Gerald Hodges: Why ILB Will Start for 49ers in 2016

While the San Francisco 49ers’ fiercest competition in this year’s July training camp will be for reps at wide receiver, things are heating up at the inside linebacker spot. Who will play next to All-Pro inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman in 2016? Niner Noise has an answer.

The San Francisco 49ers’ offseason program is halfway over as training camp begins in about five weeks.

Having already went through OTAs and minicamp, we’re beginning to get a picture of what the team will look like this season. The 49ers have several positions to sort through, and camp battles will be very important as the team tries to field its best 22 starters for the upcoming season.

We’ve seen some great battles already in OTAs and minicamp. At wide receiver, Bruce Ellington, Eric Rogers, DeAndre Smelter and Quinton Patton have all competed fiercely for the No. 2 job opposite No. 1 receiver Torrey Smith. Not to suggest Smith will catch the most balls, but he is the 49ers best pass-catcher right now.

There has also been a lot of competition on the offensive and defensive lines where, if it weren’t for injuries and absences, things might be settled.

Nothing on the 49ers is settled though, not right now at least. We do know that Chip Kelly will be the team’s head coach and that’s about it.

But one piece of the puzzle seems to be clearing up. It fits easily in my mind, and that is the type of thing to be happy about if you’re a coach trying to make a decision on final roster cuts, come September.

It’s one less thing to worry about.

What is so clear that we can predict it now, before even seeing one snap of 49ers training camp this year?

Linebacker NaVorro Bowman’s partner in crime has been found! Robin to his Batman is all but officially announced. It’s almost a sure thing that this player will start at the other inside linebacker spot in coordinator Jim O’Neil’s defense.

But, before you find out who, let’s go over the candidates in the order they appear on the current depth chart.

Gerald Hodges

Current inside linebacker Gerald Hodges was drafted in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He was taken with the No. 120 overall pick out of Penn State by the Minnesota Vikings.

Unfortunately, he didn’t make it in Minnesota and was traded to San Francisco after Week 4 of 2015.

Dec 6, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; San Francisco 49ers middle linebacker Gerald Hodges (51) reacts after Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould (in background) missed a field goal in the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports /

The move was brilliant by the Niners. Hodges played with Bowman in college and now has an opportunity to play next to him again.

This time though, it will be at the NFL level.

Hodges has all the athletic ability you look for in a 3-4 middle linebacker. He’s able to run sideline-to-sideline and covers well. These are skills that former Niner standout Patrick Willis once brought to the table. Maybe Hodges can help revive the greatest ILB duo of all-time? Mike Mayock of NFL Network and NFL.com had this to say about Hodges on his 2013 Draft Profile.

“Upstanding citizen. I think he’s a starting WILL linebacker all day long. He gives the Vikings versatility.”

Football 101 here (OK, maybe 102) — WILL linebackers in a 4-3 defense move to the inside linebacker position in a 3-4 defensive scheme. This is because their body types and athletic abilities usually match, and in a 3-4 scheme they are asked to do a lot. The athletic abilities really come in handy. Hodges has a great opportunity in front of him and so do the 49ers.

Michael Wilhoite

49ers inside linebacker Michael Wilhoite was an undrafted free agent signing for the team in 2011. His most notable achievement with San Francisco includes starting all 16 games of the 2014 season. Wilhoite once filled in for former All-Pro Willis in 2013 for two weeks. Wilhoite had solid outings in Weeks 4 and 5 and has been a very reliable backup that’s capable of filling in when needed.

As ninernoise.com’s Douglas Totten wrote in his piece titled “49ers: Who is Michael Wilhoite?”, Wilhoite stuggled in 2015 and was not up to par. Eighty-five tackles in 12 games is great, at over seven stops per game, but creating only one turnover (an interception) is not so great. Wilhoite can cover, but isn’t great against the run.

In 2016, Wilhoite has every chance to be the starter next to “All-Pro Bow” (if Joe Staley has a similar name, why not give it to Bowman too?). He is a veteran with more playing time in San Francisco, but to start he’ll have to hold up better against the run and perform better overall.

Let’s see where the competition takes him.

Ray Ray Armstrong

Another former safety makes the list of candidates in linebacker Ray Ray Armstrong. Again, Douglas Totten nailed it in his “Who is?” series when he wrote about the surprise candidate in the 49ers’ inside linebacker competition.

Totten let us know that Armstrong’s size and coverage skills make him a good candidate to compete for the job. Defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil also weighed in, telling Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee:

"I think the first couple years in the league, he’s kind of been more of a special teams player and sometimes you find guys just because it’s the right system fit,” he said. “And he’s a guy that has flourished so far. I’ll be excited when we get back to training camp to see him in the pads."

With his youth, it’s kind of difficult to see Armstrong winning a starting job, but crazier things have happened. Athleticism goes a long way with coaches in the NFL, and O’Neil sounds like he really likes Armstrong.

Let’s see how it plays out when camp rolls around next month.

Prediction

Finally, the moment you’ve all been waiting for! Who will start next to Bowman in 2016?

The depth chart stands at the top, as Hodges will get the nod. Niner Noise’s Trevor Irvine agrees.

He predicts Hodges will start as well in his “Starting Lineup Predictions for 2016.”

More from Niner Noise

Hodges has the pedigree of being a mid-round draft pick, all the athleticism one could ask for and has started 14 games over the last two seasons, including four for the 49ers. With all the playing time in 2015 (four starts as well as numerous snaps behind incumbent Wilhoite), Hodges may just be the answer for the 49ers’ hole at inside linebacker next to Bowman.

Let’s hope he can fill the void left by Willis after his 2015 retirement. He’ll be solid if nothing else. With Hodges at ILB, the 49ers will have nothing to worry about barring injury.

Next: San Francisco 49ers: Why Blaine Gabbert Will Win QB Battle

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com, Sports-Reference.com, 49ers.com and NFL.com unless otherwise indicated.