How do the Packers stack up at each position against the 49ers?
Packers LBs: Preston Smith, De’Vondre Campbell, Rashan Gary, Za’Darius Smith
Preston Smith has made a comeback from a disappointing 2020 season, Rashan Gary has quietly put together an elite season, and 2020 All-Pro outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith will be returning from injury.
Despite all those headlines, inside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell has been the story for the Packers’ linebacker room this season. Signed to a one-year, $2 million deal (per Spotrac) this offseason, Campbell has reinvented himself from a low-end starter to a first-team All-Pro linebacker.
Campbell has made 146 tackles and two sacks. He’s also been excellent in coverage and as a run stopper. The emergence of an elite middle linebacker in Green Bay has transformed the Packers’ defense.
Gary has quietly developed into one of the best outside linebackers in all of football. The former 12th overall pick has 47 tackles and 9.5 sacks on the season. In addition, his 47 pressures are tied for fourth-most in the league, per Pro Football Reference.
Preston Smith has had a resurgent year for the Packers, totalling 38 tackles and nine sacks. And former All-Pro Za’Darius Smith will likely return for the divisional round matchup. If he can find his 2020 form, watch out for this Packers linebacker group.
49ers LBs: Fred Warner, Azeez Al-Shaair, Marcell Harris
Warner is an elite middle linebacker. He’s totalled 137 tackles and 0.5 sacks, while still being excellent in coverage. After a 2020 Week 9 matchup with the Niners, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers said to Warner, “You’re the best and everyone knows it,” per 49ers.com.
Past Warner, the Niners are solid but not excellent at the linebacker positions. Azeez Al-Shaair has had a solid year at middle linebacker, with 102 tackles and two sacks. Marcell Harris has managed 44 tackles and one sack. However, most of the Niners’ pass rush comes from their defensive line. As a result, they lack pass-rushing star power in their linebacker corps.
That gives the Packers the edge.
Edge: Green Bay