Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles' 49ers roster spot in jeopardy heading into preseason finale
The 49ers have one of the deepest rosters in the NFL, and an area where they are particularly spoilt for choice is at linebacker. Of course, it is well known that the Niners have the best linebacker duo in football in Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw. However, the depth they have behind that pair perhaps […]
The 49ers have one of the deepest rosters in the NFL, and an area where they are particularly spoilt for choice is at linebacker.
Of course, it is well known that the Niners have the best linebacker duo in football in Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw. However, the depth they have behind that pair perhaps flies under the radar.
But the quality the 49ers have at the backup linebacker positions has been readily apparent through two preseason games, with the performances of two rookies creating something of a logjam at the position.
The 49ers have six players competing for at most four spots on the depth chart behind Warner and Greenlaw. At least two players will miss out, and veteran Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles looks on course to be one of the odd men out.
Flannigan-Fowles entered the offseason program as one of the candidates to be the 49ers' starting SAM linebacker next to Warner and Greenlaw on base downs.
Despite having the athleticism the 49ers look for at the position as a former safety, Flannigan-Fowles has been overshadowed by the new faces San Francisco brought in.
Seventh-round rookie Jalen Graham has earned consistent praise from defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. When Warner's brief cameo in Saturday's preseason game with the Broncos came to an end, it was Graham who took over at middle linebacker with the green dot, putting him in charge of communicating the play calls.
That was a clear sign he is near the front of the pecking order to be the third linebacker on the field when the Niners play base.
Sixth-rounder Dee Winters hasn't made the same level of progress up the depth chart but, having recorded 7.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss in his final college season at TCU, he has displayed enough speed and playmaking ability for the 49ers to want to keep him on the roster.
If the 49ers don't want to throw Graham into the fire too early, then Oren Burks will likely be the man they will trust to man the SAM role despite a knee injury suffered in joint practices with the Raiders. The Niners are hopeful they can get Burks, a core special teamer, back for Week 1.
With Burks, Graham and Winters all strong bets to make the team, there is no guarantee the 49ers would keep a sixth linebacker on the active roster. The 49ers have no shortage of safeties who can come down and play the box on base downs, with Talanoa Hufanga and rookie Ji'Ayir Brown both extremely comfortable in that capacity. Versatile defensive back Qwuantrezz Knight, though an outside bet to make the roster, is another who can excel in such a role.
Flannigan-Fowles' competition for a sixth linebacker spot comes from Curtis Robinson and Marcelino McCrary-Ball, with the latter posing a greater threat after an impressive showing against the Broncos, one in which he went close to picking off Jarrett Stidham after doing an excellent job of reading the eyes of the Denver backup.
McCrary-Ball is another former defensive back who was stashed on the practice squad last season. While his profile is similar to that of Flannigan-Fowles, McCrary-Ball has the advantage of being younger. He turned 24 in March, Flannigan-Fowles will turn 27 before the season starts.
Set to be an exclusive rights free agent next offseason, McCrary-Ball is a player with more time on his side in which to develop whom the 49ers can keep under team control.
It would be no surprise, therefore, if the 49ers decided it would be a better use of their coaching resources to attempt to help McCrary-Ball blossom. The progress of the likes of Graham, Winters and McCrary-Ball is excellent news for the long-term picture at linebacker for San Francisco, but it makes it less likely Flannigan-Fowles will be a part of that picture.
Steve Wilks’ 49ers defense provides mouth-watering taste of its pass-rush upside
And they did it without Nick Bosa on the field.
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