The 49ers game week is underway, which means we get our first regular season depth chart of the 2012 season. We've known for a while what the starting lineup would look like, but now we get a chance to see how the team views their depth.
There are not a lot of changes from the last pre-Friday cut depth chart. After a month of the starter opposite Michael Crabtree being an "or" proposition, we have Randy Moss listed as the starter, with Manningham backing him up and Kyle Williams behind Crabtree. I suspect that after Crabtree, it will be a bit of a grab bag from the receivers, with guys rotating on and off the field fairly frequently.
The most noticeable players would have to be Demarcus Dobbs listed ahead of Garrett Celek at tight end and rookie Trenton Robinson listed ahead of Darcel McBath at strong safety. Given the team's lack of depth elsewhere, it will be interesting to see whether or not Celek is active or inactive on Sunday. And even if he is active, the playing time will give us an idea of the team's plans for him.
One change that probably is not surprising is Perrish Cox climbing ahead of Tramaine Brock on the cornerback depth chart. Cox is listed behind Carlos Rogers while Chris Culliver is behind Tarell Brown. Culliver has been the guy entering the game in nickel situations, but given how much time the 49ers spent in the nickel (more than half their defensive snaps), I wonder if the team will rotate Cox in on occasion to keep the starting three fresh?
49ers Depth Chart
WR: Michael Crabtree, Kyle Williams, A.J. Jenkins
WR: Randy Moss, Mario Manningham, Ted Ginn Jr.
LT: Joe Staley
LG: Mike Iupati, Joe Looney
C: Jonathan Goodwin, Daniel Kilgore
RG: Alex Boone, Leonard Davis
RT: Anthony Davis
TE: Vernon Davis, Delanie Walker, Demarcus Dobbs, Garrett Celek
FB: Bruce Miller, Anthony Dixon
RB: Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter, Brandon Jacobs, LaMichael James
QB: Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick, Scott Tolzien
LDT: Ray McDonald, Ricky Jean Francois,
NT: Isaac Sopoaga, Will Tukuafu, Ian Williams
RDT: Justin Smith, Demarcus Dobbs
OLB: Ahmad Brooks, Clark Haggans
ILB: NaVorro Bowman, Larry Grant
ILB: Patrick Willis, Tavares Gooden
OLB: Aldon Smith, Clark Haggans
LCB: Carlos Rogers, Perrish Cox, Tramaine Brock
RCB: Tarell Brown, Chris Culliver
FS: Dashon Goldson, C.J. Spillman
SS: Donte Whitner, Trenton Robinson, Darcel McBath
PR: Ted Ginn Jr., Kyle Williams, LaMichael James
KOR: Ted Ginn Jr., Kendall Hunter, LaMichael James
P: Andy Lee
K: David Akers
H: Andy Lee
LS: Brian Jennings
