49ers fall 20-17 to Seahawks on game-winning drive in mistake-filled slugfest →

There are 404 users in the forums

Coach - Steve Wilks thread

Shop 49ers game tickets
Originally posted by thl408:
Originally posted by ritz126:
Originally posted by thl408:
First NYG drive of the 2nd half, 3rd & 7. Wilks puts out a 5-1 front (Warner at LB, 5 DBs). This is unusual, since when teams blitz, they like to disguise. Not the 49ers here. Five downlinemen (Bosa, AA, Hargrave, Kinlaw, Drake) to rush the QB with man coverage to back it up. Straight up, "we are rushing five". Hargrave busted through to put on initial pressure, pass incomplete.

we have 5 athletic guys who can all go after the pass rusher gives them all 1 on 1 so its not a bad alignment only issue id tif OL contains well they can break a run loose with only 1 LB.

I first saw it in the PIT game when it was a 1st & 10. I figured it was to bolster the run defense and dare Pickett to beat them on that down.
Last night it was a passing down. It's so deliberate and is daring the offense to beat the man coverage while not disguising anything - zero element of surprise. I think this what Wilks was referring to when he said he would challenge his defense by being more aggressive, something like that. I'll try to find that quote.

i read that quote too somethnig about telling the DBs to put their big boy pants on because they were going to be aggressive and play a lot of man coverage
  • thl408
  • Moderator
  • Posts: 33,059
Originally posted by ritz126:
Originally posted by thl408:
Originally posted by ritz126:
Originally posted by thl408:
First NYG drive of the 2nd half, 3rd & 7. Wilks puts out a 5-1 front (Warner at LB, 5 DBs). This is unusual, since when teams blitz, they like to disguise. Not the 49ers here. Five downlinemen (Bosa, AA, Hargrave, Kinlaw, Drake) to rush the QB with man coverage to back it up. Straight up, "we are rushing five". Hargrave busted through to put on initial pressure, pass incomplete.

we have 5 athletic guys who can all go after the pass rusher gives them all 1 on 1 so its not a bad alignment only issue id tif OL contains well they can break a run loose with only 1 LB.

I first saw it in the PIT game when it was a 1st & 10. I figured it was to bolster the run defense and dare Pickett to beat them on that down.
Last night it was a passing down. It's so deliberate and is daring the offense to beat the man coverage while not disguising anything - zero element of surprise. I think this what Wilks was referring to when he said he would challenge his defense by being more aggressive, something like that. I'll try to find that quote.

i read that quote too somethnig about telling the DBs to put their big boy pants on because they were going to be aggressive and play a lot of man coverage

This is the quote I was referring to, from May 2023. The part about 'talent and athleticism that we have at linebacker'. After reading it again and applying it to what we saw last night, I suppose it wasn't as linebacker related as I thought. Since last night Greenlaw was not on the field in that 5-1 look. I don't watch other defenses as closely as I do the 49ers' defense, so I might be wrong, but this five DL look on passing downs - that's the key, on passing downs - seems unorthodox and I wonder if other teams do it and how often.

https://www.49erswebzone.com/articles/168990-transcript-49ers-defensive-coordinator-steve-wilks-addresses-media/
Question: This defense has played zone coverage at a very high-level for a while. Talking to CB Darrell Luter Jr. yesterday, the rookie, he said he played mostly press-man coverage in college. Is that an element you'd like to incorporate in his defense a little bit more?
Wilks: "I think you have to explore and experiment with everything. My background is diverse in zone as well as man, and I think it can change each week based off your opponent and who you playing. Do I feel like we have the skillset to play more man? Yes. At times, do I want to be a little bit more aggressive with the talent and athleticism that we have at linebacker? Yes."
Originally posted by thl408:
This is the quote I was referring to, from May 2023. The part about 'talent and athleticism that we have at linebacker'. After reading it again and applying it to what we saw last night, I suppose it wasn't as linebacker related as I thought. Since last night Greenlaw was not on the field in that 5-1 look. I don't watch other defenses as closely as I do the 49ers' defense, so I might be wrong, but this five DL look on passing downs - that's the key, on passing downs - seems unorthodox and I wonder if other teams do it and how often.

https://www.49erswebzone.com/articles/168990-transcript-49ers-defensive-coordinator-steve-wilks-addresses-media/
Question: This defense has played zone coverage at a very high-level for a while. Talking to CB Darrell Luter Jr. yesterday, the rookie, he said he played mostly press-man coverage in college. Is that an element you'd like to incorporate in his defense a little bit more?
Wilks: "I think you have to explore and experiment with everything. My background is diverse in zone as well as man, and I think it can change each week based off your opponent and who you playing. Do I feel like we have the skillset to play more man? Yes. At times, do I want to be a little bit more aggressive with the talent and athleticism that we have at linebacker? Yes."

ah got it that was not the quote I was referring to. I like that we can be more aggressive and go man leads to more sacks and TO but I don't like it as a base D because it leads to big plays and getting burned occasionally.

