DC & STC Candidates

Originally posted by Leathaface:
I would hope that Modkins is a legit candidate. He may bring over some of that no excuses and play balls out all the time attitude that Detroit has that we need to get back to.

Agreed.

Originally posted by RonnieLott:
Surely if Saleh was interviewed for DC, he should have been signed immediately.

Our best hope for Saleh if he is going to be our DC, is that he's already agreed verbally with the 49ers to be our new DC and he's now just finishing his interview with the Jags because he already had it scheduled.

Originally posted by DRCHOWDER:

Originally posted by RonnieLott:
Surely if Saleh was interviewed for DC, he should have been signed immediately.

Our best hope for Saleh if he is going to be our DC, is that he's already agreed verbally with the 49ers to be our new DC and he's now just finishing his interview with the Jags because he already had it scheduled.

Yeah, he's just doing his druthers to make sure people know that his goal is to be HC, again.

Originally posted by RonnieLott:
Surely if Saleh was interviewed for DC, he should have been signed immediately.

Wasn't he working for the Packers? Maybe waiting until after the season to leave

Originally posted by RonnieLott:
Surely if Saleh was interviewed for DC, he should have been signed immediately.

He has two HC interviews lined up, including one tomorrow with Jacksonville.

Originally posted by Predator85:

Originally posted by ninerfan4life:

The 49ers have completed an interview with Jett Modkins for the team's Special Teams Coordinator position. pic.twitter.com/cMOgssQ8w7

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) January 13, 2025

His dad use to be the OC here

that's nuts

Originally posted by GEEK:

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by TheXFactor:
Shanny hates Jim. Worked together in 2014 with Cleveland and purposely chose to not retain him back in 2017.

I understand, just saying that sometimes coaches might suck at one position or another but still can have their uses. I wouldn't be upset about Staley sticking around in his current spot on the staff.

It's plausible that Staley could get a DC role given all of the current and anticipated vacancies out there.

And if he does leave, I'd love Ulbrich to replace him on our staff.

Ulbrich would be a solid DC option as well!

Originally posted by bud49:

Originally posted by TheXFactor:

Originally posted by bud49:
I also don't want a DC that will be here for 1 or 2 years then move onto a HC gig. But it's not my decision so I will juts wait and see. I've heard a name off of Spags defensive staff,

• Dave Merritt: A long-time assistant to Spagnuolo, Merritt is the current defensive backs coach for the Chiefs. The two worked together during the Giants' championship season in 2007.

we don't need anymore first time DC risks. Shanny probably will pick a vet. Like Gus Bradley.

Me personally would not be happy with Gus Bradley.

I don't know who remembers this, but back in 2017 when Kyle was putting together hist 1st staff, he wanted Bradley as a DC and couldn't get him, then settled for Saleh, who 90% hated the hire.

DC will most likely end up being Saleh, unless someone snatches him up for a HC. But IMO, it's highly unlikely he becomes a head coach this next season. But if some how Green Bay has an opening at DC he's staying there. My prediction of Saleh at DC along with Jeff Ulbriich following and placed somewhere on the defensive staff. Two DC's for the price of one.

I'm curious about what exactly a special teams coordinator does. There's only so much they can do when it comes to lining up on kicks. It's not like designing a defense or offense that can give lot's of different looks. Other than pumping them up and telling them to play hard what else can they do? I'm asking because I don't know. Even when it comes to which players they use it's not up to them. The HC has to approve anyone that plays on ST.

Originally posted by CatchMaster80:
I'm curious about what exactly a special teams coordinator does. There's only so much they can do when it comes to lining up on kicks. It's not like designing a defense or offense that can give lot's of different looks. Other than pumping them up and telling them to play hard what else can they do? I'm asking because I don't know. Even when it comes to which players they use it's not up to them. The HC has to approve anyone that plays on ST.

I think your take is exactly how Kyle thinks about the position. Clearly there's more to it than that. Creativity? Fake punts ? Punt block attempts ? Teaching your players to stray away from kicks, especially when you're within 5 yards of the receiver so the ball doesn't bounce off your body ? Not field kicks that are bouncing erratically with the coverage team hovering ? Learning how to secure the ball ? I think those are things that can be coached.

I agree, though, that ultimately the key players being fielded eg kicker, punter, long snapper, place holder are determined by the head coach…

Originally posted by Kolohe:
DC will most likely end up being Saleh, unless someone snatches him up for a HC. But IMO, it's highly unlikely he becomes a head coach this next season. But if some how Green Bay has an opening at DC he's staying there. My prediction of Saleh at DC along with Jeff Ulbriich following and placed somewhere on the defensive staff. Two DC's for the price of one.

If the Packers want to fire Hafley the 9ers should welcome him with open arms

I'm a little surprised the team hasn't brought anyone else in for an interview for the DC job, given that it's possible Robert Saleh accepts a head coaching job somewhere else. It'd be nice if they looked at DC's who used different schemes but I guess Shanahan doesn't want to. I don't hate the wide-9 scheme they employ, after all the Texans run it and they did just fine yesterday, but it would be nice to see them exploring options.

Originally posted by DrEll:

Originally posted by CatchMaster80:
I'm curious about what exactly a special teams coordinator does. There's only so much they can do when it comes to lining up on kicks. It's not like designing a defense or offense that can give lot's of different looks. Other than pumping them up and telling them to play hard what else can they do? I'm asking because I don't know. Even when it comes to which players they use it's not up to them. The HC has to approve anyone that plays on ST.

I think your take is exactly how Kyle thinks about the position. Clearly there's more to it than that. Creativity? Fake punts ? Punt block attempts ? Teaching your players to stray away from kicks, especially when you're within 5 yards of the receiver so the ball doesn't bounce off your body ? Not field kicks that are bouncing erratically with the coverage team hovering ? Learning how to secure the ball ? I think those are things that can be coached.

I agree, though, that ultimately the key players being fielded eg kicker, punter, long snapper, place holder are determined by the head coach…

Those things are common sense stuff that every coach knows and preaches. The players know it too yet they still bump into punt returners or jump off side on FG attempts. None of that stuff is rocket science. There's only so much that can be done so I'm guessing that most of the special teams success has more to do with the players than the coach. We've seen ST coaches that were great one place and just average at another. I'm convinced that much of the problem that the Niners had this year was directly related to injuries that forced some guys into the starting lineup who would have been backups and special teams guys. Kyle doesn't liketo use starters on special teams.

Go get John Fassel as ST coach, right now!