Defensive Coordinator Nick Sorensen Press Conference

Defensive Coordinator Nick Sorensen

Press Conference – December 19, 2024

San Francisco 49ers

You go against your own offense all throughout the offseason and summer. How does the Miami offense differ from the 49ers?

“It is similar. There are a lot of similarities. There are a few differences, but I mean, just the ability to move things around, get to two back. Just, they’re so multiple, they have a lot of speed and [QB] Tua [Tagovailoa] is really good in his timing. There are some similarities, but they do execute as well. So there’s some stuff you can grab on, but we’ll see.”

What are the points you emphasize when you face a team with such speed like Miami has?

“It doesn’t, we just have to execute right. It’s more, every week is that because I feel like when we do execute well we play better. But, you want to take speed off if you can, when it applies depending on the coverages. But, you’ve got to hit guys, hopefully they don’t run as fast, but we’ll see.”

DL Nick Bosa talked about how it feels like the defensive line is really hitting its stride at this point. What is it that’s so challenging about what defensive line coach Kris Kocurek asks that it takes a little while for guys like DL Leonard Floyd to really get up to speed?

“I guess it depends on where they came from, what scheme they came from. And I think Leonard was more standup and had done some outside linebacker-ish type stuff. So just depends. Some guys, there are just different styles. Just like how our linebackers play too if they come from a different type of scheme. Just with three-four versus four-down and even some four-down teams don’t play like our D-Line does. So it just, it kind of depends. The getting on your target, your explosion lines and how we play blocks and how we attack. And I think with Floyd, and any of the guys that have come that are new, they’ve gotten better. That’s kind of been the whole kind of theme of this year is like how much, how fast can we get better and kind of gel together. Because it wasn’t just young guys that were playing, it was new guys that we brought in because so many new guys came in and it’s just been cool to see that come to fruition the last couple weeks.”

We kind of saw it last year, also. I know you weren’t defensive coordinator, but you were here with New Orleans Saints DL Chase Young and former NFL DL Randy Gregory kind of not really, I guess, hitting their potential or stride until maybe the very end. And Nick Bosa said it’s very nuanced to all the different things that they do. Can you give us like one example?

“I mean, it is. It’s nuanced in, like I just said, your explosion and your footwork and how you think you’re attacking when you’re really maybe not. So that’s one example. No, that’s the truth. You feel like you’re getting off the line and until you show like, ‘No, this is what it’s supposed to look like.’ And then they start to feel what that really feels like. And then someone like Leonard that’s had to, you know, been in a two-point most of his career, he’ll still stand up from time to time because we don’t want to take those other eight, nine years out of him because he is used to it, but there are times that it takes a while to be in a three-point stance and then having those good footwork and explosion lines with your feet off the line.”

So much emphasis is placed on practice time and needing practice time to get better, it’s something head coach Kyle Shanahan emphasizes all the time. How do you account for guys like S Talanoa Hufanga and LB Dre Greenlaw being so good now, like immediately, after missing all the time they missed?

“That’s a good question. Because Greenlaw’s done that, he did that a few years ago too. I think it was the first year I got here. I got here in ’22, and ‘21 was the year that he had played the first game and didn’t play until like the very end against the Rams. And it was like, ‘This guy missed a whole season and just played this game and they, it was so good?’ I think it’s also what they’re focusing on when they’re not playing. When you’re hurt and, ‘Am I putting myself fully into this mental rep or am I not? Am I studying with my time?’ And then also those guys are special too. They picked up the system really well and really fast. And I think it’s, what are you thinking about and what are you doing when you’re not out there? Are you getting those exact mental reps so when you come back you don’t have to think as much as before?”

The last game was a week ago, so it seems like a long time. We haven’t heard from you on this. So what was your perspective of LB De’Vondre Campbell Sr.’s situation and how perplexing was it for you?

“I think, yeah perplexing. I think Kyle and [president of football operations/general manager] John [Lynch] pretty much hit it. I think they summed it up, along with our players as well as anybody. So, I don’t really have anything to add more than what it was and what everyone has said.”

What are your thoughts on S Malik Mustapha long-term at free safety? Can he play there long-term? Can he be your answer there?

“Yeah, I think our safeties have to be multiple and yeah, he’s been great so far. He’s gotten better. He’s been violent, he’s played fast, he’s really accelerated how he communicates and how he executes.”

Is there a difference between free and strong safety in your defense?

“Yeah. there are some differences, but we like our guys to be able to do both.”

On the end of game, that third-down play, that 14-yard pass they completed to Los Angeles Rams TE Colby Parkinson, what happened?

“Just miscommunication. We had some of those calls and just, right there, they got us.”