Cornerback depth is turning into a shock luxury for the 49ers
The 49ers are going a different route than most expected at nickel corner, moving away from having one defined starter at the position to playing the matchup game in the slot. Isaiah Oliver was assumed by many to be the starting nickel after the Niners signed him in free agency. The job is clearly not […]
The 49ers are going a different route than most expected at nickel corner, moving away from having one defined starter at the position to playing the matchup game in the slot.
Isaiah Oliver was assumed by many to be the starting nickel after the Niners signed him in free agency. The job is clearly not his after a disappointing performance in the preseason opener, but the Niners have clarified he remains a firm part of their plans, but as part of nickel rotation.
The Niners appear focused on a plan of often kicking Deommodore Lenoir inside on passing downs with Ambry Thomas taking his spot on the outside while having Oliver play as a 'big nickel' who matches up with tight ends and the 'power slots' that have become en vogue in the modern NFL. Though Oliver's inability to win the nickel job outright may be viewed as a negative, defensive coordinator Steve Wilks sees an upside to have several options inside.
Speaking in a press conference on Monday, Wilks said:
"This league’s all about matchups. I’ve never been a part of anything like this to have this kind of depth. I’ve been on teams where we’re waiting to see exactly the last preseason game of who gets cut and everybody’s looking at this particular team trying to pull from. So, to have the options that we have, not only at the nickel position, but across the board, linebacker as well as D-Line is a luxury. And again, with the matchups that we’re going to face, Oliver’s going to be in there. Demo may be in there based off who we’re playing. We continue to just try to find a perfect mix."
Whether having two corners taking snaps at nickel is a luxury or a complication is a matter of interpretation. Rotating Lenoir and Oliver at inside corner will certainly test the 49ers' communication and cohesiveness in the back seven, though they produced an encouraging sign in that sense with Lenoir at nickel during Saturday's preseason win over the Broncos.
On a play that saw Ambry Thomas carry Jerry Jeudy perfectly downfield, safety Ji'Ayir Brown and Lenoir communicated seamlessly as the latter picked up a crossing route over the middle.
It may be debatable whether the 49ers have a luxury at nickel, but the performances of Thomas and second-year corner Samuel Womack III in preseason have arguably turned their cornerback depth into an unexpected luxury.
Thomas has carried his impressive performances in the offseason program and in camp into the exhibition season. Womack, working purely as an outside corner having enjoyed a brief period as the starter at nickel at the beginning of last season, was a standout versus Denver, registering a pair of pass breakups, one of which should have been a pick six.
The 49ers entered training camp with outside corner depth behind Lenoir and Charvarius Ward looking like a substantial concern. Play in camp and preseason does not always translate to the regular season, but the strides made by Thomas and Womack have decreased such concerns to the point where cornerback can be considered position of strength.
In addition to Lenoir and Womack, the Niners have another corner who can play inside and out in rookie undrafted free agent D'Shawn Jamison, who appears a near lock to make the roster after earning the plaudits of players and coaches alike during training camp.
With three corners who can play inside and out joining an quality outside starter in Ward — who was 17th of 52 cornerbacks with at least 50 targets in 2022 in yards per coverage snap (0.8), per Sports Info Solutions — and a bounce-back candidate in Thomas, the 49ers can claim to have depth and versatility few teams possess at a premium position.
If they can get something out of Oliver and find the right mix between him and Lenoir on the inside, Wilks' resources in the defensive backfield will undoubtedly deserve to be viewed as a luxury.
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