Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: Top 5 training camp position battles to watch in 2018

By Peter Panacy

GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 13: Offensive guard Joshua Garnett #65 (center) of the San Francisco 49ers lines up during the second half of the NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on November 13, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals beat the 49ers 23-20. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 13: Offensive guard Joshua Garnett #65 (center) of the San Francisco 49ers lines up during the second half of the NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on November 13, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals beat the 49ers 23-20. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 26: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks is tackled by Cassius Marsh #54 of the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 26: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks is tackled by Cassius Marsh #54 of the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

No. 3: EDGE

Players on Roster: Dekoda Watson, Pita Taumoepenu, Eli Harold, Jeremiah Attaochu, Solomon Thomas, Cassius Marsh, Ronald Blair

The 49ers were pretty bad in the pass-rush department a year ago, finishing 2017 tied for 26th in sack production (30).

A weak free-agent and NFL Draft class in 2018 left the Niners front office settling on less-than-desirable options for the outside pass rush, namely hinging their hopes on Cassius Marsh, free-agent pickup Jeremiah Attaochu and other on-roster options.

Marsh and Attaochu have a combined 16 sacks over their respective careers, which likely means this will be a problem area for San Francisco this season.

Last year, the 49ers experimented with Arik Armstead, and later, then-rookie Solomon Thomas off the edge in 2017. Neither attempt delivered the desired results, although Thomas likely winds up playing this 5-technique spot on base rushing downs this season.

While Marsh and Attaochu will likely be expected to be the team’s primary outside pass-rushers, a best-case hope would be to see other defenders — namely Ronald Blair and second-year pro Pita Taumoepenu — take the next crucial steps in their development.

San Francisco’s EDGE problem is probably going to be an issue this season, and it looks as if the Niners merely have to address it with what they can.