Kelce has ‘little doubt’ 49ers have bounced back from off-season D-line losses originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
The 49ers’ defensive line will have a new look in 2024 after a series of off-season departures and arrivals.
“These guys know how to get the most out of their D-line players,” former Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro center Jason Kelce told NBC Sports Bay Area recently during the American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
“They find ways to make it work. They’ve lost guys before.”
Yes, the 49ers traded DeForest Buckner four years ago. And there are always comings and goings, but this offseason was very different.
Arik Armstead was released after turning down the 49ers’ offer of a greatly reduced contract. Chase Young, Clelin Ferrell, Javon Kinlaw, Randy Gregory and Sebastian Joseph-Day signed elsewhere as free agents.
The 49ers compensated for these losses by acquiring defensive ends Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matosand defensive tackles Maliek Collins and Jordan Elliott.
“They are so well coached and the organization is so well run that I have no doubt they will retool well,” said Kelce, now an ESPN analyst.
Kelce retired this offseason after a 13-year career with the Eagles. He has played against the 49ers six times in his career, including in the NFC Championship Game in January 2023.
He described the plan of attack when facing the 49ers defense.
“When someone is playing a four-down front, you hope to get more double teams,” Kelce said. “There are fewer guys at the point of attack, so if you can get the ball over them, it can get them in trouble.”
The 49ers will have a new defensive coordinator, Nick Sorensen, this season. The 49ers appear to operate similarly to when Robert Saleh and DeMeco Ryans ran the defense.
Linebackers Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw are keys to the 49ers’ defense because of their versatility, Kelce said.
“They have great talent,” Kelce said. “Their linebackers run and make plays. They are great in the passing game. They are great in the running game.
“If you’re going to play a four-down offense, if you have great linebackers that are able to assess things from a pre-snap perspective and make adjustments, that goes a long way.”
The 49ers’ run defense was generally good last season before giving up some rushing yards late in the year. The 49ers have surrendered an average of 4.1 yards per rushing attempt with just 10 touchdowns allowed in 18 games.
In three playoff games, opponents rushed for 448 yards (5.1 per carry) and three touchdowns.
“What you want to do is run the ball and establish the running game, then you can force them into some tough situations,” Kelce said of attacking the 49ers defense.
“But that’s easier said than done.”
