Raheem Morris returns to Atlanta leading a surging 49ers defense

When Raheem Morris walks into Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, he will head for the visitors' locker room.

Morris spent the past two seasons as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. Now he is the defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers and his unit has been one of the best stories of the unbeaten team's first six games.

Asked last week whether he wants a third chance to be a head coach, Morris waved off the idea. "There are 32 head coaches in the National Football League. There are 32 defensive coordinators and there are 32 offensive coordinators," he said. "We are blessed and you couldn't have a better job than all of us."

Fewest big plays in the league

The 49ers have allowed the fewest explosive plays in the NFL this season. They rank fourth in points allowed at 18.3 per game and fourth in yards allowed per play at 4.7.

They have done it mostly without star defensive end Nick Bosa, who has been out with a calf injury, along with several other injured linemen. The defense made game-winning stands in each of the past two weeks against Seattle and Washington. Safety Malik Mustapha's big hits helped seal Monday night's win over the Commanders.

"Honestly, I think we can be No. 1 in all categories, but it is a new defense," safety Ji'Ayir Brown said.

A defensive backs coach at heart

Unlike recent 49ers coordinators with linebacker backgrounds, Morris has spent nine NFL seasons coaching defensive backs or running the pass defense. He even coached receivers in Atlanta in 2016, when 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan was the Falcons' offensive coordinator.

Morris has kept the team's zone roots but added more match coverage and more base defense. Shanahan said it has made his defensive backs more aggressive and more confident.

The pass rush is also picking up. The 49ers have nine sacks over the past two weeks and 11 players have shared in at least half a sack this season.

"He's energetic, funny, but when it's time to work, he's dialed in," rookie defensive tackle Gracen Halton said. "He's a player's coach."

San Francisco has had five defensive coordinators in five years. Shanahan hopes that run ends now. "I see Raheem here for as long as I'm here," he said.