27-year-old Glenn Dorsey to 49ers, expected to play DT again (NT)

On March 13, 2013, Dorsey, who was miscast as a DE in a 3-4 system with the Chiefs, signed with the 49ers, and is slated to play NT after the 49ers lost both Isaac Sopoaga and Ricky Jean Francois, who were the #1 and #2 NTs last season (RJF also played DE)

The 49ers will likely give Dorsey plenty of penetrating opportunities, using him like the Cowboys used NT Jay Ratliff, as opposed to using him as a two-gap plugger like the Chiefs, according to 49ers insider Matt Maiocco (who added that Dorsey signed two-year, $6 million deal and also will receive a $2.3 million signing bonus)

"We are very pleased to add Glenn to our team," 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said. "Glenn brings great versatility to our defensive front, and we look forward to his contributions on the field and in the community."

"I really look forward to the opportunity," Dorsey said. "I got the call from my agent and I hopped on a plane first thing."

49ers defensive line coach Jim Tomsula picked him up at the airport. "He picked me up from the airport last night and he was talking 100 miles per hour. And I was ready...He took me to the facility last night and we talked about a lot of stuff. And he knows a lot. I'm excited to get the opportunity to work with him."

Dorsey said he met with Tomsula, head coach Jim Harbaugh and bumped into linemate Justin Smith, who is recovering from triceps surgery.

"It's a positive atmosphere," Dorsey said. "Everybody is working hard and talking to each other. And you can feel it when you walk into the building. It's like a big family. Everybody is high fiving each other, talking to each other -- it's a different environment than what I'm used to. I'm excited about it and I'm excited to get going."

 

49ers blogger:

"I think this is a solid signing for the 49ers and one that should pay immediate dividends. Dorsey is young and could potentially man a spot on the DL for years to come ... You'll recall the widely-held belief that the 49ers lack of rotation on the DL is what caused the pass-rush to drop off later in the season and into the playoffs."

 

ESPN's Mike Sando:

Dorsey's addition to an evolving line rotation invites a closer look at where the 49ers are headed on defense.
...
A deeper, younger rotation on the line could be part of an evolution (to more of a 4-3)...Demand and prices for players best suited to the 3-4 has risen has more teams have adopted that scheme in recent seasons (perhaps to stay ahead of the curve, New England's Bill Belichick has gone away from the 3-4 over the past couple seasons).
...
(the 49ers) do have flexibility with their personnel...the 49ers do have the personnel to become more of a 4-3 team on defense should they choose to head in that direction.
..
As Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. noted when I reached out to him Wednesday, Justin Smith was a 4-3 defensive end coming out of college. Ray McDonald was seen as an up-the-field lineman. ... Dorsey appears ideally suited for a 4-3 defense.

"I could see McDonald as a three-technique type and maybe Dorsey as one-technique," Williamson said. "Ahmad Brooks could project as a 'SAM' linebacker pretty easily and Bowman would be great as the 'WILL'. Justin Smith could be a strong-side end, Aldon Smith could play the weak side. They do have the personnel."

 

compare to how ESPN's Mike Sando wrote:

"To this point, San Francisco's defense under Fangio has relied upon a smaller number of players logging a higher number of snaps. San Francisco wore down on defense late last season, a factor in the team falling just short of a Super Bowl victory."

 

Still out of position

 

FoxSports.com's Peter Schrager:

"This is the perfect kind of guy to join the 49ers. He's had his moments in Kansas City, but was really languishing out there… I remember when Glenn Dorsey was a junior at LSU and there was talk that he'd be a top-5 pick. He went back for his senior year and dominated… The Atlanta Falcons had the No. 3 overall pick that... year and took Matt Ryan. A lot of people were shocked they didn't take Dorsey. He was that dominant of a player in college. The talent was there… I still think that talent is there. He's a young guy, this could be trouble. You put him with Justin Smith and that coaching staff; watch out, this could be an amazing signing."

 

reading the Dorsey thread on a big 49ers forum, it turns out that they do run a 4-3...

"while the Niners play a base 3-4 defense on running downs, they play a 4-3 on 70% of downs. (NT) Sopoaga only played 30% of the snaps last year When the niners go into nickel or dime defense, which is the majority of the time, the Niners lined up in a 4-3. Dorsey fits great into the scheme [also per ESPN's Tim Graham: "Nose tackles often come off the field on passing downs," and per 49ers insider Matt Maiocco: "Sopoaga played about 30 percent of the snaps last season as the nose tackle in base situations"]"

on 1st down & 2nd and short, the 49ers run a 3-4, and they expect to see Dorsey at all 3 spots, just like Ricky Jean Francois did for them. they expect to see Dorsey:
--in the 2-deep rotation at NT with 23-year-old Ian Williams (6-1, 305) who was undrafted out of Notre Dame
--in the 2-deep rotation at DE, giving their DEs a breather
on 2nd and long & 3rd down, they run a 4-3, and they expect to see Dorsey at his 4-3 DT spot that he played at LSU


also, keep in mind that Kyle Williams was a 4-3 DT at LSU who thrived as a NT for the Bills when they started using a 3-4 in 2010:

in 2010, Williams said: "I didn't know how [the new 3-4 defense] was going to look as far as what they were going to be asking me to do," Kyle Williams said. "I knew that I could be productive no matter what they were asking me to do...They tell me what they want me to do and how they want me to play...and they just want me to go out and just play and make some things happen...I'm going to kind of do what I've always done. I'm going to go out and practice hard. I'm going to play hard...If you allow me to go out and just play and get after guys, I don't really care what we're doing. I could get the job done no matter what they're asking me to do."

