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San Francisco 49ers: Starting Lineup Predictions for 2016 Season

By Trevor Irvine

Jun 8, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebackers huddle during minicamp at the San Francisco 49ers Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 8, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebackers huddle during minicamp at the San Francisco 49ers Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 18, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers strong safety Antoine Bethea (41) celebrates after making a tackle for a loss against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Ravens 25-20. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers strong safety Antoine Bethea (41) celebrates after making a tackle for a loss against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Ravens 25-20. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

Defensive Backs

Starting cornerbacks: Tramaine Brock, Jimmie Ward

Nickel Corner: Will Redmond

Strong Safety: Antoine Bethea

Free Safety: Eric Reid

Most of these roles are pretty much set. Brock is the clear No. 1 CB on the team, and the safety spots are sewn up with Jaquiski Tartt likely to play also depending on the scheme (he could also play some linebacker, like the Arizona Cardinals Deone Bucannon).

Third-year defensive back Jimmie Ward is playing his way to become the team’s No. 2 CB. He has had an outstanding offseason so far (where he has taken a lot of reps at the right CB position) and defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil said he was one of the best 11.

Ward’s defensive backs coach at Northern Illinois, Jay Sawvel, saw his potential at corner per Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.

“It was probably about a 10-day period of fall camp,” said Sawvel, a defensive backs coach at Northern Illinois at the time. “… And he played very, very well at corner. To the point where you were looking at some of the plays he was making and you were going, ‘This guy is really good.’ ”

The flier is third-round draft pick Redmond starting the season as the nickel corner. Redmond is yet to practice as he is still rehabbing from his torn ACL injury. Redmond brings the necessary physical intangibles to play the nickel, as is described by nfldraftscout.com:

"Possesses the quick-twitch athleticism required of cornerbacks in today’s NFL, showing lightning quick feet and swivel hips to change directions fluidly. Accelerates smoothly and appears to have good top-end speed. Locates the ball and doesn’t panic when it is in the air, showing quick hands and good timing to break it up or intercept it."

If he is not ready to go for the start of the season, Ward would likely be moved back to the nickel and Dontae Johnson would be the most obvious candidate to play the No. 2 CB. Fellow corners in Kenneth Acker and Keith Reaser have had disappointing offseasons so far and there is a chance that neither of them make the final roster. If there is a preference here, the nod goes to Acker.

Next: Special Teams