Former NY Jets HC Robert Saleh

As I scanned this thread, I saw a few points I would like to weigh in on:

1.) Calling AA a bust is ridiculous at this point. He spent most of his rookie year learning the position/system before earning increased playing time toward the end of the season where he flashed some of his incredible talent. He began last year with a substantial shoulder injury and tried to play through it. I blame the medical staff for that one. Go back and look at the film from the first six weeks. Dude looks like he is playing one-handed most of the time. He may never reach his full potential, but he has some outstanding football in him.

2.) Yes, a coach from a bad franchise can still be good. Remember McCarthy's tenure here? How did that work out for Green Bay? Shanahan worked with Saleh for 4 years in Houston. Game recognizes game.

3.) If Saleh switches to a 4-3, it could be great. Armstead, Dial, and Buckner can move up and down the line, Blair is much more dangerous with his hand in the dirt, and Lynch's added weight might actually be a benefit. We need a middle-clogging NT and a couple sideline to sideline LBs and this could be a formidable defense faster than we expected.

Originally posted by 808niner4lyphe:

I don't get it tho.. If we are switching over to 4-3. Why not bring in a proven coordinator like Fisher, where Shanahan can leave him alone with the defense while focusing on his offense since he will be the OC himself too? We're putting a lot of pressure on this rookie DC. Hopefully it works out but idk man.

Cause his nasty mustache looks a lot like Tomsula. No one wants to look at that disgusting shag everyday.

Originally posted by VaBeachNiner:

Originally posted by 49erFF4evr:
I've read thousands of posts since I found this site many yrs ago so I really know who the whiners and what not are and which ones are beyond help.. LOL

Then as someone who has read 'thousands' of posts, you should know better than to rant about the state of the Niners fandom in a DC thread.

Originally posted by 808niner4lyphe:
I don't get it tho.. If we are switching over to 4-3. Why not bring in a proven coordinator like Fisher, where Shanahan can leave him alone with the defense while focusing on his offense since he will be the OC himself too? We're putting a lot of pressure on this rookie DC. Hopefully it works out but idk man.

proven? Fisher hasn't been a DC since 1994 lol...and honestly the only thing he's proven is that he sucks.

Originally posted by titan:

Originally posted by 808niner4lyphe:

I don't get it tho.. If we are switching over to 4-3. Why not bring in a proven coordinator like Fisher, where Shanahan can leave him alone with the defense while focusing on his offense since he will be the OC himself too? We're putting a lot of pressure on this rookie DC. Hopefully it works out but idk man.

Cause his nasty mustache looks a lot like Tomsula. No one wants to look at that disgusting shag everyday.

I'm guessing you're having a hard time growing a mustache?

It's okay son, when you finally grow up and hit pubic, you'll be growing a lot of hairs and mustaches in places where you don't want them to. In the meantime, enjoy being the kid that you are now son.

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by 808niner4lyphe:

I don't get it tho.. If we are switching over to 4-3. Why not bring in a proven coordinator like Fisher, where Shanahan can leave him alone with the defense while focusing on his offense since he will be the OC himself too? We're putting a lot of pressure on this rookie DC. Hopefully it works out but idk man.

proven? Fisher hasn't been a DC since 1994 lol...and honestly the only thing he's proven is that he sucks.

I don't think Fisher would bring good vibes with him. He seems like a stubborn ass.

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by 808niner4lyphe:

I don't get it tho.. If we are switching over to 4-3. Why not bring in a proven coordinator like Fisher, where Shanahan can leave him alone with the defense while focusing on his offense since he will be the OC himself too? We're putting a lot of pressure on this rookie DC. Hopefully it works out but idk man.

proven? Fisher hasn't been a DC since 1994 lol...and honestly the only thing he's proven is that he sucks.

Some people sucks at being a HC than being coordinators. He hasn't been a DC since '94 but at least he has experience at being a DC. Obviously he was proven enough to land him a Head Coaching gig even tho he sucked pretty bad at it. Experienced trumps Inexperienced all the time.

I don't care what defense we run..

Get after the QB.
Gang tackle.
Don't miss tackles.
Create turnovers.
Play sound football and be aggressive.

Originally posted by 808niner4lyphe:

I don't get it tho.. If we are switching over to 4-3. Why not bring in a proven coordinator like Fisher, where Shanahan can leave him alone with the defense while focusing on his offense since he will be the OC himself too? We're putting a lot of pressure on this rookie DC. Hopefully it works out but idk man.

First of all no one said we're switching completely to a 4-3 and I doubt any coach would take a promotion if they weren't ready or felt pressured. I think Kyle has his guys that he has a close relationship with that he trusts and are ready to take that next step. Fisher has been a head coach before and it's just an assumption that he even wants to be a DC again. Maybe he just wants to be a head coach and not have to take orders from a young first time head coach.

