San Francisco 49ers: 5 positions up for grabs in 2018 training camp

SANTA CLARA, CA - AUGUST 7: Jarryd Hayne #38 of the San Francisco 49ers stretches during a San Francisco 49ers practice session at Levi's Stadium on August 7, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. Hayne formerly played professional rugby league in Australia for the Parramatta Eels. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - AUGUST 7: Jarryd Hayne #38 of the San Francisco 49ers stretches during a San Francisco 49ers practice session at Levi's Stadium on August 7, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. Hayne formerly played professional rugby league in Australia for the Parramatta Eels. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 17: Defensive back K’Waun Williams #24 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after his team recovered a fumble against the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter at Levis Stadium on December 17, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 17: Defensive back K’Waun Williams #24 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after his team recovered a fumble against the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter at Levis Stadium on December 17, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images) /

Slot Cornerback

This is a little more competitive. There are three possible contenders for the slot cornerback position. But first, let’s look at why the slot corner is so important.

As the NFL is becoming a passing league, the use of three-receiver sets is growing in stature. That means that there will always be a slot wide receiver on the field. Being in a base defense against a three-receiver set leads to usually a safety or a linebacker against a receiver.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

That doesn’t end well for the defense. To combat this, defenses turn to the “nickel defense.” This defense typically substitutes an interior defender or linebacker with another corner. In 2015, according to Peter King of the MMQB (h/t cbssports.com), NFL teams used nickel defense 63.4 percent of the time. That number has stayed in the same range ever since. A team’s slot corner is now one of the most important pieces to their defense.

Let’s look at the three contenders for the slot position. First is K’Waun Williams. According to PFF (h/t Peter Panacy of Ninernoise.com), Williams allowed a 89.7 passer rating when targeted. He improved from the beginning half of the year to end with a 80.2 PFF rating. The major problem with Williams is that he gets targeted frequently. According to Panacy, “Despite the overall efforts, no other nickel back was targeted more in 2017 than Williams — 41 times, per PFF. This resulted in him having the league’s worst cover-snaps per reception metric of 5.4″

Williams is a mixed bag at this point. With Ahkello Witherspoon and Richard Sherman locking down the outsides, it will crucial that the 49ers’ slot corner holds up.

The next candidate is Jimmie Ward. Then again, according to Shanahan (h/t Patrick Holloway of NinerNation), “If Jimmie doesn’t earn a starting role, there’s also a good chance he’s the first backup at every single position, strong safety, free safety, nickel, corner …”

Ward has been injured for the majority of his career but has NFL experience as a nickelback. Most likely, he’ll be the backup here just like everywhere.

The real competition to Williams comes from fifth-round rookie D.J. Reed. Reed, drafted out of Kansas State, is the prototypical slot corner, undersized but very skilled. Just take a look at his career stats in college.

D.J. Reed College Stats
Tack Tack Tack Tack Def Def Def Fumb Fumb
Year Class Pos G Solo Ast Tot Loss Int TD PD FR FF
*2016 SO DB 12 62 16 78 0.5 3 1 16 0 2
*2017 JR DB 11 41 6 47 4.5 4 0 9 2 1
Career 103 22 125 5.0 7 1 25 2 3

Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 7/26/2018.

For a slot corner, he was very aggressive, totaling seven interceptions and 25 pass defenses for his career. NFL.com‘s Lance Zierlein wrote how “Reed lacks size, but not heart. He’s passionate and confident and outplays his height on a consistent basis.” That’s all you can ask for from any player.

However, that same scouting report denotes this about Reed:

"High point challenges against big slots could be tricky Doesn’t have arm length to keep quarterbacks from making downfield touch throws over his head Aggression turns to grabbing and tugging on jerseys when backed up near end-zone Got big-boyed by size near the sideline against Texas Tech Frequently turned around in coverage"

These are all issues that would arise from a fifth-round pick. Reed likely won’t be ready to play for at least a year.

Who I think will be starting Week 1: K’Waun Williams