The Niners lost defensive end Ronald Blair to a season-ending ACL tear earlier this season. Then before the 49ers' Week 15 home loss to the Atlanta Falcons, the team was forced to place standout nose tackle D.J. Jones on injured reserve, too, his season coming to an end because of an ankle injury. EDGE Dee Ford has been in and out of the lineup with various ailments, too, including his recent hamstring injury.
As a result, the 49ers up-front defenders have seen a notable increase in the number of snaps they've been required to take in a game-to-game basis. It's something the Santa Rosa Press Democrat's Grant Cohn culminated before Week 15:
One could question whether or not the thinned-out depth is affecting San Francisco. After all, the 49ers managed just two sacks against a mostly immobile Falcons quarterback, Matt Ryan, hitting him just six times in the 29-22 lackluster, uninspiring loss.
When asked if the strains on the depth chart, and subsequent increase in snap counts was affecting the Niners D-line, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner didn't seem to think so.
"Not really," Buckner responded when asked if the high number was having an effect. "I've taken a lot more snap counts before in the previous years, and the coaches look at it closely throughout the game. Sometimes you lose track, who has more snap counts and all that. But if you're not fresh, you've got to sub yourself out."
Buckner's linemate, rookie EDGE Nick Bosa, recently crested the highest number of in-season snaps he ever had in college at Ohio State. And while he was one of the two players to sack Ryan in Week 15, the other being defensive tackle Sheldon Day, Bosa hadn't recorded a sack since Week 12 against the Green Bay Packers. Before that, Bosa hadn't managed a sack since Week 8 against the Carolina Panthers.
Granted, there are more important numbers than mere quarterback takedowns. But given the final result of Sunday's contest versus Atlanta, one can wonder if the outcome would have been vastly different if San Francisco's pass rush was more effective.
Written By:
Peter Panacy has been writing about the 49ers since 2011 for outlets like Bleacher Report, Niner Noise, 49ers Webzone, and is occasionally heard as a guest on San Francisco's 95.7 FM The Game and the Niners' flagship station, KNBR 680. Feel free to follow him, or direct any inquiries to his Twitter account.
All articles by Peter Panacy
Peter Panacy
Peter Panacy has been writing about the 49ers since 2011 for outlets like Bleacher Report, Niner Noise, 49ers Webzone, and is occasionally heard as a guest on San Francisco's 95.7 FM The Game and the Niners' flagship station, KNBR 680. Feel free to follow him, or direct any inquiries to his Twitter account.
All articles by Peter Panacy
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Only three 49ers would fetch a first-round pick in trade, says ESPN analyst
The San Francisco 49ers are widely regarded as one of the NFL's most talented teams. However, questions remain about the aging core of the roster and the team's recent injury history. Despite losing several key contributors to injuries last season, the 49ers still reached the... -
Former teammate says best is yet to come for 49ers QB Brock Purdy
The debate surrounding San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy continues, even a year after he became one of the NFL's highest-paid players. Despite his accomplishments, questions persist about where Purdy belongs among the league's elite quarterbacks. Purdy was left off... -
49ers' Mike Evans left off ESPN's top-10 wide receiver rankings
The San Francisco 49ers signed veteran wide receiver Mike Evans this offseason as part of a major overhaul of their receiving corps. The hope is that the six-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion can elevate the offense while giving quarterback Brock Purdy a dependable... -
49ers Goldrush Transformers Review: Is Hasbro's NFL Crossover Worth Buying?
Hasbro's Transformers x NFL collaboration has delivered a unique collectible for San Francisco 49ers fans. One of the toy maker's latest releases, Goldrush, is a 5.5-inch action figure that transforms from an Autobot into a surprisingly detailed 49ers helmet, considering its...