Why the 49ers reopened the competition at the nickel position

SANTA CLARA — Isaiah Oliver, once considered an almost certainty of winning the job for the 49ers nickel back competition, he hasn’t done his part to end the competition.

oliver had a shaky start to preseason against the Los Vegas Raiders after failing to take control of the position in the first few weeks of training camp.

Now, a battle is raging for the all-important job of lining up against the opponent’s slot receiver. He was Jimmie Ward’s job last season, but now he’s a member of the Houston Texans.

Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said Tuesday that it’s possible the 49ers could replace Ward with multiple players, depending on the skill set of the offensive players they’ll face in nickel-and-dime situations.

“It’s really a Rolodex of players, to be honest with you,” Wilks said of the different options the team is considering.

One of the moves the 49ers tried Tuesday was trading Deommodore Lenoir from cornerback on walking opportunities to nickel in passing situations.

“I reached out to him and he talked to me about taking the classroom to the field,” Wilks said of Lenoir. “He came back there today, and it’s like he’s been playing nickel all offseason.

“So that was encouraging to see. Just their communication, formation recognition and adjustment to movement and that kind of thing because it happens fast there.”

Part of the reason the 49ers are comfortable moving Lenoir inside in key situations is because of the progress the team has seen from young cornerbacks Samuel Womack and Ambry Thomas.

“I think you always have to look at, ‘Okay, we need our best guys on the field,’ and it depends on who’s playing better right now,” Wilks said. “If Ambry or Womack are playing better, of course we’re going to move Demo inside.

“So I think it’s a luxury that you have these options. And what we’re trying to create once again is just a competition across the board.”

Wilks noted that the 49ers also tested rookie cornerback D’Shawn Jamison in the nickel, as well as AJ Parker, who has been lining up with the second-team defense while Oliver took the vast majority of first-team reps for three. weeks of training camp.

“We’re really continuing to try to find the combination,” Wilks said. “We love competition and we try to make sure the guys keep getting better.”

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