How the Charlotte 49ers plan to stop losing games almost as soon as they begin

Helping opponents to an early leg up is a trend the Charlotte 49ers hope to reverse Saturday in their Conference USA game at Florida International.

Big plays — make that, early big plays — have been costly to the 49ers (2-3, 0-1 C-USA) in each of their losses this season. It’s a trend that hasn’t gone unnoticed as the 49ers try to stop a two-game losing streak against the Owls (2-3, 0-2).

“That’s been pointed out to our defense,” 49ers defensive end Alex Highsmith said. “It’s really about starting fast. I believe we’re going to be better at that because it’s been a point of emphasis. Starting the game fast is the key.”

Here’s how the damage has been done, even before many people in the stadium have gotten settled in their seats:

▪ Appalachian State’s Darrynton Evans scored on an 87-yard run on the Mountaineers’ first offensive play, setting up a 56-41 victory.

▪ After the 49ers had apparently recovered a fumble on Clemson’s first offensive play (the play was ruled dead due to forward progress), the Tigers responded on the next snap with a 57-yard touchdown pass from Trevor Lawrence to Tee Higgins. Clemson, then the No. 1 team in the country, won 52-10.

▪ On Florida Atlantic’s first offensive play, Owls slotback Deangelo Antoine took a reverse 66 yards to the 49ers’ 3-yard line. FAU scored on the next play and won 45-27.

“You start with the App game and they bust an 86-yarder when we don’t get aligned properly and we don’t communicate,” 49ers coach Will Healy said. “People have gotten us with motions and shifts. Against FAU, they bust a sweep and we get leveraged. Clemson scores on the second play.

“The good part about it is all the fixes we have are in this building. The question and concern is, are we disciplined enough to make those corrections and be able to, again, understand how people are going to attack us?”

Falling behind early and often has put an inordinate amount of stress on the 49ers’ defense, which is also getting used to new co-coordinators Marcus West and Brandon Cooper and a new 4-2-5 system. They’re the third set of coordinators 49ers seniors such as Highsmith have played for (joining Matt Wallerstedt and Glenn Spencer from former coach Brad Lambert’s staffs).

“I’ve watched this defense work for a long time but these guys have had four different coordinators in five years, so every game is a new experience,” Healy said. “And every game, teams figure out new ways to attack you and where your weaknesses are. Our guys, on the run, are learning where teams are going to attack us and sometimes learning the hard way where our weaknesses are.”

The defensive problems have gone deeper than just the early portions of those three losses.

The 49ers are last in the league in scoring defense (39.6 points per game), eighth in total defense (392.4 yards per game) and 12th in rushing defense (208.2).

There have been defensive bright spots. The new 4-2-5 system puts a premium on rushing the quarterback, and that has produced 18 sacks, second most in the conference and one off the 49ers’ total last season. Highsmith has six of them, which is also second in the league, as well as a single-season program record.

Due in no small part to the pass rush, Charlotte’s pass defense allows just 184.2 yards per game, third in the league.

The 49ers’ offense, which leads the league in scoring (35.8) and rushing (219.0), helped keep Charlotte in the Appalachian State and FAU games.

In addition to getting accustomed to the new system, the 49ers have been plagued by injuries all season. Senior defensive end Tyriq Harris (lower back) hasn’t played yet. Senior safety Ben DeLuca (shoulder) and freshman linebacker Prince Bemah are out for the season. Senior linebacker Jeff Gemmell has missed time with an ankle injury, but is expected to play Saturday.

“I never want to use injuries as an excuse,” Healy said. “But we have used a lot of guys at different positions. And I think that has helped us create depth and put some guys in some critical situations at critical times to see who is ready and can perform when needed.”

It has been two weeks since the 49ers’ last game (the FAU loss) and Healy says they used the bye to get back to the basics defensively and re-learn some concepts.

“Defensively, we went back to, let’s reinstall everything we’ve done,” Healy said. “Let’s make sure we’re great in the first install, then get to the second install and let’s rebuild this thing.

“Let’s make sure everybody is on the same page.”