49ers’ Robert Saleh in early stages of attempting to rejuvenate a broken defense

SANTA CLARA Robert Saleh is the ers third defensive coordinator in three years but comes with familiarity in terms of the system Nick Bosa and Fred Warner are the only defensive players on the roster who played under Saleh from - and Bosa missed the majority of Saleh s last season with a torn ACL Bosa chooses his words conscientiously and is loathe to criticize either teammates or coaches When Steve Wilks took over for DeMeco Ryans Bosa noted that Wilks had a lot of experience coaching the back end meaning cornerbacks and safeties Wilks lasted just one year giving way to Nick Sorensen and after the ers defense collapsed down the stretch of a - season it wasn t as if Bosa gave him a full-throated endorsement to return I think he s a good coach but it s not my decision Bosa declared after the ers gave up points in their last three games all losses So when Bosa stated of Saleh this week His commanding presence in the defensive meetings is what we needed go ahead and assume the veteran and professorial Wilks nor the first-time defensive coordinator Sorensen didn t exactly fire up the troops Perhaps no coordinator in the NFL is under more pressure than Saleh whom the ers pounced on in the offseason following his dismissal last Oct as head coach of the New York Jets Saleh did chosen consulting for Green Bay had a couple of head coaching interviews but ultimately returned to the ers Other than Jeff Ulbrich a former ers linebacker who was on Saleh s staff there was little or no buzz about any other candidate to run the ers defense Ulbrich is now the defensive coordinator in Atlanta Saleh is energetic and enthusiastic a sideline dervish who got lots of camera time when he was with the ers He s got a level of charisma and potency that was missing with Wilks and Sorensen Saleh will need every bit of it to teach and inspire a ers defense that will be loaded with new faces He is preaching process and repetition and explained his version of the same ers scheme has been simplified enough to espouse Saleh s all gas no brakes philosophy of full speed ahead in terms of preparation and play Fear not the man who has kicks that he practices one time each Saleh commented Thursday after the ers second practice of training camp Fear the man who has one kick that he practices times That s what we re trying to get these guys to understand what techniques they have and then try to rep it as countless times as manageable Bosa Warner and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir are the ers defensive cornerstones with a lot of holes to fill elsewhere A rookie class that includes first-round defensive end Mykel williams second-round defensive tackle Alfred Williams third-round linebacker Nick Martin third-round cornerback Upton Stout fourth round defensive tackle C J West and fifth-round safety Marques Sigle could all be starters sooner rather than later Robert Saleh meets the media after the second practice of ers training camp after returning as defensive coordinator Doug Duran Bay Area News Group I think all of them are doing a really good job trying to absorb the playbook Saleh disclosed You know it s different than when we first got here way back in or even The league s evolved the defense has evolved So it s a little bit more on their plate than what what it s been in the past But I think they re all doing a great job absorbing it all A host of defenders departed with Maliek Collins Justin Hargrave and Leonard Floyd getting issued cornerback Charvarius Ward linebacker Dre Greenlaw and safety Talanoa Hufanga departing in free agency Related Articles Inman Instant analysis of ers training camp practice without excused Purdy Dee Winters takes his shot at replacing Greenlaw as ers weakside LB ers Trent Williams still loving football but keeping eye out for cliff Inman Instant analysis as Purdy excels in ers camp s second practice ers special teams receive added scrutiny after wholesale changes From through his dismissal in Saleh was - in the critical crucible of New York area media So he s used criticism whether valid or over-the-top Not that he s worrying about it The coaching profession is constant pressure Saleh stated If you re asking me about stress and worrying about things I have no control over I don t We re going to give our full attention to the member to put them in the best position workable We trust that position is going to be pretty good You hope things fall your way but as far as trying to make stuff up and make things happen that s kind of when you get in trouble