SANTA CLARA — The 49ers’ defense got off to a rough start on Tuesday, as that unit seemed more intent on fighting than playing football.
All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner, one of the more aggressive and physical players in the NFL, stepped forward after three scuffles broke out in the first six plays against the Tennessee Titans during the teams’ joint practice.
Warner said it was not a calculated thing for the 49ers’ defense to set the tone with their version of bully ball.
“No, I promise,” Warner said. “We’re not trying to fight and do all this other stuff. We’re trying to play football, and that’s what I’m trying to tell the guys early on.
“I brought the guys together and told them, ‘We’re not going to get through today if we continue on this path.’ We got to play football. If you end up on the ground, that means you didn’t win your rep.”
Nickel back Upton Stout and linebacker Tatum Bethune were among the most aggressive 49ers’ defenders during the early stage of practice.
Coach Kyle Shanahan was stationed on the other field with the 49ers’ offense — far removed from the altercations. He said he had only second-hand knowledge.
“I don’t want it,” Shanahan said of fighting in practice. “We have a rule, if you throw a punch, you’re out. And we had two guys thrown out. I was told two. I’m not sure if that’s accurate.”
The start of practice did not reflect well on defensive coordinator Raheem Morris’ unit. But, then, when the 49ers decided to stop the shenanigans, they made it very difficult on the Titans’ offense.
“I think we found our groove after some of that fiery business that was going on at the beginning,” Warner said.
Defensive plays of the day
The 49ers had two notable plays on back-to-back snaps highlighted by plays from defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa and safety Ji’Ayir Brown.
Odighizuwa supplied pressure up the middle and grabbed a handful of Titans quarterback Cam Ward’s jersey as he ran past.
The Titans did not take kindly to Odighizuwa touching their quarterback during the joint practice.
On the next play, Brown sniffed out a Ward throw over the deep middle for an interception.
The Titans were unable to connect down the field against the 49ers’ defensive backfield.
This ’n’ that
—Rookie linebacker Larry Worth had a strong showing with a pressure against Titans quarterback Will Levis, which resulted in cornerback Jakob Robinson’s interception. Levis’ pass was intended for undrafted rookie receiver Hank Beatty.
—Linebacker Jaden Dugger, a fifth-round pick, appeared to get his hand on a pass from Ward in the end zone to break up a pass intended for first-round draft pick Carnell Tate.
—Later, Worth and Dugger combined for a quarterback pressure of Levis that ended up in an incompletion.
—Rookie edge Romello Height supplied consistent pass rush for the 49ers, including one play off the right side that would have resulted in a sack of Ward.
—Safety Siran Neal made a perfect read on Mitch Trubisky’s pass in the flat for tight end Xavier Restrepo for a 5-yard loss.
—Veteran cornerback Jack Jones’ strong camp continued as he had tight coverage on a deep pass Trubisky intended for second-year receiver Eric Ayomanor. The pass fell incomplete.
—The 49ers defense held the Titans out of the end zone on late-game drills with Ward and Trubisky at quarterback. Height jumped offside on one play, but he applied pressure to force an incomplete pass. Cornerback Renardo Green had good coverage to lead to an incomplete pass on Ward’s deep pass for Ayomanor.