SANTA CLARA — The 49ers’ defense will look noticeably different Sunday.
During the bye week, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and defensive coordinator Steve Wilkes discussed whether to change Wilkes’ vantage position during games.
When the team returns to action in Week 10 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Wilkes will be on the sideline with the players.
“We’re going to have him on the field this week,” Shanahan said Wednesday. “That’s something we’ve talked about a little bit. I think there are pluses and minuses to that.”
Wilkes was hired from outside the organization to replace DeMeco Ryans as defensive coordinator.
Lyons was hired as head coach of the Houston Texans, while Wilkes served in an interim role late last season before taking over as head coach of the Carolina Panthers.
Wilkes came to the 49ers with the task of learning the defensive scheme that was already in place. The transition hasn’t been smooth, as the 49ers have lost three games in a row.
During the offseason, Wilkes said he likes to sit in the coaches booth and make calls to his team’s defense from there.
“It takes the emotion out of the game for me and allows me to always try to get ahead on downs,” Wilkes said.
The 49ers’ previous two defensive coordinators, Robert Saleh and DeMeko Ryans, called games from the sideline.
“I wanted him to step back a little bit and be around the players,” Shanahan said of Wilkes. “They’ve gone above and beyond in communicating with their linebackers in the past. And I wanted him to be there and be able to talk to the players a little bit more.”
Wilkes will be giving up a view high up the field where he can get a better idea of route concepts and pass coverage in the defensive backfield.
But Wilkes has the advantage of being able to communicate quickly with knowledgeable defensive veterans such as Arik Armstead, Nick Bosa, Fred Warner and Tashaun Gipson.
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