The San Francisco 49ers will attempt to return to playing at an elite level defensively after a decline in performance during the previous season. However, due to their salary cap position and upcoming contracts for offensive studs, they will have little alternative but to make improvements internally. Although linebacker Dre Greenlaw is expected to miss a significant portion of the season due to an Achilles injury sustained in the Super Bowl, they will essentially have the same defensive roster. With improved coaching and a more cohesive team, the team hopes to return to playing at an elite level.
In 2022, San Francisco’s defense performed at a level almost unprecedented. It gave up the fewest points per drive (1.42) and had the highest defensive EPA per play in the league. The 49ers signed veteran coach Steve Wilks to replace defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans, who left to become the head coach of the Houston Texans, in the summer that followed. The defense regressed, and they believed Wilks could carry on their favored plan, which they had been quite successful with under Ryans and Robert Saleh.
In 2023, the 49ers were sixth in terms of points per drive (1.67) and 12th in terms of defensive EPA per play. By most measures, they were still a very good defense, but they occasionally faltered and their performance against the run was at its lowest. Last season, they were 28th in terms of defensive rushing success rate. One of the cornerstones of their run defense has been defensive lineman Arik Armstead, who left in free agency. With the arrival of quality free agents like end Leonard Floyd and defensive tackle Maliek Collins, they will be able to offset his loss. While neither is a superstar, they ought to consistently deliver excellent play.
Once more, the 49ers believe that improved coaching will have the greatest influence. Instead of searching outside the organization for a new defensive coordinator after firing Wilks, Kyle Shanahan appointed Brandon Staley assistant head coach-defense and elevated defensive backs coach Nick Sorensen to defensive coordinator. Sorensen will assist the 49ers in resuming some of the strategies that have worked for them in the past, while Staley will provide new ideas and a different viewpoint.
Emphasis on connecting the front to the secondary
The previous season, there appeared to be a rift between the front and secondary. To play as a more cohesive team against the run and pass is one of the 49ers defensive staff’s main summer objectives.
A single-gap aggressive defensive line that advances upfield is a mainstay of the 49ers defense. Because of that aggressiveness, last season’s offensive came in with highly customized game plans that included plays like fly sweeps, crack tosses, and traps. The 49ers have given it a lot of thought this offseason, but they were never able to stabilize against those kinds of runs.
“There are technical aspects that we have to look into to get better with it, especially the crack toss plays on the perimeter. We’ve always gotten traps just because of the nature of our defense, and I think (defensive tackle) Kevin Givens and some of our other dudes this year played the trap well,” 49ers defensive line coach Kris Kocurek said. “But then just the perimeter crack tosses, from a technical aspect and all levels of the defense, they’re small, minute things that we can see, recognize and try to put our guys in a better position technically to play that. And then there’s a schematics side of it also, recognizing the formation, being able to adjust to the formation that we’re seeing those perimeter runs out of and trying to get more population to the football on the perimeter.”
In order for the secondary to intervene and assist on perimeter runs, the front must be able to impede the ball carrier and slow the play down. Members of the secondary are also essential to the run fit in specific circumstances. It should be beneficial to find stability at nickel cornerback. Deommodore Lenoir cycled inside and outside situationally last season since he was a high-level performer in both. The idea is that Lenoir can stick in one slot, regardless of who shows up as a starting this season. Renardo Green, a rookie who spent most of his time playing outside at Florida State, has received reps at OTAs at nickel.
“You gotta understand the front so you can understand your run fit at level two,” 49ers secondary coach Daniel Bullocks said. “So if I’m at nickel, if it’s Renardo Green or Deommodore Lenoir inside, he gotta understand the front. Most times, we all are in a front with the wide nine to the tight end side. So you gotta understand the front mechanics so you can know your fit versus the run, so we won’t get gashed for an explosive play in regards to that. Sometimes (Sorensen) can tag a different call that allows him to line the stunt in a different way so your gap can change based off the call.”
Bullocks claims that in order to ensure that the secondary fully comprehends how the front impacts their jobs, they have been going over the front mechanics and various calls up front on a daily basis. He also underlined how critical it is to understand one’s vulnerabilities under particular stressors.
Other than selecting Green, the 49ers made little other moves to strengthen the secondary. Improving against the run and pass will need playing as a more cohesive team.
How will Brandon Staley help?
Given that Staley is descended from Vic Fangio, the 49ers’ playing style and Fangio’s defensive philosophies diverge greatly. In contrast to what the 49ers ask their defensive line to do, his system uses an unusual front where defensive linemen are expected to play a gap-and-half. Kocurek stated unequivocally that the 49ers will not use those strategies in their current configuration.
“We play our front the way we play it,” Kocurek said. “So we’re still gonna be an attacking nine-technique, three-technique, two penetrating fronts. You may see various different types of fronts, which we’ve installed throughout the years, different types of bear fronts, and maybe an under front here and there, and just to keep people honest with our alignments. But we’ve committed to an attack front, we’re gonna be attacking up front.”
The 49ers will attack upfield with those looks, but they will also incorporate some more unusual front looks and a slightly more unique presentation. Staley will therefore have some influence there, but his influence will be greatest in the secondary. Staley can expand their coverage options on those fronts, according to Bullocks. Remarkably, Staley and a few of his aides said he also assists them in comprehending the ways in which attackers will attempt to harm them.
“Just from his eyes alone, he sees it from an offense standpoint, he understands how we operate on the defense standpoint,” Bullocks said. “So, he looks at it like, how can offense attack us? So, that’s been kind of big for us.”
Brandon Staley’s most revelatory answer might’ve come when he shared his connection with Mike Shanahan, which dates back to before him joining the 49ers… pic.twitter.com/BPrU4FElnS
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) May 23, 2024
The 49ers have changed over time, incorporating their base Cover 3 with extra quarters (four deep) of coverage. Last season, they participated in quarterfinals at the third-highest percentage (22.1%) in the league. Staley can contribute to their quarters scheme as well. He had a significant role in two-deep coverages with the Rams and Chargers defenses.
“If we need to make more adjustments in quarters, how can we make those adjustments?” Bullocks said. “Maybe just smaller tweaks here and there to Cover 3 or 5. So, just (Staley’s) expertise and knowledge in that area right there can allow me to evolve more.”
The 49ers believe that returning to Sorensen’s original scheme while incorporating new concepts and adjustments from Staley will be the key to elevating their defense back to the top. It is an unusual layout that makes sense conceptually.
(Top photo of Renardo Green at OTAs: Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)
