San Francisco 49ers rookie safety Marques Sigle is quickly making a name for himself as one of the team's most promising young defenders. After logging 99 defensive snaps across three preseason games, Sigle says the speed of the NFL has started to slow down for him.
"The game came way slower," Sigle told reporters on Thursday. "I finally can see things. I'm anticipating motions, my alerts. So, definitely ahead of the game now, instead of behind."
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh praised Sigle's growth but offered a cautionary reminder that the challenge of the regular season is on another level.
"And then it's going to go really, really fast on Sunday," Saleh said with a laugh. "But yeah, he's done a really nice job. All these rookies, if they thought preseason was fast, the regular season is about 100 times faster. The good news is that they're capable, and they're willing to learn, and they're quick studies. So they'll be fine as the time goes."
The "Sultan of Swarm"
General manager John Lynch discussed Sigle's rise during an appearance on KNBR, pointing out that the rookie earned a special moniker from the team's analytics staff heading into the draft.
"Last year, you talk analytics and things we look for, we have a metric we call Swarm, which is basically, when the ball's thrown, how fast do you get to the ball carrier?" Lynch said. "Last year, our analytics department sometimes will give these monikers or names. They said, 'Okay, we've got the Sultan of Swarm,' and that was [S] Malik Mustapha. Nobody in college football swarmed to the ball faster than Malik Mustapha.
"Well, this year, the Sultan of Swarm was Sigle. I think those things translate really well in our defense. He runs a 4.3 [second 40-yard dash], but I think anyone who's been watching our games, when you can run a 4.3, and you pack a punch, too, when you're striking people, which we've seen Sigle do—he's a really good open-field tackler—I think that's a good combination."
Sigle embraced the label when told about it on Thursday afternoon.
"I wouldn't say I'm surprised," Sigle said. "That's my game. I'm gonna own that. I feel it fits my game."
Growth in the 49ers' defense
Beyond his athleticism, Sigle has also impressed with his communication and understanding of the defensive scheme, especially after missing organized team activities (OTAs). Saleh was asked where specifically Sigle has shown the most improvement this offseason.
"Communication," Saleh shared. "Just being on your job, being able to communicate on the sideline when something happens, to have the recall to have those conversations. Shoot, at practice today, we were talking about a route—on how to play a certain route concept. And he basically cut me off to talk about what his technique was, to what he could have done better, where he was in the play.
"And you come back in, and you watch play real quick, and it's like, 'All right.' He's recalling it, he's understanding it, he understands where his body's at."
Saleh added, "He missed all of OTAs, and for him to step in and do what he's been doing has been pretty impressive."
Not every rookie adapts quickly to the demands of the NFL, but Sigle is proving he has both the speed and the football IQ to carve out a role early. With Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks looming, the "Sultan of Swarm" could soon make his presence felt within the 49ers' defense.