Maiocco: “I think the defensive backfield is in better shape than the pass rush”

Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area held a live chat today to address questions from fans, touching on a number of San Francisco 49ers topics. One topic was the team's defensive backs, who he does not feel will be an issue for the team. The question also led into a discussion about the team's pass rush.

"I think they have some defensive backs who are pretty good players. To me, the question is the pass rush," said Maiocco. "They got a lot of guys – young guys – who have promise. Maiocco mentioned Jimmie Ward, Dontae Johnson, Keith Reaser, Kenneth Acker, Will Redmond, Rashard Robinson, and Prince Charles Iworah who the 49ers have drafted in the past three years to go along with projected starter Tramaine Brock.

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"There's going to be some answers there. They just need guys to get after the quarterback." Maiocco believes that Aaron Lynch looks good at linebacker, but the team needs guys like Tank Carradine to step up. Carradine has been taking some snaps at linebacker during the team's offseason program.

"I think the defensive backfield is in better shape than the pass rush," Maiocco added. The 49ers looked to upgrade in the trenches during the 2016 NFL Draft, selecting DE DeForest Buckner out of Oregon with the seventh overall selection. The hope is to bookend him on a defensive line that added DE Arik Armstead, also from Oregon, in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

The 49ers also drafted DE Ronald Blair out of Appalachian State in the fifth round.