Another Safety Moves to Linebacker: Eric Reid

LOOKING AHEAD
By John Turney

Credit: NFL Gamepass

In 2015 we noted that two safeties were playing linebacker for their respective teams and they did it well. In fact, we placed both on our 2015 All-Pro Team. The players in question were Deone Bucannon of the Cardinals and Mark Barron or the Rams.

Last week safety Eric Reid stepped in at weak linebacker for the 49ers and it has been confirmed that Reid will start at that position this week.

Lots of safeties have are or have been de factor linebackers (Kenny Vaccaro comes to mind) in certain defensive packages for their teams but few have made the full-time conversion to play linebacker in base packages as well as certain specialty packages.

Robert Saleh, the 49ers defensive coordinator, gave this explanation:

Credit: Joe Fann and 49ers PR Department

We will watch with interest to see if he makes the transition as well as Buchanon and Barron did a few years ago.