on Williams being a typical 3-4 NT:
"Kyle's not a typical anything," Bills coach Gailey said. "He really isn't. He's an amazing guy. He's got unusual quickness, unusual competitiveness, unusual strength. "He just doesn't have the body that everybody thinks is a typical noseguard. Everything else is typical noseguard except faster"

also, in response to the Bills moving back to a 4-3 next season:

Head coach Chan Gailey confirmed that move on Monday, although it shouldn’t be too difficult a switch for the team to make. They played a lot of four-man fronts in the 2011 season and they never had ideal personnel to play a 3-4 look after making the switch to it a couple of years ago. Gailey was quick to caution that 4-3 is only going to be the base defense, though.

“If you look around the league today people are playing four-man fronts and three-man fronts, they’re playing a little bit of everything,” Gailey said, via the Buffalo News. “We’re going to try and put our guys in position to be successful, whatever that position might be. If it’s odd spacing sometimes or even spacing sometimes.”

“On the defensive side of the ball we’re going to base more out of the 4-3 front,” he said. “That shouldn’t be the headline because if you look around the league today people are playing four-man front, three-man front, they’re playing a little bit of everything.”

“I think that we want to utilize our personnel to the best and we feel like this will allow us to do that,” said Gailey.

Finally, even when the 49ers do run a 3-4, you have to consider whether they are running a two-gap 3-4 (where they ask their DL to be a space eater) or a one-gap 3-4 (where they ask their DL to get into the backfield). comments from 49er fans:

With this talk of him being misused in KC's 3-4: Crennel used a two-gap 3-4, and we are a one gap system. A one-gap scheme is what player like Dorsey thrives in

I think Glenn Dorsey could become the Jay Ratliff type NT, we play a lot of single-gap anyway.

If we ask him to 2-gap, a fine run stopper. (His role with the KC Chiefs)
If we ask him to 1-gap, a disruptor. (His role at LSU)
Last year, because we were so stout against the run, we were in our nickel or dime about 70% of the time.
As a 1 gap disruptor, Dorsey is a definite upgrade when he plays inside on our 4 man D-line on passing downs.

Our NT position has not often been lined up directly over the center and responsible for controlling two gaps. Like a classic NT.

 

comments from 49er fans on the news of Dorsey to San Francisco:

Adding Boldin and Dorsey has got me excited... When does training camp begin???!!!!!

This signing and the Bolden signing actually have me pretty stoked

I excited about the additions of Boldin and Dorsey. 2 guys that I wanted on the team but thought it was just wishful thinking.

Agreed! Guys like this and Boldin are PERFECT fits for our system. And this is how you build championship teams...

I'm absolutely thrilled with this signing! It seemed pretty obvious to me, especially after Justin Smith's injury that d-line was the club's single biggest need. ... Dorsey has been called a bust by many Chiefs fans. But that is largely because he didn't get sacks. But the style of defense they played asked Dorsey to stuff the run and take on blockers - a job he did very well if you believe Pro Football Focus. Putting him in a system that allows him to attack more should allow him to reach the potential that got him drafted in the top 5 originally! Like the Niners' earlier pick-ups of Carlos Rogers and Donte Whitner, this is a pick-up of a player with top-tier talent who is being undervalued because of the way he was used. I suspect the numbers Dorsey himself puts up will surprise some people! Way to go!

The more that I think about this signing, the more excited I get. Coming out of college, this kid was an absolute monster who dominated offensive lineman at will. The chiefs tried to turn him into a 3-4 end and the results were very mixed. I think the niner's plans are obvious. Obviously free agency isn't over and we haven't had the draft yet, but they have kept Ian Williams around the last two years and gave him an extension for a reason. Seems to me, the current plan is to have Ian Williams fill the NT role and on nickel situations, Dorsey will be brought into his natural DT position paired up inside with Justin Smith. If Dorsey can find anything close to his old form in his natural position then this will be one of the better bargain picks out there in free agency if not the best one.

$20 bucks that he'll make the pro bowl next year.

i have a boner. J. Smith and Dorsey will be a monstrous duo

Our LBs must be smiling with this signing.

Very Nice!

nice!

good work

I like the signing

Nice move by the 49ers!

Solid pick up!!

I really wanted this kid!!!

love the signing

NIce!

Love the signing

Oh hellz yeah.

Nice pickup

Love the signing. Now add a db in free agency, and I'm stoked with how things have played out so far

i like this signing.

We got a good player

I like this Dorsey pickup

I have a really good feeling about Dorsey. I love it.

Great pick-up if we use him right.

I'll be shocked if he doesn't make an impact. He's a good player.

