Deommodore Lenoir has vaulted to top option for the 49ers at Nickelback

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Deommodore Lenoir has been in this position before, and the results have been solid.
Lenoir, an outside cornerback by default, saw increasing work at slot corner as the preseason progressed. San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks has openly discussed his plan to slide Lenoir inside during nickel-package work against shifty slot receivers. The 49ers’ stated plan is for Lenoir to split duties with free-agent acquisition Isaiah Oliver, whom the 49ers plan to deploy against bigger targets like tight ends.
This is a challenging move for the typical outside corner because the principles of play in the slot are markedly different. Straight-line speed isn’t as important, but short-area quickness is more necessary. Physical play is also a bigger requirement because slot corners line up closer to the bigger bodies around the line of scrimmage and have more primary responsibilities against the run.
But Lenoir says that he’s happily embracing the challenge.
“I actually like both,” he said on Monday. “Being interchangeable and playing both, playing the versatility.”
49ers practice report: Steve Wilks experimenting to find 'perfect mix' in secondary
Lenoir’s experience playing both goes back to his college days at Oregon. In 2019, the Ducks played Cal and Lenoir’s assignment was the Golden Bears’ top receiver, Nikko Remigio, who’s now with the Kansas City Chiefs. Remigio lined up primarily in the slot, forcing Lenoir into the fray of the inside. He gave up only two catches and 12 yards to Remigio.
Last season, the 49ers’ Jimmie Ward didn’t make a full-time return to the 49ers’ defense until October, so the 49ers counted on Lenoir to play three early-season games thereafter he leapfrogged Samuel Womack III on the depth chart. One of those games was against the Los Angeles Rams, whose star receiver Cooper Kupp lines up primarily in the slot. Lenoir didn’t fully lock Kupp down — he allowed 46 yards on five catches — but he fared much better than 49ers’ DBs had in the past against Kupp and the Rams managed only nine points.
Shortly after that, former 49ers’ cornerback Emmanuel Moseley tore his ACL. That forced Lenoir back to the outside, where he surged to close the 2022 season. Lenoir allowed a passer rating over 100 into his coverage seven times during the regular season. He then intercepted two passes and allowed passer ratings of 20.8, 39.3 and 39.6 over the 49ers’ three playoff games.
"I'll take that!" – @Dmo_lenoir
📺 #DALvsSF on @NFLonFOX
📱 NFL+ https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/fJ8zAufGsp
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) January 23, 2023
That set high expectations for 2023. Lenoir entered training camp as the 49ers’ unquestioned No. 2 cornerback opposite Charvarius Ward. Oliver manned the inside during all first-team nickel operations early in camp until the first preseason game, after which the 49ers decided that they needed better coverage ability in the slot. They began auditioning Lenoir, rookie D’Shawn Jamison and A.J. Parker at that spot.
It quickly became apparent Lenoir was their top option for it, especially because Womack and Ambry Thomas were making enough plays on the outside to allow the 49ers to breathe easier about shifting Lenoir inside.
“Think about the league and how it’s made up,” Wilks said last week. “It is no utopia. So, for us to be able to have balance (at nickelback) is critical. We may want to go nickel with 12 personnel. I’m not going to put Demo on the tight end. Oliver’s going to be on that other tight end. There are going to be certain matchups in the slot right there, based off who that guy may be. I’m not going to put Oliver in that situation — Demo may be that guy.
“There’s teams that don’t have this flexibility. I think it’s a luxury.”
Lenoir has been complimentary of Wilks, who has a background coaching defensive backs and has worked closely with the team’s cornerbacks during practice.
Much has been said about Steve Wilks’ on hand approach with the DBs. Here he is with Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir. pic.twitter.com/SYYIGzFov0
— Steph Sanchez (@Steph49K) July 31, 2023
“He’s like a thesaurus for us,” Lenoir said. “He’s got all the answers. He’s teaching us to read the chest plate, whether it’s back shoulder, shoulder still square, going down the field — just that aspect of playing.
“I’ve learned a lot, just being who I am. I’m being a sponge, just going at it every day, trying to get better.”
Odds & ends
• Training camp officially wrapped up last week, so receiver Brandon Aiyuk thought the 49ers would enjoy a lighter practice on Monday.
“But we were in for a surprise,” Aiyuk said with a laugh.
Tuesday marks the 53-man roster cutdown deadline. The 49ers will hit the practice field again on Wednesday and Thursday before taking the following three days off during Labor Day weekend. They’ll be back at practice on Monday before commencing the regular season schedule next Wednesday with three practices before the Sept. 10 opener at Pittsburgh.
• Aiyuk said he saw quarterback Trey Lance, one of his offseason training partners whom the 49ers traded to the Dallas Cowboys, on Sunday. He said that Lance is doing well processing his trade to Dallas.
“I think some weight was lifted off of him, it looked like to me,” Aiyuk said. “But I think he’s in a good spot.
“That’s the craziness of the league. We know how it is. For sure, seeing him in a Cowboy uniform is different. Seeing the edits and stuff on social media is a bit weird but for sure happy for him.”
• Running back Elijah Mitchell (adductor) and safety George Odum (shoulder) were both back at practice for the 49ers on Monday.
S George Odum (shoulder) was back at practice today but wearing a blue jersey. Odum was injured the second week of August. WR Danny Gray suffered a similar injury one week later. pic.twitter.com/3rEOzM9VjE
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) August 28, 2023
Several players missed the session. That group included linebackers Dre Greenlaw (hamstring) and Oren Burks (knee), receivers Danny Gray (shoulder), Ray-Ray McCloud III (wrist) and Chris Conley (shoulder), safety Talanoa Hufanga (Baker’s cyst in his knee), safety Tayler Hawkins (broken hand), tight end Cameron Latu (knee), cornerback A.J. Parker (hamstring) and kickers Jake Moody (quad strain) and Zane Gonzalez (calf strain).
Quarterback Brock Purdy had a noticeably lighter workload during the opening part of practice, which was closed to the media before team drills for the first time this season because training camp is now over. Purdy did throw the football during the first few sessions, but backups Sam Darnold and Brandon Allen saw the vast majority of work. The 49ers said that the lighter workload was part of Purdy’s pitch count during the ramp-up to the regular season.
Greater insight into the specifics of the 49ers’ injury situation should come with Tuesday’s 53-man cutdown deadline, after which the 49ers will sign 16 players to form their practice squad. The NFL mandates that all cuts be made by 1 p.m. PT.
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