NFL Preview: Best and worst teams at each position
A large part of team success in the NFL is the success of position groups. We take a look at some of the weakest and strongest position groups in the NFL.
From 2011-2014, one of the strongest position groups in the NFL was the San Francisco 49ers’ linebacking corps. Along with the defensive line, the linebackers were easily the most essential part of the Niners’ defensive renaissance. Within the team’s 3-4 defense, Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman were the two traditional middle linebackers, while talented edge rushers Aldon Smith and Ahmad Brooks feasted upon opportunities opened by the defensive line.
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Three successful years ended in frustration as the 49ers came close but faltered every year, and a tumultuous 2014 season ended with Willis retiring and Smith getting kicked off the team for a DUI. A promising young core suddenly dissolved, and now the 49ers will likely sweep the floor of the division.
The strength of individual position groups goes a long way to determine overall team strength; a team with a sub-par set of wide receivers can still be a great team with a strong offensive line, and a great pass rush from the front seven can mask a poor secondary.
Like the case with the 49ers, a strong position group might not last for long. For that matter, neither will a weak position group, especially considering the massive amount of roster turnover every year. For this upcoming season here are the position groups that will dictate their team’s fates, for better or for worse.
Next: Quarterback