San Francisco 49ers: Breaking Down Final Roster and Week 1 Starters
The San Francisco 49ers are the eighth-youngest team in the NFL, according to PhillyVoice.com.
The past few years under head coach Jim Harbaugh, the Niners were one of the oldest teams in the league, and the starting lineup hardly changed. You knew what to expect from veterans like Justin Smith, Ray McDonald, Patrick Willis, Frank Gore and Anthony Davis.
Now, those players are gone, and we don’t know what to expect from the young replacements. The coaching staff probably doesn’t know what to expect, either. So the start lineup may change during the first few weeks of the season, as the young players reveal their abilities.
With that in mind, here’s a complete breakdown of the 49ers 53-man roster and starting lineup heading into Week 1.
Quarterbacks
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Starter: Colin Kaepernick
Backup: Blaine Gabbert
Colin Kaepernick hasn’t missed a game since he became the 49ers starting quarterback midway through 2012. He has started 39 games in a row.
His impressive streak could be in jeopardy. The Niners offensive line is subpar, and, from what I could tell during OTAs, minicamp and training camp, the offensive scheme features the read option more than the past few seasons under head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Harbaugh’s scheme protected Kaepernick as much as possible. New offensive coordinator Geep Chryst’s scheme may expose Kaepernick to big hits. Kaepernick must get rid of the ball quickly when he’s in the pocket, or else we may see Blaine Gabbert at quarterback before the season ends.
Running Backs
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Starter: Carlos Hyde
Third-down back: Reggie Bush
Change-of-Pace Back: Mike Davis
Fullback: Bruce Miller
Backup: Jarryd Hayne
Carlos Hyde is the 49ers’ best option on offense—their go-to guy. He should get about 20 carries on first and second down every game.
Reggie Bush should get about zero carries on first and second down. He’s the third-down back, the receiver out of the backfield on obvious passing plays. The Niners probably don’t want him carrying the ball and risking injury.
So the speedy scat-back who keeps the opposing run-defense on its toes is rookie Mike Davis. Davis can take the punishment, unlike Bush. Davis should get between five and 10 carries on first and second down every game.
And Hayne should get none, unless Davis, Bush and Hyde get injured.
Wide Receivers
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Flanker: Anquan Boldin, Quinton Patton
Slot: Bruce Ellington, Quinton Patton
Split End: Torrey Smith, DeAndrew White
Torrey Smith is the 49ers’ main outside receiver. He lines up near or outside the numbers on most plays.
All of the other receivers line up in the slot or outside. When Anquan Boldin and Bruce Ellington are on the field together, a lot of times they line up close to each other in bunch formations with tight end Vernon Davis. Bunch formations basically allow three players to line up in the slot at once.
It will be interesting to see who the fourth receiver will be when the 49ers use empty backfield formations. Undrafted rookie DeAndrew White may be the best option. He seems more talented than third-year receiver Quinton Patton.
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Tight Ends
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Tight End: Vance McDonald, Garrett Celek
H-Back: Vernon Davis, Blake Bell
When the 49ers use one-tight-end formations, Vernon Davis is the tight end. That’s obvious.
But when the 49ers use two-tight-end formations, which they used more than any other formation during training camp, Vance McDonald often is the tight end while Davis is the H-back who’s in motion or lined up just next to the tight end.
This is a smart division of labor. Davis is a better receiver than McDonald, and McDonald is a better blocker than Davis. The Niners are featuring each player’s strength.
If McDonald misses time due to injury during the regular season, Garrett Celek probably would replace him as the tight end in two-tight-end formations.
Offensive Line
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Left Tackle: Joe Staley, Alex Boone
Left Guard: Alex Boone, Brandon Thomas
Center: Marcus Martin, Nick Easton
Right Guard: Jordan Devey, Ian Silberman
Right Tackle: Erik Pears, Trent Brown
Three-fifths of the offensive line are set. Erik Pears is a solid pass-protector on the right, and Joe Staley and Alex Boone are an excellent double team at the point of attack on stretch-zone runs to the left.
The other two-fifths of the offensive line are not set. Marcus Martin is the center for now, but he probably won’t be when Daniel Kilgore returns from injury. Kilgore is a good center who’s rehabbing a broken ankle he suffered last season.
Jordan Devey is the starter at right guard. The Niners acquired him in a trade with the New England Patriots on August 18, and he didn’t play any snaps with the 49ers starters during the preseason. He won the job by default after rookie Ian Silberman flopped during the preseason.
