In the hopes of solving their bear of a defensive problem, the 49ers have come up with an elephant. After giving up a league-worst 194 points in their first six games, the 49ers could well return to practice today from last week’s bye with a new look on defense.

It will involve the old elephant, a defense once devised by former defensive coordinator and head coach George Seifert that highlights a pass rusher.

“What we do to a large degree is very much like what you had with (Charles) Haley and (Chris) Doleman, and those kinds of guys with the 49ers,” coach Mike Nolan said before escaping Friday for a rare weekend away. “That guy is always the ‘rush’ guy, but he flip-flops sides. That’s really basically what we’re doing. They used to play it here.”

Haley, Tim Harris, Rickey Jackson and Doleman all played the pachyderm, which puts a pass-rusher out wide, usually in a three-point stance.

While the 49ers don’t yet have a player the caliber of the aforementioned group, Brandon Moore, and rookies Manny Lawson and Parys Haralson will try to revive the stampeding pass-rushing role.

It will also mark the annual return to the 4-3 defense, which the 49ers have increasingly played as the season progresses.

Source: [San Francisco Chronicle]