Sad sackers

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The placing of pass rusher Travis LaBoy on season-ending injured reserve with a knee problem focuses attention on the team's lack of pass rush this season. Last year, for the first time in several seasons, the 49ers had more sacks (44) than they yielded (40). That won't happen this year.

With two games to go, the 49ers defense has 29 sacks, while the offense has given up 38, tied for fourth most in the league. Their inability to apply pressure might be more disappointing than their protection problems. After all, this was supposed to be a team that won on defense.

Manny Lawson needs more sacks.

Manny Lawson needs more sacks.

LaBoy ends his season with 5 sacks, a half sack behind leader Justin Smith. It also means the 49ers will go another season without a player notching double-digit sack totals.

Not surprisingly, the last time they had a player with more than 10 sacks (Andre Carter 12.5 in 2002) the team went to the playoffs. Outside pressure is what animates an effective 3-4 defense. They thought they had a sack master in Manny Lawson when they took him with the 18th choice in the 2006 draft. Lawson notched a career-high 6.5 sacks last year. Now he has two.

Lawson stayed away from off-season workouts last spring to protest the team's refusal to meet demands for a new contract. But for any outside linebacker to score a big contract, he has to have sacks. Lawson does everything else well at outside linebacker - he's good in coverage, sets the edge, is good against the run. But without sacks, Lawson may just be taking up space for someone with more pressure potential.

After Lawson, Parys Haralson was the next hope. The 49ers awarded him a $15 million, four-year extension after his eight-sack performance in 2008. Last year he had five. This year he has four. Again, he plays the run well, but no offensive tackle should fear him.

This year's prospect - Ahmad Brooks. In limited playing time last year, he had six sacks. This year - four. Brooks has been a frustration for coaches. He falls out of shape and isn't dedicated despite his immense potential.

But wait, there's one more possibility. Thaddeus Gibson- 6-2 243 pounds and quick off the corner, according to Alex Boone, who tried to block him in practice at Ohio State. Gibson a fourth-round choice of the Steelers this year, was released in October, allowing the 49ers to pick him up on waivers. Gibson might get his first extensive look against the Rams Sunday with LaBoy out.

Even with Gibson, the 49ers will again be in the market for a pass rusher in the off-season.

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | December 20 2010 at 09:36 PM