This is why I always think we will have the upper hand against Dan Quinn Dallas team. They are a very talented team on D but they play nickel man coverage pretty much every play and we have so many guys that can beat man coverage
Steve Wilks Revenge Week is here.

Does he still have Head Coaching Aspirations, or can we finally be able to keep a DC for a few years?
  • thl408
  • Moderator
  • Posts: 33,059
Originally posted by SlipAndSlideBosa:
Does he still have Head Coaching Aspirations, or can we finally be able to keep a DC for a few years?

My guess is he still has head coaching aspirations. He was given a raw deal in ARI, having rookie Josh Rosen as his QB, along with a dysfunctional front office.
  • Crown
  • Hall of Fame
  • Posts: 35,033
Originally posted by thl408:
Originally posted by SlipAndSlideBosa:
Does he still have Head Coaching Aspirations, or can we finally be able to keep a DC for a few years?

My guess is he still has head coaching aspirations. He was given a raw deal in ARI, having rookie Josh Rosen as his QB, along with a dysfunctional front office.

He certainly seems like he is built to be a HC.
Originally posted by random49er:
Originally posted by lamontb:
Folks are so hard on this guy. It's like if they don't get 5 sacks a game we suck. Only given up 12 points is not bad. And the td was partly on the offense and special teams.

Given our last 2 DC's it's probably just alotta unrealistic expectations from day 1.

I know I had some. He's figuring out what these guys can do while the bullets are flying. I think both the offense and defense will be better as the year goes on. I have to keep in mind, Wilks is adjusting to our system, not the other way around. Notice each 2nd half been more dominant than the first.
Originally posted by SlipAndSlideBosa:
Does he still have Head Coaching Aspirations, or can we finally be able to keep a DC for a few years?

Josh Rosen as his top 10 QB, a guy that couldn't even stay on a practice squad and Steve Keim as his GM, and fired for Kliff Kingsbury after 1 year. As raw of a deal as there has been in coaching. I hope he shuts them out.
Originally posted by Crown:
Originally posted by thl408:
Originally posted by SlipAndSlideBosa:
Does he still have Head Coaching Aspirations, or can we finally be able to keep a DC for a few years?

My guess is he still has head coaching aspirations. He was given a raw deal in ARI, having rookie Josh Rosen as his QB, along with a dysfunctional front office.

He certainly seems like he is built to be a HC.

I want him for 2- 3 years. Besides the draft picks,I'd like some stability, for some young DBs to develop under him, and for us to possibly groom someone from within.
2024 may be an offseason with relatively fewer head coaching vacancies that usual, so he probably won't be a one-and-done DC.
  • Giedi
  • Veteran
  • Posts: 33,368
Originally posted by SlipAndSlideBosa:
Does he still have Head Coaching Aspirations, or can we finally be able to keep a DC for a few years?

He'll be under contract for two years at least. So its the same as Saleh and Demeco, Wilks 2 years as DC then off to being a HC somewhere. Same with Anthony Lynn, he's up next, then Kyle has to find another Assistant HC in the offseason.

With Mike McDaniel going 3-0, one of (i think) only 3 unbeaten coaches in the NFL right now, Anthony looks (for now) like a lock at being the next Kyle assistant to get a HC job.
Originally posted by Giedi:
Originally posted by SlipAndSlideBosa:
Does he still have Head Coaching Aspirations, or can we finally be able to keep a DC for a few years?

He'll be under contract for two years at least. So its the same as Saleh and Demeco, Wilks 2 years as DC then off to being a HC somewhere. Same with Anthony Lynn, he's up next, then Kyle has to find another Assistant HC in the offseason.

With Mike McDaniel going 3-0, one of (i think) only 3 unbeaten coaches in the NFL right now, Anthony looks (for now) like a lock at being the next Kyle assistant to get a HC job.

I see chargers and bears HC position opening up maybe raiders. I dont htink Anthony Lynn gets hired this cycle
Originally posted by TopDogBerkeley:
2024 may be an offseason with relatively fewer head coaching vacancies that usual, so he probably won't be a one-and-done DC.

He was never going to be. There are bigger names out there this cycle.

Now after next year if he has an elite D he's going somewhere.
Originally posted by ritz126:
I see chargers and bears HC position opening up maybe raiders. I dont htink Anthony Lynn gets hired this cycle

Raiders are still paying Gruden a ton. Theyll convince themselves to give Josh a 3rd year just from a financial standpoint.

Fair or not if Browns don't make the playoffs Stefanski will fall on the sword.
Share 49ersWebzone