San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
$40 million man Ward boosts Niners’ defense
The 49ers hope self-assured cornerback Charvarius Ward can fix what was perhaps the team’s biggest problem area last year.
A reporter asked San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward on Friday about “soft-spoken” and “polite” second-year safety Talanoa Hufanga. How can the defensive backs get Hufanga to be more “talkative” on the field?
“I think he’s a great communicator,” Ward said. “I don’t know what you see. But he’s always dancing, bringing the energy, laughing and smiling. So I think he’s the opposite of what you just explained.”
The takeaway: The aggressive, in-your-face style Ward effectively uses against wideouts is also employed with writers.
The 49ers paid big money for the self-assured Ward, 26, in March in hopes that he can fix what was perhaps their biggest problem area last year. Due to injuries, inexperience and ineffectiveness, the 49ers led the NFL in pass-interference penalties, had the thirdfewest pass breakups, allowed the fourth-highest completion percentage and had the fifthfewest
“I mean the way he carries himself around the locker room: a natural leader.”
Trey Lance, 49ers quarterback, on Charvarius Ward
interceptions.
The early returns on their $40 million investment? Ward has headlined the secondary as the defense dominated through three training-camp practices. Quarterback Trey Lance, per reports, completed 10 of 22 passes, threw interceptions to Hufanga and free safety Jimmie Ward and saw at least two of his throws batted away by Charvarius Ward in practices Thursday and Friday.
Lance’s impression? Charvarius Ward is brimming with skills and swagger.
He’s “super talented,” Lance said. “And he knows it, man. I mean the way he carries himself around the locker room: a natural leader, just a guy that the guys gravitate towards, for sure. And on the field, obviously, you can see what he does.”
What can the 49ers’ defense do with Charvarius Ward potentially turning an Achilles heel into an asset? Last year, the 49ers used past-his-prime corner Josh Norman and notquite-ready-for-prime-time rookie Ambry Thomas after Jason Verrett suffered a torn ACL in the season opener.
This season, Ward will team with corner Emmanuel Moseley, who allowed a 65.6 passer rating when targeted last year and was among the 49ers’ best players during offseason practices.
“E-man is in a really good spot,” defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans said. “He’s definitely one of those guys who is, right now, at the top of his game.”
Could last year’s liability ascend to the top of the league? Richard Sherman, the 49ers’ former All-Pro cornerback said, via Twitter on Thursday that the 49ers’ back end had such potential. Sherman said Charvarius Ward and Moseley
were a “problem” — for opposing QBs — that Jimmie Ward was a Pro Bowl-caliber player and that he expected Hufanga, a fifth-round pick who was the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2020, to “shine” in his first season as a starter.
Pro Bowl pass rusher Nick Bosa echoed those sentiments.
(Charvarius Ward) “and E-man are definitely showing up — just to have two guys like that back there is huge,” Bosa said. “And Jimmie’s always there, and (Hufanga’s) starting to come along as a starting player. It’s exciting.”
Of course, it’s also late July. Defenses are typically a step ahead of offenses early in training camp, and the 49ers’ offense has been undermanned: It has been without two of its best players, left tackle Trent Williams and wide receiver Deebo Samuel, along with right tackle Mike McGlinchey.
Still, it’s easy to see why the 49ers think their first-week defensive domination could be a preview of coming attractions. Last year, despite their back-end inconsistency, they boasted the NFL’s thirdranked defense thanks to a fearsome front seven. They ranked fifth in the NFL in sacks (48) and have since bolstered their edge rush: They used their first draft pick on USC’s Drake Jackson, a second-round selection, and signed pass rushers Kerry Hyder and Kemoko Turay.
“That D-line, I feel like we’ve got 10 to 12 starters,” Charvarius Ward said. “Those boys are some dogs.”
The 49ers have prioritized defensive linemen over defensive backs since general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan arrived in 2017. They have used four
Cornerback Charvarius Ward (35) has headlined the secondary as the defense dominated through three training-camp practices.
first- or second-round picks on defensive linemen while never drafting a defensive back higher than the third round. The logic: A strong pass rush can mask deficiencies in the secondary.
Bosa, in his fourth season, now thinks the well-stocked defensive line can get an assist from the defensive backfield when it fails to reach quarterbacks quickly.
“The depth of starting-caliber (defensive-line) players is something that I haven’t seen yet with this team,” Bosa said. “And the secondary is playing as good as I’ve seen as well, which is going to make our job
much easier.”
The defense has made Lance’s job difficult at the start of training camp. But it could ease the burden on the 21-yearold, who will be the NFL’s youngest starting QB in the regular season.
“I think he’s in the best position he could be in as a first-year quarterback with a defense like us,” Bosa said. “I think if he doesn’t make big mistakes, we’re going to be in good shape.”
Ward, seen here breaking up a pass intended for the Cowboys’ Cedrick Wilson in 2021, was a top player for the Chiefs.
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