Back in March when defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey signed a two-year deal with the 49ers as a free agent, the former Chief said Niners defensive line coach Jim Tomsula’s energy was contagious.
“(Tomsula’s) got a lot of energy, man,” Dorsey told the Bay Area media. “He picked me up from the airport last night and he already talking 100 miles per hour.” The 27-year-old former first-round pick of Kansas City said he was “excited to get the opportunity to work with him.”
About 2½ months later, Dorsey is still marveling at Tomsula’s energy and his teaching skills.
Though Dorsey spent five seasons with the Chiefs, the 6-foot-1, 297-pound veteran says he’s been soaking up new knowledge since joining the Niners, thanks to Tomsula and his new teammates on the defensive line. As noted in a story by Scott Kegley of 49ers.com, Tomsula can often be seen in organized team activities (OTAs) – which resume Monday – down on the grass with his players, coaching from the ground up.
“He gives you different ways to look at things and different ways to use your body, your hands, use what God gave you,” Dorsey told Kegley. “He’s doing a tremendous job. I’m learning a lot of new techniques and it’s all making sense for me.”
In college at LSU, Dorsey was the most dominant defensive lineman of his draft class, the fifth overall choice of the 2008 selection process. But in Kansas City, Dorsey never quite fulfilled his potential.
With San Francisco, the 27-year-old Dorsey will be used at both nose tackle – where he’ll replace Isaac Sopoaga – and as a backup defensive end in the 3-4 as needed. The 49ers’ addition of Dorsey and defensive end Tank Carradine, a second-round pick, figure to get plenty of playing time in 2013. Rookie defensive tackle Quinton Dial also should be in the mix. And that’s fine with Dorsey.
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“I like the defensive scheme and up front, I’m going to play everywhere – inside and outside,” Dorsey told Kegley. “I’m just going to do whatever they ask me to do and do it the best I could. I like the scheme.”
Dorsey says OTAs provide the perfect learning environment for polishing the skills and techniques he’s picking up from Tomsula. It’s live-action work against the offense, but without the full contact. He can make all of his mistakes now before the start of training camp this summer.
He says being with the 49ers organization is giving him a “fresh start” on his NFL career.
Last season was disappointing for Dorsey, who played just four games, then had to sit out the rest of the season with a calf injury.
Now, he has a chance to make an impact on a team that’s coming off a Super Bowl appearance and is primed to be a contender again in 2013. He’s loving being with a winning franchise with a positive atmosphere.
“Just the way they play, their passion for the game and the success they had,” Dorsey told Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. “Everybody can see they have a winning formula.”
