© Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
SANTA CLARA — Eli Harold’s departure carves opportunity for several 49ers players hungry for it.
Thursday morning, Harold was traded to the Detroit Lions for a conditional seventh-round pick. The 49ers receive that pick if Harold remains on the Detroit roster through the first four weeks. Harold, who spent all three years of his NFL career with the 49ers, compiled just three sacks during his tenure.
Kyle Shanahan took plenty into consideration before dealing Harold, including his projected 53-man roster, 46-man active roster, nickel and base personnel groupings, and special teams value.
“I know everyone wants a big, simple, easy answer for everyone to say,” Shanahan said,” but, it’s why it took us until going over the final 53 or having an idea of what the final 53 was to even help us come to this conclusion.”
It’s now up to San Francisco’s platoon of outside linebackers to shoulder the load. According to Shanahan, that prominently includes Mark Nzeocha, Pita Taumoepenu, and Cassius Marsh. Dekoda Watson, who has been getting reps at the LEO weak-side edge rusher spot in practice, played on the outside last year. The 49ers have six additional inside linebackers that can move to the outside linebacker slot.
Shanahan told the media on Thursday that Nzeocha will start in Harold’s place in Saturday’s preseason game at Indianapolis. The 49ers head coach had not disclosed that information to Nzeocha, however.
“We will see what happens Saturday,” Nzeocha said in the locker room about 15 minutes later. “If my number is called, I will be ready, but as of now I don’t know who is going to start.”
When a reporter told him he was starting, Nzeocha’s expression hardly changed.
“OK, cool,” said Nzeocha with a slight grin. “I’ll be starting then. Like I said, I will be ready.”
Nzeocha, an Ansbach, Germany native, will get the first opportunity to impress the 49ers coaching staff. The starters are expected to play the entire first half. Nzeocha logged three defensive snaps in last Saturday’s preseason loss to the Houston Texans, but he played 10 on special teams.
When he entered the league in 2016, scouting reports highlighted his athleticism, but he was somewhat position-less because he played a safety/linebacker hybrid at Wyoming. Versatility is a trait that is preached around Santa Clara, and the more players the 49ers can use in multiple spots, the better. They have recently drafted long, dynamic athletes first, then acclimated them into their system later.
Nzeocha qualifies. The 49ers signed him off the Cowboys practice squad last September, then re-signed him to a one-year deal back in January. He played inside linebacker last year, registering two tackles and one assist in just nine snaps. The 49ers moved him to outside linebacker near the start of training camp four weeks ago.
“In that moment, the coaching staff thought it would be the best fit for me,” Nzeocha said. “So, I went with it and embraced it.”
Shanahan views the outside and inside linebacker slots as interchangeable, but Nzeocha has experienced the nuances. One of the main responsibilities of the SAM linebacker is to set the edge on run plays. They frequently drop back in coverage. Discipline is key, Nzeocha says. He is regularly deployed on the line against tight ends and offensive tackles.
“It’s a little different because you are more engaged physically on every play,” Nzeocha said. “It’s a new position. (The first) couple days, there were definitely growing pains, but I learned it pretty quick.”
In addition to setting the edge, the 49ers are looking for production in the form of pressures and sacks. The lack of pass rush has been San Francisco’s most consistent issue throughout the Shanahan-John Lynch regime. Last year, the 49ers compiled 30 sacks, which finished 26th in the league. And Elvis Dumervil, who led the team with 6.5 sacks, was not re-signed earlier this offseason.
The 49ers are seemingly searching for answers internally, putting the pressure on Nzeocha and company to emerge.
