49ers: 5 players who must perform better after 3 weeks of action

49ers EDGE Dee Ford

EDGE Dee Ford is a lightning-quick defender capable of zooming by the opposing team’s offensive tackles. Unfortunately, he was lost to a back injury in 2020, which led to expectations he wouldn’t play in 2020, and many believed he would never play again.

Then, reports started coming out of training camp he was finally healthy and displaying his blazing speed around the edge. In Week 1, he seemed to be back to his pre-injury form, but in the following two weeks, he seemed to disappear.

While it may seem to ask a lot from a player who is just coming back from a serious injury, few players are remaining on the roster who can provide the pressures needed to force opposing quarterbacks into making poor decisions. Plus, fellow EDGE Nick Bosa, also coming off a serious injury, is proving to be a problem for opposing offensive tackles.

The problem is that other teams are blocking Bosa with multiple players and just their offensive tackles.

This is providing one-on-one opportunities for other defensive linemen to beat their man on the other side of the defensive line.

That is exactly what is needed now from Ford.

Ford is a dangerous player when he is fully healthy and ready to go. Expect him to start winning more of those one-on-one opportunities which will, in turn, cause teams to remove the extra blocker on Bosa. That’s when the defensive line will terrorize opposing quarterbacks. Having the running back on track, providing much-needed rest to the defense, will propel the defense into performing at a higher level.