San Francisco 49ers: Aaron Lynch Has Bright Future

ByMike Pendleton|

The San Francisco 49ers have gone through a hellish off-season from player and coaches departing for new teams, star players and veterans retiring, and others getting in trouble with the law. New head coach Jim Tomsula won’t come into his first season with much veteran leadership or players he can look to for mentoring young players, he’ll have to do it alone.

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The biggest loss position wise for the 49ers may be at the linebacker spot where Patrick Willis and Chris Borland have retired, Aldon Smith has been released due to his legal trouble, and most recently veteran Ahmad Brooks was charged with sexual battery.

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While the losses have been aplenty, there’s one second-year linebacker who was listed as the backup to Brooks on the team’s first depth chart, but that may be changing very soon. That linebacker’s name is Aaron Lynch, a second-year player out of South Florida who could see his name as a starter at the outside linebacker spot when the regular season begins.

In just limited playing time last season, when Lynch was called upon or saw himself on the field, he made plays. With 23 total tackles, six sacks, and four passes defended, he’s an all-around defensive playmaker, perfect for a 49ers defense that likes to get after their opponent.

Chris Borland and his 107 tackles as a rookie stole the show, but since his sudden retirement, not much has been said about Lynch, which may be even better for his potential big breakout sophomore campaign. While player moves have helped Lynch rise up the depth chart, his production in limited play has also contributed to the optimism surrounding what he could do in a full-time role.

Include the return of NaVorro Bowman and Lynch now has one of the best to help mentor him and learn from in addition to playing alongside of him. Bowman will command that the younger players show up ready to work, play relentlessly, and give their all if they want to have personal and team success in 2015. With that said, someone has to make plays besides Bowman this season and Lynch lines up to be the next best candidate.

The team did draft Arik Armstead out of Oregon in the first round of this year’s draft but he’ll line up on the defensive line and is considered a long-term project by some, instead of a guy who can come in and make an impact right away.

The scheme may not change entirely, but new defensive coordinator Eric Mangini will have his hands full trying to work with a bunch of young and unproven talent as he takes over as the team’s defensive coordinator this season. Mangini’s job won’t be easy not only because of the shuffling of his roster, but because he hasn’t been a defensive coordinator in 10 years, so he’ll have his own coaching adjustments to work with as well.

Simply put, there is nothing but change going on with the San Francisco 49ers, especially on the defensive side of the ball and for Aaron Lynch, change could mean the rise of his NFL career. He’ll have a bigger role in 2015, he’ll have more opportunity, and as he proved as a rookie, all he needs is the opportunity and he will follow that with very impressive production.

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