We continue the in-depth look into the 49ers' roster with the rest of the inside linebackers ....
- Mark Washington. 6-3, 245. A couple of years ago, the 49ers were mildly bummed when the Dolphins plucked Washington off their practice squad at the end of the year. At the time, the 49ers were searching for a future "Ted" linebacker. Washington, while raw, had potential. He had played collegiately at a small school, Texas State-San Marcos, and had actually played nose tackle there. There was a hope that the physical nature of that position, coupled with his size, would translate well to "Ted" in the NFL. That hope still exists. However, two years later, the 49ers have plenty of "Teds." Takeo Spikes and Scott McKillop are one and two on the depth chart while Jeff Ulbrich also can play the position. Washington's ticket to the 53-man roster may be as an ace special teamer.
- Patrick Willis. 6-1, 240. Psst. Here's a secret: Patrick Willis is really good. In fact, I could write 10 paragraphs about how fast he is, how hard he hits and how he plays through injuries, but I wouldn't be telling you anything you don't know. Instead I'll tell you a story of how the 49ers nearly passed on Willis. Going into the 2007 draft, there was a certain element on the 49ers' coaching staff - one that included Mike Singletary - who didn't want to take Willis. He was too small, got nicked in college and wouldn't be able to hold up in the NFL, the argument went. And besides, the current 49ers' regime wanted big-bodied players. It took GM Scot McCloughan, who is not an emotional guy, giving an impassioned defense of Willis to tilt the room in his favor. I wasn't there, but it sounds like McCloughan's finest moment to date.
In truth, Willis does seem small. When you seek him out following a game in which he has made 20 tackles, you expect him to be 10-feet tall and to be wearing a red cape. Instead, you're looking at him (more or less) in the eye. He's the most talented player to wear a 49ers uniform since Terrell Owens left town. The only thing that would keep him from a stellar career, dare I say, a Hall-of-Fame career, would be injuries. Which is why the 49ers are building their defense to protect Willis like they would an offense to protect a quarterback.
- Jeff Ulbrich. 6-0, 240. Ulbrich is the only defender who dates back to the Steve Mariucci era. The secret to his longevity? He's a hard worker who is willing to do anything to stay on the team. A few years ago when it was clear the 49ers were moving to a younger linebacking corps, Ulbrich dedicated himself to special teams and became one of the stars of that unit. This offseason, Ulbrich realized his salary might make him a roster casualty, so he reduced it from $2.23 million to $950,000. Perhaps more than anyone in the locker room, Ulbrich loves to play the game. He's one of the oldest players on the team, but he has retained the youthfulness with which he entered the league and it truly looks like he is having fun. Ulbrich, however, is not as fleet of foot as he used to be, and he must hold off Washington and Justin Roland, who are eight and nine years his junior respectively. If he can, Ulbrich's mug would go up on the 49ers' 10-Year Wall, a coveted honor in Santa Clara.
-- Matt Barrows
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.