re: 49ers rookie LB Chris Borland retires over safety issues

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As a rookie back-up LB, yes.

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When Patrick Willis’ injury against the Rams presented the former Wisconsin Badger with an opportunity, he grabbed it and never looked back. In spite of only playing 487 snaps (40th among inside linebackers), Borland earned our fourth-highest grade at his position and got through a work rate in terms of tackles and stops compared to many full season starters.

His 54 defensive stops were topped by only six other inside linebackers (all of whom played at least 997 snaps). When you factor in his playing time his run stop percentage (21.3%) dwarfs any other inside linebacker, including Rolando McClain’s work as a two-down linebacker in Dallas. His work in coverage wasn’t as strong as his work against the run, though it was by no means the weakness you occasionally see from rookie linebackers. Had Borland played a full season, or perhaps even been healthy for the last two weeks of the season, he would have been a closer challenger to the top two defensive rookies.

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