San Francisco 49ers defensive end Arik Armstead (91) with defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (99) Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
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.