Raheem Morris has wasted no time putting his own fingerprints on the 49ers defense.
Through two games, San Francisco has been stingy in a big way, allowing just seven points to the Los Angeles Rams in the season opener down under and 13 points to the Miami Dolphins in Week 2. That kind of start naturally invites comparisons to Robert Saleh, Morris’ predecessor as defensive coordinator. But while both coaches have found success, the way they get there is starting to look different.
Saleh’s defenses usually leaned on a four-man front, a classic setup that has held up for years because it works. Morris, though, is showing a more flexible edge.
He’s not just lining guys up and letting them win. He’s moving pieces around to force the offense into the exact look he wants.
One example says plenty. Nick Bosa lines up off the edge and commands attention from the right side.
At the snap, the line shifts away from Bosa, creating space for Upton Stout to come through. With only a running back left to sort things out, Stout gets a clean path toward the quarterback.
It’s the kind of protection manipulation that makes Morris’ approach stand out.
That doesn’t mean Saleh never used five-man pressure looks. He did, and one of them came in a September 2025 game against the New Orleans Saints - the same play where Stout picked up the first sack of his career.
But the method was different. Stout starts near the slot, then shifts just before the snap.
Renardo Green drops into coverage, Stout comes after the quarterback, and the pressure from both sides squeezes the pocket until the quarterback has to bail.
Both plays got the job done for San Francisco. The difference is how they got there.
Saleh’s version came with force. Morris’ version used deception, turning the offensive line’s own movement against it.
Against Matthew Stafford, that kind of trickery might have ended in a sack, too.
It’s a reminder that both coaches are talented enough to run defenses at the highest level. Saleh left the 49ers for another head-coaching job, and Morris could be on that same path before long.
In Other News...
49ers May Need To Revisit A Familiar Receiver Much Sooner Than Expected
The 49ers have already been forced to patch together their wide receiver room early in the season, and the addition of Brandin Cooks to the practice squad only underscores how quickly the depth chart has been tested. With injuries piling up at the position, San Francisco is clearly keeping its options open as it tries to stay afloat in a passing game that has relied on continuity in the past.
Jauan Jennings is the familiar name now hovering back around the conversation, especially if his time with the Vikings does not get on track. A possible move would not be about nostalgia so much as practicality: Jennings knows the 49ers offense, fits the system, and would give the team an experienced option if the current receiver situation keeps thinning out. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Fans Have Every Right To Be Angry Over Kyle Juszczyk Fine
The NFLs latest fine has landed squarely in the middle of one of the 49ers more harmless celebrations, and it has predictably rubbed plenty of people the wrong way. Kyle Juszczyk was docked $14,926 for what the league viewed as a chugging-a-beer gesture during the Week 2 game against the Dolphins, a penalty that turned a lighthearted moment into a talking point for San Francisco fans.
Juszczyk and his wife pushed back on the interpretation, saying the celebration was meant to mimic drinking juice, a nod to the fullbacks longtime nickname. Even by the NFLs sometimes baffling standards, the decision has drawn criticism from players and fans who see little reason to police a gesture that was clearly part of the moment and not a shot at anyone. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Injury Crunch Is Forcing An Unproven Receiver Into The Spotlight
The 49ers are heading into Week 3 with their receiver room thinned out by a mix of season-ending and short-term injuries, and that has quickly changed the conversation around who might be needed next. Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said Jordan Watkins, a receiver with limited NFL experience, is among the players who should get opportunities because of the current crunch.
Watkins has barely seen the field in his previous seasons, which makes this an important chance for him to show he can handle a bigger role when the offense needs help. For San Francisco, it is another reminder of how quickly depth can get tested, and how a player who was more of an afterthought in August can suddenly become part of the weekly plan in September. [Read more 🡒]