Defensive Coordinator Raheem Morris Press Conference

Defensive Coordinator Raheem Morris

Press Conference – September 1, 2026

San Francisco 49ers

What’s the level of concern about the health of your pass rush with DL Nick Bosa and DL Romello Height?

“We’ll see. We’ve got a week to practice. We’ve got to get to Australia. All those things that happen. Obviously, they haven’t been out there today, but we’ve got plans and different return dates, when they return, get a chance to practice this week and get ready to go. So, I feel pretty good about it.”

How useful was the time when the pads went on to this point right here for you figuring out how the pieces fit and what you want to do schematically through the season?

“I think it started throughout the whole process. We came in from OTA days. It started there. Obviously, you go through the Draft, you get a couple of pieces, you add people, you get people back coming off injury, all those things. The whole process has been useful. Going into training camp, getting a chance to see things, you have some exploratory things you want to check out. You’ve got some things you know you can really do well, some things you want to get better at. I think all those things come into play and now it starts to zero down on what you need to do to try to win this weekend or whenever we get to Australia.”

What’s your comfort level right now with your defensive tackle options next to DL Osa Odighizuwa and how do you envision that rotation?

“Feel pretty deep there. Obviously, we had a bunch of guys, got a couple guys claimed, one guy claimed in particular, but we have some young guys we brought in here this year. The guys that we drafted throughout the process. Whether it’s been [DL Alfred Collins] A.C., whether it’s been [DL C.J.] West, whether it’s been [DL Gracen] Halton coming back off injury, Osa, all of those guys having a chance. [DL] James Thompson [Jr.]’s the shocker of camp, being able to go out there and make the team. I think all those things have been really well. I like the inside, interior people and what they’ve been able to do, particularly with some of the vision of some of those guys flexing down. When you talk about [DL] Keion White or [DL] Mykel [Williams] when he gets back. You’ve got a bunch of different people in there that could play, give you some good rotational pieces to do some good things.”

On early base downs, do you feel like you already have an idea of who you want there or is that going to be kind of a work in progress as you go?

“Obviously, A.C. and C.J. played a significant role last year. James and Osa are our new guys. Osa has been brought here to solidify that three technique for us and do some really good things. So, I’ve got a really good idea on what it’s going to look like. Now we’ve got to go out there and do it.”

What did you see from James Thompson Jr. in particular this offseason that convinced you he’s an NFL player?

“Honestly, you’ve seen it. I can’t help but see you on Instagram. You pop up every single day, and you’re exactly right. Big man, stood up, throwing hands, been able to shed blocks, get off, X off, do a lot of really good things in a positive way. It’s a lot of what you saw. You can just share it with everybody else.”

Does that cause you anxiety when you see media reports about guys that you’d like to sort of sneak onto the roster? Young players that you’d like to maybe get on your practice squad or something that you have to cut.

“Oh, I’m too old to have anxiety about that. That happens. I told [defensive line coach] Kris Kocurek the other day, that’s a sign of him being too famous for his own good. You get guys claimed that you brought in here as a free agent, and you get another guy to make the football team. You find ways to get guys better. I wasn’t around, but I heard how much improved A.C. and C.J. got throughout the course of the season last year. Then coming off the injury, getting those guys to fight back and do some of those different things. I mean, it’s really a credit to the organization, a credit to the guys seeing the talent, a credit to the guys that’s been brought in here to do those things. That stuff happens. That comes with football. Hard to say it’s anxiety. It’s just the norm.”

A lot of times these Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay head coach Kyle Shanahan matchups are sort of described as chess matches between two of the best minds in football. Having now been on both sides of it, what makes these matchups special or different?

“Screw those guys (laughter). No, I’m just kidding. I mean, you’re talking about two of the best minds in football, right? Kyle’s been doing it such a long time at such a high level and really the Shanahan name, right? Talking about his dad, talking about the lineage of what’s going on throughout that process. Kyle really doesn’t get enough credit. All those guys were together with him and then they’ve gone and kind of branched out and done some really good things, whether it’s [Green Bay Packers head coach] Matt LaFleur, whether it’s [Arizona Cardinals head coach] Mike LaFleur, whether it’s even Sean McVay. They’ve explored, they’ve done different things. They get a chance to get together and really be a pain in the neck for us defensive guys throughout the course of football. So, it’s been fun. I’ve been able to join them and coach on the same side of the ball, been on the opposite side of the ball. It’s always going to be fun. It’s always going to be good. It’s just a matter of who executes that day. So, it’s something that we all love to watch.”

