49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks on Friday spoke with reporters for the first time since the team’s Week 6 loss to the Browns. It was also his first chance to address a key call that didn’t go the 49ers’ way.
While there were plenty of things San Francisco’s defense could’ve done differently in the game, a key play came on a third-and-10 during the Browns’ game-winning drive.
Browns QB PJ Walker tried finding WR Elijah Moore on a third-down slant. The throw was too high for Moore, who jumped to try and haul it in. As he came down, 49ers FS Tashaun Gipson drilled Moore and was flagged for unnecessary roughness.
A replay showed the hit was clean, and if there hadn’t been a flag it would’ve put the Browns in a fourth-and-long with the game on the line.
Wilks opted not to harp on what the league could’ve done differently, and instead focused on what his defense could’ve done to change the outcome.
“I can’t say that right now,” Wilks said with a laugh. “But no, in all seriousness right here, I know the league is definitely all about the safety of players and so are we. We teach our guys how to lower their target. Personally, I thought it was clean. They called the flag. That’s part of the game. And again, going back to how it initially opened up, we had several times after that defensively, to finish the game, and we didn’t.”
While the 49ers defensive coordinator isn’t looking back on what could’ve gone different, he was all for a change in the way the NFL can review those plays.
As for Gipson, Wilks doesn’t believe his safety could’ve done anything differently to avoid that particular play.
“No, not in how we teach him,” Wilks said. “I felt like once again, he did everything he could for us trying to lower his target right there in the moment. You’re talking about, I don’t want to say human error, but humans are trying to determine whether or not it’s a foul or a good hit. They called the flag on it and we got to live with it.”
The 49ers will look to put Week 6’s loss and the penalty on Gipson behind them Monday night when they take on the Vikings in Minnesota. Kickoff from US Bank Stadium is set for 5:15pm Pacific Time.
