Arik Armstead always had the talent. There's a reason the 6-foot-7 Sacramento native was a first-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.
He finally put it all together last season and led the 49ers with 10 sacks to go along with 11 tackles for loss and 18 QB hits. So, what played into the Oregon product's breakout? First and foremost, it all starts with health.
"I've been working extremely hard," Armstead said Wednesday on NFL Network's "Good Morning Football." "Dealt with some injuries and other adversity throughout my career. I really focused on continuing to work hard and focused on my craft day in and day out.
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"A lot goes into the season I had ... God keeping me healthy."
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Armstead played in all 16 regular-season games last season for the second straight year. But he only suited up in six games in 2017 and eight in 2016.
San Francisco 49ers
Along with putting work in to keep his body ready for a full season, Armstead put trust into the 49ers' defensive line coach Kris Kocurek and a personal coach he hired in the offseason.
[RELATED: Armstead explains why 49ers can avoid Super Bowl hangover]
"Coach Kocurek was amazing for me," Armstead said. "He helped me open up my game and gave me confidence and opportunities out there on the field. I hired a pass-rush trainer to be with me all season, Mark Hall."
The trust clearly paid off, too. Armstead entered last season with nine career sacks through four seasons. He wound up with 12 last season, including the playoffs.