Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: 5 players who underachieved in 2019

By Peter Panacy

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 09: Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers watches as the ball bounces after an incomplete pass in the second half of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 09: Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers watches as the ball bounces after an incomplete pass in the second half of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /
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Kyler Murray, Dee Ford, Cardinals, 49ers
Quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals eludes defensive end Dee Ford #55 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images) /

The San Francisco 49ers received some exemplary play from a number of players throughout the 2019 regular season, yet these five underachieved considerably.

For the most part, the San Francisco 49ers enjoyed some standout performances from a number of spots on their 2019 regular-season roster.

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo put up an outstanding year, while tight end George Kittle rose to the ranks of being named a first-team All-Pro. Rookie EDGE Nick Bosa is likely the league’s NFL Defensive Player of the Year, while cornerback Richard Sherman enjoyed a season emulating his perennial All-Pro days with the Seattle Seahawks years ago.

There were plenty of other great storylines, too.

At the same time, though, the Niners had to overcome a number of underachieving efforts and disappointments throughout the season. San Francisco’s ability to do so, eventually finishing with a 13-3 regular-season record and the No. 1 seed in the conference, is a testament to the work put in by general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan to assemble a roster deep enough to make it happen.

But that doesn’t change or erase the fact there were some of those disappointments.

Niner Noise takes a look at five players who underachieved during the 2019 regular season.

No. 5: EDGE Dee Ford

This is a bit tough, because when EDGE Dee Ford was on the field, he was enormously effective.

The problem, however, is Ford wasn’t available as much as the 49ers wanted him to be when they both traded for him, then signed him to a five-year, $85 million extension last offseason.

On the positive side, Ford managed to post 6.5 sacks despite appearing in just 11 games, missing a good chunk of time late due to both quad and hamstring injuries. But one can only imagine what those numbers could have translated into if he played more than just being shy of 22 percent of defensive snaps over the course of the regular season.

The idea of “availability being the best ability” applies here.

Down the stretch is where the 49ers missed Ford’s presence the most. Between Weeks 13 through 17, when Ford appeared in just one game, the Niners managed just four sacks, which stands in contrast to the 42 they had in the weeks prior.

The good news, however, is Ford should be back in the playoffs and will have a chance to reverse any notions of being an injury disappointment.