SANTA CLARA — Mykel Williams didn’t have a huge statistical performance in the 49ers’ season-opening 17-13 win over the Seattle Seahawks last Sunday at Lumen Field, but there is no disappointment from the coaching staff.
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh understands that there will be a learning curve for the first-round 2025 NFL Draft pick, especially with how they plan to utilize him across the defensive line.
“There’s a lot of things he’s got to clean up,” Saleh said Thursday. “When you get into an NFL game plan and it’s going pretty quick, there’s a lot of assignments, alignments for those guys where we’re not just lining up in the same spot as in years past. There are different things that we’re asking him to do, which is a lot for a rookie.”
Williams was on the field for 39 of the defense’s 52 snaps and three on special teams. The rookie got valuable game reps but only registered one tackle assist. The coaching staff is not holding back, challenging Williams to play across the line from Day 1, lining up on the inside and on the edge.
“It’s going to be a work in progress for both [positions],” Saleh said. “He’s going to make his living, at least while we’re here, being a first- and second-down run defender on the outside and then rushing the passer on the inside. We think he can rush the passer outside, too, but we also think that he can be an elite interior pass rusher, which is very hard to find.
“Those guys are rare. Even more rare than an edge guy.”
Here are the positions where Williams lined up in his 39 defensive plays, according to ProFootballFocus.com
Left end – 6
Left defensive tackle – 2
Left outside edge – 7 (outside the tackle)
Right defensive tackle – 5
Right end – 10
Right outside linebacker – 1
Right outside edge – 6
Middle linebacker – 1
Slot corner -1
Saleh believes it’s only a matter of time until the game slows down for Williams, and until then, they will acclimate him to all aspects of the defense. But asking him to do more could slow the learning process. Williams also missed valuable training camp reps after suffering a knee injury in the 49ers’ joint practice with the Denver Broncos.
“He’s got great versatility to him,” Saleh said. “When you ask guys to go inside out, it does take [them] probably a little bit more time. Especially when you think of our philosophy. We try to get guys doing one thing and doing it really, really well.
“He’s in a position where his greatest gift is his greatest curse in terms of his versatility. We’re trying to make sure that we balance it enough so that way, he can maximize who he is.”
Saleh already sees the No. 11 overall pick’s potential after Williams nearly made a huge play in Seattle. Late in the fourth quarter, with the score 17-13, Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold stepped back into the pocket and launched a pass to wide receiver Jackson Smith-Njigba for a 40-yard gain, putting Seattle within striking distance of the end zone.
Williams hit his initial block, released and then shifted inside, where he met center Jalen Sundell, who held his ground.
“On the 40-yard play, you talk about inches; on the 40-yard play at the end of the game, he’s about to end it,” Saleh said. “And that center for Seattle, I think, made an unbelievable play to save it. But [if] Mykel is free off the pick, he’s about to end the game. He did a lot of really good things, but there’s obviously some things he has got to clean up.”
Williams will have another chance to work on his craft on Sunday, when the 49ers travel to New Orleans for their Week 2 matchup with the Saints.
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