NINERS: This defense has had a big makeover

VF21

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#1
http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/322463.html

This defense has had a big makeover
Few of those on the field tonight played vs. the Broncos last season.
By Matthew Barrows - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 1:10 am PDT Monday, August 13, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1


SANTA CLARA -- The last time Jay Cutler faced the 49ers' defense, he was sacked twice, watched as cornerback Walt Harris intercepted a pass for a touchdown and woozily left the game after absorbing a brutal hit from defensive lineman Anthony Adams.

But that's not why Denver's quarterback might have a hard time recognizing the faces on the other side of the line of scrimmage in tonight's exhibition opener.

The 49ers' defense is a decidedly different unit than the one that helped the team to a stunning 26-23 overtime win against the Broncos just eight months ago.

For one thing, the defense features a 3-4 alignment instead of the 4-3 it played last season. As far as personnel, Adams is gone and Harris will be on the bench, one of the perks of being a 30-something Pro Bowl player on an otherwise youthful team.

There also are key new additions -- cornerback Nate Clements, safety Michael Lewis and linebacker Tully Banta-Cain -- in the starting lineup with other newcomers such as rookie linebacker Patrick Willis and rookie defensive end Ray McDonald likely to see action against the Broncos' first-team offense. In fact, only six of the defensive players who started the game in Denver last year will start tonight.

The final difference is the man calling the shots.

Mike Nolan grew frustrated with defensive coordinator Billy Davis last season, first taking over Davis' play-calling duties and then letting him go at season's end.

Nolan replaced him with Greg Manusky, a former linebacker well-versed in the 3-4 defense and one who promised to operate a more aggressive system than the one used last year.

The only shortcoming is that Manusky never has called a game, and Nolan admitted that's one of the things he is most eager to see tonight.

Manusky, offensive coordinator Jim Hostler and special-teams coordinator Al Everest each will call his first game for the 49ers.

"I want to see how our communications go -- the communication, on the headset and how that gets transferred to the players on the field," Nolan said. "I'm excited about that. It's boring stuff to you, but good to me."

Manusky said he has been practicing his play-calling duties whenever the 49ers have had a live practice or a two-minute drill. He also called the plays in last Saturday's intrasquad scrimmage.

"I have a little inkling on how it goes, but it doesn't replicate the game," said Manusky, who will be in the coaches' booth for today's game.

Of course, Manusky won't have to dig very deep in the playbook against the Broncos.

He said he wants the players to get familiar with their responsibilities in the 3-4 defense but that he won't stray very far from the team's base packages.

"We're not going to show as much as we can show," he said. "But at the same time, we want to get the guys comfortable with the defenses we have and know what they need to do in those defenses."

Safety Mark Roman was one of the defenders who started last year's game in Denver. Having been eliminated from the playoffs, Roman recalled, the team entered that game with an aggressive, nothing-to-lose attitude.

That mentality, Roman said, is one of the few things that has carried over under Manusky.

"I think we're going to be even more aggressive this year," he said. "We can be a pretty salty group, and a lot of us are starting to feel that way."

About the writer: The Bee's Matthew Barrows can be reached at mbarrows@sacbee.com.
 
#3
The defense didn't look all that good against the Bears, but my renewed "Forty-Niner Faithful" optimism allows me to cling to the "it just preseason" rationale.
 
#4
I wouldn't be surprised to see the 49ers win the NFC West this season. I don't think the Seahawks are going to have a good year and the Cardinals are still a year away on defense. The Rams are the favorites, if you ask me, but an injury to Steven Jackson could ruin their season.

This is, in my opinion, the most competitive division in football this season, assuming the 49ers and Cardinals have improved as much as it seems like they have.
 
#5
I played as the Niners, versus the Cowboys, online last night with my PS3 and I won by a score of 5-0. DE-FENSE. :p