After battling numerous injuries in 2020, the San Francisco 49ers are looking to bounce back in a big way in 2021. San Francisco limped to a 6-10 record last year but it wouldn’t surprise anyone if they flipped that record and won 10 or 11 games this upcoming season.
While they lost key contributors on both sides of the ball, the defense was hit particularly hard last year by injuries. With players such as Nick Bosa and Dee Ford going down the first two weeks of the season, San Francisco was put into a hole they were unable to climb out of.
Hoping to turn things around this season, the 49ers’ defense will get back on track this season. Here are three bold predictions for their defense in 2021.
3. K’Wuan Williams Leads Team In Interceptions, Passes Defended
The San Francisco 49ers’ secondary wasn’t immune to the injury bug in 2020. While Jason Verrett provided stellar play on the perimeter with Emmanuel Moseley, the slot cornerback position had its depth tested with K’Wuan Williams missing eight games.
Jamar Taylor filled in admirably, but the 49ers no longer have him on the roster. So, they will need a healthy, productive season from Williams, who is one of the better slot cornerbacks in the NFL.
He will showcase that in 2021, leading the team in interceptions and passes defended. Opposing offenses will shy away from Verrett and try attacking the middle of the field, but Williams will be there to shut them down.
2. Nick Bosa Returns To Form
The San Francisco 49ers lost Nick Bosa in Week 2 against the New York Jets. Big things were expected from him in his second season as he won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award the season prior.
Coming back this season from a torn ACL, Bosa will pick right back up where he left off in 2019. The Ohio State product will once again anchor the 49ers’ pass rush and lead the team in sacks, setting a new career-high with 14.
That total will also put him in the top five of the NFL as he will announce his presence as one of the premier pass rushers in the league.
1. 49ers Defense Returns To Top 10
During the San Francisco 49ers’ run to the Super Bowl in the 2019 season, their defense was a dominant unit. They ranked eighth in points and second in points allowed. Last season, they dropped to 17th in points but remained fifth in yards.
Forcing turnovers was also an issue, as they only had 12 interceptions on the season and 12 fumble recoveries. While fumble recoveries are more luck-driven, San Francisco did finish 30th in the NFL in takeaway/giveaway ratio. That is a number that has to improve whether it is the offense committing fewer or the defense creating more.
With players returning to health in 2021, the 49ers’ defense will once again return to the upper echelon of the league. They will finish in the top five of both points and yardage allowed and be top-10 in turnovers created.
