49ers studs, duds from Week 5 loss vs. Cardinals
By Peter Panacy
49ers Stud: Defensive End Arik Armstead
Yes, San Francisco defensive linemen Nick Bosa and D.J. Jones were the two credited with sacks on Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, and Bosa was surely a factor for all the defensive success the 49ers had.
But those efforts show up in the stat sheet. Often, it’s the players doing the dirty work that lead to Bosa’s sacks.
If you’re looking for an unsung hero from Week 5, look no further than defensive end Arik Armstead.
It’s been a storyline for much of the season, and Armstead’s two-tackle efforts at Arizona essentially tell his story: a lot of success without the natural stats to get noticed by the casual fan. Yet it’s been what Armstead does on the field that shouldn’t go unnoticed, and they certainly made the Niners’ defensive efforts from the game better.
Armstead stuffed one run in the second quarter, pressured Murray multiple times and should have drawn a holding call in the end zone on what could have been a Cardinals safety. A hold was called elsewhere, though, and one can admit the non-call against Arizona there hurt.
Nevertheless, it shouldn’t take away the fact Armstead played very well this game and has been all season.
Even though the stats won’t say so.