Renardo Green snagged two huge interceptions against our Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. That performance is a gut punch, but it also screams volumes about how quickly the 49ers’ new defensive coordinator, Raheem Morris, has molded that unit into an absolute force. This isn’t just about one game, folks; this is about a defense that’s already sitting third-best in the NFL for EPA allowed per play and points allowed per game, despite dealing with a bunch of young talent and injuries. It’s a problem, and our Hawks just got a front-row seat.
Shanahan Finally Got His Guy, And It’s Showing
Can you believe it took this long? Kyle Shanahan apparently wanted Raheem Morris as his defensive coordinator way back in 2017 when he first got the Niners’ head coaching gig. But the Falcons held onto him, so Shanahan had to wait a decade for the dream to come true after Morris left Atlanta this offseason. It’s wild to think about, but this reunion? It’s been a beaming success right out of the gate. Morris stepped in after Robert Saleh’s departure, and he’s totally put his own spin on that defense. You can see the confidence oozing from the players, especially in the secondary. It’s not just hype; the numbers back it up: third in the league in key defensive metrics. That’s not a fluke.
It’s All About the Secondary, And Our Hawks Felt It
Here’s where it gets interesting, especially for us Seattle fans who just watched it unfold. Morris’s background is different from his predecessors, Saleh and DeMeco Ryans, who both came up through the linebacker ranks. Morris was a defensive back in college and has coached the position his entire career. Shanahan totally credits this difference. He said that with their true three-deep, four-under scheme and true zone drops, the DBs aren’t always counting on linebackers for help. That means they have to be more aggressive in coverage, and Shanahan says that daily practice and repetition has built their confidence. They’re playing concepts to stop plays without constant help, and that’s their “edge.” Our guys on offense just saw that aggression firsthand with Renardo Green’s two picks. Beyond Green’s bounce-back year, both Deommodore Lenoir and Upton Stout are playing at a good level, and they even mentioned Malik Mustap, showing off the depth.
This Niners defense is a serious problem, and our Hawks just got a brutal lesson in how much their secondary has improved. It’s early in the season, but if Raheem Morris keeps this up, every game against them is going to be a brutal fight. Time for our guys to figure out how to counter that aggression and confidence.
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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