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San Francisco 49ers: Breaking down each 2017 scenario for EDGE Aaron Lynch

By Peter Panacy

Sep 1, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aaron Lynch (59) looks on from the sideline during the second half of the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. San Francisco won 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aaron Lynch (59) looks on from the sideline during the second half of the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. San Francisco won 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /
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November 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aaron Lynch (59) and defensive end Arik Armstead (91) celebrate during the first quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Falcons 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aaron Lynch (59) and defensive end Arik Armstead (91) celebrate during the first quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Falcons 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3: 49ers Use Aaron Lynch as a Situational Pass-Rusher

As noted earlier, the 49ers have three likable candidates from the LEO position — Aaron Lynch, Arik Armstead and Elvis Dumervil.

Four, if one counts Tank Carradine.

Teams can never have too many pass-rushers, so it’s not necessarily a bad thing to have too many players available off the edge.

Considering Lynch’s motor has never been top tier, a plausible solution would be to employ him as a situational pass-rusher in obvious passing downs. Just over 44 percent of his total snaps last season were in passing situations, so one might expect that number to increase in 2017 if he’s used this way.

As part of the rotation, the Niners may try to work Armstead in as the team’s primary run defender off the edge. It’s not ideal, far from it, but Armstead’s nagging shoulder injury from a year ago shouldn’t be a problem entering this season. Let’s see if that makes a difference.

Dumervil may wind up being the primary third-down pass-rusher, leaving Lynch to handle passing situations in between and against nickel formations.