Odd Fronts, Adjusters, and Answers: The Future of the 49ers’ Defense
San Francisco's defense evolves beyond Saleh. Expect a more versatile front and new pressure schemes to unleash Nick Bosa.
Video Transcript
Nobody was surprised by the fact that Robert Saleh has once again moved on from being the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers.
The question now isn't will the defense change, it's how much the defense will change under new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris.
He inherits a roster who absolutely can take on evolution and especially deploy their front and manufactured pressures.
Let's talk about it.
I think that the foundation of this 49ers defense remains the same, and that is essentially to stop the run.
The backbone of this defense isn't going anywhere.
San Francisco's defensive line has been, is, and will always be built to control the gaps with power, with-- and not with finesse.
This allows linebackers to play fast and downhill without hesitation.
Any incoming coordinator who strays too far from that would be swimming upstream.
Under Saleh, the 49ers lived primarily under four-man fronts, partly due to availability, partly due to his scheme, relying on talent rather than disguise.
This works when you have players like Nick Bosa and first-round picks like Mykel Williams, but with players that are hurt, not as well.
The 49ers already have the personnel needed to switch back and forth between four-man and five-man fronts.
The goal is basically to give Bosa clearer rush path at-- rush paths.
On top of that, pressure doesn't always mean blitzing, doesn't always mean this.
Saleh was very selective when it came to blitzes.
He wasn't averse to them, but very rarely deployed them.
Morris may keep the same philosophy, but change how the pressure arrives.
There is a golden opportunity for simulated pressure under the Morris era of the San Francisco 49ers defense.
Stunts and late movement on running downs are another level to this, changing the math with- within the box, bringing extra bodies, all the things in an efficient way to stay aggressive while allowing the back end to be protected.
Finally, I think the thing that most feels inevitable to change is the free safety role.
The current group excels at run fits and playing downhill, but what's missing is that consistent presence who can erase mistakes when the pressure doesn't get home.
The 49ers plan to increase disguises, stunts, simulated pressures.
The margin for error in the secondary shrinks.
That makes a true sa-- a true safety a necessity, and whether the answer comes via draft or free agency, it's something that's definitely glaring in the schematic portion of the roster.
The post-Saleh defense won't necessarily look radically different.
Matter of fact, great coaches work with the strengths of the people they have on their team, not what they wish they had, and I think that Morris will do that.
With names like Bosa, Warner, and a deep rotational front, the pieces are already there.
The next defensive coordinator job isn't n- to build, it's simply to unlock the potential that has been hiding in plain sight.
