Robert Saleh gives insightful answer about having CBs shadow WRs

1 week ago 2

With the division title and No. 1 seed in the NFC on the line in their Week 18 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday at Levi's Stadium, the San Francisco 49ers are preparing for their biggest challenge of the year.

Some players are looking to prove themselves in a matchup like this, including cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, who made it known publicly that he wants to shadow Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba throughout the contest.

On Wednesday, 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh was asked about Lenoir's request, and he took the opportunity to explain the positives and negatives of having a cornerback shadow a wide receiver in a game.

"It's easy for the guy who travels," Saleh said. "I have that guy, I'm going to travel wherever I want, especially since we're a zone-based defense, right? If it were man coverage, easy for him, but then it is a bit more difficult for the other guys. How does everybody else align? Do you go match where everyone just picks a number? What if that number is not on the field? Do you pick a different number? Or is it alright, we're all going to align off of DMo [Lenoir], what if DMo is in the slot? Does that put the nickel out on number one where he's not used to being? Techniques change within your man principles because now you're in different locations.

"Now put yourself in zone. You're trying to match up where he is. Now, DMo's in the slot, does that mean Upton [Stout] is now playing corner third, which he hasn't done all year? So, there are a lot of new techniques that you're going to ask a guy to do. It's very expensive. Not for the guy traveling, but for the guys not traveling. If that makes sense. Now, can it be done? Of course, it can be done. Do we have it in our inventory? Absolutely. Can we? Maybe. We'll see."

San Francisco's secondary beyond Lenoir hasn't played their best football this year, so Saleh may not feel comfortable with testing them in such a pivotal matchup this week.

Whatever they decide, you know that Lenoir's bringing the intensity.

More 49ers: Where does Kyle Shanahan rank in Coach of the Year odds in Week 18?

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Robert Saleh gives insightful answer about having CBs shadow WRs

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