Niner Noise
FanSided

These 4 49ers need to play well in preseason Week 1 vs. Cowboys

By Akshaj Dwivedula

SANTA CLARA, CA - AUGUST 09: Aldrick Robinson #19 of the San Francisco 49ers catches a pass over Duke Thomas #26 of the Dallas Cowboys in the second quarter of their NFL preseason football game at Levi's Stadium on August 9, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - AUGUST 09: Aldrick Robinson #19 of the San Francisco 49ers catches a pass over Duke Thomas #26 of the Dallas Cowboys in the second quarter of their NFL preseason football game at Levi's Stadium on August 9, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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49ers
GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 28: Linebacker Malcolm Smith #51 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles tight end Jermaine Gresham #84 of the Arizona Cardinals during the fourth quarter at State Farm Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

LB Malcolm Smith

Malcolm Smith has been a huge disappointment for the 49ers since being signed. He’s barely played, missing the entire 2017 season and starting only five games in 2018. He’s been outplayed when actually healthy and has done nothing of considerable impact.

With the 49ers shift to the wide-9, all three linebacker positions (WILL, MIKE and SAM) now are interchangeable. That should, in theory, give Smith more chances to win a starting job. But with the signing of Kwon Alexander and the emergence of Fred Warner, Smith has what seems to be a golden road to the starting strong-side linebacker job.

Then Dre Greenlaw emerged, and Smith is facing a fight to just stay on the roster. Our own Peter Panacy detailed how Greenlaw has commanded training camp:

"And that future could include a starting job, too. Lately in training camp, Greenlaw has been working with the first-team unit at the strong-side (SAM) linebacker spot. During OTAs, this role was reserved for veteran linebacker Malcolm Smith."

Just look at this play:

https://twitter.com/49ers/status/1158898046878400514

Smith has been injured through training camp, and he doesn’t have nearly the same upside as Greenlaw does. Smith needs to play just to stay on the roster.