If Nick Bosa can get a modicum of consistent pressure from the opposite side he could end up having another Defensive Player of the Year award to put on his mantel.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
On The Edge
If Nick Bosa can get a modicum of consistent pressure from the opposite side he could end up having another Defensive Player of the Year aw...
-
The stench of the last game is still in my nostrils. Will the 49ers clear the air? Not if they don't start making tackles. Not if they...
-
The postseason is a year away. Win or lose the only thing they're playing for today is pride. Another opportunity to advertise your wo... -
The San Francisco 49ers are 20-6 when the Three Amigos are on the field together. If they stay healthy you can forget about a "rebuil...
No doubt Huff should help Bosa get more sacks and add to his total of 62.5 sacks. But IMO, Huff isn't the only D-Lineman that will help
ReplyDeleteBosa. BY mid-season, Williams, Collins and West should be starters who put pressure up the middle, forcing the opposing offensive line
into fewer double-teams on Bosa, allowing him to take advantage of one-on-one matchups and increasing his opportunities for sacks!
The two question I have, that should be answered in pre-season is...
1) To start the season on 3rd down, will Gross-Matos replace West at DT (next to Williams)? And If not Gross-Matos, Then who?
2) Can the 2025 9er D record more than 52 sacks by the 2019 D?
Oddsmakers has Nick Bosa +1600; Jalen Carter +2000; Jared Verse +2500 for Defensive Player of the Year.
DeleteOn third and long, imo most likely options at DT outside the rookies are YGM, Givens or even Bosa, with Sam O at edge. Bosa has played at DT on occasion in the past.
DeleteI think we see an uptick of stunts upfront on 3rd and long over the Sorento defense of last year.
DeleteScooter
ReplyDeleteHmm, Bosa at DT? Had not considered that option, but it could work.....
I'm sure that Bosa has the talent and athleticism to occasionally move inside. But (imho) I would not put him in that situation because of the heavier traffic and likely more wear and tear on his legs and body. Also, would that be something that Bosa would be ok with?
ReplyDeleteAES
ReplyDeleteScooter is saying "on third and long," So not that often.
DE Yetur Gross-Matos: A 2nd round draft pick who was a free agent the 9ers signed last year from Carolina. IMO, he should find a roll under Saleh.
* YGM experienced periods of both starting and reserve roles and also dealt with injuries throughout his tenure at Carolina.
* He was a 2nd round draft pick that played under multiple coaching staffs in Carolina and he didn't fit the Panthers DC Ejiro Evero 3-4 system. He was forced to convert from a 3-4 DE to a 3-4 LB, a position he hadn't played before.
He'll get a chance to show what he brings to the 9ers D in TC and pre
season
I understand the limited use Scooter intended. I'm just not crazy about putting Bosa in a situation that involves a higher degree of traffic. I believe that the risk of a potential injury playing on the inside (even if a couple of times) is heightened. Lynch drafted two eventual starters to play the DT position. K.K needs get them ready.
DeleteIt's something they've already been doing in the past. It's matchup based.
DeleteYes, but with the additions of A. Collins and CJ West hopefully that option will be off the table going forward. I'd be ticked-off if Bosa is injured. But getting injured playing another position would be a tough one for me to swallow.
DeleteIt's just matchups AES. If they think Bosa can have more success rushing the passer going against an OG on 3rd and long it would be silly not to try exploiting it.
DeleteYou're not asking Bosa to hold ground in the middle.
Scooter,
DeleteFair enough. But I prefer to see Collins and West eventually make it a moot point to move Bosa around the Dline.
Certainly AES. If the best pass rush combo/ matchup keeps Bosa on the edge on 3rd and long then that's great too.
Delete37 days until TC
ReplyDeleteI hate to rain on every ones positivity parade but I just don't think it is realistic to expect Saleh to get the D to do a complete 180 this season. Especially with as many as 3 to 6 rookie starters. There is no reason to believe that this rookie class will be any better than any of KS and JLs other rookie classes ( the anomaly 24 class aside) Hopefully by the end of the season Saleh will have his D performing at a top 15 level. If this team makes the playoffs this year I believe it will have to be on the back of a healthy O. I see lots of 35-31 games this year.
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree Coach. I think they can and will be better than last year, but that's not saying much. Getting the D to mid pack would be a good achievement.
DeleteOldCoach
DeleteWhile I would agree it is not realistic to expect Saleh to get the D to do a complete 180 this season, I don't believe Saleh has to get the D to do a 180 for the 9ers to make the playoffs!
WHY?
1) The 9ers have the easiest 2025 schedule in the NFL.
2) Even with 3-6 rookies the 2025 D-line will be capable of
stopping the run! Something the 2024 D-line failed to do.
3) As a team, the 9ers only had 37 sacks for the 2024 season.
IMO, that number should increase substantially in 2025.
4) While the 2024 9ers went 6W - 11L, how many games did
the 9ers lose by less than 3 points in 2024?
* Week 3: Lost to the LA Rams 27 to 24
* Week 5: Lost to Arizona 24 to 23
* Week 11: Lost to Seattle 20 to 17
* The 9ers also lost two games by 6 points.
* Week 2: Lost to the Vikings 23 to 17
* Week 15: Lost to the Rams 12 to 6
All of those games were winnable.
* Last, but not least, Saleh replacing Nick Sorensen as DC.
IMO, that is worth 2-3 wins for the 9ers 2025 season.
