SAN FRANCISCO 49ers
2020 Record - 6-10-0
Head Coach - Kyle Shanahan
Key Additions - Wayne Gallman (RB), Alex Mack (OL), Samson Ebukam (DL), Arden Key (DL), Zach Kerr (DL), Maurice Hurst (DL)
OFFENSE - Coming into the 2021 season, the 49ers have options at the quarterback position. Incumbent Jimmy Garoppolo is coming off an injury filled season and is labeled as the number-one quarterback. Rookie Trey Lance (North Dakota State) was traded up for last April in the NFL Draft. Nate Sudfeld will be on hand as well. Garoppolo threw for 1,096 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions in very limited action last year.
The running game features two good backs with a third one looking to come back from injury in the off-season conditioning workouts. Raheem Mostert rushed for 521 yards (5.0 ypc average) and two touchdowns and newcomer Wayne Gallman led the New York Giants in rushing last season with 682 yards (4.6 ypc) and six touchdowns. Jeff Wilson, Jr. led the 49ers in rushing last year with 600 yards (4.8 ypc) and seven touchdowns, but he is out for a lengthy period of time with the meniscus injury.
The wide receivers include Deebo Samuel (33 receptions for 391 yards and one TD), Brandon Aiyuk (60, 748, five TD), Travis Benjamin, Mohamed Sanu and Richie James. George Kittle is the tight end and he caught 48 passes for 634 yards and two scores last season.
DEFENSE - Up front for the 'Niners is Nick Bosa (coming off a knee injury) and Samson Ebukam at the ends along with tackles Arik Armstead (3 1/2 QB sacks) and Javon Kinlaw. Dee Ford, D.J. Jones, Maurice Hurst and Arden Key add depth. The linebacking unit has Fred Warner in the middle and he is flanked by Azeez Al-Shaair and Dre Greenlaw. Warner led the 49ers with 125 tackles last season and also had two interceptions. Nathan Gerry, D. Flannigan-Fowles and rookie Elijah Sullivan (Kansas State) and Marcell Harris will be the backups.
The secondary will have cornerbacks Jason Verrett (two picks) and Emmanuel Moseley along with safeties Jimmie Ward and Javon Wilson. In reserve are Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, rookie Ambry Thomas (Michigan), Dontae Johnson, Jared Mayden and rookie Talanoa Hufanga (USC).
The San Francisco defense finished fifth in the NFL a year ago, allowing 314 yards per game. They gave up 24.4 points per game and finished seventh against the run, giving up 106 YPG while the pass defense allowed 208 YPG, which ranked fourth overall. The 49ers had twelve interceptions and accumulated 30 QB sacks.
2021 SEASON OUTLOOK - The 49ers enter this season two years removed from the Super Bowl appearance and a last place finish in the 2020 season. That does not sit well with Head Coach Kyle Shanahan, who would like to see the offense get back to form this season.
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo had a miserable 2020 season due to injuries and a subpar performance compared to a year earlier. If he can get back to the way he played in 2019, it would be a huge boost for the offense, which was 15th in the NFL last season, averaging 370 yards per game while scoring 23.5 points per game. The passing game averaged 252 yards per game (twelfth in NFL) and the rushing game averaged 118 YPG, which was 15th overall.
Provided Jimmy G. cannot get things rolling this season, then rookie Trey Lance will be the one to lead the offense. There are decent targets to throw to, including one of the best tight ends in pro football in George Kittle. The running backs will look to step it up this season as well. Another key will be limiting the turnovers. The 49ers had a minus-11 turnover rate last season, which was near the bottom of the league. If the team wants to get back to the playoffs, they have to protect the football and also apply more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. A 10-7 record could be enough to do the job, but a lot will depend on how well the quarterback play goes this season.
2021 SCHEDULE
Week 1 - at Detroit
Week 2 - at Philadelphia
Week 3 - vs. Green Bay
Week 4 - vs. Seattle
Week 5 - at Arizona
Week 6 - BYE
Week 7 - vs. Indianapolis
Week 8 - at Chicago
Week 9 - vs. Arizona
Week 10 - vs. L.A. Rams
Week 11 - at Jacksonville
Week 12 - vs. Minnesota
Week 13 - at Seattle
Week 14 - at Cincinnati
Week 15 - vs. Atlanta
Week 16 - at Tennessee
Week 17 - vs. Houston
Week 18 - at L.A. Rams
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