The San Francisco 49ers have had a bevy of strong defensive coordinators in the Kyle Shanahan era. It all started with Robert Saleh, one of the best defensive minds in the NFL, who has since been hired as a head coach twice after stints in San Francisco.
The 49ers then had DeMeco Ryans, who quickly established himself as a special defensive mind in his two-year stint as defensive coordinator. After two failed experiments with Steve Wilks and Nick Sorensen, and Saleh’s second stint last season, San Francisco had a vacancy at the coveted position again.
A ton of names were floated around, but Kyle Shanahan and Co. focused on one: former Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, who had been with Shanahan in Atlanta and Washington a decade ago.
Morris had been an assistant in football since 1998 and a head coach twice, while having a ton of experience as a playcaller. Initially, despite all that, there were some who worried that the scheme difference could lead to some early growing pains.
But through five games, Morris has been a fantastic addition, as several 49ers defenders are enjoying the best stints of their careers, while the unit as a whole has looked elite despite dealing with injuries.
“It doesn’t surprise me with Raheem,” Kyle Shanahan said this week. “I’ve just been around him for too long. He’s one of the best people and best coaches I’ve ever been around. I tried to bring him here originally when I left Atlanta. They wouldn’t let him out.
“So, it’s been a long time coming to get him here. He’s done an unbelievable job this year, especially with the injuries, but just overall everything he’s mixed up schematically. I love the confidence he’s given our DBs and the way they’ve been playing since training camp. He’s had a real huge effect on this team and we’re very lucky to have him.”
The 49ers have been decimated on the defensive line. They ran it back with a secondary that was inconsistent last year. And they’re also relying on a good amount of young talent. Still, they rank third in EPA allowed per play, third in points allowed per game, and sixth in yards allowed per game.
And that’s with the team facing the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Broncos, and Seattle Seahawks through the first five weeks.
The 49ers’ defensive line personnel has been decimated. The team has been without Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins, Sam Okuayinonu, CJ West, and others for parts of the year. That’s prompted them to rely on a number of players who signed in training camp or later to play key snaps. And still, the group is producing.
Osa Odighizuwa has been a very solid addition, leading the team with 15 pressures to go with a 12.8 pass-rush win rate on the interior so far. Keion White, a former New England Patriots second-round pick, has been a revelation. He’s second on the team in pressures (13) while recording eight defensive stops, good for fourth on the team.
Gracen Halton has immediately stepped up as a rookie, and we’ve seen him get better each week. He had his best game yet against the Seahawks with three pressures and three defensive stops, along with a forced fumble. The same goes for both rookies Romello Height and Jaden Dugger, who had quality outings as well in Week 5.
The veteran linebackers Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw have looked very good, with Warner seeming like a Defensive Player of the Year candidate once again, despite coming off a major injury.
And the secondary has exceeded all expectations. Renardo Green and Malik Mustapha are having the best years of their careers. The group as a whole has looked very good in coverage, and they’re playing with a high level of confidence as Shanahan noted.
Morris’s blitz packages have also given opposing quarterbacks trouble. But the key part is that he’s keeping things simple for his defense, which has allowed the group to pick things up faster and play freely with more confidence.
The 49ers are averaging 17 pressures a game, despite their personnel, while also swarming to the ball and looking good in coverage. That’s got me thinking about how good Morris is relative to his predecessors, which is a very high bar to meet. So far though, he’s passed every test with flying colors.