49ers DC Steve Wilks on blitz call: 'Wish I could take it back' - ESPN

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Given a couple of days to reflect on the all-out blitz he called that turned into a 60-yard touchdown before halftime of the San Francisco 49ers' loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night, Niners defensive coordinator Steve Wilks would like to have a mulligan.

Wilks spoke to reporters Thursday for the first time since the Niners' 22-17 loss to the Vikings. Before taking questions, Wilks offered an opening statement in which he made it clear that if he could do it over again, he would have called something else.

«I take full responsibility for that call,» Wilks said. «I have to do a better job in putting the guys in a better position. We have good players. I know that and can't really press the issue and with that moving forward, it's my responsibility to do that. So I wish I could take it back, but again, I've got to do better.»

The play in question happened with 16 seconds left in the second quarter. Minnesota faced a third-and-6 at its 40 with no timeouts remaining and had been settling for underneath throws in hopes of possibly sneaking into field goal range.

With the Niners showing blitz before the snap, Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins recognized the potential pressure and checked into a deep shot for rookie receiver Jordan Addison, according to Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell.

As it turned out, Wilks had dialed up an all-out blitz — known as a zero blitz — in which seven defenders go after Cousins, leaving the remaining defensive backs without much of a safety net if the pressure doesn't get to the quarterback.

Cousins' throw was a bit short and Niners cornerback Charvarius Ward undercut it for an apparent interception, but Addison wrestled it away from him and raced into the end zone for a