SANTA CLARA – Deommodore Lenoir listened closely and studied his tutor’s movements for a quick, one-on-one session before practice began.
Such instruction isn’t abnormal at 49ers training camp. Enthusiastically providing these tips on press-coverage technique, however, was Brandon Staley, formerly the Los Angeles Chargers’ coach and now the 49ers’ assistant head coach with a defensive emphasis.
Lenoir’s career arc appears on a greater ascent with Staley’s help.
“Oh, he’s a genius. I really respect him as a coach, as a person,” Lenoir said. “The joy he brings to our room and the knowledge of teaching us so many things, it’s a blessing to have him here.”
That Lenoir is listening and applying Staley’s lessons certainly should help this season, from the fourth-year cornerback’s contract year to the 49ers defense’s championship pursuit.
Lenoir proved last year a versatile weapon, from starting at right cornerback to sliding inside and covering slot receivers in the nickel package. That dual role is being replicated in training camp, with newcomer Isaac Yiadom sliding in at right cornerback when Lenior rotates to the physically and mentally demanding nickel role.
Cue: Staley’s advice, which Lenoir said was: “Actually think when you’re out there. You’ve already got the talent, so use your brain.”
Staley’s astuteness is complementing coach Kyle Shanahan’s staff, and it’s not conflicting with the leadership of defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen, who got promoted from the nickel-back coach where he, too, bonded with Lenoir and gave him technique tips last year.
“It’s been great having him here. He is really smart,” Sorensen said of Staley. “He’s got a lot of experience and stuff like that. It’s huge. It’s been awesome.”
Lenoir, on KNBR 680-AM, compared Staley’s presence to “like having Kyle (Shanahan) on defense.”
In Monday’s first padded practice, Lenoir intercepted Brock Purdy in two sessions. The first came in a one-on-one drill while tightly covering Deebo Samuel. The other came in team drills, when he snared a late pass toward Samuel for the defense’s fourth interception in five throws by the 49ers’ starting quarterback.
That latter interception had pick-six potential if it were a game, and, speaking of, Lenoir is intent on returning an interception for a touchdown this season, with exaggerated expexctions of then moonlighting as a kick returner for special teams coordinator Brian Schneider.
“I told Schneider he’s going to want me as a return man if I get my hands on the ball this year because I’m taking it to the zone and I’m not letting up this year,” said Lenoir.
Lenoir started every game last season, produced a career-high three interceptions, and he forced a fumble at the 49ers’ 9-yard line early in their Super Bowl loss to Kansas City.
Slated to make $3.1 million in salary in the final year of his rookie contract, the 2021 fifth-round pick from Oregon is not the only starting cornerback on the cusp of free agency. Charvarius Ward also is entering his contract’s final season, after just making the Pro Bowl and AP Second Team All-Pro last season.
“We have the bad taste in our mouth that we were left with playing in the Super Bowl in that big game,” Lenior added. “We just got a chip on our shoulder and we’re ready to get back to it.”
Another potential nickel back is Renardo Green, a rookie who’s impressed in his first camp. As for what Sorensen and Staley want from that role, it’s an all-encompassing job.
“It happens so fast inside and then you have to have a different skillset set in there as far as just the tackling and being able to think, ‘Alright, we’re playing this coverage, this stone coverage or now I’m playing it inside.’ It’s different,” Sorensen said of shifting inside. “You have different run fits. You’ve got to get your run pass read, and then you have to be able to man up outside where there’s space and that guy can work.”
