What Has Happened to 49ers TE Vernon Davis?

2014 was supposed to be a big year for San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis.

After all, the 30-year-old veteran held out of training camp this season while hoping to get a significant boost to his contract.

The new contract never materialized. Neither did the big year.

Davis is on pace for, statistically, the worst season since his rookie campaign in 2006. There are a number of probable causes behind Davis' lackluster 2014 efforts, but in the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately world of professional sports, it's clear that the ninth-year pro is falling well short of expectations.

But what of these causes? It's worth giving Davis, once regarded as a top-tier NFL tight end, some benefit of the doubt here, right?

Injuries have been an issue. A back injury kept Davis out of two games this season, and it likely affected his abilities in other contests. But the physical woes do not explain everything.

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Evaluating the Numbers

Football is a game built for numbers. Statistics drive home each and every outcome. In this, Davis' production—or lack thereof—in 2014 can be put into perspective.

Davis, a two-time Pro Bowler, has just 21 receptions on the year for only 197 yards. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick has targeted him 40 times, so it is clear that Davis is not exactly a surefire target when it comes to getting him the ball.

Additionally, his two touchdowns this season match a career low that was set back in 2008—a year that was nearly as disappointing but understandable given the overall lack of efficiency from the 49ers offense.

	Games	Receptions	Yards	Avg. Yards per Catch	TD
2006	10	20	265	13.3	3
2007	14	52	509	9.8	4
2008	16	31	358	11.5	2
2009	16	78	965	12.4	13
2010	16	56	914	16.3	7
2011	16	67	792	11.8	6
2012	16	41	548	13.4	5
2013	15	52	850	16.3	13
2014	9	21	197	9.4	2
Total	128	418	5,398	12.9	55

These numbers stand in stark contrast to the totals put up in 2013—a season where, essentially, San Francisco had only two legitimate receiving targets: Davis and wideout Anquan Boldin. In that campaign, Davis posted 52 receptions for 850 yards and tied his career high with 13 touchdown grabs.

But a year has made a world of difference—and not in a good way.

Davis' season-long struggles continued in the 49ers' 17-14 victory over the Washington Redskins in Week 12. Davis hauled in three passes for 21 yards, but it was the nature of his catches that drew concern from fans and analysts.

Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area was one such person who called out the efforts.

The play of which Maiocco speaks was a third-down play where Davis was the primary target. San Francisco needed six yards. Davis got it five.

Davis tried to explain his actions via Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News:

"

Five or six yards, five yards, I can't go any deeper than that. Turn around and look for the ball. If there's pressure on my side, then I'll probably shorten it up, and hurry to get my head around so Colin can get the pass off.

"

Close was not enough in this particular case.

Ben Margot/Associated Press

What's Wrong?

There are a number of reasons why Davis has scantly been a factor in 2014. We can save the discussion about the tight end's involvement in off-the-field areas—arts, charities, businesses, etc.—for another time. Plenty of pro players have similar interests yet contribute at a high level.

It is, however, worth mentioning that Davis' holdout could have had some effect on his abilities upon entering the season. Whether or not this still weighs on his mind is anyone's guess, but the missed time could be playing a factor.

What is known is that Davis' back injury, suffered in Week 4, hampered his playmaking abilities weeks thereafter. Watching film from subsequent appearances revealed that he was clearly not at 100 percent, and Davis lacked the physicality and burst that once made him a bona fide threat.

But another explanation is that the 49ers simply have far more targets with which to work—all of whom take away potential plays from Davis.

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

A year ago, it was Boldin and Davis with a little Michael Crabtree and Quinton Patton sprinkled in as wideouts toward the end.

Now, San Francisco can count upon both Boldin and Crabtree. Plus, the additions of receivers Stevie Johnson and Brandon Lloyd give the passing game more options.

Yet offensive coordinator Greg Roman stressed, prior to Week 12, that Davis was indeed a part of the offensive game plan. He stated so via David Fucillo of Niners Nation:

"

Well, [Davis] was the primary last week on a couple. But, the defense a lot of times down there will basically put a bunch of people inside and leave the outside single covered or do things to take him away, top him with a safety, etcetera. But, he's definitely been involved in the plan. Coverage has taken the quarterback away from him sometimes. But, Vernon is definitely a guy that we want active in the red zone and actively work to do that.

"

Kevin Lynch of SFGate.com elaborates further on this:

"

Often when fans criticize the game plan that seemingly doesn’t include a playmaker like Davis, in actuality, Davis might be the main target and often. However, he might be covered, the coverage might roll to his side, Kaepernick might get pressured. As Davis said, things often don’t work out.

"

One of the crucial areas in which Davis' absence has been felt is within the red zone. Out of Davis' 55 career touchdowns, 34 have come within opponents' 20-yard lines.

LM Otero/Associated Press

He has just one red-zone score this season, and San Francisco's offense in this area remains at the bottom of the pile.

Michael Thomas/Getty Images

Hope vs. Reality

Davis' season-long struggles may, or may not, be an ongoing thing. 

On one hand, the veteran is on the wrong side of 30 years old, and it is perfectly reasonable to assume that the days when Davis was a coverage nightmare are behind him.

Rare are the tight ends like San Diego's Antonio Gates who can continue high levels of production into their mid-30s. Davis could be experiencing the sudden drop-off common at this point in his career.

Or it could be the combination of injuries and the added 49ers receiving targets. Perhaps all that happened prior to 2014 still casts influence.

The reality is likely somewhere in the middle of all these factors, although exactly where is up to debate.

As noted before, Davis has been a target in various offensive situations. It's not as if San Francisco's offensive play-calling has completely avoided him. But the 30-year-old has simply not produced to the levels he, and the 49ers, once enjoyed.

Still, it is premature to just write 2014 off as a lost season. Davis—at least in name alone—remains a worthwhile red-zone threat, potentially drawing coverage that could open up opportunities elsewhere on the field.

One can also hope that Davis rediscovers his playmaking ways down the stretch—a period in which San Francisco will have two critical matchups against the Seattle Seahawks and another potentially decisive contest versus the Arizona Cardinals.

Davis might not look back at his 2014 campaign with much pride, but if he is capable of providing a big play or two in the remaining weeks, many of his season-long woes would likely be forgotten.

But there isn't much time left for this hope to surface.

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference and ESPN.com unless otherwise indicated.

Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the San Francisco 49ers. Be sure to check out his entire archive on 49ers' news, insight and analysis.

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