2017 Record - 6-10-0
Head Coach - Kyle Shanahan
2017 Offensive Ranking - 12th (349 ypg, 20.7 points per game)
2017 Defensive Ranking - 24th (352 ypg, 23.9 points allowed per game)
OFFENSE - Jimmy Garoppolo takes over as the starting quarterback after a strong finish last year with the team following a trade from New England. Garoppolo passed for 1,560 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. C.J. Beathard (1,430 yards, four TD, six INT) is the backup.
Jerick McKinnon (570 rushing yards, three TD and 51 receptions for 421 yards with two TD with Minnesota) takes over from Carlos Hyde as the primary running back. Matt Breida (465 yards, 4.4 ypc average, two TD) will share duties with McKinnon.
Pierre Garcon (40 receptions for 500 yards), Marquise Goodwin (56, 962, two TD), Aldrick Robinson (19, 260, 2) Trent Taylor (43, 430, 2) and rookie Dante Pettis (Washington) will form the wide receiving corps. The tight ends are George Kittle (43, 515, 2) and Garrett Celek, who had 21 receptions for 336 yards and four touchdowns.
DEFENSE - Richard Sherman will join Ahkello Witherspoon at the corner spot in the secondary and that is the big off-season news for the defense. Sherman is a former All-Pro cornerback who suffered through an injury marred season in 2017 and was cut loose by the Seattle Seahawks.
The 49ers defense had just 10 interceptions last season, including two by Witherspoon. Sherman also had two picks last year.
Up front, DeForest Buckner (three QB sacks) will team with Arik Armstead, Earl Mitchell and Solomon Thomas while Malcolm Smith leads the linebackers. Also in the fold might be Reuben Foster, who is facing disciplinary action from the league. If he is able to contribute in 2018, it will bolster the San Francisco defense, which allowed 352 yards last season (24th in the NFL).
OUTLOOK - There is reason for optimism in San Francisco entering this season as the team improved to 6-10 after going 2-14 the year before. A big reason is quarterback Jimmy G (as he is called by fans) who helped the team finish 2017 with a five-game winning streak.
Head Coach Kyle Shanahan knows he has some budding talent on both sides of the line of scrimmage and would love to see the improvement continue forward in the 2018 season. Another key to the team possibly making a run at the playoffs for the first time in five years is McKinnon in the offensive backfield and a contingent of decent wide receivers.
The defense needs to show improvement with the pass rush (only 30 sacks last season) and getting more turnovers, evidenced by just 10 interceptions. Sherman will be counted on to help improve that number.
Whether or not the late season surge of 2017 was just a fluke remains to be seen, but if Garoppolo and company can keep the magic carpet ride going strong this year and the defense steps it up, the 49ers could be dark horses to make the playoffs. An 8-8 finish is more likely this season as the team makes improvements toward the future.
2018 TEAM SCHEDULE
Week 1 - at Minnesota
Week 2 - vs. Detroit
Week 3 - at Kansas City
Week 4 - at LA Chargers
Week 5 - vs. Arizona
Week 6 - at Green Bay
Week 7 - vs. LA Rams
Week 8 - at Arizona
Week 9 - vs. Oakland
Week 10 - vs. NY Giants
Week 11- Bye
Week 12 - at Tampa Bay
Week 13 - at Seattle
Week 14 - vs. Denver
Week 15 - vs. Seattle
Week 16 - vs. Chicago
Week 17 - at LA Rams
No comments:
Post a Comment