Defensive Coordinator Nick Sorensen Press Conference

Defensive Coordinator Nick Sorensen

Press Conference – August 4, 2024

San Francisco 49ers

DB Deommodore Lenoir, how would you evaluate his camp so far?

“I think it’s been solid. Being able to go inside, outside, I think he’s taken that next step. Another year of just being comfortable and being able to see it. Like I’ve said in the past, it’s tough to do that within a game, to play inside and outside. Ok, base, now you’re outside nickel, go play the nickel. And I think it’s just clicking that much faster. It’s like anything, time on task. He just continues to get better in both spots because he is playing both spots. So that part’s good.”

For him, was it something like just kind of getting past the point where he felt like he was thinking through things too much and now he’s just more reacting? Is it that that kind of scenario?

“That’s it. That’s really it. That’s really anybody. How fast can you get away from the thinking about everything to where you’re anticipating and just reacting? That’s really the main goal with anyone. And usually, you see with the young guys or rookies, when they start to flash early, it’s because they grasp it quickly and then it starts to click. And that’s really the goal. How quickly can it be second nature and be reactive.”

LB Jalen Graham got some reps with the starters there at the end. What are you seeing from those two linebackers in particular?

“Same thing. They’re just getting better because it’s starting to click for them. And I talk about, speed, violence and finish. To me, a lot of speed is, yeah you run fast, but speed is also your preparation and your knowledge of the game. Because you hear veteran guys say it all the time, how the game slowed down for me. You look so much faster because it did slow down, because now you’re more comfortable and you’re understanding. Now you anticipate based on motions and alignments and the stuff happens as you think it should happen, now you can go make plays. That’s where you see Dee almost had a pick today in that backed up period because again, the game’s slowing down and he’s playing faster. Same with Jalen.”

Between Dee, LB De’Vondre Campbell and Jalen, how do you go about determining which of the two will be out there when you’re in the nickel?

“Well De’Vondre is, he’s out there with [LB] Fred [Warner]. It’s just a good group of linebackers. I think a lot of those guys, even [LB] Zeke Turner who is new, he’s come in, he’s fit in. [LB] Curtis Robinson has had a nice camp. And [LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles] Flann, when he’s back healthy, the times he’s been in, he’s always been a staple for us, that can play all three positions. And even [LB] Tatum Bethune, one of our late round picks, he’s done a nice job. He’s starting to grasp it well. I think you see that with a lot of the guys that we brought in, period. They’re our type of guys. They care and it makes sense to them and they’re starting to, we’ve got this great competitive group on defense on all levels and that’s the part that’s exciting.”

It seems like S Ji’Ayir Brown is going above and beyond when it comes to communicating. What have you seen from him, jumping from year one to year two? Just as far as intangibles, not so much on the field.

“Again, the comfort and the confidence. I think he can anticipate things. He’s starting to do more communicating out there. And again, that’s what’s going to, you’re going to find out, without [S Talanoa Hufanga] Huf out there, what are [S George Odum] GO and Tig going to do? And those guys stepped up. They elevated their game. Huf is a great communicator, [former NFL S Tashaun Gipson Sr.] Gip as well, who is not here. So those guys get this opportunity and they get all these extra reps, now they’re stepping in and doing a really nice job. And it’s through all those extra reps that you’re seeing that improvement.”

How many different ways can you use DL Yetur Gross-Matos? I feel like I’ve seen him rush inside, outside, drop.

“He can mix it up. Like I said, he’s an interior pass rusher as well. He gets after it, and it’s exciting to have him because he’s very multiple.”

What do you think of DL Robert Beal Jr. so far? Really talented guy, but from where he was last year to now.

“Again, the same thing. It’s another year of being able to get on his lines and be explosive and think less. He’s a really explosive and fast guy, he can really run. And if he can just, stay on that track and continue to get better, he’s going to be a good player.”

When it comes to your linebackers, you talk about the versatility you want, especially in backup guys. Where do you kind of thread the needle when you have a guy like Graham for example, where you want him to get comfortable at Mike, but also maybe you’re going to kind of need him at Sam. How do you kind of work through that, in terms of getting reps at a different spot?

