49ers’ Saleh Prepares for Rams with Young Defense

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is focused on finding balance as he develops a younger defense heading into their Week 10 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.

“Every game plan is different,” Saleh said Thursday. “We tried to be aggressive with Houston and it didn’t quite work out. We tried to do our best to make the rookie play quarterback and it worked out. Some days will be good, some days not so much.”

Saleh referenced their Week 8 loss to the Houston Texans, where he employed various blitz packages to pressure rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud. However, a week later, the 49ers’ defensive discipline paid off as they limited the New York Giants to just seven points in the first half.

With veteran players like Nick Bosa and Fred Warner absent due to injuries, the challenge now is to contain Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Kyren Williams. Saleh acknowledged that tackling this task requires a tailored game plan.

This week, Saleh emphasized the need for simplicity while still pushing his young players to develop on the field. “This game plan is going to be specific to the Rams and Stafford and what we’ve got to get done in that regard,” he said. “They’re going to challenge you. Schematically, they’re a tremendous challenge.”

After offseason shifts that saw multiple veterans leave, the defensive lineup features many players with less game experience. Saleh hopes to find a middle ground between challenging his new players and not overwhelming them.

“We don’t do a lot, and because we don’t do a lot, we can focus more on our technique and fundamentals,” Saleh said. He noted that teams that excel in execution and fundamentals tend to perform better as the season progresses.

Looking ahead, the 49ers aim to improve their performance after allowing 475 yards of offense in their previous loss. Saleh believes in fostering the growth of his players while keeping a close eye on balancing complexity in their defensive schemes.