Linebackers making 49ers’ jobs easier

SANTA CLARA , CALIF. • This week in the Big Easy, NaVorro Bowman plans to finally make good on the steak dinner he owes pal Patrick Willis.

Bowman is only a couple of months behind. In late November, he promised his teammate a night out after signing a five-year contract extension worth US$45.25-million, with US$25.5-million in guaranteed money. Willis’ request: surf and turf, with a mediumplus steak, lobster tail, mashed potatoes, vegetables. Vanilla ice cream for dessert.

Arguably the NFL’s mostfeared linebacking tandem, these two have understandably been a little bit busy lately leading the San Francisco 49ers back to the Super Bowl on Sunday against Baltimore for the first time in 18 years.

“It will probably happen in New Orleans,” Bowman said with a grin.

Why not just bring Ahmad Brooks and Aldon Smith along for the fun, too? They’ve certainly done their part to earn a little reward.

The 49ers have quite a luxury with ball-hawking inside linebackers Bowman and Willis wreaking havoc on opposing offences — and Smith and Brooks doing the same on the outside.

“I think that’s one of the main reasons we’re in the situation we’re in, getting ready to play in the Super Bowl, is you’ve got to have good players,” all-pro defensive lineman Justin Smith said. “And that linebacking corps is probably one of the best in the league, if not the best.”

They take pride in their come-at-you-from-all-angles pass rush and in being stingy run-stoppers. Members of this close-knit unit push each other on the practice field and consider themselves family off it. Just take Bowman’s decision to make Willis the godfather of his twin daughters born last year, Stoni and Cali.

Aldon Smith finished with a franchise-record 19½ sacks in 2012 — falling three shy of Michael Strahan’s single-season mark set in 2001 for the Giants. Yet he didn’t have a single one over the final three games, most of that stretch with Justin Smith sidelined because of a partially torn left triceps.

“They make a lot of guys’ jobs easier by doing what they do,” safety Dashon Goldson said.

While Willis is the captain and one of the faces of the franchise, he is always quick to point out he wouldn’t be making the plays he does without the rest of this hard-nosed defence that remained intact from last year’s playoff run.

“I say it all the time, I’m very fortunate to be a part of the defence and alongside the linebackers and to be playing with those guys,” Willis said. “People can make it about me and say what they want to say. I wouldn’t be nearly the player I am today if I wouldn’t have had those front seven or the linebackers setting the edges and making plays as well. I’m fortunate to have those guys. I hope we can go out there and play our best football Super Bowl Sunday and be able to wrap it all up and say, ‘ We did it.’ ”

The 24-year-old Bowman, a third-round draft pick out of Penn State in 2010, had 149 tackles, two sacks, an interception and a forced fumble this season as a second-year starter. As a rookie, his 20 specialteams tackles ranked third in the NFL.

Willis, 28, is wrapping up his sixth NFL season after making 120 tackles with two interceptions and a pair of forced fumbles.

Bowman and Willis were all-pro picks together in each of the past two seasons. Aldon Smith joined them on this year’s team.

And they have plans to do a lot more for the two-time reigning NFC West champion Niners (13-4-1).

TONY AVELAR / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Patrick Willis, top, made 120 tackles and had two interceptions this year. But he does not think he would be the player he is without his teammates. “I’m fortunate to have those guys.”