[49ers] 49ers' Manny Lawson Has Little Time To Prove Himself

The 49ers thought Manny Lawson would be a pass rusher when they chose him two years ago with the 22nd overall pick. In fact, some in the organization thought he might be a 12-sack-a-year man. Instead what they discovered was he was too light and his strides were too long to effectively pass rush. He was given the opportunity to be a pass rusher, he just didn't take to it. What will Manny Lawson do this year? Certainly, the 49ers will take another look at him as a pass rusher in training camp. He has shown flashes - his two sack, two pressure game against St. Louis for example in his rookie year - but he's not likely to get a long look. If you include Lawson, as someone already noted, the 49ers have six outside pass rushers with Roderick Green,Tully Banta-Cain, Brandon Moore, Parys Haralson and Jay Moore. So if Lawson doesn't show some pass-rush skills, he might be relegated once again to a coverage linebacker and the team's nickel backer along with Patrick Willis on passing downs.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

[The Mullet]

Lawson has been a very solid player IMO. Great in coverage and solid against the run, and just keeps developing. They give up on him already and I'll be pissed, there is more to a player than pass rush, though I think in time he will get that down as well.

[crowned]

He hasn't already proved himself? Damn.

[falcon_91]

If he went into a 4-3 would he be a OLB or DE?

[The Mullet]

Originally Posted by falcon_91

If he went into a 4-3 would he be a OLB or DE?

I would see him like a Willie Mcginest style playing on and off the line. Seriously, I really hope this article is just BS and not the way they actually feel about him. Fuck Nolan and his intolerance of injury, lets see his ass take that kind of pounding!

[86WARD]

I was under the impression that Lawson was a good player...