Niner Noise
FanSided

49ers 2017 NFL Draft Positional Preview: Linebacker

By Peter Panacy

December 20, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) tackles Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard (25) during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
December 20, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) tackles Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard (25) during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 27, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins tight end Dion Sims (80) slips away from San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker Nick Bellore (50) during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. The Dolphins won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins tight end Dion Sims (80) slips away from San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker Nick Bellore (50) during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. The Dolphins won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Breaking Down the Linebacker Stats

Needless to say, San Francisco dealt with some pretty awful linebacker play in 2016.

Injuries hurt… a lot. But the lack of depth speaks more to the true issue than just blaming the problematic production over the course of 16 games.

As far as the basic stats go:

Defense & Fumbles Table
Games Def Interceptions Fumbles Sacks & Tackles
No. Player Age Pos G GS Int Yds TD Lng PD FF Fmb FR Yds TD Sk Tkl Ast Sfty
51 Gerald Hodges 25 LB/rilb 15 12 2 27 0 21 2 1 0 1 0 0 3.0 52 28
50 Nick Bellore 27 lb/lilb 14 10 1 4 0 4 5 1 0 1 0 0 1.0 55 22
55 Ahmad Brooks 32 LB/lolb 16 15 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 6.0 41 12
57 Michael Wilhoite 30 lb/rilb 16 6 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 0.5 38 8
58 Eli Harold 22 LB/rolb 16 13 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 19 0 3.0 23 14
53 NaVorro Bowman 28 lb 4 4 1 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 1.0 24 11
95 Tank Carradine 27 13 0 10 8
59 Aaron Lynch 23 lb/rolb 7 3 1.5 12 1
54 Ray-Ray Armstrong 27 2 0 1 5 0 5 2 0 0 1 0 0 7 1
45 Carl Bradford 24 2 0 2 0
56 Shayne Skov 26 9 0 0 2
Team Total 25.8 16 10 96 0 39 75 15 29 21 20 0 31.0 728 254
Opp Total 16 0 25 72 1 47 2

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 4/4/2017.

Nick Bellore ended up leading the 49ers linebacker group with 55 tackles. Keep in mind, NaVorro Bowman led the NFL a season prior with 116 and 120 back in 2013.

Not saying Bellore should have replicated those stats. But it’s easy to note the significant drop off.

Digging deeper, Bellore’s problems on the field were reflected by his lowly 55.3 overall Pro Football Focus grade. At least the Niners won’t have to worry about relying on him again this season, since he’s with the Detroit Lions now.

But who else? Aside from Bowman and Gerald Hodges (currently a free agent), none of San Francisco’s 2016 linebackers posted anything better than an 80 PFF grade last season.

And guys on the edge, namely Aaron Lynch (1.5 sacks) and Ahmad Brooks (six sacks) could barely scrape a 45 overall PFF grade.

Not a good look.