San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers Pass Rush Could Experience a Boost Against Seahawks Shaky Offensive Line

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

The San Francisco 49ers take on the Seattle Seahawks, and their questionable offensive line, in Week 3. Could this matchup be exactly what the Niners need to invigorate their pass rush?

The San Francisco 49ers haven’t gotten much by the way of a pass rush in 2016.

More from Niner Noise

Through two games so far, the Niners have just three sacks — good for 19th in the NFL — and failing to get to Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton last Sunday was one of the major reasons behind San Francisco’s 46-27 Week 2 loss.

The Niners face another mobile quarterback in Week 3. This time, San Francisco will take on Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks in a hostile road environment.

And yet the situation this week lends a chance for the 49ers pass rush to get back on its feet.

Seattle’s offensive line is nothing like that of the Panthers.

Entering 2016, Khaled Elsayed of Pro Football Focus ranked the Seahawks O-line No. 30 in the league. Not surprisingly, this unit gave up a whopping 46 sacks a year ago and is on pace to allow 40 this year.

Multiple shakeups and free-agent departures have made Seattle’s O-line an even bigger liability than it was last season.

So maybe this is a weakness-vs.-weakness matchup that goes in San Francisco’s favor.

Advantage: 49ers Pass Rush?

Here’s what PFF had to say about the Seahawks’ O-line performance against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2:

The Seahawks’ offensive line was bullied all day long by the Rams defenders, and simply could not get the running game going nor protect their quarterback. Center Justin Britt was the only offensive lineman who did not give up multiple pressures, and left guard Mark Glowinski surrendered the most total pressures with two quarterback hits and three hurries.

Now the Rams’ front-seven defense is arguably much better than that of the 49ers. And the Los Angeles debut certainly fueled the spirited effort.

San Francisco’s pass rush was almost nonexistent in Week 2. But the Panthers O-line is, without question, superior to anything the Niners will face in Seattle.

No In-Editor Preview for 120 Sports Videos

Wilson is equally capable of extending plays and escaping pressure. But he’s also dealing with an ankle injury, which hindered his mobility and prowess against the Rams.

Seattle has yet to establish the running game this season. Well, the Seahawks’ 15-total points on the year suggests they’ve yet to establish any offense whatsoever. But the ground attack is one of the better ways to keep a pass rush honest.

More from Niner Noise

So if the Niners pass-rushers — guys like Tank Carradine, Eli Harold, Ahmad Brooks and DeForest Buckner — want to have a bounce-back contest, Week 3 in Seattle provides the perfect opportunity.

The 49ers will need it. The Seahawks defense is still potent and, combined with the problems the Niners have had on offense this year, something will need to go in San Francisco’s favor.

Let’s hope the pass rush is the needed element.

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of ESPN.com, Pro-Football-Reference.com and Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated.

This article originally appeared on