Niner Noise
FanSided

5 49ers players who need to perform better in second half of 2019

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 23: Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers makes a catch against the Chicago Bears during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 23: Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers makes a catch against the Chicago Bears during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
TAMPA, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 08: Ronald Jones #27 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is forced out of bounds by Dre Greenlaw #57 of the San Francisco 49ers during a game at Raymond James Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 08: Ronald Jones #27 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is forced out of bounds by Dre Greenlaw #57 of the San Francisco 49ers during a game at Raymond James Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

No. 5: Linebacker Dre Greenlaw

The 49ers suffered a major loss in their win over the Cardinals on Thursday Night Football, losing standout linebacker Kwon Alexander to a season-ending pectoral tear.

San Francisco has some options, yes. But one of the likelier ones is to move rookie backer Dre Greenlaw, the team’s fifth-round selection from this year’s NFL Draft, to the weak-side (WILL) spot from his previous starting strong-side (SAM) position.

SAM linebackers aren’t featured as much in today’s dominant nickel-based packages, and Greenlaw spent plenty of time backing up both Alexander and fellow linebacker Fred Warner during training camp and the preseason.

During that time, Greenlaw impressed. He was noticeably faster than Alexander. But the rookie also has a tendency to be over-aggressive, missing tackles and taking improper angles.

This could be a liability in coverage, where Alexander excelled. According to Pro Football Focus, Greenlaw has an OK-rated 61.2 grade on 94 pass-coverage snaps.

That’s not a lot of data, of course, meaning the inexperience is potentially a liability for both Greenlaw and the Niners defense.

Assuming he’s the next man up in Alexander’s stead, and given the importance the veteran held this season, Greenlaw is going to be asked to do a lot from here on out.