Defensive Coordinator Nick Sorensen Press Conference

Defensive Coordinator Nick Sorensen

Press Conference – November 21, 2024

San Francisco 49ers

On the Seattle Seahawks QB Geno Smith touchdown, it seemed like there was a lot of confusion before that play. You had guys pointing around, you lost gap integrity and the quarterback rumbled for the touchdown. What did you see on the play? What was the breakdown?

“Yeah, we did lose a gap just in the rush lanes, but our guys are always pointing. I emphasize the heck out of that. I think they’re communicating. So just when it’s going fast, you need to be pointing and communicating and signaling. That’s what was happening there is our guys were getting lined up and communicating the call because I talk to [LB] Fred [Warner] and we signal across the board. There could be combinations within a coverage or man-to-man where you have signals as well. I think you see that on tape too with pretty much everybody. When it’s going fast, that’s what’s going to happen is guys communicating and then we just need to finish at the end.”

Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love started the season with a knee injury and then he had a groin injury, and he was saying this week he’s just starting to feel mobile again and like he could be himself. Can you see that?

“You can see it. He’s a guy that’s always been able to move around enough to make plays and he will. He’s a competitive player. Like, he’ll duck his head and try and get a first down with his legs. But the way that he can move around and still chuck it down the field to receivers that can go get it, it’s impressive. You are starting to see it. He’s highly productive. It’s a really good system and they’ve got all the pieces to fit starting with the running back and the run game that they have.”

Do you expect CB Charvarius Ward to be able to kind of make it back to the field this week? He’s been able to practice, but I know you and head coach Kyle Shanahan said that he didn’t have really any expectations for Ward given he was dealing with something so heavy.

“Yeah, I echo that. So we’ll see.”

How is Green Bay Packers RB Josh Jacobs unique? Kyle said he’s as good as it gets.

“Unique is that I think he truly trusts the system and he’s very physical and you see the jump cuts, but he doesn’t just jump cut to just go wherever. I always feel like he’s just going to the right place because if you’re watching it, he’s just bouncing, no he’s going a gap at a time because he’s jump cutting to get to. He’s got such tight cuts that he’ll get vertical. Everything’s about getting vertical and he is very, very powerful. He’s got great contact balance and I just have a lot of respect for the way that he run because that really fits their scheme, stretching you out, cut it up, he can cut it back, he can bounce it out when they’re just running these direct runs with double teams. He’s doing it the right way and I have a lot of respect for him really for the last few years. He’s a really good back.”

There is familiarity with the Green Bay Packers playing in the last couple years and of course between Kyle and Green Bay Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur. Is there a danger of outthinking yourself in terms of when the way they run their system and the way you run your system?

“Right. It’s true. There’s similarities with really offense and defense on both sides with the systems, so you don’t ever want to outthink yourself, but that’s kind of the battle every week. You always start out with these ideas and you have to cancel them out. One, is it the best thing for this team in this game? And then you pair it down based on situations and then you pair it down even more thinking first and foremost that I always try and think of is the players. You can can drop all these millions of cool plays and cool defenses. Oh, we can do this to this and this, but yeah, are the players going to be able to execute it? If you can’t do that, then there’s no point in adding 25 new blitzes. You need to do stuff that you can do well and you can execute it and they’re comfortable with and we’re all comfortable with coaching it to that you’re really tight, you’re really sound and the guys can play fast. So try not to overthink it as much as possible.”

I’ve seen numbers where you guys blitz like 31^st-most in the league, 16-percent or something around there. What’s your philosophy on blitzing and why is that the right approach with this particular defense that you’re running?

“Well, I think there’s always a time and a place. I’d like to be aggressive. I just think it depends on the situation. I think every game’s different, every situation’s different. And when you have a team that you can keep stuff in front of you and you have guys that you believe in the rush with four guys that can go get it, it just depends on the situation and the game.”

How much did that change, or does it change, when you don’t have DL Nick Bosa for an extended period of time like you did on Sunday? What did you kind of learn from that?

“Yeah, it can change. It just depends. It’s not just about who you have, it’s also who you’re going against too.”

There’s no doubt that Fred Warner is a one of your best players on defense, but in the first half of the season he wasn’t allowing as many catches as he is at this point. What have you seen from him in the second half of the games that you’ve played so far?

“I guess I haven’t really noticed that part of it. I still think he’s doing a great job. He’s the engine. He’s the one that makes everything go and he was just making a lot more plays. I think more stuff was coming to him. I don’t think he’s changed much. He’s still attacking the ball, sometimes they just don’t get thrown your way.”

QB Brandon Allen’s been running scout team this season, except for maybe the last few days. I know scout team, you’re focused on your defense, but any kind of report on him? What have you thought of him as a quarterback?

“I’ve always liked him. I think he did really good last year when he was doing stuff. He has been in the league a long time. He’s played in a lot of systems. He’s got a great arm. He’s a good quarterback.”

In the beginning of games, your defense is starting really fast. I think you’re fourth in the league in points allowed in the first quarter, but in the fourth quarter you’re 28th in the league. Is that about fatigue? It’s a lot of games at this point, so you start to paint the picture. What’s the reason for the fourth quarter?

“Just got to evaluate it all. I don’t think it’s one thing. I look at myself first, so I think I’ve just continually tried to tap into that and what exactly it is. I think we’ve been beating it up and talking about it over and over again. I just think we need to coach it better and execute better and just finish better as a team.”

What’s unique about Jordan Love?

“Unique? I think he’s just gotten better. I think he just continues to get better. I think he gets smarter. He’s making throws, he’s giving his players opportunities to make catches when I think he knows when it’s a good time. But he operates really fast. I think he understands the system and how the offense runs. So he does a lot of stuff on time and so he works through his progressions I think the right way. That’s essential really I think with him and the running back. I think that’s why it makes them a really good offense.”

If you don’t have Nick Bosa on the field Sunday, do you feel like you have the type of front four without him that can generate enough pressure where you don’t have to try to manufacture more than you would otherwise?

“I think you never want to not have one of the best players in the NFL. I love the guys that we have and you’re always prepared for any situation.”