Look for shifting in 49ers defensive line depth chart

The San Francisco 49ers released their depth chart on Tuesday afternoon for their Week 15 home game against the Tennessee Titans. Nothing of note changed on it, although I did notice one thing that was changed last week. Elvis Dumervil is listed as the starting left defensive end ahead of Tank Carradine.

The team’s PR department releases these unofficial depth charts each week. Coaches can chime in, but it’s generally compiled by the PR staff directly. Some of it has to be taken with a grain of salt, but it provides some interesting discussion points. And for this week, the defensive line is the interesting area.

Dumervil is a pass rush specialist, while Tank is more of a base defense end. The 49ers deactivated Ronald Blair, D.J. Jones, and Leger Douzable last week, while activating Tank and Lynch. This week, the 49ers face a Titans offense that is much better running than passing. Derrick Henry is still behind DeMarco Murray on the depth chart, but he is averaging 4.9 yards per carry, and has more yards on fewer carries. Football Outsiders ranks the Titans offense No. 4 in rushing and No. 27 in passing.

My guess is one or two of Blair, Jones, and Douzable are active this weekend, while one or both of Tank and Lynch are inactive. The 49ers face Blake Bortles and Leonard Fournette in Week 16, and then Jared Goff and Todd Gurley in Week 17. I think we’ll see more of the run defense these next two weeks, then maybe a little more balance in the finale against the Los Angeles Rams.