Defensive Coordinator DeMeco Ryans Press Conference

Defensive Coordinator DeMeco Ryans

Press Conference – December 13, 2022

San Francisco 49ers

Is the Seattle offense a bit different than what you guys were facing in Week Two where it gets more pass-oriented with Seattle Seahawks QB Geno Smith and what he can do?

“Well, I think the offense from where it’s changed from when we first played these guys, it’s opened up a lot more. I feel like they’re taking a lot more shots down field and completing a lot. They’re a very explosive offense with [Seattle Seahawks WRs] DK [Metcalf] and [Tyler] Lockett. Those guys can, they can take the top off of defense, so we have our hands full. They’re always a tough matchup. We know this team is going to come out, they’re going to play physical, they’re going to compete. It’s always a fun matchup when the Niners and Seahawks get together.”

DL Nick Bosa just said he thinks it’s a little more of a rivalry right now with the coaching staffs than with the players. Would you agree with that?

“Not for me. For me, it’s the next game that we have to win, so I don’t see it as much as a rivalry as like, this is our next opponent. They’re in our division. We know how much this game means for where we want to go down the road, so it’s a big game for that reason because it’s the next one.”

You guys are obviously a little banged up on the interior of the defensive line right now. What’s your just state of confidence in the guys outside of DL Arik Armstead?

“Yeah, I think with our D-line, the cool part about it is we have a lot of guys who’ve played a lot of ball, a lot of guys that we move around and try not to max those guys out, try to keep them as fresh as possible. And I think that’s how we are effective as a defensive line because we want to come in waves. It’s a D-line by committee and that’s always been how we operate, so the guys who we have, I feel like they can go out there and play well for us.”

What have you seen from DL T.Y. McGill since he’s been here?

“Yeah T.Y., he’s shown up. He’s made some plays where he’s explosive. He plays on the other side of the line of scrimmage a lot., so he has flashed and made some plays over the past few weeks and I’m excited to see where he can continue to grow, continue to learn and make even more plays in our scheme, but he’s made a few plays and I’ve been pleased with him.”

Former NFL CB Richard Sherman was on a conference call this morning with Prime and somebody asked him who’s the 49er you think should be in the Pro Bowl that hadn’t been there before? Big play LB Dre Greenlaw came out of his mouth before the question was asked. Just curious in what you’ve seen from Dre this year. You talked about him a couple weeks ago, but he had another huge game. Where is he at in his evolution as a player?

“I think Dre is playing as one of the best linebackers in the NFL right now, his game. First off, when you talk about the speed that play where he’s running down [Miami Dolphins WR] Tyreek [Hill], show me another linebacker doing that. The interceptions he’s made, just his play is just all over the field, the tackling ability in space. He’s probably one of the most confident guys in space in tackling who I have confidence in when the ball is thrown and there’s a lot of space. If Dre is out there, there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s getting that guy down. Dre is playing with very high confidence, he’s playing fast, physical and I love the enthusiasm that he’s playing with out there, because he’s making a ton of plays, which creates that enthusiasm. He is all over the field making plays each and every week for us, and Dre is having his best year of his career. He just has to keep going.”

He’s so explosive that he’s had some issues on occasion with being able to pull up in time because he’s so quick to the ball, but he hasn’t had one of those in a while. Is that something that he’s sort of learned how to play in terms of his role?

“A few penalties, they’ll slow you down. He’s played smarter in those situations, most of the time those plays will come up when he’s been around the quarterback and Dre is running as fast as he can to get there, and he just has to play smarter, which he’s done over the past few weeks. He’s played smarter of knowing when to ease up and when to be able to just jump over the top if that’s the case. You can’t say enough good things about that linebacker core we have with Dre, [LB] Fred [Warner], [LB] Azeez [Al-Shaair]. Those are three of the best linebackers in the NFL, so we’re fortunate to have all three of those guys because they bring it each and every week. They’re playing physical, they’re playing fast, and they’re playing with exceptional effort each and every week leading our team.”