5 red-hot questions 49ers must answer at training camp
By Peter Panacy
No. 4: Is 49ers defensive line depth deep enough?
Sticking with the 49ers defensive line, a fair question should be asked about the depth.
Is it going to be good enough heading into the regular season?
This shouldn’t be too big a problem with the interior, as the Niners added 1- and 3-technique players like Maurice Hurst and Zach Kerr to beef up returnees like D.J. Jones and Kevin Givens. And if defensive tackle Arik Armstead spends more time on the inside during pass-rushing situations, that’s a boost, too.
The real question, however, comes on the edges.
San Francisco is eagerly awaiting the return of EDGE Nick Bosa from last year’s ACL tear, but the jury remains out whether or not fellow EDGE Dee Ford can come back from a back injury. The hope is EDGE Samson Ebukam can make up the difference in Ford’s possible absence. But considering Ebukam never had more than 4.5 sacks in a season over his four-year career is a bit concerning.
The loss of depth pass-rusher Jordan Willis to a six-game PED suspension doesn’t help matters either.
Unless another offseason addition, Arden Key, figures out a way to reinvigorate his otherwise scuffling career, the 49ers’ pass-rushing depth could be a notable problem.