SANTA CLARA — Yes, the 49ers defense should be top-five. Again.
While most starters rested or rehabilitated during the offseason program, a wave of newcomers inspired hope of deeper depth charts at every position.
“It’s going to be great to see those guys coming back, and coming to camp when it’s real football and time to take off,” Ryans said in June.
Real football, translated, is when Ryans’ defenders are allowed to put on pads and hit with their almighty force (just not into quarterbacks).
Key dates: Tuesday is when players report to camp at the 49ers’ Santa Clara facility, Wednesday is the first of four straight days of practice, and, next Monday is when the first padded practice can be held.
While defensive end Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner remain the most heralded defenders, defensive lineman Arik Armstead and free safety Jimmie Ward are the team’s longest-tenured for good reason.
Ryans impressed upon his promotion last year, and the 49ers stocked him with more firepower for his encore act as a coordinator (and head-coach-in-waiting).
This defense runs deeper. Reserves that work into the defensive line rotation likely could start elsewhere. The 49ers have among the NFL’s best linebacker units. In the secondary, after a penalty-prone 2021, optimism reigns among their greater slew of cornerbacks.
Here is a closer look at each defensive position group:
DEFENSIVE LINE
Who’s here: *Nick Bosa, *Arik Armstead, *Javon Kinlaw, *Samson Ebukam, Kerry Hyder Jr., Drake Jackson, Charles Omenihu, Kemoko Turay, Jordan Willis, Hassan Ridgeway, Maurice Hurst, Kevin Givens, Alex Barrett, Kalia Davis, Dee Ford
Forecast: Kinlaw’s first practices on his rebuilt knee could be a strong indicator of how fierce this defensive front will be. Bosa and Armstead are otherwise the returning pillars of this line. Jackson is the young newcomer to a rotation that is deep and welcomes back Hyder. Omenihu and Turay are intriguing edge rushers, while Ridgeway and Hurst pack interior presence.
LINEBACKER
Who’s here: *Fred Warner, *Dre Greenlaw, *Azeez Al-Shaair, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Oren Burks, Curtis Robinson, Jeremiah Gemmel, Marcelino McCrary-Ball, Sequn Olubi
Forecast: The 49ers cautiously kept their top four linebackers out of most spring practices, so they should be antsy for the first padded practice next week. Burks is known as a special teams ace. A trio of undrafted rookies have a great shot to open eyes thanks to a solid supporting cast.
CORNERBACK
Who’s here: *Charvarius Ward, *Emmanuel Moseley, Ambry Thomas, Dontae Johnson, Darqueze Dennard, Deommodore Lenoir, Sam Womack III, Tariq Castro-Fields, Ka’Dar Hollman, Qwuantrezz Knight, Jason Verrett
Forecast: Verrett is a wild-card depending on when he’s medically cleared from last season opener’s ACL tear. Otherwise, the starting spot opposite Ward could be really intriguing between Moseley, the incumbent, and Thomas, last season’s surging rookie. At nickel back, Dennard took first-team snaps in the spring, but Womack and Lenoir will vie for that role, too.
SAFETY
Who’s here: *Jimmie Ward, *Talanoa Hufanga, Tarvarius Moore, George Odum, Leon O’Neal Jr., Tayler Hawkins
Forecast: The 49ers were intent in the spring on pairing Hufanga with Ward, while Jaquiski Tartt joined the Philadelphia Eagles. Moore could make a push in his return from a 2021 Achilles. Odum has experience and is key on special teams. O’Neal and Hawkins figure to go all-out as undrafted underdogs.
Source: www.mercurynews.com