San Francisco 49ers: Player locks for starting positions in 2018
By Peter Panacy
![SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 12: Adrian Colbert #38 of the San Francisco 49ers breaks up a pass intended for Tavarres King #12 of the New York Giants during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on November 12, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 12: Adrian Colbert #38 of the San Francisco 49ers breaks up a pass intended for Tavarres King #12 of the New York Giants during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on November 12, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/611feeb0dfceb8bc1b4dd4a97d04096e705e356ca1f60a53c2f9208bb67ece7d.jpg)
Special Teams
Kicker: Robbie Gould
Punter: Bradley Pinion
Long-Snapper: Kyle Nelson
There isn’t much drama associated with special teams, and the 49ers aren’t going to be looking at many changes among their specialists.
Kicker Robbie Gould was almost automatic last season, converting all but two of his 41 field-goal attempts and missing just one extra point. Meanwhile, punter Bradley Pinion was right in range of his career-43.7 punt-yard average, so there’s little reason to change that out.
And few people know Kyle Nelson’s name, which is exactly what you want out of a long-snapper.