Safety or Cornerback? Ward’s Versatility Intrigues 49ers
When the 49ers drafted Jimmie Ward out of Northern Illinois in 2014, it was with the intention of making the college safety into an NFL cornerback.At Northern Illinois, Ward, a 5-foot-11, 193-pounder, was a playmaker at strong safety who led his team in tackles and interceptions his final season while earning all-conference and third-team All-America honors.Since coming into the NFL, Ward has played a nickel corner role but also seen action at safety and started at an outside corner spot. He's showed enough potential at cornerback that the new 49ers coaching staff has seen him as a likely starter in 2017.But the 49ers also could view Ward as a safety again, too.Under new defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who wants to use a scheme similar to that of the Seahawks, safeties play significant and defined roles. The Seahawks have been very effective using a strong safety (Kam Chancellor) up near the line of scrimmage as a force against the run while using a smaller free safety (Earl Thomas) as a far-ranging center fielder at the back of the defense.New 49ers general manager John Lynch says the team's coaching staff believes Ward has the skill set that could make him a fine free safety...
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