Remember the last couple of years Baalke had to help Tomsula and Kelly find coaches and we all know he picks coaches like how he picks players.

Originally posted by Joecool:

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by 808niner4lyphe:
I don't get it tho.. If we are switching over to 4-3. Why not bring in a proven coordinator like Fisher, where Shanahan can leave him alone with the defense while focusing on his offense since he will be the OC himself too? We're putting a lot of pressure on this rookie DC. Hopefully it works out but idk man.

proven? Fisher hasn't been a DC since 1994 lol...and honestly the only thing he's proven is that he sucks.

I don't think Fisher would bring good vibes with him. He seems like a stubborn ass.

someone who's been a HC for like 20 straight yrs is gonna "just" try and be a DC lol. It would be a disaster...Kyle's worked with Saleh and he's worked under some good defensive minds.

Originally posted by 808niner4lyphe:

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by 808niner4lyphe:
I don't get it tho.. If we are switching over to 4-3. Why not bring in a proven coordinator like Fisher, where Shanahan can leave him alone with the defense while focusing on his offense since he will be the OC himself too? We're putting a lot of pressure on this rookie DC. Hopefully it works out but idk man.

proven? Fisher hasn't been a DC since 1994 lol...and honestly the only thing he's proven is that he sucks.

Some people sucks at being a HC than being coordinators. He hasn't been a DC since '94 but at least he has experience at being a DC. Obviously he was proven enough to land him a Head Coaching gig even tho he sucked pretty bad at it. Experienced trumps Inexperienced all the time.

if that experience as been s**t I could careless...you think he's just gonna go from being a HC for 20 straight yrs to a DC? that's not happening man...it would be a mess, that's like taking a CEO of a company for 20 years and then giving him a lower level job, you think he's gonna "just" be the DC I doubt it.

Actually now that I think of it has there ever been a guy who's been a HC for 20 yrs that goes back to being a coordinator???

http://www.ninersnation.com/2017/2/14/14608732/49ers-defense-robert-saleh-4-3-gus-bradley-pete-dan-quinn-pete-carroll

http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/article114728938.html

Originally posted by Karma:

As I scanned this thread, I saw a few points I would like to weigh in on:

1.) Calling AA a bust is ridiculous at this point. He spent most of his rookie year learning the position/system before earning increased playing time toward the end of the season where he flashed some of his incredible talent. He began last year with a substantial shoulder injury and tried to play through it. I blame the medical staff for that one. Go back and look at the film from the first six weeks. Dude looks like he is playing one-handed most of the time. He may never reach his full potential, but he has some outstanding football in him.

2.) Yes, a coach from a bad franchise can still be good. Remember McCarthy's tenure here? How did that work out for Green Bay? Shanahan worked with Saleh for 4 years in Houston. Game recognizes game.

3.) If Saleh switches to a 4-3, it could be great. Armstead, Dial, and Buckner can move up and down the line, Blair is much more dangerous with his hand in the dirt, and Lynch's added weight might actually be a benefit. We need a middle-clogging NT and a couple sideline to sideline LBs and this could be a formidable defense faster than we expected.

One thing is for sure, regardless of the system, we need a space-eating NG/NT. I was not a proponent of bringing back an injury prone Dorsey before, but now I think I would re-sign Dorsey to a cheap deal because of three reasons:

1) he is a good NT when healthy
2) would be a good fit at DT in the 4-3
3) would be a solid veteran mentor to current and new players coming in


Agreed on calling AA a bust. The guy was still flashing last year even while injured. Compare that to a guy like McCloughan's former pick, Kentwan Balmer who was routinely stonewalled, blown off the ball and never flashed anything -- that's what a true bust looks like. Since their days at Oregon, it was clear Buckner has always been the superior player, but Armstead -- who I graded a late first to early 2nd rounder looks like a player who's really not too far from getting things together.

Originally posted by smithgdwg:
Seems like a hire because there is no one left. Probably end up being a 1 year hire where we can find a more qualified candidate next offseason. Not a big deal since this year is year 1 in the rebuild.

maybe, but if we're rumored to get Fangio, why switch to a 4-3? If we're planning on making the switch permanent for the time being, what "more qualified" candidates run the 4-3? Saleh isn't a sexy hire, but he learned under Carroll and Bradley, who are pretty damn good at defense. I didn't like him but after I did a little research, he has the potential.

If we were switching to a 4-3 we wouldn't have retained some of our defensive coaching staff. I think its obvious we are sticking with the 3-4 because its cheaper and easier to build. Not to mention we already have pieces in place.

Saleh wasn't brought here to change our defense, I can say that pretty confidently. He has never even been a DC before. We are keeping the 3-4 and thats why we kept tarver, etc.