Niner Noise
FanSided

Ranking the top 5 players the 49ers will face in 2018

By Jeremy Wohlfart

JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 10: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks warms up on the field prior to the start of their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on December 10, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Logan Bowles/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 10: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks warms up on the field prior to the start of their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on December 10, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Logan Bowles/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
SANTA CLARA, CA – SEPTEMBER 21: Brian Hoyer #2 of the San Francisco 49ers is hit by Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on September 21, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. Donald was flagged for roughing the passer. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – SEPTEMBER 21: Brian Hoyer #2 of the San Francisco 49ers is hit by Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on September 21, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. Donald was flagged for roughing the passer. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

2. The entire Los Angeles Rams defense

I know it’s cheating, but I couldn’t dedicate half the article to the Los Angeles Rams’ monster defense.

I mean, let’s run through the more impressive players:

Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, Ndamukong Suh, Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib and Lamarcus Joyner.

Oh yeah, and they have Dominique Easley and Sam Shields as depth players.

If they didn’t belong to the greatest historical rival in 49ers history, the defensive geek in me would be freaking out at this.

On the plus side at least the linebackers look worse on paper, if only by default.

The 49ers are most suspect on their entire roster at the interior line, where center Weston Richburg is the only player on the roster to even have a starting job sown up.

So, naturally, it’s those interior players that are most concerning, especially Donald, who may be the best defensive player in the league at time of writing.

There are a lot of egos on that team, so it’s possible they implode.

But I like to live by the saying “Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.”

Unfortunately, I’m unsure if the 49ers can prepare for such defensive firepower, especially in the trenches.