Banta-Cain ‘hungrier’ this year

SANTA CLARA — Outside linebacker Tully Banta-Cain came to the 49ers a year ago with expectations of being a major force in the team’s quest to improve its pass rush.

But when there is talk this summer of ways the 49ers can increase their sack total, Banta-Cain is generally not mentioned prominently as part of the solution.

“The fact there’s not a high-expectation level for me, it helps me focus on being a better overall football player and using that to try to solidify my spot with the team,” Banta-Cain said recently. “Now I have a chance to be that guy who exceeds expectations because they’re lower than last year.”

As Banta-Cain begins the second year of a three-year contract with the 49ers, he realizes he must first win a spot on the team’s 53-man roster. He has gotten off to a strong showing through nearly three weeks of training camp.

“I definitely feel I’m in a situation where I have to re-prove myself the same way I had to prove myself in free agency,” Banta-Cain said. “There are no guarantees for anybody around here.”

Banta-Cain had a career-high 5½ sacks with the Patriots in 2006. He spent his first four seasons with the Patriots, playing on two Super Bowl-winning teams.

All five of his starts in his four seasons with the Patriots came in 2006. After signing with the 49ers, Banta-Cain immediately became an every-down player for the 49ers. He started 10 games last season, playing in all 16 despite an ankle sprain in October that limited his effectiveness coming off the edge.

Again, the 49ers are looking for more from their pass rush after getting to the quarterback just 31 times last season. The club signed free-agent Justin Smith, who is slated to start in the 49ers’ 3-4 defense at outside linebacker. Parys Haralson and Roderick Green are also competing at the same spot as Banta-Cain.

“Now, I’m in a situation where I’m basically back to that use-when-needed category,” Banta-Cain said. “That’s fine, but I never accept that as a player. I see myself as a player who can play every snap and every down.”

While playing a lot of first and second downs last season, Banta-Cain made a career-high of 59 tackles. But he totaled a disappointing 3½ sacks in his first season with the 49ers.

“If you’re (asking) if he’s a third-down pass rusher, the answer is no,” 49ers coach Mike Nolan said. “He can rush on third downs. But he should be an every-down player. We did not dilute him by playing him in base. He needs to be a good base player. We did not sign him to be a specialized designated pass rusher.

“In order to make our squad, he’s got to do more of the every-down stuff than just the one dimension.”

Banta-Cain weighed in last offseason at 280 pounds — up 15 pounds from his playing weight. But when he reported for his first training camp, his weight was down and he turned heads.

“There was never any talk (at the time) about me coming into camp out of shape (last year),” he said. “A lot of people were high on me and I had a damn-good training camp. Now, all of a sudden, people look back and say I was out of shape last year and, ‘He must’ve woke up and started losing weight.’”

Banta-Cain said the perception from a year ago inspired him to make sure he remained at his playing weight throughout the entire offseason this year.

“I felt like my back was against the wall, and I had to prove my condition coming in, so they wouldn’t have an excuse to say anything negative about me,” he said. “I feel like I’m a lot hungrier than last year because I feel like my job and my role is at stake.”

You can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco at 521-5492 or matt.maiocco@pressdemocrat.com