San Francisco 49ers: Missing Pieces the Team Could Still Get

While the San Francisco 49ers are said to be one of the more complete teams in the league entering 2012, like anyone else, they can still get better. The Niners have a lot of strengths and few weaknesses, but those weaknesses could still be exploited.

And even though there is plenty of competition at the positions, roles still need to be filled. With OTAs underway, it's really about finding that player that's already on the roster—who will emerge as that legitimate contributor.

Right Guard

One of the most interesting camp battles for the 49ers will be right guard position, largely because it's one of few positions on the entire team that isn't totally solved. Jim Harbaugh and company want to establish the final starter on their offensive line. 

The man leading the competition for starting rights is Alex Boone. If Boone proves to be the most starter-worthy offensive lineman currently competing, it might be empowering for the 49ers to have a 6'7" interior lineman considering their brand of football.

In the past two drafts under Harbaugh and Trent Baalke, San Francisco has added three small-school standouts in later rounds to challenge Boone for the starting job. Daniel Kilgore (Appalachian State), Joe Looney (Wake Forest) and Jason Slowey (Western Oregon) are all working hard for the Niners to find a solution to an offensive line that has four entrenched starters, missing only one. 

Not only could the 49ers potentially solve this position, but they could add a very good player to a blossoming offensive line group. If San Francisco gets this right, it could put this unit over the top. And besides, whoever doesn't get the position this year will be able to compete for the starting center position after Jonathan Goodwin has moved on.

Nickel Corner

In this passing league, offenses—especially offenses with either a great quarterback or a great receiver—like to come out in multiple wide receiver sets. San Francisco has two very good starters in Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown, but the the remaining slots are up for grabs. 

Having more responsibility by being the primary substitute to the starters, the 49ers are waiting for a strong No. 3 to emerge. Another element the 49ers could add to their already stellar defense would be a competitive playmaker with starting ability at the nickel.

The 49ers have two potential candidates in second-year man Chris Culliver and this year's free-agent acquisition Perrish Cox. Culliver is a starter in the making and Cox was a starter in Denver for a year and is still relatively new to the league. Fans could very well find out that there is yet another dimension to be added to the league's best defense. 

Having strong depth at the cornerback position isn't something the 49ers have been quite blessed with in the past decade. To have a rotation of strong cornerback play and being able to keep guys fresh against teams like New England, Green Bay and New Orleans will be paramount. 

The smart money says Culliver or Cox steps out of the shadows and emerges as this role player.

Situational Pass Rusher

A team can always add more pass rushers.

With Aldon Smith more than likely becoming the starting right outside linebacker in 2012, the 49ers could sure use another situational pass rusher. By adding Darius Fleming and Cam Johnson in the 2012 NFL draft, there is some sense that the 49ers are indeed looking for that next player.

Unfortunately, Fleming tore his ACL in his first rookie minicamp and will be done for the season. The rookie from Virgina, Cam Johnson, was a pass rush specialist during his collegiate career who will have an opportunity to be a factor for San Francisco early on.

With the linebacking corps looking like Smith, Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman and Ahmad Brooks, Johnson could fill that role in an already loaded front seven. Between the players and staff, Johnson has a very good group of people to help his transition. And if not Johnson, Eric Bakhtiari and Kourtnei Brown are some new faces that would love the responsibility. 

With the 49ers adding layers and advancing with their front seven, it should be an even better unit in 2012. Someone on the roster will emerge as a missing piece the 49ers didn't once have, and hopefully it will provide another weapon for the San Francisco defense. 

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