Geep,
DeleteIf Saleh is worth 2 to 3 wins that puts the 9ers right where I have predicted they will be 8-9 or 9-8
OldCoach
DeleteSaleh is worth 2 to 3 wins in addition to the 3 games lost
by 3 points. That's worth an additional 5 to 6 games.
That would put the 9ers at 11 to 12 wins and 5 to 6L
and not counting the 9er defense getting off the field on
3rd downs, controlling the clock and additional possessions
for the 9er offense (chances to score).
The above post addressed to OldCoach, was mine
DeleteGEEP,
DeleteI hope you are right. It is completely possible if Williams, Kittle and CMC can stay healthy (as well as CMCs explosiveness returning) I think where I and most here differ is that I am not sold on our draft picks. They could be a great group like last year but I think they could be a bunch of Solomon Thomas, Ji'ayr Brown, Drake Jackson and Reuben Fosters
OldCoach
Delete* Absolutely agree that Williams, Kittle and CMC staying healthy will determine the 9ers 2025 success. I'd also
add Purdy to the list.
* IMO, CMC and BP's health will be the determinative factor(s) in the 9ers offensive success.
* I'm curious WHY you believe the draft picks could be "a bunch of Solomon Thomas, Ji'ayr Brown, Drake Jackson and Reuben Fosters?" What are you seeing that I'm not?
* To be honest, after the draft, I printed out the 9ers 2025 schedule, including a 9er win, or loss, for all 17 games.
I predicted the 9ers would win 10 games and be the division
wild card, the Rams would win the division and Arizona had
the best draft and will be the most improved team in 2025. I still believe that to be true.
Coach,
ReplyDeleteMy target time for the defense to play at optimum level is in 2026 and beyond. The D rookies could likely get significant playing time this year, but the game will slow down for them by next season, imho.
AES,
DeleteI agree 26 is a realistic timeline but I am hopeful that we will start to see some improvement by late 25.
I'm with you on that, Coach.
ReplyDeleteDunno, going from the worst DC to one of the best has me thinking top 10 defense.
ReplyDelete👍
DeleteRazor,
DeleteThat would be a nice surprise.
Jets released K Anders Carlson.
ReplyDeleteNice pieces by Krueg and Chase on UDFA Sebastian Valdez. According to both writers, Valdez has been impressive in OTA's and Mini's. His tape in college shows well. He's a underdog player I'll be keeping an eye on.
ReplyDeleteLets see how impressive he is when the pads come on. I recall both of those two saying the same things about Spencer Waege and we all know how that turned out.
DeleteThe Shanahan has annually found gems on the day 3 of the draft and UDFA.
DeleteYup, we'll soon find out if Valdez is a keeper or a peeper.
ReplyDelete36 days until TC opens
ReplyDelete49ers training camp dates are set:
ReplyDeleteRookies will report on 7/15
Veterans will report on 7/22
49ers joint practice dates:
Broncos at 49ers on 8/7
49ers at Raiders on 8/14
9ers announce 2 joint practice dates with Broncos and Raiders:
ReplyDeleteBroncos: August 7th...(Dwight Clark Day)
Raiders: August 14th
Having joint practices that close together will break up the monotony of training camp and keep the 9ers' competitive spirits at an all-time high.
It’ll also allow the coaching staff to highlight some of their younger players who might be forced into early action against a different colored jersey in a controlled setting. That’s a fantastic evaluation tool to lean on.
My top 3 9er break out candidates for 2025:
ReplyDelete1) LB Dee Winters: He'll compete against rookie LB N. Martin to be the starter at WLB. IMO, Winters will win the starting WLB position and Martin will be the SLB.
* Winters should have been the starting WLB last year and not De'Vondre Campbell . Early in the season, Sorensen downplayed the idea of a starting battle at the linebacker position. But as the season progressed and Campbell struggled in pass coverage, Dee Winters began to see more playing time and eventually pushed for a starting role, according to KS. IMO, this was a contributing factor why Nick
Nick Sorensen was fired from his position as the 9ers DC after just one season.
2) CB Renardo Green: While the 9ers 2024 season was mostly a bummer, Green was one of their few bright spots. The 2nd Rd draft pick graded out in the top 25% of all corners as a rookie, according to PFF. Granted, there’s a big difference between being a nice surprise as a rookie and being asked to fill the shoes of a Pro Bowler like Charvarius Ward.
Green is an ideal candidate, as he stepped into a starting role midway through the season last year, replacing Isaac Yiadom on the outside. In 7 games, he had 61 tackles, 13 pass breakups, an interception, and a forced fumble, while being a key cog on the boundary opposite Charvarius Ward. He’s one of a few 2nd or 3rd year players locked into a starting role, so his being the top breakout candidate makes sense.
3) WR Jacob Cowing: who has earned glowing reviews from teammates and the coaching staff this offseason. While a full-time starting role may not be present, Cowing could be an early contributor with how the 9ers WR room looks.
Aiyuk isn’t expected to be ready for the start of the season. DeMarcus Robinson is expected to be suspended to start the year and that could move Jauan Jennings from the slot to the outside, leaving an opening for Cowing to earn a Week 1 role alongside 2024 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall. Cowing has great athleticism and has clearly made his mark this offseason. He and 2025 5th Rd WR Jordan Watkins could be the top reserves to start the year, with the chance for more.
35 days until TC
ReplyDelete