How 49ers rookie CB Green impressed Sorensen in the secondary originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
Every coach loves it when their rookies hit the ground running.
For first-year 49ers defensive coordinator Nick Sorenson, that’s his reality with cornerback Renardo Green.
Sorenson discussed the Florida State product’s recent brilliance in San Francisco’s secondary with reporters on Wednesday.
“I’m very happy with Renardo,” said Sorenson. “The cool thing is that he’s playing both nickel and corner and it hasn’t been that long, right? It’s a certain amount of practice and [he] It wasn’t quite a penny. So he really embraced the challenge. That’s the best part.
“It’s never perfect because now all of a sudden we’re teaching all these different coverages, but there’s also run attacks, and then that changes. And guess what? You can’t fully trigger and feel the physicality of the line because there are rules and these guys aren’t playing the same way. But just with him, it’s just the mentality and the competitiveness that I love.”
The 49ers I liked Green’s versatility out of the draft.
His ability to stand out against some of college football’s best — including LSU’s top two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, Jayden Daniels (Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback) and Malik Nabers (wide receiver) — in press coverage while he was more than comfortable at nickel and safety lured general manager John Lynch at pick No. 64.
San Francisco also had a dip in the secondary heading into the 2023 NFL season, as Deommodore Lenoir and Isiah Oliver shared the majority of reps at nickel with the 49ers without an everyday option. Green immediately helps with this.
Most importantly, the 23-year-old doesn’t back down from any challenge, which helps him earn snaps, even on an All-Star team like the 49ers.
“We knew the movement ability was there and you see that in man-to-man stuff and he gets that too,” Sorenson added. “But he embraced any challenge that was difficult, I think he embraced it and kind of attacked it and willingly said, ‘No man, I want more of this.’ And that’s been really amazing.”
Green finished his university career with 148 total tackles, 22 passes defensed and a clutch interception on a Daniels pass against LSU.
Sorenson, John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan certainly wait to see the green bloom on the football field next season.
And the newcomer seems to be on the right track.
