What can we take from the 49ers defensive snap count through 9 games?

The San Francisco 49ers head into their bye weekend with players spread far and wide for a few days of R&R. Injured players are still around the facility, but the team will not return to practice until Monday. In the meantime, we can assess where things stand after nine games of football.

Yesterday, we took a look at the 49ers cumulative offensive snap count. We're back today with the defensive snap count. Eric Reid and NaVorro Bowman are at the top of the list, which is fitting in part because of their leadership roles with the team.

Defensive Line

Glenn Dorsey: 352
Quinton Dial: 346
Ian Williams: 337
Tony Jerod-Eddie: 166
Arik Armstead: 152
Tank Carradine: 151
Mike Purcell: 14

Matt Barrows pointed out an interesting fact. Glenn Dorsey leads the defensive line in snaps, but in 2012, Justin Smith led the group with 540 snaps through the same number of games. Even if every game had more total defensive snaps, we know the 49ers are doing a lot more rotation. Smith averaged 21 more snaps per game in 2012, as he and Ray McDonald were serious workhorses.

Tank Carradine is near the bottom, ahead of only Mike Purcell, who has only been active for one game. Jim Tomsula hinted at a new role for Tank in the coming weeks, with some suggesting more of a pass rushing OLB type role. Given that he was up over 290 pounds heading into the season, we'll see what this all means in the coming weeks.

Outside Linebacker

Aaron Lynch: 508
Ahmad Brooks: 439
Eli Harold: 138
Corey Lemonier: 94

It is not surprise Aaron Lynch and Ahmad Brooks lead the way here. I would like to see more work for Eli Harold, but he has not exactly wow'd in limited opportunities. It is a work in progress, and at least he earned his way past Corey Lemonier on the depth chart!

Inside Linebacker

NaVorro Bowman: 590
Michael Wilhoite: 490
Gerald Hodges: 37
Shayne Skov: 8

NaVorro Bowman and Michael Wilhoite are the work-horses, and it's not even close. It will be interesting to see next offseason how the competition for work goes. Wilhoite will be a restricted free agent, which means we can probably expect him to return. Hodges will have a full offseason to compete, and remains a talented option. Skov appears destined for Nick Bellore, Blake Costanzo territory as a full-time special teams player.

Cornerback

Tramaine Brock: 549
Kenneth Acker: 533
Jimmie Ward: 373
Dontae Johnson: 133
Marcus Cromartie: 59
Keith Reaser: 28
Chris Davis: 17

This coming week will be interesting for the cornerback depth chart. Kenneth Acker seized the starting job opposite Tramaine Brock to start the season, with Dontae Johnson getting some nickel and dime work. However, after a solid Week 3 performance, Johnson was exclusively on special teams. He got back into the lineup in Week 8 following injuries, and then started in Week 9, and performed quite well against Julio Jones. Will he get more snaps in Week 11 against Seattle, or is it back to the special teams work for him?

Safety

Eric Reid: 600
Antoine Bethea: 443
Jaquiski Tartt: 275

The 49ers will get to see plenty of Jaquiski Tartt the rest of this season with Antoine Bethea on injured reserve. The 49ers were already working him into the lineup in a variety of ways, but now we get to see him in an exclusively strong safety role for the final half of the season. It is not ideal to lose Bethea, but there is a silver lining.

Week 1-3

Week 4-6

Week 7-9