SANTA CLARA — Eric Saubert has spent most of his NFL career trying to master the idea of being a defensive midfielder. That’s crucial because all signs point to the skilled player having to fill in for one of the game’s best defensive midfielders when the 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
With 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan announcing Friday that George Kittle is questionable to play against the Rams, all eyes turned to Saubert.
The 30-year-old backup, who has 38 receptions over his eight-year career, will likely get the starting call and the majority of the work at tight end if Kittle can’t play.
If that turns out to be the case, Saubert is fully aware of the challenge he will likely face in replacing him. Five-time All-Pro Midfielder.
“There’s a high level of performance, it’s really great, because it raises your level. You have to be ready every day. You have to come to work with the expectation that the level will be the same, and if you can’t achieve that, you won’t play here,” Saubert said on Friday.
“It’s great, and that’s why the 49ers are so successful.”
Kittle has been largely responsible for that success when he’s been healthy, and any extended absence would be a major blow to San Francisco’s offense.
Not only is Kittle one of the best linebackers in the league, his defensive skills are known throughout the NFL, allowing Shanahan to use Kittle in a variety of ways.
Sobert, who played at Drake College in Iowa about 125 miles from Kittle, doesn’t have Kittle’s receiving skills but has tried to improve his blocking ability.
“That was something I really had to work on when I came into the league,” said Saubert, a fifth-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2017. “Obviously Drake was a whole different level of football, so I had a lot to learn in that regard. But it’s something we always work on. It’s never easy. It just takes repetition and doing it against the best guys in the world at their position.”
The relationship between Kettle and Saubert goes back a long time.
They went to college in Iowa, attended the NFL Scouting Combine together and were part of the same draft class. Saubert attended one of Kittle’s Tight End University meets in Nasvhille, Tenn.
“We’ve been friends for a long time,” Supert said.
Before signing with the 49ers as a free agent in April, Saubert spent his time bouncing around the NFL, spending stints with the Falcons, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans.
Since the 49ers have a similar offense to the Texans, Saubert felt signing with San Francisco was the right move.
“Since I came here, it’s been a perfect fit for me,” Saubert said. “I’m really happy that it’s worked out this way. I’ve been to a lot of places, so you learn different things everywhere you go. I’ve worked with some great coaches as well. What you see here is the culmination of eight years of a lot of things.”
Shanahan wasn’t too concerned about Kittle possibly missing Sunday’s game and said Saubert was willing to go if he had to.
“He’s done a great job, he’s been really consistent since he’s been here,” Shanahan said. “If he has to do it all, he’s up for the challenge. He’s shown he can help us in the passing game and the running game.”
While Saubert may not be able to replicate Kittle’s production, the 30-year-old knows the level he has to reach.
“That’s what I’ve been trying to achieve since I’ve been here,” said Sauber. “Playing at this high level, it’s difficult to do that consistently, but that’s what we expect from the midfielders here. It’s transmitted to everyone, which is great.
“It makes the room better, it makes our offense better.”
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