Manny Lawson Compared To Wilt Chamberain?

It's not everyday that an Outside Linebacker gets compared to one of the greatest Centers to ever play the game of basketball. Last week in the Mercury News, 49ers Defensive Coordinator Greg Manusky compared former NC State Defensive End to the great Wilt Chamberlain. His reason in doing so is due to the fact that Lawson's 6'5 frame and tremendous wingspan have caused havoc this preseason for 49er Quarterbacks. He has been knocking down passes like Wilt blocked shots. What the 49ers need out of Lawson more than anything is for him to become a premier pass rusher this year. Manusky has reported on numerous occasions this preseason that he will have the same role in base defense as he has had in the past, but in the sub defense he'd be primarily a pass rusher.

Lawson has definitely put on the needed size to be an elite pass rusher.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle Lawson is hovering around 250lbs right now.

"If I put more on, I'll welcome it," he told the Chronicle. "I don't feel slovenly or sloppy. I feel just as quick."

Lawson has his three squares and supplements with a protein shake in the morning and one at night. He also sneaks in a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich with a class of milk before bed. He said the days of forcing himself to eat are over.

"It doesn't benefit you, because the more you eat, the more you speed up your metabolism," he said."

He also told the Chronicle that he isn't having a problem keeping on the 10 pounds of muscle that he added this offseason. While he might lose 3 or 4 pounds every day in practice, he expects to be around 250 when the season begins.

Lawson made a habit of being in the backfield during his tenure at NC State. He ranks in the Top-5 in the schools history in both sacks and tackles for loss. Manny already has a radio show entitled "The Manny Lawson Show" and he is looking to put on a self-titled show in the backfield on Sunday's this upcoming season.

"Of course I want to be a high-sack guy, especially now that I've got the opportunity to be showcased," Lawson told the Mercury News. "I get an opportunity to rush, and that's what I want to do. My expectations are to be one of the best outside linebackers, to be remembered and really to do whatever it takes for our team to bring that ring back to San Francisco."

No one has ever doubted Lawson's potential. Neither has Manny.

“I want to be that type of person that when opposing teams look at you, they really have to point me out and say you really have to account for this guy, you really have to get a hand on him when he rushes,” Lawson told SFI. “You really have to block him whenever we’re running away from and to him. And then when you’re (in coverage), you really have to get of his block.”

Lawson looks to unleash some of his freak athletic ability coming off the corner this season. His defensive coordinator believes in the former track star (high jump, triple-jump and hurdles).

“He’s progressing quite well but he needs to keep it going,” Manusky told SFI. “He’s going to be coming off the edge in our sub-package. He’s an explosive player who’s got those long arms and a long reach and he takes a sight line and he goes.”

Lawson also has something intangible that can't be taught. He has a hunger to be great.

“I think the expectations I hold myself to are higher than what other people hold me to,” Lawson told SFI. “But this team has shown a lot of trust in me. So my expectations are to be one of the best outside linebackers, to be remembered, and to really do whatever it takes for our team to bring that ring back to San Francisco.”

The 49er fans have high hopes for this season, and rightfully so. Last season they finished the year with a 5-2 record in their last seven games (7-9 on the year) and finished with the best defensive numbers they have seen since '97 (13th ranked defense). With Lawson promising to be at full strength, there is reason to expect the win total and the defensive ranking rise in '09.