San Francisco 49ers: 5 Players to watch on defense in 2018 training camp

The San Francisco 49ers look as if they have the pieces for a better defensive performance this season. But it depends on how well these five players do.

With 2018 training camp underway for the San Francisco 49ers, fans are expecting some improvement on the defensive side of the ball. They ranked near the bottom in every significant statistical category, including being in the bottom 10 in both yards allowed and points allowed.

Robert Saleh and company look to have put together a much more formidable than last year’s as they look to build off of their late-season surge. However, some players in training camp are looking to make the most of their opportunity during the beginning of the new season.

Some of these players are attempting to bounce back from a regression in their career or a poor start. Others are looking to make up for lost time after suffering an unfortunate injury. And others are fighting their hardest for playing time and to not stand on the sidelines for all of the 2018 season.

Malcolm Smith, LB

The Super Bowl XLVIII MVP is coming off of a torn pectoral that ended his 2017 campaign. Not only is he looking to reclaim his starting right outside linebacker role, but he’s going to need to fend off all competitors in the process.

However, Smith is entering this season as one of six members on the NFI list. His time with the 49ers is going to continue to be on hiatus. General manager John Lynch believes that this time will help him get back to 100 percent, via NBC Sports Bay Area:

"“We want him to not have his first contact be on the field, get him pushed around a little on the side. We feel like the prudent thing is to give him a couple days right at the start to make sure he feels good.”"

If Smith can use this time to continue to understand the defensive scheme and even find a way to take over for Reuben Foster while he’s suspended, then this training camp will help the defense even more.