5 49ers players who need to perform better in second half of 2019
By Peter Panacy
![SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 23: Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers makes a catch against the Chicago Bears during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 23: Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers makes a catch against the Chicago Bears during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/1b9cd62c44cceebfe269633bb8c01d5013e64be4f5a4900b18f8a69e143632cf.jpg)
No. 2: Wide Receiver Dante Pettis
During the 49ers’ final stretch of games in 2018, then-rookie wide receiver Dante Pettis showcased the potential to be a true No. 1 pass-catching threat.
That was before a poor 2019 training camp and preseason, though, and Pettis’ sluggish sophomore campaign continued into the regular season, forcing San Francisco to go out and grab veteran wideout Emmanuel Sanders just before the NFL trade deadline.
Along with rookie receiver Deebo Samuel, Sanders and the Niners pass catchers will be facing some stiffer pass defenses in the second half of the season.
Better cornerbacks mean tougher numbers, of course, putting more pressure on Pettis to break out from his otherwise uninspiring start to 2019.
So far, Pettis has 109 yards on 11 catches with two touchdowns on the season. Doubling those at the halfway mark, it’s pretty easy to see why Pettis isn’t coming anywhere close to the kind of production he experienced late last year.
For San Francisco’s passing offense to truly take off, Pettis will need to revert back to being the kind of weapon he was for Kyle Shanahan and Co. this time last year.