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“The 49ers’ conversion to a wide-nine alignment along their defensive front has prompted an adjustment to the team’s linebackers, too.
The club will deploy three linebackers in their base defense who will be roughly the same size with the same skillsets and responsibilities.
“In the previous defense, we played with a linebacker on the line of scrimmage, more of a bigger guy that’s a pass rusher on the line of scrimmage that drops every once in a while,” said Johnny Holland, the 49ers’ run game specialist/outside linebackers coach.
“Now, with the wide-nine defense, we’re playing more with stack linebackers, smaller inside linebackers and just dropping in coverage more.”
The past two years, the 49ers’ middle linebacker and weakside linebackers were similar positions. The major difference was the middle linebacker was in charge of relaying the calls from defensive coordinator Robert Saleh to the huddle.
Now, the strongside linebacker fits into the same mold, too.
“All three are interchangeable, so that makes it easier to coach,” Holland said. “Now you coach one thing to a group of guys.”
It will also allow the 49ers to put their three best linebackers on the field in the team’s base defense. Kwon Alexander and Fred Warner are projected as starters, while Malcolm Smith, rookie Dre Greenlaw and Elijah Lee are among those in play for the other starting job.”
The club will deploy three linebackers in their base defense who will be roughly the same size with the same skillsets and responsibilities.
“In the previous defense, we played with a linebacker on the line of scrimmage, more of a bigger guy that’s a pass rusher on the line of scrimmage that drops every once in a while,” said Johnny Holland, the 49ers’ run game specialist/outside linebackers coach.
“Now, with the wide-nine defense, we’re playing more with stack linebackers, smaller inside linebackers and just dropping in coverage more.”
The past two years, the 49ers’ middle linebacker and weakside linebackers were similar positions. The major difference was the middle linebacker was in charge of relaying the calls from defensive coordinator Robert Saleh to the huddle.
Now, the strongside linebacker fits into the same mold, too.
“All three are interchangeable, so that makes it easier to coach,” Holland said. “Now you coach one thing to a group of guys.”
It will also allow the 49ers to put their three best linebackers on the field in the team’s base defense. Kwon Alexander and Fred Warner are projected as starters, while Malcolm Smith, rookie Dre Greenlaw and Elijah Lee are among those in play for the other starting job.”
