1998

[SeahawkFever]

The 49ers from 1995 to 1997 had a top 5 defense every season. Advanced metrics via DVOA even back this up. So this is wrong.

And as I said above, the 95 team ranked 19th since 1950 in DVOA on defense.

It wasn’t flawless defensively, but very good.

DVOA only goes back to 1978 I believe now, and everything else before is estimates. They had the #1 defense in the league that season. Even if you wanted to say 19th since 1950, that's still extremely good in a 45 year time span, and a championship level unit from 1995 to 1997.

No doubt. I'm aware that the stat of DVOA goes back to 1978, but even with the estimates from 1950-1977 included, the 95 Niners defense comes up as 19th, and I can't help but wonder if they'd rank even higher with Deion Sanders one more year.

When I said what I said above, I thought the defenses in 95-97 were something going for them, but a better second cornerback after Eric Davis leaves for Carolina would've helped (in highlight clips of the team, I see Tyrone Drakeford being thrown at a lot).

The weakest components of those teams from what I can tell are offensive line, and in 95 and 96, run game.

[7DnBrnc53]

Who cares if Lee played safety at *checks notes* West Chester. He was still too lumbering, and slow to play at safety. That's why he played inside linebacker. McDonald even at that stage in his career was the better choice.

Woodall played LLB for the 49ers, not MLB.