Raheem Morris is already putting a different stamp on the 49ers’ defense, and it’s showing up in training camp before he’s even been calling plays there for a full week.
The early buzz out of camp is that San Francisco is mixing in a lot more defensive variety, with five-man fronts standing out as one of the clearest changes. That’s a notable shift for a team that has spent years under coaches who mostly lived in even fronts.
From DeMeco Ryans to Robert Saleh, Nick Sorensen, and Steve Wilks, the 49ers have generally leaned on looks built around four down linemen. Saleh, in particular, was known for keeping things simple, rarely blitzing and almost always keeping four rushers on the line.
Morris brings something different. The 49ers offense is now seeing defensive looks in practice that it hasn’t had to deal with much under Kyle Shanahan.
This does not mean San Francisco is suddenly becoming a pure 3-4 team with three down linemen and two edge rushers on the line. But it does mean the 49ers have another wrinkle available, and that kind of flexibility can create problems for offenses.
That added versatility is the real value here. It gives the defense another layer to throw at opponents, and it’s not something the 49ers have really forced teams to prepare for in the past.
The team hasn’t used the look with its full starting unit healthy, but the shape of it is easy to picture. Mykel Williams would fit as the 5-technique, using his bigger frame and ability to slide inside as an interior rusher. Alfred Collins would handle the nose tackle spot, with Osa Odighizuwa completing the three-man front.
From there, Nick Bosa and Romello Height would work as the edge rushers, while Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw would be the linebackers behind them. Williams’ versatility gives the defense room to adjust depending on the down and the look it wants to present.
It could also help Height get on the field for run-defense snaps without forcing him too close to the tackle box, where he could get buried with his hand in the dirt. Playing on his feet would let him use his speed more naturally in the run game.
The bigger question now is not whether the 49ers can use this front, but how often they will. That’s the part worth watching as training camp rolls on.
In Other News...
49ers Fans Are Livid Over What Stayed Hidden About Shanahan
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What has really stirred up the reaction is the suspicion that Schefter may have been protecting access to San Francisco rather than pressing harder for the information. For a fan base already sensitive to anything involving Shanahan and the way the organization handles information, the episode has reopened a familiar debate about where the line sits between getting close enough to know and staying close enough to keep knowing. [Read more 🡒]
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Former quarterback Chris Simms has been among those trying to make sense of why the crash stayed quiet for so long, pointing to Shanahans local ties and the setting of the incident as possible reasons it remained under wraps. Public records show the other driver was listed as the at-fault party, but the broader picture still leaves a lot of questions hanging over a situation the 49ers would clearly prefer to move past as quickly as possible. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Already Have A New Punter Problem Before Camp Starts
The 49ers punter situation has already turned into one of the more interesting camp battles on the roster. San Francisco moved on from veteran Thomas Morstead this offseason and brought in Corliss Waitman, but the team also added undrafted Jack Bouwmeester, giving the special teams room a fresh layer of competition before practices even begin.
Bouwmeesters deal comes with only a light financial commitment, which makes the setup even more notable for a position that often looks settled until it suddenly is not. Waitman enters camp with the edge of experience, but the presence of a rookie challenger means the job is far from locked, and the outcome is likely to be watched closely once the 49ers start sorting through the roster. [Read more 🡒]