How much credit does Robert Saleh deserve for the success of the defense?

The 2018 defense of the San Francisco 49ers was a unit that was severely lacking in talent. I highlight talent because the failures of the defense last season wasn’t necessarily a schematic issue. Outside of DeForest Buckner and Richard Sherman, there wasn’t anyone worth noting as a talent.

Turn the page to the 2019 season after a reloading in the offseason and you’ll see a revamped defense. You can actually count on both hands how many big name players the 49ers have on defense now. That hasn’t happened since Jim Harbaugh’s tenure, which has felt long overdue. A big reason for the 49ers being 3-0 for the first time since 1998 is because of the defense.

Everyone is playing collectively well, which makes it difficult for offense’s to key in on a weak spot. A lot of their success stems from the elite pass rush they added, but what about defensive coordinator Robert Saleh? He is the one that is calling the plays and devising the scheme, so how much credit does he deserve for the success of the defense?

The #49ers have the sixth highest-graded defense in the NFL through three weeks.pic.twitter.com/lwXql6B0Br
— PFF SF 49ers (@PFF_49ers) September 25, 2019

I know it may seem like it is mainly because they added stellar talent at pass rush, which makes it easier for the secondary to cover. But make no mistake, Saleh deserves a ton of credit for the success. He is the one who is putting his players in the right position to succeed and the players are executing it to the last detail.

David Lombardi of The Athletic summarizes this best here.

Saleh has schemed well since Year 1. He coached a defense that was top-10 in yards per play allowed last year despite not having true edge rushers and using 9 different safety combinations. Yet Twitter still wanted his head, of course... https://t.co/v7Op0IHlur
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) September 28, 2019

Coaching matters in this league. You can’t win and succeed strictly off talent. It’s why all the hype for the Cleveland Browns entering the season was a joke when no one knew a thing about Freddie Kitchens. However, with Saleh we knew he could scheme up a defense, despite what some fans felt about him.

He just was limited on what he can do based on the minimal talent there was. Good coaches are able to make use of their talented players and that’s exactly what he’s doing. Outside of continually putting Solomon Thomas on the edge, Saleh has called and setup this defense perfectly through three games.

Now it is only three games and they have yet to be truly tested by a legitimate offense and quarterback. Yet, there is no denying how improved this defense is. I would even argue that they were tested in the Steelers game last week when the offense coughed up the ball five times. That is demanding a lot from a defense, even if the opposing quarterback is below average.

All that is left is for the 49ers to put the Browns and Rams in check when they return from their bye. That is when we can truly say that this defense has arrived and Robert Saleh will be an enormous reason why.

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