I think he can do quite well here, he can play any position on the d-line

Talent wise, the D line just got better and we didn't even draft yet. ... and a little younger

I love the pick. If there's a coaching staff that can get the most out of his talent, it's this one. I think he's already an upgrade over Sopoaga.

He is an upgrade over Sopoaga

I think Dorsey will be an upgrade over Sopoaga at NT. If he plays like I think he an play, the defense moves up to another level.

the chiefs used him as a DE in 3-4, his natural position is DT! hes a legit run stuffer, who has the skill to get to the QB. Big time upgrade over Sopoaga!

pretty sure Dorsey can do whatever Sopoaga can do and he's a lot younger

I'm pretty excited about this. Seeing Sopoaga get 4 mil a year and hearing that RJF may get 5-6, getting a guy like Dorsey for less than either is huge. I just don't see how he could be any worse than Sopoaga was last year. Further, I really like how this coaching staff has the ability to get the most out of their talent. Dorsey was dripping with talent out of college, maybe a fresh start with the best staff in the league will get him to his potential. Great signing.

Dorsey should be able to pressure up the middle better than Sopoaga did. He didn't put up big sack numbers in KC, but next to our other DL, he will have less of the attention...He took on a lot of double teams in KC

With Justin Smith commanding doubles, I think Dorsey will be solid in the middle.

The guy is tenacious off the ball. With Justin Smith commanding double teams, and teams worrying about the Aldon stunt, Dorsey could be the perfect guy to fill that hole in the middle. They should be able to get pressure up the middle without blitzing ILBs

Dorsey has to be only as good as RJF, IMO.

I like this signing of Dorsey, hes pretty similar to RJF and I think he would fill the same role.

We could use him in a similar role to how used Ricky Jean-Francois.

Betting on him being the new RJF. Capable of playing at all three spots

May easily be an upgrade to RJF!!!

Sopoaga was decent, but nothing special. Same with Ricky Jean-Francois. I think Dorsey is better than either of them.

I think we lost Sopoaga and RJF but gained a player far better than either with Dorsey

Dorsey will play all along the line.

Dorsey seems like a versatile player that can play in all of our fronts. Talented guy with a new fire and an outstanding staff behind him. I like the signing.

Awesome move. He was considered a dominant force in college and was drafted by the horrendous Chiefs who have had little coaching/plan/anything for years. he can really flourish for us.

it will be different for him when he is surrounded by talent all over on defense... He probably also has something to prove to show that he isn't a bust. I love it when we pick up former first rounders...

I like this signing. I know he hasn't lived up to his pre draft potential but he's still young enough and with ability and good players and good coaching around him, he'll do a lot better for the 49ers. We needed this.

on that weak ass KC team he was a bright spot. hes still young and hes loaded with talent. seems like a great signing

I think that he could be another gem.. He's yet to become the player they projected him to be, but he's still got lots of years ahead of him.. a change of location would feed him well..

I like this move. I think with our better coaching we can get the most out of him

Bingo ... Can't wait to see what Jimmy Tomsula can do with a guy who has loads of untapped potential.

hell yes. Young enough...we've seen our coaching staff make it work.

I like the signing and I'm interested to see how he gets coached up. Niners got a good talent

This is what make me love this signing. Get a player with talent and have our coaches do what they do best. We are going to lose some players on defense but I would really cry if we lost Tomsula.

I like this signing a lot. I am confident in Tomsula's coaching abilities

I like this move. Jim Tomsula has a new project to work on and can hopefully get him going.

tomsula will coach him up

Tomsula will get the most out of him.

I wanna see what Jim Tomsula can do with him.

it is time for the Niners coaching staff to untap all that potential that the Chiefs weren't getting out of him.

We have such a knack for getting guys to reach their potential, if that's the case we got the steal of the offseason here. I'm very optimistic about Dorsey

Dorsey in Tomsula's hands we'll see him reach his potential...DL addressed...I like it!

Tomsula will work his magic

Our coaches have a history of taking under performing players and fixing them. I like this signing.

It will be fun to watch what this guy can do with the 49er coaching staff working with him. He may be something special...I'm glad to have him.

No question he has talent and he's versatile, Tomsula is a beast...At worst he spells our guys and adds depth at a position where we were lacking good backups and overplayed our starters.

I would feel shaky without Tomsula coaching them. But as it is-- all hail Tomsula the Great! The mother of all D-line coach!

Love those LSU defensive players. I think Tomsula can make him a beast (ala Abrayo Franklin, Soap, Mac etc..) All for it

VERY optiistic what our coaches can do w/talent. Just look at what they did w/Alex, Cully, Miller, RJF, Aldon. Most of whom were panned by "experts" as either over-reaching as in Aldon or projects, and WTF in Miller.

I'm extremely excited to see what this coaching staff does with him and I think this could end up being one of the pick-ups of the off-season. he has incredible talent. If this staff can light a fire under him we might have ourselves another pro-bowler on defense.

 

I was actually hoping the Saints could try and sign Dorsey at a bargain price, since his first few years in the NFL have basically been wasted by him playing out of position, but when it was announced we were switching to a 3-4, I knew it wouldn't happen.