Golden Nuggets: The MLBs

Today, the Niners re-signed LB Desmond Bishop to a 1 year deal. He's expected to add some depth to the linebacker corp that has recently been decimated. The starting middle linebackers, at the start of the season should be NaVorro Bowman and Michael Wilhoite, unless the team drafts a stellar rookie that somehow wins a starting position. With the team unlikely to draft a LB in the 1st round with other positions in more need, a LB will probably picked in the middle rounds and used to be developed.

For the Niners, it must be a weird position to have middle linebacker as a position of need. At one point, they had the best MLBs in the game. Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman built a duo that took off.  They helped the Niners be a top defensive team consistently. In a span of little over a year, NaVorro Bowman suffered a horrific knee injury that he has yet to come back from, Patrick Willis retired at the young age of 30, and Chris Borland retired from the game.

The middle of the defense will look somewhat different, but with Jim Tomsula bringing some consistency to the defense, I expect a good defensive unit. The offense needs to pick this team up to perform. That alone will determine the Niners season.

49ers Links

CB Peters Coming In For Visit (Barrows)

Team Signs LB (Barrows)

Team Resigns LB Bishop (Gin)

Team Seeks TE Help (Williams)

Get To Know Arik Armstead (Emerick)

Roster Movement (49ers Staff)

Dante Fowler (NFL Video)