Defensive Coordinator Nick Sorensen Press Conference

Defensive Coordinator Nick Sorensen

Press Conference – September 6, 2024

San Francisco 49ers

What’s kind of the first thing you look at when you take a peek at that Jets defense or offense?

“You want to see what you can find that kind of crosses over. You have to watch a few different things, because the team is different, with [QB Aaron] Rodgers not getting many snaps last year. So, you kind of have to watch a few things. But looking overall, they have good position players. They have good skill players. We know the guys that they brought in. I think it’s definitely going to be a different team. They’ve upgraded. Obviously, having one of the best quarterbacks that’s played the game being in there, it does change them a lot. And they obviously, you can see what they’ve done with their O-Line and making that a priority as well.”

Is there any way to know, you’re going to assume he’s [Rodgers] as good as ever, but have you been able to see enough to know what he’s got still?

“No. Because we haven’t seen tape other than, you might see him throw once on TV or something when someone is at camp. I would assume he’s back to where he is, feeling great. His arm is his arm, as long as he can move, which I would think that he can. And he’s put himself in that position. He’s been getting a lot of reps at practice. I think he’s been ready. He came back so fast at that point last year, I think, from that injury. So I think we’re going to see his best.”

What is the challenge of defending RB Breece Hall? He catches it. He runs it. He’s pretty fast.

“Oh yeah. He’s a dynamic player. He’s explosive, he’s got speed, he’s got size. He can really cut back and get on edges of people. He’s had so many catches in the pass game. He’s just, he’s a weapon. He’s a weapon. They get him the ball and he’s explosive in any way that he gets it.”

How do you envision lining up nickel with your defensive backs? Who are going to be your three corners?

“Well how we’ve been going has been how it started out, with [CB Isaac Yiadom] Ike and [DB Deommodore Lenoir] DMo and [DB Charvarius Ward] Mooney. And then we’ve been rotating guys through and getting a lot of reps with them as well. But that’s how it’s going right now. And [CB] Renardo [Green] rotating in.”

With Renardo, do you cross-train him?

“Yeah, we cross-train him. Like I said, he’s bounced around and however the rep counts are and how he feels at each position, then we just get him more reps of those. That’s just how it’s been with him and whatever he needs, we get him so he’s prepared at both spots, because he has to be.”

How has S Talanoa looked since he got back and do you think there’s a chance for him on Monday?

“It’s been great to see him. He looks good. When I see him out there moving around, I think a lot of it is part of just the process. This was just the next step. Just like anybody, there are those checkmarks and those benchmarks that everyone has to hit and there’s such a specific plan for these guys, that I think he’s just hitting that next one. But seeing him out there and trying to watch him, specifically in his individuals and some of the reps that he gets out there with the look team, he looks good. So it’s about him, how does he feel? Is he hitting those percentage numbers that he needs to hit with the strength, all those tests that they do, that I don’t know fully. They kind of give you some of it. But just talk him through it and see how he feels.”

Are New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh’s fingerprints still on this defense in certain ways?

“I think so. I think everyone’s are kind of everywhere. I think it was, a lot of it came from Seattle, us being there many years ago and where that came from before that. But I think everyone’s got fingerprints from everything in the league. A lot of people are friendly with each other, but also, you don’t even need to talk to other people, you just have to watch tape and you can see what you can tweak. And then not even that, you get so many different changes within staffs, with different people that you spend a lot of time together, you talk about different things. So I think everything is tweaked and you evaluate yourself each year anyway and you might see something that could fit what you do. So I think there’s a lot of that carryover and tweaks that happen here and there for everybody, offense and defense. Look what the different motions for offenses have done, one team does it, the whole league does it within a week or two.”

Rodgers was joking that he’s played against president of football operations/general manager John Lynch and he said, “I think I played against Sorensen.” Do you remember playing against him?

“I think so. I probably should remember. But I think he was a lot younger then, I mean I know he was.”

I think it was a game in 2009, actually.

“Oh, really? Where was it?”

It was 31-3, Green Bay. You were with Cleveland.

“Okay [laughs]. Sounds about right.”

