San Francisco 49ers links for Friday May 10, 2019
A little over a year ago Chris Kiffin came to the 49ers as a pass rush specialist after being co-defensive coordinator under his brother Lane Kiffin at Florida Atlantic University. He was also under the scrutiny of the NCAA for alleged recruiting violations stemming from prior years while he was working as a defensive line coach and recruiter at Ole Miss.
It was thought by some that while he and Jeff Zgonina’s relationship may have been cordial on the surface they may have had some problems underneath. While the lack of an outside pass rush and the general lack of pressure on the quarterback could not have helped their relationship, I have a feeling Kiffin wanted to be much more innovative and aggressive while Zgonina may have taken Kiffin’s ideas as overstepping his boundaries.
As most of us know, the 49ers let Zgonina go after the season ended replacing him with Kris Kocurek who just happens to be one of the best, most innovative defensive line coaches in the NFL. If you wanted to learn from a defensive line coach in the NFL, I think Kocurek might be at the top of your list. Getting to coordinate the pass rush under him must be one of the best situations you could possibly be in as far as potentially furthering your NFL coaching career.
Of course you need more than good coaches to improve your defensive line so the 49ers signed one of the best edge rushers in the NFL and brought in arguably the best edge rusher in the draft to go along with Deforest Buckner. Not only is Kiffin getting to learn from one of the best coaches in the league, he may also be working with one of the best defensive lines as well.
Worst case scenario is the 49ers defensive line underperforms and Chris Kiffin can say he was just working under Kris Kocurek and Robert Saleh. Best case scenario, he gets the opportunity to learn from the best while helping coach possibly the top defensive line in football. Imagine what that will do for his resume?
Now onto the sizzling hot links:
Matt Rhule: 49ers Got a Top 10 Prospect in WR Jalen Hurd Joe Fann
Schrager picks the 49ers to have the most entertaining offense David Bonilla
Two best team fits for free agent safety Eric Berry Video
49ers vs. Raiders: Which team has a better shot at a comeback season? Video
Former Saints TE Benjamin Watson considering 49ers, Patriots, others David Bonilla
Jimmy Garoppolo says 49ers already hold themselves to a high standard David Bonilla
Jimmy Garoppolo picks Brady’s brain on ACL rehab Herbie Teope
Top 10 NFL Comeback Player of the Year candidates in 2019 Mark Chichester
Richard Sherman ‘100 percent good’ with secondary Herbie Teope
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