When the 49ers open training camp in July, head coach Kyle Shanahan will be eager to watch linebackers Malcolm Smith and Reuben Foster play together.
Last season, Shanahan had hoped to pair the duo, but Smith was lost for the season and Foster, too, missed time because of injuries.
Now each is healthy and Foster has been cleared from allegations of assaulting his former girlfriend. Though the team or the NFL could still suspend Foster for some games during the regular season, the Niners look as if they’ll finally have the pairing of Foster – now in his second season – and the veteran Smith at the Mike and Will linebacker spots for most of the season.
That could be a huge boost for the 49ers defense. Smith’s experience and Foster’s talent could transform the linebacking corps in 2018. Throw in rookie third-round pick Fred Warner and Eli Harold – penciled in to start at the Sam linebacker spot – and San Francisco suddenly has a strong group at a position of weakness the past few seasons.
Shanahan is especially eager to see Foster and Smith work together more in training camp after their time together on the field in the recent minicamp.
“They balance each other out very well,” said Shanahan, to reporters. “So, I think it’s a good tandem.”
Warner, who could compete with Harold or open the season as a backup to both Foster and Smith, says Foster and Smith are incredible players.
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Said Warner of Foster, according to David Bonilla of 49erswebzone.com: “He’s a very physical player and something that I didn’t know about him that I know now is he’s probably the smartest guy in the room because this dude has the memory of an elephant.”
Warner said in meetings, Foster doesn’t even take notes, yet absorbs every detail and displays what he learns in practices and drills. Every day, Warner says he learns from watching Foster.
Smith, meanwhile, has been a mentor to Warner, especially when it comes to pass coverage.
“We’ve worked after practice just about man coverage on tight ends or running backs, even though that’s not something that we even touch on even in practice or in a meeting,” said Warner. “He wants to touch on that with me because he says, ‘If you can do this, you can play on any team in the NFL.’ Just stuff like that.
“I guess this will be his eighth or ninth year in the league, so he’s been there, done that. He’s been a Super Bowl MVP, so I’m just trying to soak in as much as I can.”
The 49ers have not yet announced an official date for the start of training camp.
