Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: Full 2016 Report-Card Grades for Every Position

By Peter Panacy

Jan 1, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) prepares to pass the football against the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter at Levis Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) prepares to pass the football against the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter at Levis Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 13, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers safety Antoine Bethea (41) recovers a fumble during the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers safety Antoine Bethea (41) recovers a fumble during the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

C-. . Safety. San Francisco 49ers.

Safety was supposed to be a position of depth for the Niners heading into 2016. And that depth was tested, especially with the season-ending injury to Eric Reid.

Veteran safety Antoine Bethea was even asked to fill in at inside linebacker late in the year, proving more issues with San Francisco’s defensive depth. Yet this was supposed to be a role assumed by second-year safety Jaquiski Tartt.

Biggest Standout: Antoine Bethea

Bethea, at 32 years old, still managed to be a solid piece within the 49ers secondary this season. Him moving to the ILB position showed much-needed versatility, even if Bethea’s coverage skills are starting to falter.

Still, Pro Football Focus gave him a respectable 72.5 overall grade on the year — highest out of anyone at this position.

And Bethea can feel pretty good about leading the Niners defense with 95 tackles.

Biggest Bust: Jaquiski Tartt

It’s not a huge knock against Tartt to be listed here, and his 70.2 overall PFF grade isn’t necessarily bad.

But Tartt has yet to take that big leap between his rookie season a year ago and 2016, which calls into question spending a second-round pick on him in 2015.

Tartt was supposed to be versatile. Yet his run defense wasn’t particularly good, which makes him more of a likely fit to stick to coverage duties in coming seasons. Right now, it’s looking as if he’ll be a backup safety instead of a premier starter.