San Francisco 49ers coordinator makes eye-catching claim about 2023 team - The Mirror

San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks has praised one area of the team during training camp ahead of start of the 2023 NFL regular season this September

San Francisco 49ers coach Steve Wilks has made an interesting claim about the team’s defensive line ahead of the new season.

The defensive coordinator has been with the Niners since February, after being hired to work alongside head coach Kyle Shanahan. Wilks had previously worked as the interim coach for the Carolina Panthers before making the switch to San Francisco.

Wilks will be tasked with ensuring the defensive line for the Niners gets as many stops and turnovers as possible in the 2023 NFL regular season. In the process, that will take the pressure away from quarterbacks Brock Purdy, Trey Lance, and Sam Darnold in the offense.

The Niners have a talented defense that includes Nick Bosa, Javon Hargrave, Arik Armstead, Javon Kinlaw, and Drake Jackson. Former Arizona Cardinals head coach Wilks has been a coach in the NFL for close to two decades and has claimed that the current group he is working with is among the best in his career.

Wilks has also previously worked as a coach with the Los Angeles Chargers, Chicago Bears and the Cleveland Browns in his career. He has predominately worked as a defensive coordinator, while he finished last season as the interim coach of the Carolina Panthers.

“Well, I don’t like to compare, that’s the thing with me,” said Wilks during his press conference on Thursday.

“I think these guys are unique. And when I say I haven’t been around a group like this, that’s what I mean, a group. I mean, we have depth, and it’s not when one guy comes out that you feel like, ‘OK, we’re going to drop off.’ No, not at all.

“So, the depth that we have across the board, inside and out, man, that’s what I’m talking about. Never been around anything like this.

“So, we’ve done a tremendous job starting with [GM] John [Lynch] and Kyle [Shanahan] building this roster and getting us the guys that we need to play and succeed with. So, I’m excited about that.”

The Niners have a busy pre-season schedule ahead of the 2023 NFL regular season. Training camps have already begun for rookies and veterans, with three friendly games scheduled over the course of August.

Friendlies against the Las Vegas Raiders, Denver Broncos, and Los Angeles Chargers will take place. That will all be the build-up to the Week One opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers of the AFC North on September 10.