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49ers to name Kris Kocurek as defensive line coach [report]

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© Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports


On Sunday, the 49ers parted ways with defensive line coach Jeff Zgonina. One day later, the team has reportedly named a successor.

The 49ers plan to hire Kris Kocurek to be their new defensive line coach, according to Adam Caplan.

Kocurek has spent the past 10 years coaching NFL defensive lines. He served as the Detroit Lions’ assistant defensive line coach in 2009. One year later, he took over the unit and served in the lead role until joining Miami in 2017. Detroit’s 250 sacks were the fourth-most for a defensive line during that eight-year span.

In Kocurek’s lone season with Miami, the Dolphins recorded 31 sacks, the fourth-fewest in the NFL. Miami also ranked near the bottom of the league in rush defense, allowing a second-worst 145.3 rushing yards in 2018.

Kocurek will replace Zgonina, who spent the past two seasons with the 49ers, which totaled 67 sacks throughout that span. The 49ers allowed 113.4 rushing yards per game, ranked 13th in the NFL, last year.

The 49ers hired Chris Kiffin as a pass-rush specialist prior to the 2018 season. Presuming no further changes are made, he will now team up with Kocurek to coach the 49ers defensive line.