Golden Swinging Gate

Doug Green

borland

NFL teams are used to losing players to retirement. It happens every season like kids returning to school or Uncle Chester stuffing himself at Thanksgiving before passing out on the couch.

What teams aren’t used to is watching two linebackers under the age of 30 walk out the door the way the San Francisco 49ers recently experienced. One was a rising star (Chris Borland), the other an established presence (Patrick Willis). Now the question that faces San Francisco is both simple and complicated – who is the next man up in the middle of the 49ers defense.

Let’s start with candidates already on hand.

As of today, San Francisco has a total of nine linebackers on its roster for its 3-4 defense. Of that group there is a total of 40 starts of a possible 64 returning. In the middle, there are only 18 starts returning this season, 16 of those belonging to Michael Wilhoite.

Wilhoite, a third-year player from Washburn had 87 total tackles in 2014 along with two interceptions, six passes defended, and a forced fumble – easily his most productive year as a pro. He played well down the stretch and would have the inside track if the 49ers choose to stand pat or not look until late in the draft for help.

The other two starts belong to Nick Moody, a second-year player out of Florida State. He had 21 tackles last season. Chase Thomas out of Stanford is listed on the depth chart behind Moody, though he did not appear in any games last season. Fellow Stanford alum Shane Skov spent the season on the practice squad and could be a candidate if San Francisco chooses to try and fill the spots internally.

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Yes, the 49ers will get back NaVorro Bowman from an ACL injury that cost him 2014, but it remains to be seen if he will be the three-time Pro Bowler in five seasons he was before he got hurt.

San Francisco’s outside linebackers aren’t exactly prime candidates to kick inside. Both Ahmad Brooks and Aldon Smith are pass-rush specialists. While both have the skills to handle the tackle-heavy responsibilities in the middle, it would be shocking for the 49ers coaches to weaken the team’s greatest strength to plug a hole that can still be filled via free agency, trade, or the draft.

Free Agency Options

If the team decides it wants a starter-level replacement for Willis, which was what Borland was supposed to be, the following players could be candidates:

Brandon Spikes

Spikes spent the past season in Buffalo playing on 1st and 2nd down against the run. He may want more money that the 49ers are willing to pay, but at 27, he could bridge the gap until a younger player is ready.

Rolando McClain

After sitting out 2013, McClain returned to Dallas last season and gave them a consistent presence in the middle without Sean Lee. McClain is only 25 years old, but still carries some baggage from his Oakland days.

Lance Briggs

Hear me out on this one. Yes, Briggs looks like he’s closing in on the end of the line but a move to the middle could buy him another season or two. Signing him could buy the 49ers a season or let them to draft a linebacker in Rounds 3-5 and see if they find a diamond in the rough.

2015 Draft

If San Francisco doesn’t dabble in free agency, and maybe even if they do, the draft is where the team will focus on replacing Borland and Willis. The 2015 NFL Draft has a good batch of inside linebackers from which the 49ers could choose. We’ll start with a someone that San Francisco could target in the first round, then we’ll take a deeper look at a couple of players who could be picked on Day 2 or Day 3:

Round One: Eric Kendricks, UCLA

Once word got out that Borland and Willis had both retired, Kendricks is the name people started plugging into their mock drafts for San Francisco. The 6-foot, 230 pound redshirt senior sheds blockers well and takes good angles. He’s a three-down linebacker and would be a solid building block.

Round Two: Denzel Perryman, Miami

Perryman played outside linebacker in 2012 and 2013 before moving inside in 2014. The drawback most see in Perryman is he struggles in pass coverage. During my evaluation, I thought he was adequate, but could see where he might get taken off the field in nickel situations.

Round Three: Taiwan Jones, Michigan State

Another player who played outside in 2013 before kicking inside last season, Jones is a thumper in the middle and excels in the run game. He excellent at shedding blocks and always works towards the ballcarrier. Also, unlike Kendricks and Perryman who played in 4-3 schemes, Jones played in a 3-4 as a member of the Spartans.

Round Three: Hays Pullard, USC

The first time I saw Pullard, I thought “this guy reminds me of Chris Borland,” so who would be better to take Borland’s place in San Francisco than him? He has good instincts, sheds blockers well and is decent to good in coverage. Reports also have him as a very good leader.

Round Five: Ramik Wilson, Georgia

He’s a bit of a project, but he played 3-4 inside linebacker at Georgia and led the SEC in tackles in 2013. He may be more of a two-down kind of guy, but he can make up those tackles on special teams.

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