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The Los Angeles Rams’ offseason has been a long and tumultuous one. So it is no surprise meaningful football comes as a relief.
Week 1 action takes the Rams on a short flight out to NorCal to face off against the San Francisco 49ers.
While my boy Sean gave you five Rams players to look out for, I am familarizing you with a few of the 49ers .
Five 49ers Players to Watch
DL Arik Armstead
Armstead is San Francisco’s first-round draft pick last year out of Oregon. He registered two sacks and 19 tackles in 16 games in as end in San Francisco’s 3-4 front.
It will be a good test for the Rams offensive line –especially the interior – if it can contain the 49ers’ D-line.
The 49ers also have Armstead’s former college teammate, defensive lineman DeForest Buckner – another big, gnarly muhf***a.
LB NaVorro Bowman
NaVorro Bowman is the iron man of the 49ers defense. Since Patrick Willis’ retirement, Bowman has taken the leadership role. He gives the unit its identity.
Running back Todd Gurley and the rest of the Rams RB stable – mostly Todd – need to run it hard down towards the seventh-year linebacker. It will be a good idea to wear down NaVorro early.
RG Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis stayed out of football all of the 2015 season on his own accord. He did this to allow his body to heal, and so forth. Now back with San Francisco, he is not at his usual right tackle position; that job belongs to Trent Brown – a 6-8 355-pound behemoth of a man.
Davis is making his return as a guard now. If he can come close to his production at RT as a RG, the 49ers will have a strong and potent right side along the offensive line.
QB Blaine Gabbert
The story not making its way out of the Bay Area is that Blaine Gabbert won the 49ers' starting quarterback job. Honestly, that ain’t a good thing for San Francisco. But as with any team, as the quarterback goes it goes.
The Rams have to make things uncomfortable for Blaine. The defense can then solely focus on this next guy.
RB Carlos Hyde
Hyde is a big bruiser of a running back at 6-foot 235-pounds that runs hard and physically.
The Rams run defense is questionable at best. Since Fisher's arrival, defending against the run has been a so-called "point of emphasis" for the team. It has yet to make the step towards becoming a strength though.
The Rams struggle to stop the run on a consistent basis. New middle linebacker Alec Ogletree and Co. will have a tough task containing Carlos Hyde.