Nothing I am saying applies because they signed him as a DE. I assumed he would be a 4/3 OLB. Well...no.
I have no idea how he will do as a DE. Here's a 49ers article on him: [
www.ninersnation.com]
The 9ers are counting on him learning to do precisely what I said we know he can't do.
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Where he can improve in 2021'
“Raw” is a term used to describe a player who has the skill set but doesn’t know how to use it yet. Ebukam is further along than someone I’d label as “raw,” but you can tell he’s not used to rushing the passer on a full-time basis.
There were reps with the Rams where it was evident Ebukam didn’t have a plan outside of winning with his athleticism. There’s no denying his first step, but Ebukam’s hand usage leaves a lot to be desired.
This is where defensive line coach Kris Kocurek will earn his paycheck. For Ebukam, if he is indeed the team's edge rusher on obvious passing downs, he’ll have 1-on-1 opportunities every time Bosa, Javon Kinlaw, and Arik Armstead are on the field.
Instead of running full speed into the offensive lineman, Ebukam needs to develop a counter. He may be a work in progress to begin the season, but with more reps, Ebukam could grow into the speed rusher the 49ers have been looking for during the past couple of seasons.
What to expect in 2021
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This one is tough, as Ebukam could be sprinkled in as a Blitzer early on, or, if there are no other options, he might have to play along the edge.
We throw around the term “elite” too often, but when talking about Ebukam’s athleticism, that’s the only word that comes to mind:
Ebukam has some serious explosion, and that 10-yard split is faster than most skill players.
In 2020, the 49ers' defense didn’t have many issues. One of them was allowing ball carriers to get outside the numbers due to the lack of athleticism on the field. No matter where Ebukam plays, he’ll be an upgrade in terms of speed.
When the team was at its peak in 2019, the defense was flying around and making plays. The second-level defenders would chase down running backs against the run, get into throwing lanes against the pass, and find ways to affect the quarterback when they blitzed.
That might be Ebukam’s role early on as he learns his craft to become a full-time pass rusher. He’s the ultimate wild card for this defense and could be precisely what they needed on the edge.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/30/2021 04:39PM by zn.
