2021 Off Season Thread

The 49ers have hired Butch Barry, who served as the Packers' senior analyst this past season, a source said. He will be the 49ers assistant offensive line coach
 
Be interesting to see who the new DC is and what schematic changes that brings. If they stay primarily a 3-4 type team then the off-season needs on defense would be more subtle. A switch to a 4-3 and you might need to draft differently for defense and add a FA or two to fill in the front 7.

Fortunately, I think both ZSmith and Gary can play DE in a 4-3 so we are not completely without options like we might have been a few years ago when we were using more traditional LBs at those outside spots. They'll need a guy inside next to Clark though they probably needed that either way as Lowry and Lancaster weren't getting it done. In a pinch, Lancaster could probably be that guy.

The "LB" group was pretty woeful to begin with, but if they go 4-3, they really need help. Neither of the Smiths or Gary are well suited to play LB in the 4-3. Martin can probably play inside. Barnes can probably play the weakside spot though I'm not sure he covers well enough or has the desired speed. I really don't see a guy who's ready to play the strong side.

In the secondary things don't change as much. Mostly it'll be about whether the new DC is a man or zone type guy. You need a CB either way, but if they stay mostly with man coverage then you need a guy who fits that role. I like Asante Samuel Jr in the draft for precisely that reason. He's undersized like Jaire, but his strength is man coverage. If they go more to zone type concepts, maybe you can partially resurrect Josh Jackson, but I'm still looking for a CB and guys like Campbell and Stokes from Georgia make sense in Rd 1.
 
57packer said:
Be interesting to see who the new DC is and what schematic changes that brings. If they stay primarily a 3-4 type team then the off-season needs on defense would be more subtle. A switch to a 4-3 and you might need to draft differently for defense and add a FA or two to fill in the front 7.

Fortunately, I think both ZSmith and Gary can play DE in a 4-3 so we are not completely without options like we might have been a few years ago when we were using more traditional LBs at those outside spots. They'll need a guy inside next to Clark though they probably needed that either way as Lowry and Lancaster weren't getting it done. In a pinch, Lancaster could probably be that guy.

The "LB" group was pretty woeful to begin with, but if they go 4-3, they really need help. Neither of the Smiths or Gary are well suited to play LB in the 4-3. Martin can probably play inside. Barnes can probably play the weakside spot though I'm not sure he covers well enough or has the desired speed. I really don't see a guy who's ready to play the strong side.

In the secondary things don't change as much. Mostly it'll be about whether the new DC is a man or zone type guy. You need a CB either way, but if they stay mostly with man coverage then you need a guy who fits that role. I like Asante Samuel Jr in the draft for precisely that reason. He's undersized like Jaire, but his strength is man coverage. If they go more to zone type concepts, maybe you can partially resurrect Josh Jackson, but I'm still looking for a CB and guys like Campbell and Stokes from Georgia make sense in Rd 1.
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Couple of things here and it actually a reply to the community here as a whole not just answering this post which is steller I might add. Your all overthinking the 4 and 3 man front thing.... because of the nature of the base spread scheme it's not as big a deal as it was say 15 years ago.

Gary isn't an OLB... never was he slides down to the off DE position ( Elephant, bandit whatever) and Kenny Clark goes back inside where he can be disruptive. However, most teams are playing a fair amount of 3-3-5 on 2 downs and most go dime on third down so it's not a big deal.

ILB is a big deal and needs to be drafted in round 1 or 2. Yes I know about CB and WR but the longer we wait the dumber we look trying to plug trash into the spot... draft a good one and move on already.

Again same as above the zone or man argument is overthought, everybody plays a mix of the two however GB can't really play Man press with the group it has no matter what they do up front...too slow for that. Off man with combo coverages mixed in seems to be where they make hay and hopefully ML is seeing the same on video.

My point is you don't hire a guy based on personal as much as what he believes and his attitude toward culture etc. MP thought watching last year's beat down on tape before the NFC title game was more important than film study on TB and keeping his defense focused... bad juju.

Last tidbit GB is going to have to dig because the best DC are already off the market this late. FCC( ML takes his time and finds a guy that fits HIS mindset not what we or the front office want.
 
We actually played more 3-3-5 this past year than we did 3-4-4 from what I saw. Mark's point is spot on.

As for who is selected, the "usual suspects" isn't always the best way to find the right person. Instead of going to the recycled bin, it sometimes takes a different perspective with a few new wrinkles that can make an impact. The person LeFleur chooses will be someone who has some ideas that will be a departure from the same-o, same-o from recycled coaches.

I won't worry one bit about the choice until after I see what's happening on the field for several quarters.
 
I hope ML chooses a younger D coordinator with fresh ideas and not a guy like Wade Phillips.

Also, I do not think Wade Phillips would really fit with ML anyway.

Fingers crossed we find the right guy.
 
Will the DC come from the NFL or college?
will be interesting to see how it plays out
 
Mark87 said:
Couple of things here and it actually a reply to the community here as a whole not just answering this post which is steller I might add. Your all overthinking the 4 and 3 man front thing.... because of the nature of the base spread scheme it's not as big a deal as it was say 15 years ago.

Gary isn't an OLB... never was he slides down to the off DE position ( Elephant, bandit whatever) and Kenny Clark goes back inside where he can be disruptive. However, most teams are playing a fair amount of 3-3-5 on 2 downs and most go dime on third down so it's not a big deal.

ILB is a big deal and needs to be drafted in round 1 or 2. Yes I know about CB and WR but the longer we wait the dumber we look trying to plug trash into the spot... draft a good one and move on already.

Again same as above the zone or man argument is overthought, everybody plays a mix of the two however GB can't really play Man press with the group it has no matter what they do up front...too slow for that. Off man with combo coverages mixed in seems to be where they make hay and hopefully ML is seeing the same on video.

My point is you don't hire a guy based on personal as much as what he believes and his attitude toward culture etc. MP thought watching last year's beat down on tape before the NFC title game was more important than film study on TB and keeping his defense focused... bad juju.

Last tidbit GB is going to have to dig because the best DC are already off the market this late. FCC( ML takes his time and finds a guy that fits HIS mindset not what we or the front office want.
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Mark this is my worry. Because all the good ones are gone we settle for a Jerry Gray and promote him and then we get the same meh defense for at least 2-3 more years.
 
GBP4EVER said:
Mark this is my worry. Because all the good ones are gone we settle for a Jerry Gray and promote him and then we get the same meh defense for at least 2-3 more years.
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It is not the same defense.... he plays a completely different style than MP. Very core based off the 4-3. He will use a 4-2-5 look a lot. Honestly the safe hire. Similar to the bend but don't break style used by KC the past two seasons.
 
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