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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December 11, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive end DeForest Buckner (99) sacks New York Jets quarterback Bryce Petty (9) during the third quarter at Levi's Stadium. The Jets defeated the 49ers 23-17 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
December 11, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive end DeForest Buckner (99) sacks New York Jets quarterback Bryce Petty (9) during the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The Jets defeated the 49ers 23-17 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Defensive Line. San Francisco 49ers. . D-.

Aside from rookie defensive ends DeForest Buckner and Ronald Blair, this unit would have gotten a solid F grade.

It’s not hard to understand why.

The 49ers pass rush was anemic this year. And the historically bad run defense was another reason this unit ranks so low on the year.

Defending against the run was the No. 1 problem for San Francisco’s defense. And Football Outsiders‘ adjusted-line yards against the run reflects this. The Niners posted a 4.35 mark against the run, which ranked 29th in the NFL.

Biggest Standout: DE DeForest Buckner

Well, duh. Buckner is, without argument, the team’s best standout all year. He finished with six sacks — tied for the team lead with linebacker Ahmad Brooks. And his play really took flight late in the season, when he moved to right defensive end.

Buckner’s 77.2 overall grade, per Pro Football Focus, also ranked highest out of all 49ers interior defenders too.

He’ll be a player to build around in 2017.

Biggest Bust: DE Arik Armstead

Let’s be fair, second-year pro Arik Armstead’s shoulder injury — which eventually resulted in him landing on injured reserve — likely hindered his development in 2016.

Armstead’s preseason efforts were phenomenal. He was one of the 49ers’ bigger training camp standouts of the year.

But when the regular season started, it was clear Armstead was struggling mightily against the run. And that shoulder injury likely hampered his ability to perform at 100 percent.

Still, the Niners didn’t get much out of their first-round investment from a year ago.