SF 49ers: Arik Armstead needs Nick Bosa back in a big way

The SF 49ers’ Arik Armstead needs help from Nick Bosa to play better in 2021.

One of the main differences between the 2019 SF 49ers team that made the Super Bowl and the 2020 SF 49ers team that toiled away in mediocrity was the much reduced defensive line that produced an inferior amount of pressure.

It’s not surprising. The team was down both starting EDGEs, Dee Ford and Nick Bosa, for the season, and the defensive tackle duo of Arik Armstead and Javon Kinlaw wasn’t enough to pick up the slack.

Injuries forced Armstead to play a lot more on the outside than the Niners would have liked in 2020. Armstead is best as an interior rusher, and he received some unfair criticism on his performance given he was put in a position that isn’t his best spot and had to try to anchor the entire defensive line.

Luckily for Armstead, the return of Bosa to the lineup will enable him to shift inside to where he belongs. What San Francisco will need to focus on is making sure another talented EDGE lines up across from Bosa in 2021, whether that be Kerry Hyder being re-signed, a signing from free agency or a pick in the draft.

It can’t be Armstead. He can’t be expected to play well if he’s continually pressed into service outside.

The reason why the criticism is unfair is very simple: Armstead (nor indeed, any of the defensive linemen who were healthy) could not be expected to pick up the slack alone. The SF 49ers defense is based on the philosophy all four defensive linemen can rush the quarterback, and having two of those four injured and a third traded, in defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, meant Armstead had no support aside from Hyder.

Armstead broke out in 2019 for two reasons. One reason was being able to flourish on the inside using his pass-rushing move on less-agile interior linemen as opposed to offensive tackles, and the other was the sheer talent the team had on the line.

Bosa is the anchor here. Despite demanding constant attention from blockers, Bosa still makes splash plays for the defense in just about every game. With him back, Armstead can kick inside and wreak havoc on the inside as he did in 2019 along with Kinlaw.

For the team to be the Super Bowl contenders they were in 2019, making sure the trenches are fortified is the top priority. This includes the defensive line, and with Bosa back, Armstead should show some more of the 2019 form the Niners fans have grown to expect.