Dorsey Could Have Key, Versatile Role for 49ers in 2015

Recently, new 49ers defensive coordinator Eric Mangini talked about the need for his unit to be made up of versatile players.

By having a deep group of athletes with multiple skills and strengths, he says a defense can be more aggressive.

“You have to have guys that are flexible, both physically and mentally, so that you can take away things the offense is trying to do,” he told Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com. “You can attack weaknesses, you can attack players. That flexibility is huge for me.”

It will also be huge because the 49ers defense goes into 2015 with the need to replace players such as Justin Smith, Patrick Willis, Chris Borland and Ray McDonald in the front seven.

And one veteran who might loom large is defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey.

Dorsey, 29, is entering his eighth NFL season. In 2013 he stepped in for the injured Ian Williams at nose tackle and played very well. But in 2014 he was lost for the season in August when he suffered a torn biceps in training camp.

Now it appears Dorsey has a good chance to play a significant role as a defensive end in the 49ers’ 3-4 scheme, where either Smith or McDonald played.  In the just-concluded full-squad minicamp, Dorsey reportedly was a standout at that position, with Williams starting at nose tackle.

During minicamp, Dorsey and Quinton Dial were the defensive starters on the defensive line with Williams. When training camp begins in late July, veteran Darnell Dockett, first-round draft pick Arik Armstead, Tank Carradine and Tony Jerod-Eddie also will be in the rotation at the defensive end spots.

Dorsey recently told Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle that he’s eager for the opportunity to play defensive end or nose tackle. He figures he can make an impact at both if needed.

“I can do both, so it’s no big deal,” he said. “I can play either position.”

One thing Dorsey knows, though, is that no one player can be inserted into the lineup to replace Smith, the former All-Pro known for his strength, toughness and ability to draw double teams. The 49ers may use a rotation of players, shuttling in fresh replacements and mixing and matching according to opponents and situations.

“You can’t replace Justin with anything,” Dorsey said of Smith. “With nobody. He’s probably the baddest dude I’ve played with. That’s the honest truth. The guy is like Gladiator.”

But it’s looking like Dorsey, too, will an important man in the arena in 2015.