“Based on the player and what we know about them. And as you get to know them, what you think is their best spot. That’s something that [linebackers coach] Johnny Holland is, always kind of, and everybody really, when we evaluate guys, what you think they could play. But when you’re young and a backup, ‘Okay, what are the two spots I can play?’ So there is some value as you get older, if you can play multiple spots. Just like I say about Dmo, guys that can play nickel and corner or people that have played nickel and safety. If you have that versatility, it’s good. Same with linebacker. I mean it’s different, ‘Oh, am I making the calls as the Mike?’ and you’re in a different spot and you could have some different responsibilities. Or am I the Will or the Sam where I could be more outside? And with Jalen, he had never really been in the box in college. He was a high school cornerback too. He’s a good athlete, he’s smart. So we’re like, ‘Okay, let’s see how he is at Mike.’ And he has handled it well. But you still need to have the versatility like you see with Curtis Robinson who has been here awhile and Flann. The more they get, the more they add to their value.”

Is it harder when you have a guy who you’re using more at Mike to get them reps at other places just because there’s so much more on their plate?

“No, you can still get multiple spots. You start it early. Kind of like what we did with [CB] Renardo [Green], with nickel. We made sure we got him in both spots. You don’t want to necessarily just totally shock somebody later with something that’s harder. But you can, you trickle it in as you see it, based on the player and what you think they can handle. And so it’s never the same for everybody. Everybody’s different.”

The third down defense wasn’t great last season. What would you say the key is to improving that aspect of the defense this year?

“I think there’s a few things. A lot of times it’s just execution harping on the details, being really detail oriented with how we rush, how we cover. Just those two things tied together. It’s always so much of these things are so close and so minuscule, that if we just continue to stay consistent with how tight can we be with our details, that extra half a step is a win or a loss on that play.”

You guys are deep at defensive tackle it seems. What do you and defensive line coach Kris Kocurek think so far of DL Evan Anderson? What does he need to work on to make this team?

“I think he’s done a nice job. With him, again, it’s the guys learning the attack and being on their line, getting your footwork right. With him, it’s being consistent in your steps and your footwork. He has the power. He’s an athletic guy for a big guy, but it’s just how consistent can he be? Our offense gives us good looks. They give us a lot of looks, get a lot of movement. It’s good players with an explosive O-line. So, he’s getting a lot of work. He’s gotten better.”

Is there a process with deciding if Deommodore Lenoir is best always outside or best being outside and rotating to nickel? Is there any process behind that or is he pretty much just the best nickel guy so he’s always going to move inside?
“Well, we’ve been kind of rotating. We kind of mix things up. You always want to try and change things up and see what guys can handle at different times. That’s pretty much what we’ve been doing in a lot of positions.”

I’m not sure if we’ll see you before the next weekend. Has head coach Kyle Shanahan and yourself, decided will any of the starters see the field in the first preseason game?

“I’m sure Kyle will handle that and we’ll talk through it.”

Have you heard if you get to call plays for the first time in preseason games?

“I am. I’m excited because it’s fun when you get to some of these move the ball periods where it’s not scripted, and it makes it just more fun. It’s also with your process of your coaching staff and who’s giving you personnel and how we hand that off and how we communicate to the players and being in a rhythm. There’s some been some different situations to where you can call different calls, but those true move the ball, that’s where it feels the most like football.”

I know you don’t work closely with him, but running backs coach Robert Bobby Turner Jr. is somewhat of a legendary figure. He’s known to be extremely meticulous among other things. How would you describe what you know of him, just his coaching style and why he has built a reputation?

“You’re right, pretty much what you’ve said. Meticulous, on it, passionate, very serious. In talking with him, I think at one of the away game dinners or something, he was a really good athlete, like multisport athlete too. So he’ll talk about that too. But as far as football and getting the players right, that’s his number one. He’s going to take care of that. He’s a heck of a coach. He is very, very detailed and very serious about it. And that’s why you see so much production and that’s why he is coached for so long. A lot of respect for him.”

Is he ever not serious?

“No, he’ll joke around here and there. I’ve seen him joke around here and there.”