Robert Saleh, Klay Kubiak, Brant Boyer at start of 49ers rookie minicamp

“The San Francisco 49ers kicked off their rookie minicamp. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak, and special teams coach Brant Boyer spoke to reporters on Thursday. Here is everything they said.”

49ers’ Robert Saleh says he’s looking 2 years ahead as he rebuilds defense (paywall)

“The first is loyalty to Kyle Shanahan, Lynch and CEO Jed York, who made him a first-time coordinator in 2017. The talent-starved 49ers struggled that season and the next, and a chorus of fans began calling for his job,

“And it could have been very easy to move on from me,” he said. “So I’m indebted to this organization, to those men, for the rest of my life.”

Saleh also cited the collaboration between the 49ers’ coaching and scouting staffs that he said doesn’t exist with other franchises.

“Most buildings maybe spend a week in terms of communication between scouting department and coaching staff with regards to the draft,” he said. “This organization will spend three to four weeks just grinding on tape — offense, defense, special teams and going deep into the seventh round (and) undrafted free-agent type players. And I think that’s why this organization has had so much success finding Day 3 picks that come to fruition. And even the undrafted free agents end up having success in this league.”

Saleh, in fact, met with the 49ers’ top personnel officials as soon as he arrived in January to discuss how he’s evolved since leaving to become the Jets’ head coach in 2021.

One difference may be the size of the defensive ends he sought when he first arrived in 2017 versus what he’s looking for now. The Wide 9 requires big-bodied ends who can set an edge in the running game and plow through tight ends on pass plays, something that’s reflected in the 6-5, 267-pound Williams.

The cornerbacks, meanwhile, seem to have gotten smaller. Early on in Saleh’s first 49ers tenure, the team looked for tall, long cornerbacks like the Seattle Seahawks used — someone like former Seahawk Richard Sherman. More recently, the 49ers have found success with smaller, feisty players like Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green.”

What does 49ers’ new special teams coach think of beleaguered kicker Jake Moody? (paywall)

“Boyer suggested Moody does need to prove his confidence has been restored after his forgettable finish. After Moody missed two field goals and an extra point in a prime-time loss to the Lions in Week 17, he termed it perhaps the lowest point in his football career.

“I think if the kid gets his mind right, which I think he’s doing a hell of a job for us so far — I think he’ll do a heck of a job for us,” Boyer said. “I really do.”

49ers ST coordinator expresses confidence in ‘talented’ Moody

“There isn’t a special teams coach in this league that didn’t have him rated No. 1 coming out, that I know of,” Boyer said of Moody on Thursday. “He’s as talented of a kid as it gets.”

49ers rookie Marques Sigle eager for a new audience to get to know his name (paywall)

“Marques is tremendous,” Kansas State defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman said in a phone interview. “I think he is going to play for a lot of years. He is versatile and can play a lot of different positions and is a hard worker, and I think he is going to be a good leader. I think the world of him.”

The chip on Sigle’s shoulder is permanently attached.

“He has had that since high school, and that’s why he is going to be successful,” Klanderman said. “He is going to outwork a lot of people on the 49ers, and he is not afraid to do the dirty work. He looks forward to special teams.”

Sigle had first started thinking the NFL was a possibility during the 2022 draft when Bison teammate Christian Watson was selected in the second round by the Green Bay Packers. Sigle felt he had held his own against Watson in practice and wanted to prove himself on a bigger stage.”

Why Saleh feels ‘indebted’ to 49ers among exciting return

“He said he has worked with his defensive staff this offseason to project where offenses around the league are shifting and what can be done for the defense to remain ahead of the curve.

“We’re trying to stay a couple years ahead,” Saleh said. “A lot of it might seem similar but there’s a lot of nuance that makes it different.”