SANTA CLARA — Jimmie Ward’s continued evolution as a football player is an early breakthrough at 49ers training camp.
He was drafted as a safety, he cut his teeth the last two seasons playing nickel back, and now, the San Francisco coaching staff has every intention of lining him up as the team’s starting cornerback.
In a 7-on-7 drill early on during Monday’s practice, Ward disguised his man coverage, used an outside leverage technique and jumped Blaine Gabbert’s pass, sprinting down the sideline for a pick-six. The entire sideline full of defensive players erupted in cheers.
“That was a correction from yesterday,” Ward said of the interception. “I got beat on that route the first day.”
Plays like these are exactly why defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil is loading up Ward’s plate with responsibilities this summer in anticipation for an even larger role come September. The 25-year-old is still occasionally lining up at nickel back, too, a completely different position in the 49ers’ defense that requires memorization of different terminology and spots on the field.
But Ward’s nickel reps appear to be just for show. Chris Davis, rookie Will Redmond and Keith Reaser are all learning the position (Davis surprisingly is emerging as the leader of that pack). On the first day of August, Ward’s value to the team has increased so much, the 49ers seem to want him on the field for the entire game playing alongside Tramaine Brock, and guarding the likes of Larry Fitzgerald and Dez Bryant.
“I would prefer our starting corner to stay outside,” O’Neil said. “That’s really hard on a guy to have to switch mentalities from being an outside corner to then come inside in the slot. It’s a totally different game in there and there’s a lot of new techniques that are involved in that position.
“If we have to, we will do that. I’ve done that in the past at some of the other teams I’ve been with, but you prefer to have your outside corners stay your outside corners and then when your nickel comes in the game, he plays in the slot.”
A Brock-Ward combination at cornerback teamed with Eric Reid and Antoine Bethea at safety is San Francisco’s biggest strength on defense — let alone the entire team. But the unit will have to drastically improve statistically to prove their worth. The 49ers finished 27th in the NFL in pass yards allowed (261.2), 30th in pass yards allowed per play (8.0) and 26th in interceptions with just nine.
Ward didn’t downplay that learning both corner and nickel in O’Neil’s scheme is mentally taxing. To deal with the circumstances, Ward has increased his the of homework he’s doing, taking film sessions from the facility to the team hotel. Ward told reporters he’s been particularly fond of watching and learning from Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden. The Pro Bowler played two seasons under O’Neil, and in 2014 the Browns’ defense led the NFL in opposing quarterback rating at 74.1.
“I watch to see what he does because he’s one of the best,” Ward said. “He’s real quick.”
It’s entirely too early to say Ward is about to become the next Haden. The transition from nickel to starting cornerback will undoubtedly entail some blown coverages. Ward is just 5-foot-11 and could struggle with some of the taller receivers around the league.
But early flashes from training camp fused with Ward’s progress from his first two NFL seasons is more than just training camp fodder. Ward has positioned himself for a breakout campaign.