The 49ers All-Underrated Team: Defense

Continuing to look at great 49ers who flew under the radar, the All-Underrated team switches to defense. The 49ers defenses collectively were typically underrated but vital to championships.

Defensive End
This is arguably the Niners most storied position on defense with DPOYs in Nick Bosa and Fred Dean, and dominant rushers such as Hall of Famer Charles Haley, Aldon Smith, and Cedrick Hardman.

The first All-Underrated edge had 83 sacks for the Niners in his career, producing 16 and 17 sacks in his best seasons in 1971 and 1976. He made the Pro Bowl once in 1976. Tommy Hart.

The second edge had ten sacks or more in three straight seasons, led by 13 in 1983. Two rings but no Pro Bowls for Dwaine Board.

Defensive Tackle
Once again the Niners are stacked here with All-Pros and multiple Pro Bowlers in Bryant Young, Michael Carter, Dana Stubblefield, Ted Washington and Cleveland Elam.

Underrated players fall to key role players. One is D.J. Jones, who the Niners have been trying to replace since he left in free agency, an impact run stuffer with versatility. The other is Manu Tuiasasopo, a starter on the Super Bowl team in 1984 with four sacks. He was a rock inside.

Linebacker
One of the keys to winning the Super Bowl against Miami was George Seifert’s brilliant scheme to only have one linebacker on the field. The game plan depended on Keena Turner to hold down the fort at linebacker and he was all over the field. Turner was only named to one Pro Bowl, in 1984.

Skip Vanderbundt started at linebacker for seven years in the seventies. He will always be remembered for winning the Dallas Thanksgiving game in 1972, returning a fumble for a 73-yard touchdown and scoring a second TD on a 21-yard pick six. He never made a Pro Bowl.

Dre Greenlaw was one of the top linebackers in the league last year with 127 tackles and dominant sideline-to-sideline play, but was not named to the Pro Bowl. He made the All-Rookie team in 2019. Greenlaw should be a strong candidate for the Pro Bowl in this upcoming season.

Defensive Back
Through the past 50 years, the Niners have had shutdown corners. From Hall of Famers such as Jimmy Johnson, Ronnie Lott and Deion Sanders to great All-Pros Eric Wright, Eric Davis and Richard Sherman.

Slipping through the cracks, the All-Underrated DBs had great individual seasons. Emmanuel Moseley was arguably the best corner on the team last year before he went down to injury, and had a solid career as a Niner. Jason Verrett in 2020 was as good a cover corner as anyone in the league.

Safety
Continuing with great players in the secondary who were limited by injury, Jeff Fuller’s time in the league was cut short, but when healthy he had a huge impact. He won three Super Bowl rings. In 1984 he was key, a hybrid safety/linebacker against Miami, the speed and skills for coverage and a hitter to stop the run.

Jimmie Ward was never named to a Pro Bowl but should have been. He shut down tight ends and was one of the most versatile backs in the league playing corner, nickel and safety, a team leader that helped set the tone.

Special Teams

Kicker
Ray Wersching won two Super Bowls and is another example of Bill Walsh leaving no stone unturned strategically. In 1981, Wersching was playing hurt against Detroit, his kickoffs had to be squibbed and were tough to handle. Walsh asked a then healthy Wersching to do the same thing in the 1981 Super Bowl and Cincinnati had trouble handling the kickoffs.

Punter
Klaus Wilmsmeyer averaged over 40 yards per punt over three seasons in the early nineties and was adept at putting the ball inside the 20. Nearly 39% in 1992. He won a ring in 1994.

Kick Returner
Dana McLemore had four punt return touchdowns as a 49er with a long of 93, winning a ring in 1984.