Ranking the 49ers 5 most impressive players from 2020 playoffs
No. 5: Left Tackle Joe Staley
Of all the players on the Niners who make the Super Bowl loss that much worse, longtime 49er left tackle Joe Staley has to at the top of the list. The 13-year pro has now been to two Super Bowls, both ending in heartbreaking losses.
At this point in his career, the loss this time has to sting all the more.
But the longest-tenured 49er was spectacular throughout the playoffs, holding down the blindside for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and helping create running lanes for running backs Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman, not to mention wide receiver Deebo Samuel.
His Pro Football Focus grades for the playoff games ranged from above average (75.9 overall/66.1 pass blocking/75.7 in the divisional round) to high quality (86.3/85.2/84.0 in the NFC Championship and 84.6/89.1/78.6 in the Super Bowl).
However the most important stat was one that Staley received a zero for:
Joe Staley allowed zero pressures on 65 pass blocking snaps during the 2020 playoffs. #49ers pic.twitter.com/fgzZ48UvnQ
— PFF SF 49ers (@PFF_49ers) February 3, 2020
For the all the troubles the 49ers might have had keeping Garoppolo clean, Staley was not the culprit in this arena.
It was an up-and-down year for Staley, who missed nine games this season with various injuries. But when he was in the lineup, he was his usual standout self.
His performance in the playoffs proves he’s still among the NFL’s elite as his position, even at 35 years old.