No defense in the NFL did a better job of defending Brock Purdy last season than that of the Baltimore Ravens. The San Francisco 49ers' Christmas Day clash with the Ravens saw Purdy intercepted four times. Though a couple of those picks were the product of unfortunate deflections, the Ravens found success in no small part because of their ability to quickly change the pre-snap picture post-snap under the guidance of then-defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald.
MacDonald is now the head coach in Seattle, meaning the 49ers will now have to confront his defensive scheme twice a year in 2024. The 49ers, meanwhile, have made significant changes to their own defense this offseason, firing Steve Wilks as coordinator following their loss in Super Bowl 58 and replacing him with a first-time play-caller in Nick Sorensen. Sorensen may have no experience as a coordinator, but he'll have help from a renowned defensive mind after the 49ers hired former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley to the role of assistant head coach/defense.
Staley, who previously coordinated the top defense in the NFL in 2020 during his time with the Los Angeles Rams, is highly regarded for his own use of disguise and said on Wednesday that he would be working mostly with the secondary. Though Sorensen is the defensive coordinator and will call the plays, Staley's presence in his role theoretically increases the chances of the 49ers using disguised coverages more regularly and being able to change the pict.
