Defensive coordinator for the 49ers, Robert Saleh, is expected to be in high demand during this off-season for one of the NFL’s multiple openings in the NFL, and San Francisco’s impressive 20-12 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday will certainly do nothing. to decrease that.
Facing one of the league’s best attacks, led by a defender who previously caused huge problems, the 49ers limited Arizona to an average of just 4.4 yards per move and forced two turns. They kept Kyler Murray just 230 yards in passing with no touchdowns and an interception, and fired him three times.
Pro Bowl linebacker Fred Warner, arguably the best player in Saleh’s defense, had an incredible game against the Cardinals, taking all players with 14 tackles in total and three passing deflections. He also had a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. After that, he praised the man in charge, whom he called Saleh “the best DC in the league” (h / t 49ers Webzone).
“I have a lot of respect for that guy,” said Warner of Saleh. “He has a very intelligent mind and, above all, he knows exactly what he wants, exactly what he wants from us. He makes that very clear to everyone.”
“I love that guy,” added Warner. “I know he will be a great coach soon. We have another game to record some good things.”
The 49ers’ season will end next week with a fight against rival Seattle Seahawks, and there is a good chance that it will be Saleh’s last game as San Francisco’s defensive coordinator. Coach Kyle Shanahan is very confident that Saleh is prepared to be the head coach.
“The injuries we had throughout the year, being able to adjust, exactly where we got here in these three years, Saleh was ready for this year, big time,” said Shanahan after the victory. “He has gone through almost every situation in our four years, and for our defense playing at the level they have throughout all this says a lot about him, a lot about his team and a lot about all those players.”
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If Saleh gets a technician job in this off-season, as many expect, the 49ers will have to find someone to replace him. It is certainly possible that San Francisco could turn to an external candidate, but Shanahan hinted that the solution could come from within.
“As I always say, I hope I don’t lose Saleh, but we have a lot of good coaches on this team and we are going to decide that here,” added Shanahan. “I think we have about eight days left, so we’ll see how it ends.”
Next Sunday, he will close the book on the 49ers’ season and may well be the end of Saleh’s story with San Francisco as well.