

During their playoff runs through the years, Emmanuel Moseley, Ambry Thomas, and Lenoir were all thrust into the lineup before they were ready. The schedule suggests the Niners could do the same with their second-round pick from 2024.