Sopoaga Anchors SF Defense

Maybe we should use Soap on a trick play like the Fridge or a Jumbo package, only have him throw a Long Bomb.

Isaac Sopoaga, San Francisco’s ninth-year veteran lineman, has a cannon for an arm. And although he’s a stout defender in Vic Fangio’s 3-4 defensive scheme, the coordinator believes Sopoaga might have the best arm on the team.

“He has a lot of fun all the time,” the 49ers defensive coordinator detailed. “He loves to throw the ball around. He’s really a frustrated receiver or running back or a quarterback; he wishes he was a quarterback.”

Sopoaga displays his deep throws every day to start practice, typically warming up with fellow defensive linemen with cross-field throws. At Thursday’s availability, Sopoaga estimated he could throw the ball 70-73 yards standing still and 80-85 yards with a running start. According to defensive tackle Ray McDonald, Sopoaga was clocked throwing a baseball at 95 miles per hour.

With an arm like that, it’s no surprise Sopoaga longs to showcase it in an actual game.

“I hope one day Coach Harbaugh and G-Ro (offensive coordinator Greg Roman) would use me so I can bomb the ball,” the 49ers nose tackle said with a grin


Funny, he called Greg Roman G-Ro!