DEFENSIVE HYPE
Additions of pass rusher Ford, linebacker Alexander could boost 49ers defense
SANTA CLARA » If Dee Ford and Kwon Alexander indeed are coming to the rescue of the 49ers’ defense, their first efforts Thursday were a success in painting an optimistic look at their playmaking abilities.
Coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch played their part in hyping up their defense’s additions without overselling the 49ers’ stature in Year 3 of their rebuild.
The roster’s construction continued in earnest after the press conference with the signings of cornerback Jason Verrett, wide receiver Jordan Matthews and linebacker David Mayo.
Also, linebacker Brock Coyle was released in light of last year’s career-ending back injury.
Here is what we learned from the media session at Levi’s Stadium:
FORD’S OFFSIDE HISTORY » Ford claimed he hasn’t wrestled the past two months with how his offside penalty allowed the New England Patriots to rally against the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.
“Look, it happens,” Ford said. “Unlucky play. Would I take it back? Of course. Anybody would. It was devastating. I gave myself two days to pout about it, and I’m over it.”
Ford did not sound upset the Chiefs opted to part with him after designating him as their franchise player.
“This is a business. They had to do what they needed to do,” Ford said. “That’s why (Chiefs coach) Andy (Reid) is great. He had to do what’s best for the team. As players we don’t get caught in that. This is my new challenge and I’m excited.”
Ford was penalized 12 times over the past four seasons for jumping offside. Such is life as a speed- oriented edge rusher. Beside getting to the quarterback, Ford forced seven fumbles last season, and he credited that more to his mentality than technique.
“I work three moves and sometimes they’re variations of the same move,” Ford said. “It’s all feel. I don’t do that (start-then-stop) move a ton.
It’s instinctive. I have three main moves, and wherever the tackle is, it’s always going to be instinctive.” ALEXANDER’S ACL PROGNO
SIS » Not every player has Adrian Peterson’s 2012 fasttrack timeline for a comeback from anterior cruciate ligament surgery. The 49ers sure have learned that with their failed ACLrehab projects over the years. Now comes Alexander, who is five months into his rehabilitation and shows no sign of a limp or concern.
“I’ve been grinding, working hard and just pushing myself to get back,” said the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers starter. “Just taking it day by day. Let it all work out for itself, and I’ll be back soon.”
The 49ers have a recent, dismal history with ACL comebacks, particularly with eight draft picks since 2013. Lynch called it a “fair question” to ask why invest so much in another ACL recovery, and he noted the 49ers have overhauled their training and strength programs this offseason.
“Those things get better,” Lynch said of ACL injuries. “He’s putting in the work. We had a physical that was very thorough, and our doctors came out feeling good about it.” FORD’S SPECIFIC ROLE » The 49ers list Ford as a defensive end and “he fits the Leo (pass rusher) mold perfectly,” Lynch said.
Ford racked up a career-high 13 sacks last season with the Chiefs — 10 in 2016 — in what he called a matchup-based attack.
“My role is to go that way, nothing else,” Ford said.
“And that way is toward the quarterback,” Shanahan added. TEVIN COLEMAN’S STATUS » Tevin Coleman is thrilled to reunite with Shanahan and running backs coach Bobby Turner, having played under them his first two seasons with the At- lanta Falcons and becoming a dual-threat rusher and receiver.
The 49ers already have Jerick McKinnon, Matt Breida and Raheem Mostert, and Coleman said the running joke is how they’re like a 4x100 relay team, adding: “I’m just going to be me and go out and compete.”
Coleman’s addition, Shanahan said, does not reflect any concern over McKinnon’s ACL comeback, rather it merely enhances their corps while allowing McKinnon to not be rushed into action.
• The 49ers made moves to a secondary, adding former Chargers injury-prone cornerback Verrett while also welcoming back safeties Jimmie Ward and Antone Exum on one-year deals.
Verrett’s tenure with the Chargers was waylaid by shoulder and knee injuries, and, just when he was ready to return to form last season, he tore an Achilles at the start of training camp.
“A lot of dark moments dealing with a lot of the injuries, but I came out the tunnel and I’m ready to get things rolling,” said Verrett, who nixed visits to the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs after the 49ers won him over with a oneyear, $3.6 million contract.
Verrett, if healthy, should join Richard Sherman as the 49ers’ starting cornerbacks, thus keeping sidelined the team’s 2017 and 2018 third-round picks, Ahkello Witherspoon and Tarvarius Moore.
Another free-agent addition is Mayo, a former Carolina Panthers special- teamer who has no concerns about his January sports-hernia surgery. Mayo signed a two-year deal.
• Whether the 49ers look at wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. as the one trade that got away — the New York Giants shipped him to the Cleveland Browns — Lynch refrained from rehashing their phone hustle, simply stating: “Free agency is always crazy.”