Defensive Conversion
Niner Report|August 28, 2017

Saleh transforming unit from size to speed

Kevin Lynch
Defensive Conversion

 

Sometimes, the best innovations occur purely by mistake. Bill Walsh stumbled upon the West Coast offense as an offensive coordinator for the Bengals in the early 1970s when his quarterback, Greg Cook, sustained a shoulder injury.

Cook was ticketed for greatness coming out of the University of Cincinnati with his strapping frame and big arm. But the 1969 AFC Rookie of the Year injured his shoulder when tackled by Kansas City linebacker Jim Lynch during the third game of his rookie season.

Cook tore his rotator cuff and had a partially torn biceps tendon that went undiagnosed. As the year progressed, his shoulder deteriorated, and the once rocket arm was reduced to a pop gun.

Walsh had to adjust, and continued to modify the passing game from a vertical attack to short, quick, horizontal passes that Cook could handle. Instead of combining a strong running game with deep strikes, Walsh used a timing offense with quick throws to conduct long, unstoppable drives that sapped a defense and led to the birth of the West Coast offense.

While the current 49ers defense isn’t on the precipice of such a momentous innovation, the team may have discovered something new with the current front seven of its defense.

The team is now combining the long defensive ends and pass rushers from former general manager Trent Baalke’s era, with shorter, smaller, quicker defenders favored by current head coach Kyle Shanahan and his defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.

Bu hikaye Niner Report dergisinin August 28, 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye Niner Report dergisinin August 28, 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

NINER REPORT DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
EIGHT IS ENOUGH
Niner Report

EIGHT IS ENOUGH

Set 49ers lineup still has several new starters

time-read
7 dak  |
October 2021
Calling all cornerbacks
Niner Report

Calling all cornerbacks

Loss of Verrett exposes 49ers’ thin depth at CB

time-read
7 dak  |
October 2021
Always finding their way to run
Niner Report

Always finding their way to run

49ers system accomplished at developing homegrown talent

time-read
9 dak  |
October 2021
ANOTHER COMEBACK?
Niner Report

ANOTHER COMEBACK?

Resilient veteran Verrett to miss rest of season

time-read
5 dak  |
October 2021
TOP 10 Rookie running backs
Niner Report

TOP 10 Rookie running backs

THE BACK LIST

time-read
3 dak  |
October 2021
STOCK UP  STOCK DOWN
Niner Report

STOCK UP STOCK DOWN

DEOMMODORE LENOIR | AMBRY THOMAS

time-read
4 dak  |
October 2021
Will Mostert run for 49ers again?
Niner Report

Will Mostert run for 49ers again?

Raheem Mostert was primed this year to be the centerpiece of one of the NFL’s most dynamic offenses, featured as the lead performer in San Francisco’s grinding rushing attack while making his climb among the league’s top running backs.

time-read
5 dak  |
October 2021
THE WONDER OF WARNER
Niner Report

THE WONDER OF WARNER

49ers make All-Pro star highest-paid LB in NFL

time-read
9 dak  |
August 31, 2021
Making the right choice at QB
Niner Report

Making the right choice at QB

In the weeks that follow after you read this — and perhaps sometime even sooner than that — Kyle Shanahan and the rest of the 49ers organization will make a titanic decision that will have present, future and perhaps even everlasting implications for the franchise. It will chart the course for the team’s pivotal 2021 season while determining whether San Francisco really does have the juice to return to powerhouse status and again be considered a legitimate contender to get back to the Super Bowl.

time-read
3 dak  |
August 31, 2021
TOP 10 Linebacker seasons
Niner Report

TOP 10 Linebacker seasons

Fred Warner vaulted to stardom with a spectacular 2020 season — and the 49ers rewarded him this summer with a $95.225 million deal that makes him the highest-paid inside linebacker in NFL history. By today’s standards, Warner’s performance last year was worth the money as he posted an Approximate Value of 19 — matching the highest score ever recorded by a San Francisco defender according to a Pro Football Reference formula that puts a single number on each player-season across all positions since 1960. Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman (twice) also had seasons with an AV of 19 as they dominate this list of the greatest individual seasons by a linebacker in 49ers history.

time-read
3 dak  |
August 31, 2021