Youth movement, right? The San Francisco 49ers have a chance to reward their young talent with a roster spot on both sides of the ball. However, veterans tend to be the safer route as they are less volatile. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh will have a handful of difficult choices to make at each position. Let’s try to help him out in this week’s bubble watch.
Defensive line: Unleash the UFL duo
It’s nearly impossible to evaluate this group due to the numerous injuries. But those injuries have opened the door for a pair of recently
signed edge rushers to make a name for themselves. The defensive tackles didn’t have nearly as much success against the Las Vegas Raiders as they did against the Denver Broncos. It was the edge rushers who impressed in Week 2. Specifically, Jaylon Allen and Trevis Gipson, who were the only players to record at least three pressures.
Allen won a couple of times in a similar fashion. He had an impressive win rate of 16.7 percent, compared to Gipson’s 9.1. Gipson won more with hustle, which isn’t a bad thing, but Allen’s wins felt more sustainable.
Nick Bosa, Bryce Huff, Yetur Gross-Matos (?), and Sam Okuayinonu feel like locks to make the roster. However, Sam O hasn’t played yet this preseason due to an injury, and Gross-Matos might be a PUP candidate. That means players like Allen and Gipson have one more chance to make their mark and show Saleh they can contribute meaningful snaps during the regular season.
Linebacker: Surratt with a save on Saturday
Nick Martin looked like a player you draft in the third round against the Raiders. It was nice to see his speed and physicality on display. Luke Gifford has played 15 snaps during the preseason, and you can already see why he’s likely going to start on base downs and excel on special teams.
I struggle to believe that the 49ers will keep more than five linebackers, but Dee Winters’ injury history last year may not leave the team much choice. So we have Fred Warner, Tatum Bethune, and a question mark.
Chazz Surratt may have won a roster spot on Saturday. His competition, Curtis Robinson, missed a tackle and allowed some costly yards after the catch in the process.
Surratt not only led the team in tackles despite playing the 12th-most snaps of anybody, but he also added three run stops and looked comfortable in coverage and rushing the passer. It was the type of showing that Surratt needed to remind Saleh why he drafted him. Surratt likely pushed Robinson and Jalen Graham off the bubble watch.
Defensive backs: Your guess is as good as mine
Last week, I opined that the Niners should give Darrell Luter a shot on the roster over the veterans they signed in free agency this offseason. Let’s pretend that never happened, but I’m not sure Luter knows what he’s doing in coverage. If you can’t be trusted, you can’t play. Chase Lucas looks more like a starter than somebody on the bubble watch. We don’t have to waste time discussing him. Dallis Flowers has been something that Luter hasn’t: Consistent.
Despite Luter’s inconsistencies, it still makes you wonder what Tre Brown or Siran Neal has proven. Neal has the versatility edge, but the lasting image of Neal is allowing a three-yard pass to turn into an 18-yarder. At nickel, your primary job is to limit yards after the catch. Lucas has aced that test this preseason. Neal hasn’t.
It doesn’t get any easier at safety. Fans were upset at Ji’Ayir Brown on one of the first plays from scrimmage. He was in an ideal position to make a play against Brock Bowers, but it’s Brock Bowers. If Brown doesn’t turn the wrong way, he makes that play. He wasn’t a Saleh pick, but Brown has value, especially if Malik Mustapha isn’t ready by Week 1. That’s because Jason Pinnock looks one-dimensional, and Richie Grant — who was benched a year ago — is injured.
Marques Sigle is locked in at safety. If the 49ers are high on him, I’d be tempted to skimp at the defensive back position and keep an extra position elsewhere. But man, these are not easy decisions to make, and I do not envy the 49ers. Get well soon, Malik.
