Niner Noise
FanSided

Projected 49ers Week 1 starting lineup halfway through 2018 preseason

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 hands off to Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 hands off to Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 05: Brock Coyle #50 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after Eric Reid #35 intercepted a pass intended for Jermaine Gresham #84 of the Arizona Cardinals in the end zone during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on November 5, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 05: Brock Coyle #50 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after Eric Reid #35 intercepted a pass intended for Jermaine Gresham #84 of the Arizona Cardinals in the end zone during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on November 5, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Linebacker

SAM: Fred Warner

MIKE: Brock Coyle

WILL: Malcolm Smith

Here’s where things start to get interesting. First, second-year linebacker Reuben Foster will be suspended the first two games of 2018, so he won’t be listed among the Week 1 starters.

On top of that, the 49ers moved fourth-year pro SAM linebacker Eli Harold to the Detroit Lions, via a trade, on Aug. 23 in exchange for a conditional seventh-round draft pick.

Considering his excellent coverage skills, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Robert Saleh place the rookie, Fred Warner, into Harold’s strong-side spot this season. It’s the position often tasked with covering opponents’ tight ends and running backs flanking out to that side of the field. Where it could get tough, however, is in running situations. Warner has looked solid in this regard during the preseason, but the regular season will be a test.

The middle (MIKE) and weak-side (WILL) linebacker spots are interchangeable in Saleh’s scheme — the only difference being the MIKE calls out the plays in the huddle.

Brock Coyle handled starting duties at MIKE during the 49ers’ second preseason bout, and the team relied heavily on him doing this last season.

Meanwhile, Smith has been nursing a hamstring injury and likely won’t see too much of the field between now and Week 1. When he returns, though, expect him to be on the weak side.