SANTA CLARA — When the old gang got back together Tuesday, they must have been wondering where everybody else went.

Robert Saleh, the former and future defensive coordinator of the 49ers, held his first defensive meeting and there were linebacker Fred Warner, defensive end Nick Bosa, defensive lineman Kevin Givens and defensive end Alex Barrett, assuming they all were there for a voluntary session heavy on conditioning and physical rehab.

“It’s crazy that he only knows about three or four guys back from when he was here the last time,” Warner said. “It’s a whole new group. We’re just trying to get to know everybody, build that camaraderie and build from the ground up.”

When Saleh left after the 2020 season, linebackers coach DeMeco Ryans assumed control of the defense. After two seasons, Ryans was off to coach the Houston Texans. Then came one year from an outsider, Steve Wilks, who lasted just one season even though the 49ers went to the Super Bowl. Coach Kyle Shanahan stayed in the building and last year hired Nick Sorensen, who also lasted just one season.

After going 20-36 in three-plus seasons with the hopelessly flawed Jets, Saleh got head coaching interviews in Jacksonville, Dallas and Las Vegas. The 49ers waited it out, and when Saleh didn’t get any of those jobs, he rode in on a white horse to save the day and fix a defense that couldn’t produce takeaways and got pushed around physically in a 6-11 season.

That’s what the fan base will be expecting, anyway. “Blame the coordinator” is a popular pastime with anyone who has access to All-22 film and has schemed up a defense playing a “Madden” video game.

If only it were that easy.

Saleh hasn’t spoken to the media since being hired, which isn’t unusual for the 49ers. Sorensen wasn’t given the podium until May 10 last year. Wilks was given the green light on June 7, 2023.

It doesn’t matter anyway. When Saleh does speak, he’ll be passionate and inspirational, qualities that are great in a so-called “leader of men” but of little consequence without the proper talent at his disposal.

When it comes to coaching football, offense can be schemed to a certain extent to compensate for a lack of explosiveness and talent. Defense needs players. Athletes. Dudes.

That’s not me saying that. It’s none other than the late Bill Walsh, who espoused that theory while coaching the 49ers to three Super Bowl championships in 1981, 1984 and 1988 and then again during his last three years at Stanford, where I covered his teams.

Walsh came to that conclusion after his first two defenses with Chuck Studley as coordinator gave up 415 and 416 points and the 49ers went 8-22. Then in 1981 the 49ers rebuilt their secondary with Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright and Carlton Williamson in the draft. They traded for Hall of Fame pass rusher Fred Dean during the season. They gave up 250 points and won the Super Bowl.

Fred Warner is reacquainting himself with Robert Saleh, his first defensive coordinator with the 49ers. Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group

Saleh will need considerable help from the draft starting Thursday night, with the 49ers having 11 picks and lots of needs after the defections or releases of Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga, Charvarious Ward, Leonard Floyd, and Maliek Collins.

The 49ers need a defensive tackle (or two), a defensive end, a linebacker that resembles the pre-Achilles Greenlaw and a third corner. And they need them to be ready to play in the first week of September.

The high point for the 49ers under Saleh was 2019, the first breakout year for Shanahan as head coach. He had Bosa as a rookie end and a handful of games out of Dee Ford on the other side. DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead at tackle. Greenlaw was a rookie and Warner was in Year 2. Richard Sherman was in his last year as a standout corner and Jimmie Ward was a solid safety.

Dudes.

The 49ers gave up 310 points that year, eighth of 32 teams. Very good but not exactly the ’85 Bears or the 2000 Ravens.

Now? Warner, Bosa and Deommodore Lenoir are worthy of building a team around. There are a couple of potential dudes in safety Malik Mustapha and cornerback Renardo Green.

Saleh can say “all gas, no brakes” all he wants, and if there’s not enough talent it won’t matter. The 49ers believe Kris Kocurek is one of the top defensive line coaches in the game and it was a down year for that group in 2024.

Keep in mind the fan base wasn’t exactly singing Saleh’s praises in 2017-18, when the 49ers were outmanned athletically on defense, or in 2020, when Bosa went down with a torn ACL in an injury-decimated COVID season.

General manager John Lynch said it’s apparent Saleh has grown in terms of scheme during his time with the Jets.

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“That’s what good coaches do, they constantly evolve,” Lynch said. “Hearing what he wants in certain positions, it’s very clear with Robert and that’s a good thing for someone like me and our scouts as we try to make people verbalize, very clearly, what they’re looking for at each position.”

The degree to which Saleh succeeds in identifying the correct players, selling Shanahan and Lynch on drafting them and then coaching them up to be immediate contributors will determine whether the 49ers can once again become an upper-echelon defense.

If Saleh is that good, he’ll be a head coach next year and the 49ers will be searching for a new defensive coordinator for the fourth year in a row. If not, he’ll take the blame as coordinators always do.