Takeaways from San Francisco 49ers dominant win over Cardinals

Tashaun Gipson has been the best bargain in some time

When Jimmie Ward went down with an injury in the preseason, the biggest question on defense was the safety position. The 49ers didn’t make any significant additions to the position and had let go of starting safety Jaquiski Tartt, so the team was going in with a brand new lineup in Talanoa Hufanga and Tashaun Gipson.

We know how this season has panned out by now. Hufanga is the breakout player of the season for the 49ers and made the Pro Bowl, while Gipson has been so good in his role that Ward was moved to the nickel corner position when he recovered.

Most impressive is his ability to be a ballhawk, bringing in five interceptions this season for the 49ers. He’s fit the system like a glove, and he should definitely be extended beyond this season.

Gipson has been the veteran presence that a relatively young 49ers secondary has needed. His veteran poise has been an underrated facet of what makes this secondary so good, a positional group that has long been seen as a weakness for San Francisco.

And come playoff time, that veteran savvy is going to be more important than ever as the 49ers enter the playoffs.