Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: 2018 midterm report-card grades by position

By Peter Panacy

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 28: Quarterback C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 28: Quarterback C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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GREEN BAY, WI – OCTOBER 15: Reuben Foster #56 of the San Francisco 49ers forces Aaron Jones #33 of the Green Bay Packers out of bounds in the first quarter at Lambeau Field on October 15, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WI – OCTOBER 15: Reuben Foster #56 of the San Francisco 49ers forces Aaron Jones #33 of the Green Bay Packers out of bounds in the first quarter at Lambeau Field on October 15, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

. . . LINEBACKER . F

Linebacker was supposed to be a position of strength for the 49ers in 2018. After all, there was a dynamic pairing of inside backers between Reuben Foster and the rookie, Fred Warner. And the Niners were hoping for a fully healthy season from veteran strong-side linebacker Malcolm Smith.

The problem, however, is all three have been disappointments.

Warner is still on the ascent, sure. And he leads the team’s defense in tackles with 65. But he also has nine missed tackles on the year — second most for San Francisco, which has been a massive problem for the defense.

To make things worse, Foster actually leads the team in missed tackles with 12. He had 10 misses all of his rookie season.

True, a shoulder injury has hampered the second-year pro’s efforts. And it appears as if that’s carried over into nearly every aspect of his game. But as was the case a year ago, injuries still remain a key worry for Foster. In Week 8, for example, Foster missed the second half after suffering a hamstring injury.

On the positive side of things, there’s still a lot of promise for this inside tandem. Over the first half of the season, though, it’s been pretty bad. There’s no other way around it.