New DE Randy Gregory is ready to reek havoc for the 49ers

Oct 12, 2023, 8:32 AM

Randy Gregory #5 of the Denver Broncos looks on during the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seaha...

Steph Chambers/Getty Images

Sports Editor/Writer

While packing up his Colorado home over the weekend, Randy Gregory caught his new team, the San Francisco 49ers, playing his old team, the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.The dominance of his new home was made apparent quick, with the the 49ers dismantling the Cowboys, 42-10.

Acquired by the Red & Gold late last week, Gregory will now look to slide in to an already-established defensive front, one that scares opponents once the whistle blows.

“They’re flying around,” Randy Gregory said Wednesday about the 49ers’ play against Dallas. “The first drive, I think me and my wife were talking about, that the Cowboys looked a little spooked.

“That’s not bulletin-board material. It just speaks to the level of intensity we came out with and carried out throughout the course of the game.”

Gregory has has success everywhere he’s been, most notably his seven years in Texas. But the one thing that’s missing from his résumé is high-caliber games, something that excited him about joining the 49ers.

“They’re in win-now mode,” he added. “For me, I was just trying to visualize myself out there making plays and fitting in where I can help out.”

Still, the 30-year-old pass rusher will need a little time to adjust to San Francisco’s style of play, already working with defensive side lien coach Kris Kocurek.

New pickup Randy Gregory working with Kris Kocurek at 49ers practice pic.twitter.com/wZrVjwhwZk

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) October 11, 2023

The longtime 49ers coach has been responsible for turning forgotten talents in blue-chip players over the years, with edge rushers Samson Ebukam and Charles Omenihu being the most recently. Gregory will look to follow suit, hoping to bounce back from his injury-plagued time with the Broncos to being a productive member of the 49ers’ edge depth.

“What we do well is attacking, getting up field,” the pass rusher said. “Me and coach Kris, that’s the biggest thing we’ve talked about the last couple of days. Getting my feet down, and having the right stance, and getting upfield.

“That’s what they do well, cause havoc, and that’s what I plan on doing.”

Accumulating 19.5 sacks and 106 tackles in his career, the Nebraska alum has accomplished a lot in seven years. But those individuals statistics can be thrown out the window now, with Gregory’s only goal being to help this team make a deep postseason run once more.

“I’m not coming in with any kind of expectations, other than to win,” Gregory stated. “I want to make this as easy as possible. I want to come in and do what I do well; I think they know what I do well.”

And that would be the case, with his new teammates elated to have him in the trenches. A speed threat opposite of the starters, the unit will look to get him up and running by the time the team plane takes off for Cleveland.

“Perfect,” defensive end Nick Bosa said to the media Wednesday. “I think he just needs to get the scheme down, which will take hopefully a couple days. It’s not too complicated, but just getting the nuances of it down.

“I think he’ll be able to set the edge as good as anybody we have, and we obviously have him here because he can rush.”

Arik Armstead is excited to welcome Randy Gregory to the 49ers and recognized Kerry Hyder Jr. for his contributions over the years pic.twitter.com/zmJZXvfIEn

— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) October 6, 2023