‘Relentless’ Rookie From Utah Could Boost 49ers Pass Rush

Pita Taumoepenu may be defensive end. Or, he could be an outside linebacker. The rookie from Utah is a bit of an NFL tweener as a 6-foot-1, 243-pounder.Yet, as far as the 49ers are concerned, Taumoepenu, a sixth-round pick in the recent NFL draft, can create his own position with the way he plays in training camp and exhibition games. If he shows the speed and athletic ability he did at Utah, he could become a high-impact situational pass rusher for the Niners.San Francisco general manager John Lynch says Taumoepenu has a never-stop motor and drive second to none. Taumoepenu, who grew up in Tonga as a rugby player, could be a perfect fit for the 49ers' new shifting 4-3 defense, wrote Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. He could see time at the "Leo" defensive end position on the weak side (without the tight end), where speed is a key asset."You need someone with great speed and you need someone with relentless effort," Lynch told reporters recently about Taumoepenu. "And that's the one thing that jumped off the screen. He can run and he plays with his hair on fire."Taumoepenu was a multi-purpose pass-rush specialist at Utah who started just four games last season. Yet, he had 34...