2018 Record - 4-12-0
Head Coach - Kyle Shanahan
Newcomers for 2019 - Jason Verrett (DB), Tevin Coleman (RB), Jordan Matthews (WR), Dee Ford (DL), David Mayo (LB), Kwan Alexander (LB)
Keys on Offense - Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (knee injury) played in only three games last season, passing for 718 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions. The offense revolves around him. Nick Mullens (2,277 passing yards, 13 TD, 10 INT) is an adequate backup.
Running back Tevin Coleman comes over from Atlanta, where he led the Falcons last year with 800 rushing yards (4.8 ypc average) and four touchdowns. Coleman also had 32 receptions for 276 yards and five touchdowns. Jerick McKinnon is expected back this season after missing all of 2018 with a knee injury. Matt Breida (814, 5.3, three TD and 27 receptions for 261 yards and two TD) is another option in the backfield.
Tight end George Kittle led the team with 88 receptions for 1,377 yards and five touchdowns. The wideouts include Dante Pettis (27, 467, five TD), Jordan Matthews (20, 300, two TD with Philadelphia), Marquise Goodwin (23, 395, four TD) and rookies Deebo Samuel (S. Carolina) and Jalen Hurd (Baylor).
Keys on Defense - The Defensive Ends will be Dee Ford (13 QB sacks with Kansas City last year) and top rookie draft pick Nick Bosa (Ohio State) while DeForest Buckner (team high 12 sacks) is back at defensive tackle. Ronald Blair (5 1/2 sacks) is another top player up front.
Linebackers include Fred Warner, Malcolm Smith and newcomers David Mayo (Carolina) and Kwon Alexander, who is coming back from a knee injury while with Tampa Bay last season.
Richard Sherman and Ahkello Witherspoon look to be the corners again, but Jason Varrett is in camp this year after playing with the Los Angeles Chargers in recent years. Safeties are Jimmie Ward, Jaquiski Tartt and Marcell Harris.
The 49ers defense was middle of the pack last season, ranking 13th overall (347 ypg allowed) but ranked 28th in the NFL by giving up 27.2 points per game. They had 37 sacks, but only two interceptions all season.
OUTLOOK - With only ten wins in his first two seasons, Head Coach Kyle Shanahan may be feeling the heat if the team doesn't show improvement this season in the rugged NFC West, where the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks loom.
Getting Garoppolo back at quarterback should help, but he didn't show the brilliance from the latter part of 2017 prior to getting injured for the remainder of the season. He is the key to the offense and with two rookie wideouts in the mix this season, things could get interesting in the passing game, which ranked 15th (242 ypg) in 2018.
Two solid running backs (McKinnon and Coleman) should help improve the running game, which averaged 119 yards per game last season (13th in NFL). The 'Niners averaged 361 yards per game in total offense, which was 16th in the league while scoring 21.4 points per game (21st).
The defense is decent, but the secondary has to be able to get more interceptions after that ridiculously low number from last season.
Two interceptions?
Really?
If this team is going to move forward and challenge the Rams and Seahawks in the NFC West while trying to get to the playoffs for the first time since 2013, a lot has to happen. Those challenges on both sides of the football could be answered with the new faces on the field this season. The call for the 49ers this year is a 7-9 finish, which would be their best record since the 2014 season.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week 1 - at Tampa Bay
Week 2 - at Cincinnati
Week 3 - vs. Pittsburgh
Week 4 - BYE
Week 5 - vs. Cleveland
Week 6 - at LA Rams
Week 7 - at Washington
Week 8 - vs. Carolina
Week 9 - at Arizona
Week 10 - vs. Seattle
Week 11 - vs. Arizona
Week 12 - vs. Green Bay
Week 13 - at Baltimore
Week 14 - at New Orleans
Week 15 - vs. Atlanta
Week 16 - vs. LA Rams
Week 17 - at Seattle
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