The San Francisco 49ers will have a new starting middle linebacker for their important game Monday night against the upstart Carolina Panthers.
So with Curtis Robinson set to make the first start of his five-season NFL career, Niners head coach offered him a vote of confidence and explained why the veteran will get the nod over rookie Nick Martin at middle linebacker.
The Robinson vs Martin debate stems from Tatum Bethune’s ankle injury, which will reportedly cost him multiple weeks of game action. Bethune has 67 tackles and 26 solo tackles while earning a 63.9 grade from Pro-Football Focus, which ranks as the No. 37-ranked inside linebacker ranking among 81 qualifying LBs.
The Niners (7-4) and Panthers (6-5) are currently the Nos. 7 and 9 seeds in the NFC. The top-seven teams in each conference get into the playoffs.
Kyle Shanahan: Curtis Robinson Has ‘Been Practicing For This Moment’
Martin is a highly touted third-round draft pick. But Shanahan is trusting the veteran Robinson, who has “always been practicing for this moment” and has shown the innate ability to be a quarterback of the defense.
“Itâs been good that Curtis has been here,” Shanahan said. “Itâs just like when youâre missing a quarterback and a center. Itâs not just the ability of the guy. Everything runs through that position, and the MIKE, by far, is the most on the defense.”
Robinson has been a part of the 49ers since the 2021 season, though he has not dressed for a playoff game in that span. He has stepped up in Warner’s absence, posting 26 tackles, 12 solo and one tackle for loss this year, and had a team-high 12 tackles against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday after Bethune exited after sustaining the ankle injury.
Shanahan has seen first hand how Robinson has both balled out and been a leader on the field in his first extended run of play. The veteran coach believes Robinson will continue to be those things in Bethune’s absence.
“Getting everybody lined up and getting the adjustments, the motions. Itâs a huge deal, schematically, mentally, the challenge of it,” Shanahan said. “But Curtis is the right dude for that.”
Nick Martin Will Get His Opportunity
Both Martin and Robinson are spelling both Bethune and superstar middle linebacker Fred Warner, who sustained a broken and dislocated ankle and will not return in the regular season according to Shanahan.
So it will take a village to replace Warner, especially since his return is unlikely even into the playoffs. That means Martin, who had seven tackles against the Cardinals in just 14 snaps, will have a hand in helping the Niners defense Monday night too, even if he won’t start the game.
Shanahan opened up about what he saw on film from the rookie, who had only played about 40 special-teams snaps and no defensive snaps before Sunday.
“I thought he did a real good job,” Shanahan said. “I thought he ran and tackled very well. Really just had one mistake in the pass game, giving up a 7-cut behind him. I think he had 14 plays, but 13 of them were real good.”
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