Uhm......... Note to Niner fans... There is kind of a big difference between...
A 6'0, 240 pound LBer two years removed from an age 25 injury (ACL).
AND
A 6'4, 300 pound DT one year removed from an age 33 injury (ACL).
Not that I care either way but the OP does have a point about Dockett: He's big, tall, and old coming back from a serious injury.
And I say for any DT, legs are the most important part of thier body because thats where most of thier power and leverage comes from.
Knees are vital for any football player's legs as flexibility is a key element in binding that power and leverage.
So its not surprising that a 34 year old DT who stands 6'4 and carries a lot of weight with a bum knee would struggle in maintaining leverage and sustaining power.
Those are just facts. Dockett might be servicable in a limited role and his expertise certainly will help develop the youth within 49ers D-Line but...
Its not far fetched at all that Dockett will be a shell of his former dominant self.
Using Bowman as an example is really a poor, counter argument. The dude was the best downhill LBer in the game before his injury, even if he came back 20% off his former game, he's still a top 10 ILB.
Dockett was a quality player in his last two seasons in '12 and '13 but he was already trending downwards. DD hasnt been a consistently dominant DT since his '10, '11 seasons but more so in 2009 which was when he was one of the elite DTs in the game.
2009 was 6 years ago but carry on 49ers fans. Oh, and im sure Ringless, the resident Cards fan, would have the best understanding of Dockett former and present. And I doubt despite his history he is negatively judging a player because of his detest of all 49ers.
So honestly I would respect R-Less's insight on a former Cards great that he has probably seen play over a 100 of times.