49ers ‘Gold Digger Program’ not paying off on defense, yet
A potential interception got dropped as Saturday's practice ended, typifying the 49ers ongoing struggle to produce turnovers .
SANTA CLARA — A cleverly named “Gold Digger Program” is meant to reward 49ers defenders for exceptional plays and effort.
For example, interceptions, in the rare instances they happen, would count. The daily prize is a gold-colored football emblazoned with defensive coordinator Robert Saleh’s mantras — “All Gas, No Brake” and “Extreme Violence.”
The 49ers defenders haven’t lacked effort a week into training camp. But interceptions remain scarce, a replay of last season’s takeaway trauma that set a NFL record with only two interceptions.
Saturday’s practice ended in similar, inglorious fashion. Safety Jaquiski Tartt made a perfect read, positioned himself for Gold Digger reward points and then dropped Jimmy Garoppolo’s pass.
Even cornerback Richard Sherman, the NFL’s leader in interceptions since 2011, is getting shut out. He had no interceptions in any games last season, nor in any practices that the media has observed since 2018. Saleh, however, did recall a Sherman pick this spring in a session closed to reporters.
Quarterbacks, of course, are adverse to throwing his way when they can target others. Sherman admittingly has dropped a couple chances. At other times, he’s been in position to intercept passes, but he said Garoppolo will spot that and intentionally throw the ball out of bounds.
“He won’t reward me for my greatness,” Sherman lightheartedly said Saturday as the ninth-year veteran got practice off to rest.
Only three interceptions have come in team drills through seven practices, by cornerback Emmanuel Moseley and safeties Marcell Harris and Tyree Robinson. Harris made an interception in one-on-one drills Saturday, so his coverage skills are nicely coming along to complement a glaringly physical approach.
Garoppolo has yet to have any of his 90 passes intercepted in 11-on-11 action, with just a 56.7 completion percentage.
A stronger pass rush is designed to create more opportunites for a secondary in which the only newcomer is corenrback Jason Verrett.
“Once they get going up front, that’s how we’re going to create our turnovers and quarterbacks are going to have to make quick decisions,” nickel back K’Waun Williams said. “The ball is going to be right there and we just have to catch it.”
“They’re learing how to tie themselves to the rush, which is the whole key to this defense,” said Saleh, who singled out linebacker Fred Warner’s ability to do so.
Saleh said his Gold Digger Program doesn’t pay off in money, just “self-pride.” Williams hesitated to explan it, saying: “That’s a lot of in-house stuff — just effort plays, showing your technique and producing stats, making plays on the ball.”
How does a defensive lineman rack up reward points?
“It changes every day because they’re trying to help out the linebackers and corners, because we always beat them,” defensive end Ronald Blair said with a laugh. “Right now, you just want to show extreme violence, recover a fumble if you can and scoop up a ball. Just little things.”
DEE FORD ABSENT AGAIN
Defensive linemen Dee Ford (left knee) and DeForest Buckner (toe) remained out of practice. Buckner did again did individual conditioning with a trainer. Ford has not been seen on the practice field since Tuesday, when his knee tendinitis acted up for a second straight practice.
In other injury updates, cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (glute) did not practice after getting tight in Friday’s session. Still sidelined are running back Jeff Wilson (calf) and guard Joshua Garnett (finger).
Cornerback Jimmie Ward remains limited to walk-through work and might ease into team drills on a pitch count next week.
Sherman and Staley had Saturday’s practice off to rest.
PLAY OF THE DAY
Garoppolo capped a red zone session by completing a 20-yard laser to tight end George Kittle at the goal line against Malcolm Smith’s tight coverage. Speaking of tight ends, Ross Dwelley made a nice catch on Garoppolo’s first pass of team drills.
MAKING MOVES
Defensive lineman Jay Bromley and wide receiver Chris Thompson were signed. Defensive lineman Kapron Lewis-Moore (groing) went on injured reserve and wide receiver Max McCaffrey was waived. Thompson’s 6-foot-, 175-pound frame is the team’s slightest, and he has return-specialist experience from 2017 with the Houston Texans.