You made a tackle on the second half kickoff.

“Oh, okay. I don’t remember that.”

This week, does it feel any different for you than it has in the past? Or does it feel about the same?

“I think it’s just going through the week now. I think it’s just a change from the offseason to training camp into now. For me, it was more just remembering the schedule and how we kind of go through the days. I think that would’ve been like that in any position. Obviously, it is different for me, being in this position. But it was more because we changed the schedule later in the year a little bit, to tweak it, like everybody does. It was just kind of remembering what the process was and what was next and how we chip away at it, because you just work so hard, you don’t have time to think other than just work. So to say, ‘Does it feel that much different?’ It doesn’t because it’s just, you’re grinding and you’re trying to work to do everything you can to win. Is it different because we also have some new coaches? Absolutely. We have a lot of young coaches that are new to us, as well as [assistant head coach/defense Brandon] Staley coming in. I think it’s different every year. I don’t think it’s that shockingly different to where it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh.’ It’s just, ‘Let’s do the work.’ And ‘Hey, when’s the next meeting again? Let me look at the schedules.’ That’s pretty much it.”

What’s unique about the challenge Aaron Rodgers presents to the defense?

“With him, he’s just, he’s really accurate and he gets rid of the ball quick. He’s had a lot of success. He’s seen everything. You have to be able to be tight on the guys and he’s good when he has a good run game, so you always want to stop the run. And then he’s got different elements off of that. When he trusts receivers and has had time with them, he can be really pinpoint accurate when he knows where they’re going to be. I think that’s the one thing, that he’s always been really connected with someone on his team that’s really good. He can put it in a spot, much like [Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick] Mahomes and [Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis] Kelce have. He’s had that throughout his whole career. And he’s confident, he’s got a confident arm. It’s strong. He can make every throw, he can see the field. So that part of it, you could say that about anyone who’s played that long, because you probably have to be really good to play that long. But he’s also been really good that whole time. He just keeps seeing more and it adds more to his experience. That’s what makes it tough. And they also, like you said, he’s got a good running back too and they’ve revamped the O-Line, added another receiver in [WR] Mike Williams. And even that new running back looks pretty tough too. I think all those things combined.”

Talk about the matchup of DL Nick Bosa and DL Leonard Floyd against their veteran tackles that they’ve brought in.

“It’s a good challenge for them. Those are good players. I love our guys too. So, we’ll see. We’re excited to just get started and start playing.”

How about S George Odum? He seems like he’s improved quite a bit from scrimmage this summer. Is there a chance we’re going to see him at safety in this game?

“Yeah, he’s been going and he’s been doing good. [S] Malik [Mustapha] just keeps progressing too. So really happy with both of them. Along with [S Ji’Ayir Brown] Tig, obviously.”

With most of the injuries and issues and such coming on offense in this training camp, how good do you feel about the continuity you’ve had on defense all the way through training camp, and having your guys out there, being able to hit the ground playing really good football right off the bat?

“That’s a good point, because when you have the guys out there practicing, it does matter because they’re used to hearing each other and communicating. Especially when we had some guys that were hurt already with Huf and [LB Dre] Greenlaw. That’s important because they communicate really well. They’ve meshed together. The good part of it is, they’ve worked really hard and you can see it. They’re very serious and excited about the next step.”

Based on what you saw from Isaac Yiadom on film from last year and being around him so close this spring and summer, can you put your finger on why this is his sixth team since he’s been in the NFL?

“As I see him and what he’s done, I think the coolest thing is I feel like he’s a self-made man. He is a worker. And I respect the hell out of people like that. Because anyone who I’ve ever played with or coached, that is really good, they usually work really hard. Obviously, there is talent. You can’t make it in the NFL if you don’t have like God-given abilities. But to either sustain a long career or to become an elite player, usually those guys work their asses off. I see that in him, so I’m not surprised. That’s what’s cool about Ike, is you see how serious he is and that’s just been consistent in my, however many years being in the NFL, both with teammates and with players that I have coached, there’s usually not a surprise and there’s no coincidence when those guys become what they become. I think he, maybe the surprise part would be, did he just figure it out later?”