Mangini bringing the pressure with big blitz plan
Former 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio arrived in Santa Clara in 2011 with a blitz-happy reputation, but he seldom manufactured pressure during his four-year tenure.
Eric Mangini, who has inherited Fangio’s role, also is known for favoring blitz-filled schemes. The difference? It doesn’t appear Mangini will alter his style with the 49ers.
Just ask left tackle Joe Staley and the rest of the 49ers’ offensive line, which has been attempting to block a pressure-from-all-angles defense in the opening week of training camp.
Mangini has “done more blitzes this offseason than we’ve seen in the previous six combined,” Staley said. “Which is good work for us. It’s good because we face Arizona twice a year and that’s kind of similar to the defense they run. They’re coming with all kinds of different, exotic blitzes, basically every single rep.
“It causes the offensive line to think on the move and be able to adjust quickly.”
In 2011, Fangio planned to blitz frequently, but he changed tactics because he discovered the 49ers created enough pressure with a standard pass rush. In June, Mangini acknowledged he could do the same.
“If you can pressure with four and you don’t need to add bodies to get to the quarterback?” Mangini asked. “There’s real value in that, too, to keep guys back in coverage.”
The 49ers figure to have more difficulty getting pressure with four defenders now given the Friday release of outside linebacker Aldon Smith, the only 49er to record a double-digit sack season since 2002.
“He’s not a guy you can just replace; he’s got a unique skill set,” Mangini said. “But one of the things we’ve focused on defensively is building flexibility in terms of what we can play.”
Rookie’s education: During his first three months in the NFL, rookie outside linebacker Eli Harold has learned passrushing skills from both Smith and Charles Haley, who rank fifth and second, respectively, on the 49ers’ career sack list.
Harold was tutored in May by Haley, 51, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.
“He was just talking about stuff I’ve never heard of,” Harold said. “It’s so neat how there’s always a higher level to what you’ve already learned. He was just showing me angles and pressure points and moves that I’d never heard of. I look forward to meeting with him again.”
Harold figures to assume a larger role this season, given Smith’s release.
“I was learning a lot from that guy,” Harold said. “... He was, to me, in my eyes, the best pass-rusher in the NFL. It’s just unfortunate what happened. We lost a gem.”