49ers training camp is in full swing. Our Senior Writer Kevin Jones joined Larry Krueger on the latest episode of The Krueg Show podcast from Santa Clara, and broke down the 49ers’ roster position by position as the first preseason game approaches.
A week into camp, Jones is most impressed with the 49ers’ depth at middle linebacker, a position that was ravaged by injuries last season. Both Navorro Bowman and Ray-Ray Armstrong are back to being healthy, and the 49ers also added Alabama standout Reuben Foster with a first-round pick, and veteran Malcolm Smith in free agency.
“I tweeted this today: sneakily inside linebacker might be the best position on the team,” Jones said. “Ray-Ray Armstrong has been incredible this camp. He’s been picking off passes, his coverage skills are very very good, which you need in today’s NFL. You have Reuben Foster, he was pressuring the quarterback today, they’re using him more as a blitzer. Malcolm Smith has been very good and you have Bowman. Brock Coyle might not even make the team now and he’s a special teamer. You just look at that inside linebacker specifically, they’re very happy with that unit. There’s a lot of depth there.”
With so much competition, Jones also revealed what the starting linebacking corps would look like if the season were to start tomorrow.
“I guess you call him a LEO linebacker now, Arik Armstead would be your outside, your SAM would be Ahmad Brooks and your two inside guys would be Malcom Smith over Reuben Foster, and Navorro Bowman.”
Listen to the full podcast below.