One fewer linebacker, one better defense for 49ers

By Anthony Bialy  |   Tuesday, May 13, 2008  |  Comments( 1 )

San Francisco 49ers
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Listed at just under 300 pounds, new San Francisco 49er Kentwan Balmer -- a first-round pick in last month's NFL draft -- is approximately an Olsen twin shy of the ideal weight for a 3-4 nose tackle. At the same time, he’s conveniently near the right size for life as an off-tackle if he were playing alongside a middle partner. Using Balmer in a 4-3 defense next to the bigger Aubrayo Franklin would mean that he’s not the sole object of focus for the interior offensive linemen; on top of that, several of his defensive teammates would also benefit from placing one more guy on the line.

Keeping Balmer as a tackle, the job he usually held at North Carolina State, instead of converting him to a 3-4 end would mean he would be right at home; simultaneously, many veteran Niner defenders would prosper, too. For one, the 6-foot-2, 280-pound Tully Banta-Cain has both the size and the 90s number to be placed in the defensive end rotation. Instead of using him as a rushing linebacker, stationing him up front on a permanent basis will help him reach his potential.

In addition to helping out the former Patriot, the modification would aid an ex-Bengal, too: Free-agent prize Justin Smith thrived as a member of a four-man front in Cincinnati, and inserting the Missouri product in a system where he accomplished everything that earned him a big contract makes sense.

The theoretical repositioning would mean a good deal more responsibility for a single particular player, but he’s thankfully the one guy the 49ers should want to trust as much as possible: Patrick Willis’ first season of course went outstandingly, and giving him every chance to make every tackle he can will create more positives for this franchise than a new stadium and competent quarterback combined.

He would have more ground over which to prowl as the only middle linebacker, and any system that gives the AP’s, and everyone else’s, Defensive Rookie of the Year more roaming space should be implemented 10 months ago; if a time machine is unavailable, they can settle for doing it right now.

It would also mean that, with four defensive linemen always accompanying him on the field, there’s much less of a chance that Willis would have to engage with a center or guard, as the opposing blockers will tend to be occupied with San Francisco’s two inside tackles. The idea that the former Ole Miss standout could actually reach another level without doing anything other than lining up should make the change enticing on its own.

To be fair, the alteration could create turbulence: It will require a fair amount of player shifting on top of the fact that the defense will lose the inherent versatility of a four-linebacker set. But changing to a scheme that makes better use of the players’ natural talents is an advantage that offsets any conceivably messy transition.

Of course, there’s the issue regarding why a team employs an arrangement where the players it signs, drafts, or already possesses don’t fit perfectly with what it already uses, but the good news is that the situation can be repaired with a transformation to a system perfect for actively athletic players. Past weak coaching concepts aside, a switch would be worth any rockiness the conversion would trigger. Members of San Francisco's defense would flourish tremendously if four of its own were kept up front.
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