Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
49ers Defense Primed to Put Pedal to the Floor With Bosa
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
It has been a long and winding road but the San Francisco 49ers defense overhaul is complete with the selection of defensive end
Nick Bosa in the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday.
When John Lynch took control of the 49ers, the team was in shambles. Head coach Kyle Shanahan would go a long way towards fixing the offense. The defense was a different matter.
There were a few young pieces with potential. Defensive tackles DeForest Buckner and
Arik Armstead along with safety Jaquiski Tartt were on the team. They weren't finished projects. They needed development. There were no great veterans either. In fact, there wasn't a single Pro Bowl caliber defender on the roster at the time Lynch was made general manager. The rest of the defense would have to be acquired.
Since then, Buckner has developed into one of the top players at his position, former Pro Bowlers, cornerback Richard Sherman and Jason Verrett and linebacker Kwon Alexander, were signed in free agency while potential Pro Bowl caliber players, linebacker
Fred Warner and Bosa, were drafted and Pro Bowl defensive end Dee Ford was obtained via trade.
The 49ers line up in nickel more than any other formation defensively. Completing that lineup would be Armstead or Solomon Thomas at the other defensive tackle position, Ahkello Witherspoon as the third cornerback (who covers slot is T.B.D.), Tartt as the strong safety and either Jimmie Ward or Adrian Colbert at free safety.
| 49ers 2019 Defense |
| CB Sherman |
DE Bosa |
DT Armstead/Thomas |
DT Buckner |
DE Ford |
CB Witherspoon |
| CB Verrett |
|
LB Warner |
LB Alexander |
|
|
| |
|
SS Tartt |
FS Ward/Colbert |
|
|
*Base formation: Thomas or Armstead slide outside to DE, Ford or Mark Nzeocha play the third linebacker.
Lynch was hired in January 2017. In just more than two years, the 49ers have developed a pro bowler, signed three pro bowlers, traded for a pro bowler and drafted at least two potential pro bowlers on the defensive side of the ball.
The 49ers didn't just target talent blindly, however. They sought out players who could transform the defense into a fast unit that gets to the quarterback and fits together perfectly like one big puzzle.
Lynch, Shanahan, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and new 49ers players have all been heard repeating the phrase, "all gas, no brakes" in recent weeks. It drives home the 49ers' clear objective this offseason of improving the pass rush. Bosa was the final piece and the 49ers know it.
"You're going to fit right in," Saleh told Bosa on the phone on Thursday. "Just come with that mindset. Let's get after the passer ... all gas brother."
All gas indeed. The 49ers should be a lot more aggressive defensively this season. The defensive line should be one of the best in the league. Having a good rush from both edges thanks to Ford and Bosa, along with a great interior push with Buckner is rare. Offenses will have to pick their poison.
"I think opposing O-lines should be pretty scared," Bosa said to
49ers team reporter Keiana Martin on Thursday.
Scared might be going too far but this isn't the nearly empty cupboard 2017 defense or the work in progress 2018 defense. This is the finished product.
That winding road has straightened, a drag strip formed, and the 49ers are a hot rod ready to hit the gas and put the pedal to the floor. Maybe that's cheesy to say, but it's true too. This 49ers defense is primed.
The opinions within this article are those of the writer and, while just as important, are not necessarily those of the site as a whole.
-
BigAl
The FB comments section isnt loading...49ers are in a great position to still add really good players here at the top of the 2nd and 3rd rounds. Exciting... Virtually their pick of the litter at WR, alto I suspect the Colts and Cards will grab one. Any of the bigger guys will be a nice addition, Metcalf, Butler, Harmon, or Whiteside. Jawan Taylor is shockingly available, could draft him at 36 and kick him into guard. That's a steal.. I also like the CB from Penn State. I do believe Witherspoon and Colbert are primed for bounce back years, especially with the DL being potentially better than I've ever seen from the 49ers. That makes WR the pick at 36, as there will be a run on them tonight.
Apr 26, 2019 at 10:10 AM
-
Mike
All great news for the defense. Now how on god's green earth are they planning to rectify the major problem at WR, RZ production and TD scoring through the air?
Apr 26, 2019 at 9:35 AM
More San Francisco 49ers News
49ers mailbag: Is Christian McCaffrey being overused? Should Spencer Burford be benched? Is Steve Wilkes who the defense needs? When is Nick Bosa going to show up?
The San Francisco 49ers are 2-0 to start off the 2023 season. In 2021, the 49ers won their first two games but then lost their next four. A win Thursday night, in the home opener against the New York Giants, would be the 49ers' first 3-0 start since 2019. That season, the team started out 8-0 before going on to win the NFC West and cruise through the NFC playoffs on their way to a birth in Super Bowl LIV.
I can't seem to remember how that game turned out, though. It's like it's been blocked from my memory.
It doesn't matter, because we've moved on to the current season. And to celebrate the 2-0 start, we've opened up the mailbag to answer those questions burning a hole in your mind. So let's get to it.
Marc, what did ya think of CMC channelling
49ers' Nick Bosa: I needed a couple of games to get back into football shape
Nick Bosa hasn't reached an opposing quarterback yet this season after recording an NFL-leading 18.5 sacks last season. Some of that may be the San Francisco defensive end getting warmed up.
Bosa missed all of training camp and the preseason while holding out for a new contract. He finally returned to the 49ers after a six-week absence and just days before the team's Week 1 matchup. The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year has recorded two tackles and two assists in two games.
The 49ers enter a short week. They host the New York Giants at Levi's Stadium on Thursday, the team's home opener. Is the 49ers pass rusher worried about the quick turnaround?
"I'm not too concerned about it," Bosa told reporters after the
49ers' Nick Bosa "getting back into his groove," says Kyle Shanahan
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has had time to review the film from Sunday's 30-23 win over the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. What is his assessment of his now-highly-compensated defensive end, Nick Bosa?
"I think he's getting back into football shape, getting back into his groove," head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Monday via a conference call. "I thought he got better and stronger throughout the game, similar to last week in that aspect. I thought he finished the game real strong and took a step forward from Pittsburgh."
Bosa earned Pro Football Focus' highest grade
Why 49ers Nick Bosa appears "sluggish" through two games
After missing this year's OTA's and Training Camp in a hold out effort for a new contract, San Francisco 49ers All-Pro Defensive End Nick Bosa finally became the highest paid defensive player in NFL history, just days before the team's week one matchup against the Pittsburg Steelers. Bosa signed a five-year $170 million extension with the team.
It's easy to say Bosa's slow start in that week one matchup was due to his holdout and lack of football activity with the team this offseason. However, to say that sluggishness carried over into their week two matchup against their division rival Los Angeles Rams isn't entirely true. Far too often players (especially defensive players) are critiqued on stats alone. While stats help players earn end of the year accolades, they don't
