49ers writer names defensive-minded veteran as most 'impactful' offseason move
Context:
The San Francisco 49ers endured a challenging 2024 season, marred by injuries and poor defensive performances, leading to the dismissal of defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen. In a significant offseason move, the 49ers hired Robert Saleh, previously their defensive coordinator from 2017 to 2020, as Sorensen's replacement. Saleh's return is seen as the most impactful change, with expectations that he will revitalize the defense by returning to fundamental strategies and improving their overall performance. His previous experience with the 49ers and a strategic trial-and-error approach in the initial season phase are anticipated to bring noticeable improvements. Kyle Posey from Niners Nation highlights Saleh's potential to address long-standing defensive issues, contributing significantly to the team's resurgence in the upcoming season.
Dive Deeper:
The 49ers' disappointing 2024 season, marked by only six wins, was exacerbated by injuries to key players like Brandon Aiyuk and Christian McCaffrey, resulting in significant challenges on both offense and defense.
The defensive struggles were pronounced under Nick Sorensen, whose inexperience as a coordinator led to suboptimal performance, especially during the second halves of games.
Robert Saleh's reappointment as the defensive coordinator is considered a major strategic move, expected to bring a wealth of experience and skill back to the 49ers’ defense.
Saleh's task involves lifting the defense from the bottom ranks and reinstating a style of play that emphasizes tackling, run defense, and forcing opponents to earn their first downs.
The initial phase under Saleh is expected to be experimental, with adjustments and refinements occurring as he assesses player capabilities in game settings.
Saleh's previous tenure with the 49ers, coupled with his understanding of the team's defensive needs, positions him to effectively address systemic issues that have persisted since DeMeco Ryans’s departure.
This strategic hire aims to restore the 49ers' defensive prowess, ultimately facilitating a return to complementary football and improving the team's overall competitiveness.
The San Francisco 49ers had a rough 2024 season. Due to a handful of injuries, they only had six wins.
It seemed that the 49ers would lose star players like wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and running back Christian McCaffrey throughout the season.
The defense also wasn't great, and at the end of the season, the team fired defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen.
The 49ers made a major splash during the offseason by signing defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and Kyle Posey from Niners Nation thinks the Saleh addition was the most "impactful" for the 49ers this offseason.
"Whether you want to use “best” or “impactful,” the answer is easy," Posey wrote. "The 49ers didn’t have a problem solver as a defensive coordinator in each of the past two seasons. Nick Sorensen’s inexperience was apparent all too often in the second halves of games last year. This is far from the best unit Saleh will have coached in his career, but he has more than enough pieces to get the 49ers defense out of the basement of some categories they’ve been stuck in since DeMeco Ryans’s departure. Saleh will help the 49ers return to their roots, from style of play, tackling, run defense, and making opponents earn every first down. Expect a trial-and-error process through the first month or so of the season as Saleh figures out who can do what in game settings. Once that happens, Saleh’s adjustments will become noticeable, and we’ll see San Francisco return to complementary football."
Saleh was the 49ers' defensive coordinator from 2017 to 2020 before leaving for the New York Jets head coaching job. He spent three-plus years there before being fired in the middle of the 2024 season.
Saleh should be able to get the 49ers' defense rolling again, as it was before he became the Jets' head coach.
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