New San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is now in charge of running the defense and will have a tough act to follow. Robert Saleh returned and did a pretty great job considering the fact the defense dealt with so many injuries that it was almost comical.
Morris has an impressive background as a defensive coordinator, with prevous stops as the DC of the Los Angeles Rams and the Atlanta Falcons before he became head coach, and his friendship with Kyle Shanahan made him an obvious fit for the job. The coordinator has his work cut out for him, though, if he wants to turn the Niners back into an elite defensive team.
Training camp arrived on July 26, and Morris is going to get his first live look at a lot of players. He’s sure to be impressed with veteran players like Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, and Dre Greenlaw, but it wouldn’t be a shock if he fell in love with rookie linebacker Jaden Dugger.
The Niners selected him in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and immediately, analysts talked about Dugger's versatility and how he could be used at multiple positions whether it be linebacker, safety, or even as a rusher on the defensive line.
He may settle at one spot eventually, but rarely do coaches get such a moldable prospect like that who they can shape and really leave their stamp on. Morris has to be drooling over the different ways he could use a guy like Dugger in his defense.
Morris loves to employ five-man fronts on defense, so it’s easy to imagine him putting Dugger up there as an extra rusher to put pressure on the quarterback or to try to prevent the run.
Morris also loves versatility and guys who can switch between roles, so Dugger seems tailor-made for the style of defense the former Atlanta Falcons head coach likes to run.
Of course, Dugger isn’t going to come in right away and be perfect. He’s a rookie and will inevitably make mistakes as a young player, but as long as he is a quick learner and doesn’t get discouraged, he is the exact kind of player who can thrive under Morris.
The Niners need Morris to get the most out of this defense, so if he can utilize all of his weapons and realize the potential of a player like Dugger, that could make all the difference in the 2026 campaign.
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