Base Front
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Left Defensive End: Glenn Dorsey, Tony Jerod-Eddie, Arik Armstead
Nose Tackle: Ian Williams, Mike Purcell
Right Defensive End: Quinton Dial, Tank Carradine
Left Outside Linebacker: Aaron Lynch, Corey Lemonier
Mike Inside Linebacker: NaVorro Bowman, Nick Bellore
Jack Inside Linebcker: Michael Wilhoite, Shayne Skov
Right Outside Linebacker: Ahmad Brooks, Eli Harold
On the base defensive line, the Niners use their three-best run-defenders: Glenn Dorsey, Ian Williams and Quinton Dial. Each is strong and stout enough to take on double-team blocks in the running game—an essential ability, considering every zone run features a double-team block.
At inside linebacker, NaVorro Bowman is responsible for covering the tight end and Michael Wilhoite will be responsible for covering the running back.
And at outside linebacker, Ahmad Brooks takes Aldon Smith’s old spot at right outside linebacker—the blind-side rusher. Aaron Lynch plays the side on which he’s most comfortable, the side he’s been playing since college—the left side.
Dime Front
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Left Defensive End: Aaron Lynch, Corey Lemonier
Left Defensive Tackle: Arik Armstead, Tony Jerod-Eddie
Right Defensive Tackle: Tank Carradine, Quinton Dial
Right Defensive End: Ahmad Brooks, Eli Harold
Linebacker: NaVorro Bowman, Michael Wilhoite
On passing downs, the 49ers outside linebackers slide to defensive end, and the 49ers run-stuffing defensive linemen slide to the bench. Goodbye, Glenn Dorsey, Ian Williams and Quinton Dial.
Then, the Niners replace those three with two interior pass-rushers: 2013 second-round pick Tank Carradine and 2015 first-round pick Arik Armstead.
Armstead typically lines up across from the strong side of the opposing offensive line (the side with the tight end), while Carradine typically lines up across from the weak side of the opposing offensive line (the side without the tight end). The best interior pass-rusher usually lines up across from the weak side.
But Armstead was better than Carradine during the preseason. Armstead recorded one quarterback hit and seven hurries, while Carradine recorded one quarterback hit and just one hurry, according to Pro Football Focus.
Armstead and Carradine may end up switching positions.
Base Secondary
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Left Cornerback: Tramaine Brock, Kenneth Acker
Strong Safety: Antoine Bethea, Jaquiski Tartt, L.J. McCray
Free Safety: Eric Reid, Jimmie Ward
Right Cornerback: Dontae Johnson, Keith Reaser, Shareece Wright
Tramaine Brock will be the Niners’ No. 1 cornerback—the coaching staff made that clear all offseason. Brock will line up most of the time at left cornerback in the base defense, although sometimes he may line up on the right if that’s where the other team’s best receiver is.
The Niners have not yet named a No. 2 cornerback, but I’m guessing Dontae Johnson will win the job. Johnson was terrific during the preseason, allowing a passer rating of just 9.8, according to Pro Football Focus.
Johnson (6’2”) is the 49ers’ tallest cornerback. He pairs well with Brock, who’s only 5’10”.
Dime Secondary
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Left Cornerback: Kenneth Acker, Keith Reaser
Slot Cornerback: Tramaine Brock, Dontae Johnson
Strong Safety: Antoine Bethea, L.J. McCray
Free Safety: Eric Reid, Jimmie Ward
Dime Back: Jaquiski Tartt, Eric Reid
Right Cornerback: Dontae Johnson, Shareece Wright
When the 49ers had NaVorro Bowman AND Patrick Willis—two inside linebackers who could cover any running back or tight end in the NFL—San Francisco used a nickel defense on passing downs. That’s four defensive linemen, two inside linebackers and five defensive backs.
Now Willis is gone and Bowman is coming off a torn ACL and MCL. Pass coverage no longer is a strength of the 49ers inside linebackers. So on passing downs, the Niners use a dime defense—four defensive linemen, one inside linebacker and six defensive backs.
The sixth defensive back is rookie safety Jaquiski Tartt. Call him a "dime back." He lines up next to Bowman and covers the opposing tight end on passing downs. If Tartt gets hurt, Eric Reid probably would become the dime back and Jimmie Ward would be the free safety in the dime defense.
Special Teams
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Punt/Kick Returner: Bruce Ellington, Jarryd Hayne, DeAndrew White
Kicker: Phil Dawson
Punter: Bradley Pinion
Long Snapper: Kyle Nelson
Bruce Ellington missed minicamp, OTAs, training camp and the first two games of the preseason with a pulled hamstring. He says he still is not 100-percent healthy.
But you couldn’t tell Thursday when the 49ers played the San Diego Chargers. Ellington caught a short pass over the middle and ran 62 yards after the catch for the touchdown on the third play of the game.
Later during the first quarter, Ellington returned his first punt of the preseason and gained 26 yards.
Even when he isn’t 100-percent healthy, Ellington seems like the most electric player on the team—even more electric than Jarryd Hayne. So despite Hayne’s preseason success, Ellington may be the better choice to return punts and kicks when the games count.
All quotations and practice observations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
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