Since the 2007 season ended, a big chunk of 49ers storylines have revolved around the "Ted" linebacker position. So I wrote a story in today's Bee describing what exactly Ted does, why it's so critical in the 49ers' defense (ans: bodyguard for Patrick Willis) and why the team has had trouble filling the role. Here's a little bit more on the subject from linebacker coach Mike Singletary ...
Question: Can you give me a general description of what the Ted does in this defense?
Mike Singletary: I would put it this way. The Mike in this defense is the playmaker, very much like Ray Lewis, (Brian) Urlacher and those guys. Ted is the guy that a lot of people don't appreciate as much. But Ted is going to clean things up. Ted is going to pave the way for the Mike. I would say Ted is the big brother. If you're going to touch Mike, you've got to come through me first. That's Ted in this defense. I'm going to go attack it. Mike, I've got your back. Anything that's coming at you has got to go through me.
Q: What are Ted's responsibilities?
MS: Let's say there's a blitz. Well, the Ted may go get it first. The Ted will knock it out first. If there's a big fullback I need to hit. If there's a tackle I need to go get, if there's a guard I need to go get, Ted will go hit it and Mike will go clean it up. Mike is the clean-up guy. Mike is ... it's thunder and lightning. Ted would be thunder; Mike would be lightning.
Q: Is that a hard person to find - someone who's willing to do all the dirty work so that someone else can get the glory?
MS: Ted gets his chance, too now. Ted and Mike ... depending on how good the Ted is ... Ted can make just as many plays as Mike. Ted can show up and blow it up. Ted's going to get his share of the glory, too. So it's not like the (offensive) guy who never touches the ball. Ted will get his chances.
Q: Because he takes on so many blocks, do you ideally want a big, stout guy playing that position?
MS: Well, I would put it this way; you want a guy that's mean enough, thick enough, that has the ability to last a little bit, has durability but yet at the same time can run with the tight end down the field. He's got to be able to hold his own in pass defense as well.
Q: When you were with the Bears, was there someone next to you who was in that ted role?
MS: I had three guys and we were basically all Mikes. They were all pretty special. None of them were Teds. It just so happened that we had an unusual groupe of guys. And it worked out where we just all made plays and we looked out for each other and we made sure the nature of the defense was to do that.
Q: Who's sort of a prototypical Ted in the league right now?
MS: I would say ... Well, Derek Smith was a good Ted. I think he was a good Ted. I think Brandon a couple of years ago, he was a good Ted. May still be. We just have to keep working and find the right guy and the right fit to make it work. Journalism 101: I should have followed up on this line of questioning. The interview was done in a noisy lockerroom and when Singletary said the word "Brandon" I didn't pick it up. I only realized what he said when I went back and listened to the tape.
Q: Jeff Ulbrich is obviously willing to do anything for this team. Is there a concern with him that he couldn't withstand the pounding at the position?
MS: Jeff is very important to what we're doing on this team in leadership and all those things. I think what you're saying is certainly an idea, a thought process. When you've got a guy like Jeff, you want to make sure he's going to last a whole season. You don't want him banged up all the time.
Q: And he's valuable in other areas.
MS: Oh yeah. Very much so. Nickel, big sub - all that kind of stuff.
Q: And what about the other two guys, Dontarrious Thomas and Larry Grant?
MS: You know what - I haven't seen enough. You never can tell about a linebacker until you put the pads on. Right now, they all look pretty. But when you put the pads on, it's something else.
Barrows note: Grant hasn't taken part in OTAs because classes at Ohio State are still in session. He is scheduled to join the team tomorrow.
-- Matt Barrows
@Nyx.CommentBody@