When the 49ers’ defense looked unrecognizable in the first half of their meeting with the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, cornerback Isaiah Oliver provided a much-needed boost in the third quarter to rejuvenate the normally dominant unit.
His dominant performance earned him the team’s Defensive Player of the Week title and a seal of approval from San Francisco’s top brass.
“I remember there was a play and a direct hit [Rams running back] Kyren Williams and [Oliver] stopped him,” general manager John Lynch told Greg Papa on NBC Sports Bay Area’s “49ers Game Plan.” “Kyren is a strong player. He stopped it just before the first down. And [assistant GM] Adam Peters said during the game, “He just became a Niner.”
“And I thought that was very appropriate because that’s what we wanted from him and he embraced it.”
The two NFC West rivals entered the locker room at halftime tied at 17 players each.
Los Angeles began the third quarter with the ball and its efforts to move the chains and regain the lead failed thanks to Oliver’s tackle on Williams.
On the Rams’ next drive, Oliver had a one-handed pickoff of quarterback Matthew Stafford, which undoubtedly flipped the switch for the 49ers and sparked a momentum that ultimately helped them to their second straight win to open the 2023 season.
“I thought he was a real catcher today,” coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game (h/t 95.7 The Game). “I had to watch the whole tape to understand everything, but I know he made some great plays. …Especially because some of our DBs break down as the game goes on. These guys had to work hard because they were traveling everywhere.”
Lynch believes the performance will not only boost Oliver’s confidence, but also the team’s faith in him.
“I think when a player, even a veteran player, experiences these moments, all of a sudden the confidence goes into turmoil,” Lynch said. “And your teammates’ trust in you. That’s why I thought it was a big game. He was our player of the week from a defensive perspective. I’m really proud because he’s a good person and a really good player who will help us.”
After losing Jimmie Ward this summer, the 49ers signed Oliver to a two-year, $6.75 million contract in free agency.
Oliver struggled in preseason and lost his place for a while, but Lynch praises the 26-year-old’s ability to keep his head up and keep grinding. His hard work paid off at the perfect time for San Francisco.
“Isaiah came here and had a little bit of trouble learning the way we play, our style of play, the concepts and the speed at which we play,” Lynch said. “We attack people. You take pride in running, getting 11 hats to the ball, and that allows you to play with a little bit of reckless abandon. If you miss and just miss your leverage, here comes Dre Greenlaw.” [Fred] Warner, here comes the stacking monster, the D-line.
“And I think, Isaiah, I was proud of him because he fought through it when he lost his spot for a while and never had a down day. He just kept his head up, kept getting better, kept competing, and you could see it.”
Oliver, now officially called “a Niner,” hopes to keep the momentum going as the 49ers prepare for “Thursday Night Football” against the New York Giants in their home opener at Levi’s Stadium.
Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast