Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph will use all of last year’s woes to inform what he teaches. But when it comes to comparing this team to 2019’s, his memory is more short-term. It’s no surprise to him that the defense looked better in Week 1, since he saw what they did in December. 

“I stopped measuring it last year. The last four weeks of last year’s defense took a big step,” Joseph said Thursday. “We’ve added four or five different starters. So, we should be better.”

Sunday, they were. San Francisco was just 2-of-11 on third down, and 0-for-2 on fourth down conversions. The Cardinals defense allowed just 20 points. Last year, the Cardinals allowed 20 points or fewer exactly one time. They allowed 30 points or more in seven games. 

The statistics were less important to players and coaches than the win itself, but those numbers certainly led to it. Last year, opposing offenses converted 46.7% of third downs against the Cardinals, third-worst in the league. Joseph pointed to third downs in the red zone last season as being a particular issue for the Cardinals. 

It became a point of emphasis all offseason. Now, Joseph is looking at gashing plays by the 49ers and untimely penalties that kept San Francisco on the field as next areas of improvement. 

Washington did not win on big plays in Week 1, but what stands out to Joseph is the youth and speed of the Washington offense. 

“It’s a bunch of one and two-year guys that can really run,” Joseph said. 

After the Cardinals’ win, defensive lineman Corey Peters told media that ending the 49ers’ attempt at a comeback “felt great,” but he saw plenty of areas for improvement. He had already told Joseph the same thing.

“He said, ‘Coach, this is not good enough yet.’ And, I agree with him,” Joseph said. “If we want to be a difference maker for our team on Sundays, we’ve got to play better. You can’t give up big plays, but I was proud of our third down defense. And I was also proud of our red zone defense.

“That’s where you keep the points to a minimum if you can play well in those areas. And we’ve made huge strides there.”

It helped that against the 49ers, there was some déjà vu. 

“We were in that same predicament last year, and we let it slip away from us,” cornerback Patrick Peterson said Thursday. “So, we learned from our mistakes from last year, and we worked those certain situations throughout training camp. And it was about six or seven situations that we worked almost 10, 12 times in training camp (that) happened in that game.”

Defensive lineman Angelo Blackson, signed just five days earlier, was not there for those situational learning moments of training camp, but he seemed to adjust just fine regardless. Blackson had the first Cardinals sack of the season. The 7-yard loss made it 2nd-and-17, and the 49ers would quickly go three-and-out. Coach Kliff Kingsbury praised the pickup by General Manager Steve Keim, but also Blackson’s ability to ignite the defense. 

“He came in and had a heck of a ballgame,” Kingsbury said Monday. “We knew we were getting a solid player, but he came in, and I thought he was as good as anybody on the field at that position on Sunday. He had a big sack and was disruptive the entire game.”

Blackson joined a number of new faces on the defense who logged their first game with the Cardinals. Kingsbury is relishing in the refresh. 

“Having a defense step up like that just allows for more possessions, takeaways and things of that nature, which definitely boosts the competence of the offense,” Kingsbury said. “And so, I think both phases, and special teams especially, all rose up together when we needed it the most (Sunday) and made plays. That’s what you’re looking for.”

Injury report

Arizona C Mason Cole (hamstring) and TE Maxx Williams (ankle) were ruled out of Sunday’s game. LB Kylie Fitts (wrist) and OL Josh Jones (ankle) are questionable. 

For Washington, LB Cole Holcomb (knee) was ruled out, while LB Thomas Davis Sr. (calf) and CB Kendall Fuller (knee) are questionable.

Bob McManaman contributed to this report.

Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 480-356-6407. Follow her on Twitter @kfitz134.

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