Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: 6 Remaining Storylines to Watch This Offseason

By Nicholas McGee

Nov 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) enters the game as San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) has to sit out a play during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Atlanta Falcons 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) enters the game as San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) has to sit out a play during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Atlanta Falcons 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 6, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Marc Mariani (80) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers cornerback Tramaine Brock (26) during the second half at Soldier Field. San Francisco won 26-20 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Marc Mariani (80) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers cornerback Tramaine Brock (26) during the second half at Soldier Field. San Francisco won 26-20 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

How will the secondary shape up?

The 49ers sprung a surprise in the third and fourth round by spending back-to-back picks on cornerbacks in Mississippi State’s Will Redmond and LSU’s Rashard Robinson before using their final selection in the draft on Western Kentucky defensive back Prince Charles Iworah

That duo’s arrival further muddies matters in an already crowded secondary picture. San Francisco now has 14 defensive backs on the roster with the majority of the players in that group having little in terms of NFL experience.

Lack of experience is not such an issue at safety, where Eric Reid and Antoine Bethea are the presumed starters, but the addition of Redmond can shake things up at that spot.

Sep 19, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive back Will Redmond (2) prepares for a play during the game against the Northwestern State Demons at Davis Wade Stadium. Mississippi State won 62-13. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive back Will Redmond (2) prepares for a play during the game against the Northwestern State Demons at Davis Wade Stadium. Mississippi State won 62-13. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /

Redmond, who Baalke — per Branch — expects to be healthy in time for the 2016 season — projects as a player who could see time as the 49ers’ nickel back, a role fulfilled by Jimmie Ward last season.

Should that be the case then it would be no surprise to see Ward see some snaps at his more natural position at safety — where he impressed late in 2015 when injuries forced him to move back from the nickel spot as he responded excellently to a difficult rookie campaign.

Ward therefore could cut into the playing time of Reid or Bethea, whose position as starter may come under threat from Jaquiski Tartt in 2016.

Tartt did a nice job in run support and as an occasional pass rusher, proving an intimidating physical presence at strong safety after Bethea’s 2015 season was brought to an end by a torn pectoral muscle.

The physical style of play and athleticism Tartt has demonstrated has led to suggestions he could play at linebacker, although he has been quick to reject such talk on social media.

While the 49ers look to have strength in depth at safety and solid options at nickel, the rest of the depth chart in the defensive backfield is a mess.

Tramaine Brock is the Niners’ most experienced corner but looked particularly vulnerable in man coverage on deep passes in an up-and-down 2015 campaign, while the previous coaching staff never seemed to settle on a starter next to him.

Kenneth Acker started 13 games last year and had three interceptions but Dontae Johnson — at 6’2″ and 200 pounds — has a better frame to deal with big receivers on the outside and did an excellent job against Julio Jones in 2015.

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Robinson has similar length to Johnson with speed that has seen him run the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds and proved himself to be an extremely capable corner in press-man coverage at LSU. However, at 171 pounds it is debatable if he has the frame to stand up against larger wideouts and his transition to the pros may take longer with Robinson having been suspended indefinitely by LSU in November 2014.

The 4.3 speed of Keith Reaser may be enough to keep him on the team as a slot man capable of staying with the fastest receivers in the NFL and, given the sheer volume of players fighting for position on the depth chart, the position battles that take place in the secondary could be more intense than any other of the prospective roster competitions.

Next: Kaepernick vs. Gabbert