The 49ers’ visit to the Eagles in Philadelphia will put Lenoir’s dual responsibilities to the test.
Not only is Deommodore Lenoir shorter than most in his position at 5 feet 10 inches, but he is also accustomed to being ignored.
His performance in Los Angeles high school was good enough for Oregon to recruit him, and he went on to become a member of the All-Pac-12 second team. The 49ers selected him in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Before the 49ers made their selection, 171 players were chosen, with 26 cornerbacks among them. Lenoir wasn’t considered a shutdown or Pro Bowl cornerback, but he did have an opportunity to make a roster.
Yet, middle linebacker Fred Warner believes that Lenoir is close to becoming a great player in his third season.
Warner said, “Demo doesn’t get nearly the credit he deserves.”
Lenoir is the 49ers’ defensive player who is as versatile as Christian McCaffrey is offensively. Both as a receiver and a running back, McCaffrey is excellent. Nevertheless, there are far more running backs than cornerbacks who can play both outside corner and in the slot on a down-to-down basis, and do so at a very good level.
“I still feel like I have a lot more to prove to myself, setting a standard and goals.” Lenoir said. “It’s difficult to stand out on this team because there are so many excellent players, but I don’t focus on it. Be the best member of this team out of the eleven.”
On Sunday, in a rematch of the NFC Championship Game from the previous season, Lenoir will be put to the test both indoors and outdoors when the 49ers visit the Philadelphia Eagles. Lenoir will play right cornerback in base defense alignments. He will then defend slot receivers in the nickel (five defensive backs) and position his 200-pound frame to be blindsided or pancaked by linemen while stopping the run.
It wasn’t always that way; after veteran Jimmie Ward left in free agency, Lenoir was playing on the outside while free agent Isaiah Oliver signed to play slot corner. After deciding Tashaun Gipson could handle the deep middle, the 49ers decided to move Ward from free safety to slot corner, though they initially considered making Lenoir a slot corner.
The 49ers broke out of their three-game losing streak and their bye by starting Lenoir outside and then moving him inside for three wide-receiver sets with Ambry Thomas playing right corner. Initially, Lenoir and Oliver shared time at nickel.
In the three games that the 49ers have allowed a combined 30 points to be scored, Oliver has only contributed six defensive snaps, with Lenoir and Thomas both playing well.
Life is never a problem as a slot corner, even though it can be isolating as an outside corner that isn’t being tested.
Lenoir remarked, “I would say there’s never a dull moment because you can always do something.” “I kind of like that for myself since I feel like I can be in there and cause a lot of disruption because you’re closer to the ball and you can make something happen.”
Despite his excellent performance as a slot corner, Ward expressed his preference to play free safety to both former DeMeco Ryans and coach Kyle Shanahan. Lenoir was willing and able to play two roles.
Demo has been playing so well outside, and he plays the same way inside when we ask him to, according to Shanahan. Demo becomes an expert at whatever he stays at. He is under a lot of stress because we depend on him in both areas, but his style of play has made me extremely happy.
Lenoir, a 200-pound nickel corner, functions more like a linebacker than a nickel corner because of his increased coverage duties. In terms of tackles, he is a passionate tackler who is only behind Warner and Dre Greenlaw. He also has two interceptions.
Lenoir learned a few things from both Ward and K’Waun Williams, who was the Niners’ slot player during Lenoir’s rookie season. Even though those two were excellent slot corners, they would never be called upon to perform Lenoir’s duties.
“That just wasn’t their game.” Warner stated. “There aren’t many guys who can perform at the same level as Demo. Charvarius Ward’s Mooney is a true outsider, after all. among the greatest. He’s not a nickel, though. Being a nickel requires you to perform second-level linebacker duties, which is challenging for a smaller player.”
Lenoir, who continues to communicate with Jimmie Ward and Williams, has been informed that playing nickel is all about having “feel” and being perceptive of everything.
“It’s about reading body language, slowing everything down, knowing where your run gap is, and knowing your receiver splits.” Lenoir said. “Given the state of the defense at the moment, it’s the appropriate move. When I’m around, we play much faster, and that’s how we get the best 11 on the field.”