Four Questions: Still No DC and The Combine Awaits
The NFL Draft Combine drills start on the 29th and the 49ers are still without a defensive coordinator.
1. What’s going on, why the delay?
The truth is usually more boring than the fan wishing and theories for Bill Belichick. My conspiracy theory is Kyle Shanahan took a vacation break after the Super Bowl and now he’s back conducting interviews.
So no Belichick? Sorry, that was always fan crack.
Shanahan is interviewing the three names that have been floated for weeks: Former Chargers Head Coach Brandon Staley, 49ers Defensive Passing Game/Nickels Coach Nick Sorensen, and Defensive Backs Coach Daniel Bullocks.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Bay Area reports that two additional external candidates will be interviewed. No names were given, no I don't think Belichick is one of them. Shanahan says he expects to wrap up the search by the end of the week.
Staley had success with the Rams as Defensive Coordinator and would likely get a positive review from Shanahan’s long-time friend and new Atlanta head coach Raheem Morris.
The argument for Staley is a creative defensive mind with experience as a DC. The Niners are on their third defensive coordinator in as many years, there’s no chance any team is hiring Staley as a head coach any time soon, so Staley could bring continuity.
The argument against Staley is that he was one of the worst head coaches in the league with the Chargers, developing a reputation as a condescending perfectionist. Hiring Staley could be a tone-deaf move culturally.
What has proven to work for the 49ers is a positive, high-energy DC. Hiring a personality similar to Shanahan strikes me as a singularly bad idea. I think Nick Bosa will get an earful from his brother Joey, who played for Staley and wasn’t a fan. If the leaders of the defense get a hearing from Shanahan I would expect they push for an internal hire.
Promoting from within has worked in the past and will have full buy-in from the players.
2. Some fans are bought in on drafting the sons and brothers of 49ers stars, what do you think will happen?
I think those fans will be disappointed. None of the legacy kids make sense.
Brendan Rice is great at contested catches and is a willing blocker, but the Niners already have an excellent version of that in Jauan Jennings. Rice is poor at separation before and after the catch. Shanahan prioritizes separation from his receivers.
Luke McCaffrey is new to WR. He has skills and fundamentals, but the Niners already have that at the slot in Ronnie Bell and could pick a more explosive receiver in this draft.
With Frank Gore Jr. there are backs with more skills in his draft range. Kimani Vidal of Troy compared to Gore, 47 explosive runs of 10 yards or more to Gore’s 31, 91 forced missed tackles to 63, and the highest pass protection grade in the class. Gore will have the chance to make his case at the Combine and we'll see.
The Niners either have better players on the roster who do the same thing, or better choices at the same draft slot.
3. Well now, aren’t you the ungrateful heartless soul?
Yup, I get that a lot.
4. The NFL’s Competition Committee is meeting, they want to bring the kickoff return back. Who are the great kick returners in this draft and free agency?
Ray-Ray McCloud is a free agent, after his “I am a playmaker” quote defending his not jumping on the live ball in the Super Bowl I’d show him the door. We’ll see if the Niners do.
Smoke Harris of Louisiana Tech averaged over 24 yards per kick return and 8.4 on punt returns including a touchdown. He’s a 5-7/183 slot receiver with five touchdowns for over 800 yards, a low drop rate of 2.3% and 32 forced missed tackles. He’s a 7th round/UDFA player. Plus a receiver named Smoke is the coolest nickname since Deebo.
Top-100 players who also return punts include first-round Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean and 2nd round Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy. 6th round slot corner Daequan Hardy of Penn State returned two punts for touchdowns, though both were against U Mass. 7th round sleepers include Tennessee’s Dee Williams with 530 return yards and Mercer’s Devron Harper with 669, both are slot receivers.
In free agency, Green Bay defensive back Keisean Nixon led the league in kick return yardage at 782 with an average return of just over 26 yards. Seattle running back DeeJay Dallas had 440 yards in returns with an average of 25.8 yards.
