Why a Lack of Play Calling Experience Won't be an Issue for DC Nick Sorensen

Former 49ers safety Donte Whitner doesn't believe that defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen having no play calling experience will be an issue in 2024.

September 18, 2022; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive assistant coach Nick Sorensen before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium. | Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Hiring from within at defensive coordinator always seemed the most logical avenue for the San Francisco 49ers.

Going with the familiar face has benefitted them throughout the entire Kyle Shanahan tenure. Nick Sorensen is hoping to keep that successful trend alive this upcoming season. However, Sorensen has never called plays before. And for a team that is in "win now" mode, it could prove an issue.

Not unless you ask former 49ers safety and NBC Sports Bay Area analyst Donte Whitner. On Monday, Whitner appeared as a guest on the Up and Adams show with Kay Adams where he explained why the lack of play calling experience won't be an issue for Sorensen.

"It doesn't matter because when you go through the week as you're putting together a game plan everybody has their say so," said Whitner. "The defensive line coach has his say so on how he feels you can attack the offensive line, the linebackers in the run game and in the pass game, the linebackers coach has his say so, and then the secondary coach, and all the coaches sitting in that meeting room.

"They'll all say 'Hey, we have first and ten here versus this personnel. We only have three calls. We have second and medium, we only have two calls. On third and long we might have the most calls and the most packages.' So, going into the game and into every game Nick Sorensen, whether he's calling plays or Brandon Staley, they already pretty much know the calls and how they're gonna play each and every defense, so it doesn't really concern me."

Should the #49ers at all be concerned by new defense coordinator Nick Sorenson's lack of playcalling experience???@DonteWhitner @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/qdPP6d4QBy

— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) April 8, 2024

Whitner does raise an excellent point. He has a great supporting cast of coaches to help him, which is also why I believe the 49ers hired Brandon Staley. He will act as a bit of an overseer in the plays, especially if Sorensen is making a mess of it.

But this is also why familiarity at defensive coordinator was crucial. Sorensen will not deviate from what has worked with the defense. The year he spent under DeMeco Ryans in 2022 and having a similar background as Robert Saleh will allow him to use what has always worked best.

In the event where it doesn't work, he has Staley and others to help steer back on the right path.