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Ranking the San Francisco 49ers most important position battles

By Nicholas McGee

October 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) sacks Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
October 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) sacks Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 20, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) celebrates after the 49ers recovered an onside kick during the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) celebrates after the 49ers recovered an onside kick during the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Linebacker

Last season injuries impacted the 49ers’ linebacker depth so much that special teamer Nick Bellore ended up starting for much of the season, with predictably dreadful results. That should not be the case this year, with NaVorro Bowman back after tearing his Achilles last season and the 49ers having added Malcolm Smith in free agency and Reuben Foster in the draft.

Ahmad Brooks led the 49ers in sacks for the second successive season in 2016 and has received first-team snaps at the SAM linebacker spot in OTAs. He, Eli Harold and Ray-Ray Armstrong are also in the equation at linebacker.

Such is the depth at the position, that Kyle Shanahan recently said the 49ers are going to have a good linebacker on the sideline this season, with Bowman — per Eric Branch of The San Francisco Chronicle — adamant it will not be him.

Shanahan does not believe Bowman looks like a player coming off injury, but San Francisco will need all its linebackers to be able to excel in all three facets — run defense, coverage and blitzing — if Robert Saleh’s defense is to succeed in 2017.

Coverage was an area in which Bowman and Smith had their difficulties last season and it would be wrong for the 49ers to show too much loyalty to any player regardless of their previous experience.

Whichever three players make up the starters in 2017, the 49ers will be better at linebacker this year. However, having seen the likes of Bellore and Michael Wilhoite labour at the position in recent times, it is imperative the trio that win the battle to start have the athletic ability to contribute across the board.