Banta Cain Ready For Spotlight Role

Neither the 49ers nor Tully Banta-Cain performed as well as they would have liked on defense the past several years, but now that they are together they expect that all to change.


Banta-Cain played a supporting role with the New England Patriots over his first four seasons and felt the Patriots did not use him as much as they should have. After logging just three sacks in his first three seasons, he finally got on the field for some significant minutes last year and produced 43 tackles and 5.5 sacks. He started four games in December and had two sacks against Houston, giving other teams a look at his ability just before he was about to head to free agency.

The 49ers liked what they saw and gave the pass-rushing specialist a three-year deal worth $8.7 million, along with a starting spot at outside linebacker in Mike Nolan's new 3-4 defense. Nolan and assistant head coach Mike Singletary, who tutors the linebackers, expect Banta-Cain to provide a great bookend to second-year rush 'backer Manny Lawson and improve a unit that has ranked near the bottom of the league in Nolan's first two years. The 49ers had just 34 sacks in 2006, and Singletary thinks Banta-Cain is capable of adding 10 to that total by himself.Banta-Cain already has shown it in camp. He dominated the 49ers' controlled scrimmage at the end of the first week, reportedly putting himself in position for sacks six times.

Banta-Cain, who turns 27 on Aug. 28, understands what Singletary expects and wants to deliver for the Hall of Fame linebacker whom the young LB idolized as a kid.