With the 2022 NFL season approaching ever-so-rapidly, let's take one last look at the San Francisco 49ers' 2021 season, ranking the ten most impactful players on a team that made an appearance in the NFC Championship Game.
The 49ers had several contributors on both sides of the ball, having a top-seven offense and top-three defense in yards and yards allowed per game.
With many deserving candidates, who were the ten-most impactful 49ers in 2021 and who just missed the cut?
Honorable Mentions
DT D.J. Jones
Defensive tackle D.J. Jones cashed out on a career-year in 2021, securing a three-year, $30 million deal with the Denver Broncos in free agency.
Jones was an effective force on the defensive line for the 49ers, leading all defensive tackles in ESPN's run-stop win rate in 2021.
Additionally, Jones had the third-highest run-stuff rate of any player since 2016, tackling carriers for a loss or no gain on 6.6% of his snaps in 2021.
D.J. Jones tackled ball carriers for a loss or no gain on 6.6% of his run defense snaps last season, the 3rd-highest run stuff rate by a IDL in a single-season since 2016 (min. 250 run defense snaps).
» Broncos Defense, Inside Runs (2021): 9.9% run stuff rate (30th in NFL) https://t.co/xmGbC20Tab pic.twitter.com/4Jhuntdplb
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 15, 2022
With Jones on the field, the 49ers allowed just 3.5 yards per carry, whereas the team allowed 4.4 yards per carry with him off the field, according to Next Gen Stats.
So, why doesn't Jones crack the top ten?
During the first eight games of the season, when defensive lineman Arik Armstead was primarily positioned on the outside, the 49ers allowed 100 yards rushing in seven of those games, going 3-4 during that stretch.
Once Armstead was utilized more on the interior, the 49ers improved significantly against the run, allowing 100 yards rushing just once over the rest of the season, and even that game(Week 13 vs. Seattle) came with a stipulation: the 49ers gave up 73 of their 146 allowed rushing yards on a fake punt.
Additionally, Jones's production was limited to just run defense as he maneuvered just two sacks on the season, despite being surrounded by premier talent on the defensive line and playing a full season.
While the 49ers played many defensive linemen as a part of their rotation, Jones played just over 50% of the defensive snaps, which ranked behind Samson Ebukam, Arik Armstead, and Nick Bosa, who all contributed as run-defenders and pass-rushers in some capacity in 2021.
Jones was a valuable run-defender, but with the elite players on the defensive line, alongside his one-sided game, he barely misses the top-ten in this exercise.
S Jaquiski Tartt
Safety Jaquiski Tartt was another member of the 2021 49ers who departed in free agency this offseason, as he signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, placing him in line to compete for one of the starting spots in a revamped secondary.
Tartt, unfortunately known for his dropped interception against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game, was an underrated piece in the secondary for the 49ers, and served as a sufficient complement to Jimmie Ward when he was healthy.
Tartt was versatile in the secondary, being tasked with roles near the line of scrimmage, as well as in deep coverage, and his athleticism and aggressiveness helped the 49ers in both the run and pass game.
While Tartt had an unfortunate play against the Rams, he also had multiple game-saving plays.
Against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2, Tartt ran down speedster Quez Watkins on a 91-yard catch, preventing a touchdown, reaching 21.5 miles per hour during the chase. The Eagles ended up with a turnover on downs on that possession, and lost the game 17-11.
Then, in the NFC Divisional Round against the Green Bay Packers, Tartt saved another touchdown, running down running back Aaron Jones, and the drive resulted in a blocked field goal. San Francisco won the game 13-10.
However, Tartt wasn't a ball-hawking safety, ending the season with zero interceptions and one pass defended.
Additionally, Tartt was injured for a portion of the season once again, missing three weeks with an injury during Weeks 8-10.
Tartt made his impact on several occasions this season, but just misses the top ten.
- Rohan Chakravarthi
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Written by:Writer/Reporter for 49ers Webzone
