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.

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.

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.