Despite some initial worries about scheme differences, Raheem Morris has absolutely turned the San Francisco 49ers defense into an elite unit, with several of their defenders logging career-best performances through the first five games of the season. Shanahan’s been trying to get this guy for ages, and it turns out, he might just be the secret sauce for that side of the ball.
Shanahan’s “Long Time Coming” Hire Delivers
Kyle Shanahan knew what he was doing bringing Morris in, even if some of us on the outside had our doubts. After Robert Saleh, and then DeMeco Ryans, set a high bar, San Fran had a couple of “failed experiments” with Steve Wilks and Nick Sorensen, then Saleh came back for a second stint, but they were still searching. Shanahan and the front office locked in on Morris, a former Atlanta Falcons head coach who’d been with Shanahan in Atlanta and Washington over a decade ago. The man’s been an assistant since ’98 and a head coach twice, so he’s got the resume. Shanahan himself said it, “It doesn’t surprise me with Raheem. I’ve just been around him for too long. He’s one of the best people and best coaches I’ve ever been around. I tried to bring him here originally when I left Atlanta. They wouldn’t let him out. So, it’s been a long time coming to get him here.” He’s clearly making an immediate impact, despite some critics initially thinking there could be some early growing pains.
Defying the Odds (and Injuries)
What’s truly annoying, from a rival fan’s perspective, is how good this defense is playing *despite* getting hammered by injuries. Their defensive line has been absolutely decimated, missing key guys like Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins, Sam Okuayinonu, and CJ West for parts of the year. They’re rolling with players signed in training camp or even later, and still, these guys are producing. Shanahan gave Morris big credit for this, saying he’s done “an unbelievable job this year, especially with the injuries, but just overall everything he’s mixed up schematically.” The secondary, which was “inconsistent last year,” is also playing with new confidence, thanks to Morris. He’s apparently given their DBs a real boost since training camp. Through five games, even with an inconsistent secondary last year and relying on young talent, they rank third in EPA allowed per play, third in points allowed per game, and sixth in yards allowed per game. And yeah, we saw it firsthand, because that early schedule included the Los Angeles Rams, the Denver Broncos, and our very own Seattle Seahawks. On the D-line, Osa Odighizuwa has been a solid addition with 15 pressures and a 12.8 pass-rush win rate. Keion White, a former Patriots second-round pick, has been a revelation, with 13 pressures and 8 defensive stops. Even Gracen Halton is getting shout-outs. It’s a tough pill to swallow, watching a rival defense click like this.
We’ll be watching closely to see if they can maintain this defensive intensity. Given how many players have stepped up, it looks like Morris has them fired up and ready to keep this train rolling. It’s going to be a long season, folks, and this 49ers defense isn’t making it any easier on the rest of the league.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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