I know you said your first impression of Kyle was a nerd. What was your first impression of Sean McVay?

“Man, you took me back. When Sean first got there, he was actually a nerd too, in a different way. He just was obsessed with football. Loved football, found any way possible to get in the National Football League. Got in the National Football League and then really turned out. He’ll joke and say I’m the first person to fire him. Found a way to come back and just absolutely take his football knowledge to a whole different level. So, I’ve been really excited watching all our guys and as we grew up throughout the course of football, it’s been fun.”

What makes their three tight end personnel package tricky to defend?

“I think it was the switch that he had throughout the course of the season last year. Started off being historically an 11-team, moved a little bit to 12, and then it just kind of goes to what we talked about in the beginning about defense. You play what suits your team and he found three really good tight ends that he felt really comfortable playing. It probably started really with some of the injuries that may have happened, whether it was [Los Angeles Rams WR] Davante [Adams] or [Los Angeles Rams WR] Puka [Nacua] in the beginning. You start to explore those things to get different guys out there. They get a chance to go out there and show up, and then you find a way to change your identity a little bit. How you run the football, what you look like in 13. So, you have to prepare for everything, right? You know what they can do in 11. We know what they now could do in 13 or 12. He’s probably cooking up something new. A couple years ago we had [former Los Angeles Rams WR Ben] Skowronek go back at fullback and do some [FB Kyle Juszczyk] Juice type things. So, there’s a bunch of different things that’s going to happen on game day. You got to take what you see from a day one install, be ready to go out there and prepare for those things. But no, there’s going to be some wrinkle, something that you’ve got to get ready to deal with.”

You mentioned that you guys have a plan for Bosa. Does he need to practice tomorrow to make the trip? And if he doesn’t and he’s on the trip, how much practice does he need for you to feel comfortable?

“Bosa’s played a lot of football. For me to feel comfortable, it’d be different. It’s more about Bosa, right? So, what does Bosa need? What does he need to get out there and prepare himself to go be the very best version of himself? So Bosa, he’s got a plan in place, and I don’t want to reveal it if Kyle hasn’t done it. I’ll let him do that stuff, break the news to you what’s going on with that. But, obviously they’ve got a real legit plan. We’ve got [vice president of player health and performance] Dustin Perry, we’ve got [head of sports medicine and head athletic trainer] Dustin Little, we’ve got Kyle Shanahan, [president of football operations and general manager] John Lynch, all of his coaches. All hands on deck type mentality to get him ready to go. Whatever it takes for him to get out there, I’m just going to feel good when he gets a chance to get out there and be able to call those plays for him.”

While he’s been out, DL Sam Okuayinonu has been taking a lot of the first-team stuff at defensive end throughout camp. What makes him a starting-caliber defensive end? What’s his specialties?

“I think just the pitbull mentality that he has. He’s a barnyard bully. He can do whatever you want him to do. He’s kind of got that role where he can be that spinner we talked about. He can play at the line of scrimmage, plays with great strength, is able to go out there and shed blocks, be able to cause havoc. His ability to turn and run and get to the ball. I think we’ve seen a big-time screen. That’s a standard type play for the 49ers and what he’s able to do. So, I’m really excited about all of those guys and him getting his opportunity to go out there and do some of those things if it presents itself I know he’ll be ready.”

Did LB Jaden Dugger show enough progress in camp to put himself in a position to be a significant contributor on defense early in the season?

“You know, you’re talking about a rookie, right? And they’re always going to have super highs. We see the super highs. Again, I hate to keep referencing you, but when you talked about the long stride, short stride, to get that guy down in the flat, that was unbelievable. It was [Tennessee Titans QB] Cam Ward, I believe, in the first game. Then he showed a couple lows in the box and being able to be confused, things of that nature. But, you see the splash plays, you see the length, you see the talent and he’s exciting. There’s always going to be ups and downs throughout the course of the season, but I think the whole goal for me and the whole goal for Dugger is just to get better throughout the course of the season and to be ready whenever his number’s called.”