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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.
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).
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 15, 2022
» Broncos Defense, Inside Runs (2021): 9.9% run stuff rate (30th in NFL) https://t.co/xmGbC20Tab pic.twitter.com/4Jhuntdplb
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.
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
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.
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