49ers kick off new era with offseason program

It’s the dawn of a new era in San Francisco  — Santa Clara, for the sticklers out there — as Monday marked the first day of the offseason program for the San Francisco 49ers.

Monday’s schedule consisted of weight and conditioning training in the morning, and position group meetings in the early afternoon. All were designed to initially assess veteran players and teach the basics of the offensive and defensive schemes of the new coaching regime.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said:

“Everyone was here so it was 100 percent. I was excited about that. … We just really had to get to know each other a little bit. … I tried to tell them a little bit more about myself, kind of my expectations for stuff and, you know, the way I go about working and kind of how I saw everyone else go about working.”

Part of the day was also dedicated to introducing new coaches that will accompany Shanahan in his first season as a head coach in the NFL.

Those new pieces include former Jacksonville Jaguars linebacking coach and Seattle Seahawks defensive quality control coach, Robert Saleh, who clarified what defensive scheme the 49ers will look to employ this season:

“We are a single (safety) high defense. The system, you could say, originated in Seattle when I was there. Three teams currently, Seattle, Atlanta and Jacksonville if you’re looking at tape, all of them have the nuances of, you know, how they operate.”

Saleh added:

“This will be a very, I don’t want to say it again, very different scheme, but there are going to be differences in the nuances within the scheme that make it unique to us.”

Some players unfamiliar with the new coaching staff up until today have already seen differences in the new regime compared to seasons past.

Carlos Hyde, who will be playing for his fourth head coach in four seasons, said:

“They have a bunch of signs up right now. Kind of made me feel like I’m back at Ohio State. You have bunch if signs everywhere, you know, team rules and stuff like that. I mean, so seeing stuff like that is different, changing the culture here.”

11-year veteran offensive tackle Joe Staley had kind words regarding the  new coaching staff:

“I’m really excited, especially with the track record of coach Shanahan and what he’s going to be able to do an offensive coordinator. But also the excitement he brings to this organization.”

Phase one off the league-mandated offseason program continues until April 21, per Joe Fann of 49ers.com, with phase two beginning May 1. The collective bargaining agreement states no live contact can begin until training camp opens July 30.

The 49ers will also hold a local pro day at Levi’s Stadium on Wednesday, April 12 for player from Stanford, Cal, San Jose State and other Bay Area prospects form other schools, per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area.