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The San Francisco 49ers understood they needed to get better, defensively, in 2019. Especially after boasting the league's fifth worst scoring offense last season.
And while general manager John Lynch and Co. only made moderate additions within the secondary, the Niners did make a couple of substantial additions up front along the defensive line, namely acquiring edge rushers Dee Ford and
Nick Bosa via a trade and the 2019 NFL Draft, respectively.
Ford, who recorded a career-high 13 sacks and an NFL-leading seven forced fumbles last season, is pegged to be San Francisco's weak-side pass-rusher. Bosa, who was widely viewed as the No. 1 prospect in this year's draft, missed a good chunk of his final year at Ohio State with an abdominal injury and subsequent recovery. He elected to sit out the rest of the year in preparation for the draft, and those injury concerns didn't affect his draft stock much at all.
So it shouldn't come as a surprise that the 49ers are being viewed as having one of the most talented defensive lines in the NFL this season. And the folks over at Pro Football Focus are looking at both Ford and Bosa as players capable of having an immediate impact with their new team, part of
10 players pegged as being able to make a major difference right away.
"While the Lions were the worst edge group in the NFL last year, the 49ers were quite comfortably the second worst," PFF's Michael Renner wrote. "Ford will likely come down to earth a good ways from his 78 pressures and 91.0 pass-rushing grade from last year, but even two-thirds of that level would still be an improvement."
Ford ranked fifth on the list.
Bosa, meanwhile, ranked sixth.
"Ford gets the slight nod over Bosa, but don't be surprised if the latter turns out to be the star in San Francisco," Renner continued. "Health is really my only worry with Bosa at the NFL level, as Nick looks every bit as good as his
brother Joey coming out. That's good news, as the elder Bosa racked up 59 pressures in only 12 games as a rookie."
It makes sense for Ford to be ranked ahead of Nick Bosa. After all, the latter has yet to take a snap at the NFL level. And while both the hype and potential are real, the rookie still has a lot to prove, as do all first-year players. Ford has already proven a lot, particularly last season.
In 2018, the Niners recorded 37 sacks, which was tied for 22nd in the league. Twelve of those came from defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, picking up those Pro Bowl numbers on the inside.
With Bosa and Ford now in the mix, however, one should expect the total number of 49ers sacks and pressures to increase dramatically.
And if PFF is right, it will happen right away.
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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.
The San Francisco 49ers are set to host their local pro day this Wednesday afternoon, offering numerous draft prospects a prime opportunity to display their skills before the team's coaches, scouts, and front-office personnel.
However, it won't be just draft hopefuls on the field in Santa Clara. According to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, several others, including a former third-round draft pick, quarterback Kellen Mond, will try out for the team.
Maiocco's report also names tight ends Curtis Hodges, Hunter Kampmoyer, and Tommy Sweeney among those expected to attend.
In addition those invited to
The San Francisco 49ers are holding their local pro day today at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. The team has released the full roster of participants.
An NFL local pro day is an event hosted by teams to allow prospects with ties to the local area to showcase their skills in front of team personnel. These prospects typically hail from nearby colleges or have some other connection to the region where the team is based. Head coach Kyle Shanahan, general manager John Lynch, and a contingent of coaches, executives, and scouts will be on hand to evaluate prospective draftees during the 49ers' local pro day.
The event aims to give the team a closer look at these local talents who may have received less attention during the regular scouting process. It will allow the
With the NFL Draft just two weeks away, the San Francisco 49ers hosted their annual local pro day at Levi's Stadium. The event showcased 44 players, including four veterans, all vying to impress coaches and team decision-makers and earn a roster spot. The 49ers have 10 selections in the upcoming draft.
NFL local pro days provide draft prospects with ties to the local area an opportunity to showcase their talents to team personnel. These prospects typically hail from nearby colleges or have other connections to the region where the team is based.
Terrell's Son Seeks an Opportunity
Hall of
Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz reports that the San Francisco 49ers were among several NFL teams in attendance for former Illinois defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton's pro day workout. The defender also goes by the name "Johnny."
Illinois DT Johnny Newton, a projected 1st-round pick, just wrapped up an impressive Pro Day — showcasing elite explosion and power after a Jones fracture that he's fully healed from.I'm told the following teams were in attendance, among others:BillsCowboys49ersJets… pic.twitter.com/ggMIiIBkub—
