Why 49ers don’t have to look beyond their roster to replace Jimmie Ward

Although most San Francisco 49ers fans are calling for players like Tre Boston or Eric Berry following safety Jimmie Ward’s injury, there’s another option on the current roster.

The story of safety Jimmie Ward is a tragic one for the San Francisco 49ers: Filled with talent, but as the old saying goes, “the No. 1 ability is availability” and, at this point, Ward has proven he cannot be relied upon.

This time, with a fractured collarbone that will keep him out until training camp at the least.

Now, that usually wouldn’t be a concern. But like I said earlier, Ward has a history, one that has 49ers fans wondering what the solution can be if Ward continues to stay injured.

Now, many people are clamoring for former Arizona Cardinals safety Tre Boston, and others want the Niners to pounce on the veteran, Eric Berry.

That’s perfectly fine. But the free safety for the future and the present might just be on the 49ers roster right now. Let’s go in the specifics for two potential replacements for Ward the 49ers don’t have to look too far to get.

The Backup: Adrian Colbert

Many people pin the secondary’s shortcomings on Adrian Colbert last year, and they aren’t completely wrong. Colbert finished with a 31.7 PFF grade, ranking 93rd among all safeties.

Yikes!

Plays like this typified the 49ers secondary last year:

Yeah, not great. Colbert also got injured in the season, ending with only seven games played.

With all that said, Colbert still has loads of potential and a defense around him to help realize that potential. Entering this past year, Colbert was one of the sure things on the 49ers defense, coming off an exceptional year for a seventh-round NFL Draft pick.

Colbert’s issues largely came last year from his positioning and his reaction to the ball. With another year to practice and study, his instincts can only improve, as our own Peter Panacy points out.  And as every 49ers site has mentioned, time and time again, an improved pass rush causes worse and earlier throws, which takes the pressure off the back end.

The Wild Card: Tarvarius Moore

I have, for better and for worse, been resolved in the fact 2018 rookie Tarvarius Moore can make a ginormous impact on the 49ers secondary. Here, I compared Moore to the “top safeties” who were in the draft, with the conclusion that he was better than most, if not all of them.

Moore was a single-high safety in college, and a pretty darn good one at that. Just let this statistic from Pro Football Focus explain:

The raw tools to be a good single-high safety are there for Moore. He’s fast, agile and is good in reacting to plays. During his brief stint starting at cornerback, Moore excelled when he was able to play off-coverage and drive in on the football.

The reason Moore was switched over was not completely specified. It probably had to do with the makeup of the roster last year. He has the arm size and length the 49ers covet. And at that time, safety did seem to be a strong point.

But now, the tables have turned.

With the addition of the veteran, Jason Verrett — one of the best corners in football,  if healthy — and the continued growth of Ahkello Witherspoon, hoping to build upon his final seven games where he played solid football, Moore is being squeezed out of an opportunity.

The Niners took a gamble on Moore’s athleticism. But by doing so, they forgot that he can play the position they need the most.

But if you can’t stand another safety from within, check out Panacy’s article on why the 49ers should sign Tre Boston.