San Francisco 49ers: Ranking the top 10 plays of 2017
By Peter Panacy
No. 7: Adrian Colbert Lays Out Wide Receiver Tavarres King
When it happened: Week 10 vs. New York Giants
Rookie defensive back Adrian Colbert was supposed to be an afterthought.
After all, seventh-round draft picks rarely find their way into starting roles, especially during their first year at the pro level.
But injuries forced the 49ers to give Colbert a chance at free safety. And with the Niners in position to pick up their first win of the season against the struggling New York Giants, Colbert took advantage of that opportunity by flashing the necessary range and hard-hitting ways needed as the last line of defense.
At the 6:00 minute mark of the third quarter, with the Niners up 17-13, Giants quarterback Eli Manning was nearly able to complete a pass to wide receiver Tavarres King down the left sideline.
The only problem for Manning and Co. was Colbert:
Colbert dropped King with a hard hit, jarring the ball loose and forcing the incompletion. Fellow safety Eric Reid had to come over to ensure Colbert wasn’t flagged for a taunting penalty.
Still, this play indicated San Francisco had found itself a gem in the later rounds of the NFL Draft.
And Colbert could easily find himself in a starting role for a long, long time.