How the 49ers Will Fill Their Hole at Sam Linebacker

Grant Cohn

7 Mar 202302:07

Summary

TLDRIn the transcript, the discussion revolves around the potential departure of a talented player, Aziz, from Australia's team and the subsequent need for a new starter at his position. The consensus is that the team will likely address this internally, possibly promoting McCrary Ball, who has shown promise in training and preseason. The conversation also touches on the possibility of Aziz moving to Houston or the Jets, where he could excel as a middle linebacker, given his impressive performance and the team's ability to develop talent.

Takeaways

🏈 The transcript discusses the potential departure of a player named Aziz from the Australian team and the need for a new starter at his position.
🔍 It is suggested that the team will likely address this need internally, possibly through free agency or the draft.
👀 McCreary Ball is identified as a strong internal candidate to fill the position, with the speaker expressing confidence in his abilities.
💰 Oren Burks is mentioned as a current player who might get the first opportunity, but he is primarily a special teams player and not expected to excel in the position.
📝 The San Francisco 49ers are praised for their ability to develop undrafted free-agent linebackers, with Aziz being a notable example.
🌟 Aziz has played exceptionally well and is believed to be moving on to a starting middle linebacker role elsewhere, possibly with a promotion.
🏆 There is speculation that Aziz could become a Pro Bowler, indicating high expectations for his future performance.
💼 The 49ers are comfortable with Aziz's departure due to their confidence in McCreary Ball as his replacement.
🤔 The speaker predicts that Aziz might go to Houston, possibly as a middle linebacker, which is a significant role with more field time.
🎯 The team is expected to make several moves in free agency, with the acquisition of new players being a key strategy.
🎶 The transcript ends with a musical note, indicating the conclusion of the discussion.

Q & A

What position is being discussed in the transcript as needing a new starter?
-The transcript discusses the need for a new starter at the linebacker position.
Who is mentioned as the likely candidate to replace the departing player?
-McCreary Ball is mentioned as the likely internal candidate to replace the departing player.
What team is Aziz expected to join according to the transcript?
-Aziz is expected to join the Houston team, as per the transcript.
What is the role of Oren Burks in this situation?
-Oren Burks is mentioned as the first opportunity for the position, but he is more of a special teams player and is not expected to excel in the role.
What is the financial situation of Oren Burks in relation to his current team?
-Oren Burks is making three million dollars this year for his team.
How did McCreary Ball perform in training camp and preseason?
-McCreary Ball performed really well in both training camp and preseason.
What is the reputation of the Niners in terms of drafting and developing players?
-The Niners are known for being good at drafting and developing undrafted free-agent linebackers.
What is the expected role for Aziz after his departure from the current team?
-Aziz is expected to earn a promotion to a middle linebacker position elsewhere, potentially becoming a starting Mike linebacker.
What is the significance of the term 'mic' in the transcript?
-The term 'mic' seems to be a mispronunciation or typo for 'Mike,' which refers to the Mike linebacker position in American football.
Why is it mentioned that the Niners can't afford to have Aziz playing as Sam anymore?
-The Niners can't afford to have Aziz playing as Sam because it would limit his field time to about 30% of the snaps.
What are the potential destinations for Aziz mentioned in the transcript?
-The potential destinations for Aziz mentioned are Houston and the Jets.

Outlines

00:00

🏈 McCreary Ball as the Next Linebacker

The script discusses the departure of a good player, presumably Aziz, from Australia and the team's strategy to fill the vacant position. It is suggested that McCreary Ball is the internal candidate to be the new starter at the linebacker position. The speaker believes that the team will not seek external help but will rely on their ability to develop talent, as evidenced by their success with undrafted players like Aziz. The summary also mentions Oren Burks, who is expected to get the first opportunity but is unlikely to excel, paving the way for McCreary Ball to step in. The Niners' proficiency in developing linebackers is highlighted, and the expectation is set that McCreary Ball will be the next to rise to the occasion.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Aziz

Aziz is likely referring to a player who is expected to leave the team mentioned in the script. He is described as a 'really good player,' indicating his importance to the team. The script discusses his potential departure and the team's strategy to fill the void he will leave, such as looking for a 'new starter at that position.'

💡Free Agency

Free agency is a term used in professional sports, particularly in the NFL, where players who are not under contract with any team can negotiate and sign with new teams. In the script, it is mentioned as one of the ways the team might address the need for a new player after Aziz's departure.

💡Draft

The draft refers to the process by which sports teams select new players from a pool of eligible candidates, typically those who have just completed their college careers. The script suggests that the team might use the draft to find a replacement for Aziz.

💡McCreary Ball

McCreary Ball appears to be a player who is internally considered by the team to fill the position vacated by Aziz. The script discusses his potential role and how he has performed in training camp and preseason, indicating he might be the next man up.

💡Position

In the context of sports, a 'position' refers to the role a player has on the field or court. The script discusses the need for a 'new starter at that position,' emphasizing the importance of finding a suitable replacement for Aziz.

💡Oren Burks

Oren Burks is mentioned as another player on the team who might get the first opportunity to fill the position left by Aziz. However, he is described as more of a 'special teams' guy, suggesting he may not be the long-term solution.

💡Special Teams

Special teams in American football refer to the group of players responsible for kicking plays and other special situations. The script mentions Oren Burks as a 'special teams' guy, indicating his role might be more focused on these aspects rather than as a starter.

💡Undrafted

An undrafted player is one who was not selected in a draft. The script praises the team's ability to develop undrafted players, like Aziz, into valuable assets, highlighting McCreary Ball as a potential example.

💡Linebacker

A linebacker is a position in American football, typically involved in both defensive and pass coverage roles. The script discusses the team's need for a new linebacker after Aziz's departure and the potential of McCreary Ball to fill this role.

💡Promotion

In the context of the script, a 'promotion' refers to a player moving to a more significant or prestigious role within the team. Aziz is described as having 'earned a promotion' to a 'middle linebacker' or 'starting Mike linebacker' position elsewhere.

💡Snaps

In American football, 'snaps' refer to the plays from which the ball is put into play. The script mentions that playing as a Sam results in being on the field for only about '30% of the snaps,' suggesting it's not as prominent a role as other linebacker positions.

Highlights

Aziz is likely to leave Australia, with his strong performance as a player.

The team will need to find a new starter for the vacated position.

McCreary is suggested as the internal candidate to fill the position.

There's a possibility of addressing the position through free agency or the draft.

McCreary is expected to get an opportunity based on his performance.

Oren Burks is mentioned as a potential first opportunity but is more of a special teams player.

If Burks doesn't excel, McCreary is expected to step in.

The 49ers are known for developing undrafted linebackers, like Aziz.

McCreary showed promise in training camp and preseason.

Aziz's performance has earned him a promotion to a middle linebacker role.

Fred Warner's absence allowed Aziz to showcase his skills as a starting Mike linebacker.

Aziz is speculated to move to a team like Houston or the Jets.

The 49ers are comfortable with Aziz's departure due to McCreary's potential.

Aziz's performance suggests he could become a Pro Bowler.

The team cannot afford to have Aziz play as a Sam, which limits his field time.

Domingo is expected to sign a few players, with McCreary being a key acquisition.

The discussion concludes with the anticipation of Aziz's move to Houston or the Jets.