Cowboys vs. 49ers: Previewing Preseason Week 1 for San Francisco
By Chris Wilson
49ers defense: Competitions and players to watch
The San Francisco 49ers selected five defenders in the 2018 NFL Draft, before adding a number of additional undrafted free agents after the draft was completed.
Lynch and Shanahan, along with defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and his staff, will pay special attention to each of the team’s rookies — particularly how these former college stars fare against bigger, faster and stronger NFL-caliber opponents. Rookies who were forced to switch positions over the offseason will likely receive extra playing time, along with extra scrutiny from the coaching staff.
The 49ers’ most intriguing competition on the defensive side of the ball will take place at MIKE linebacker and WILL linebacker — the pair of nearly identical inside linebackers in Saleh’s defensive scheme. Once star LB Reuben Foster returns from his two-game suspension, he will start at WILL linebacker, but the team’s starter at MIKE linebacker — and Foster’s two-week replacement — will be determined over the next few weeks.
Malcolm Smith — who has NFL experience at all three linebacker positions — will have the first shot at the MIKE linebacker job, and is likely to start there for the 49ers tonight. The Niners signed Smith to an expensive contract last offseason, intending for the veteran to play a starting role, but the linebacker missed the entire 2017 season due to injury.
Smith will compete with linebackers Brock Coyle and Korey Toomer, who both had experience in Saleh’s defensive system prior to their arrival in San Francisco. Coyle filled in for Smith for 10 games last season — playing through injury for much of the year — while Toomer played inside linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers organization for the past two seasons.
The 49ers’ fifth inside linebacker — rookie Fred Warner — is a key player to watch in today’s game. If Warner holds his own in his first preseason appearance, he will compete for a starting job to open the regular season, but even if he is slow to progress as a run stopper, he could still be used as a coverage linebacker in subpackages. Warner, Coyle and Smith could also see reps at SAM linebacker, given their prior experience playing identical or similar positions.
In addition to inside linebacker, edge rusher is another defensive position of interest. Although there is little competition at the position, the effectiveness of Cassius Marsh and Jeremiah Attaochu will be on full display in obvious passing situations tonight. And on base downs, defensive end Solomon Thomas will be expected to take a major step forward as a pass rusher as he begins his second NFL season.