The San Francisco 49ers have officially entered their offseason. While other teams are playing in Wild Card games, the 49ers are busy searching for a new head coach. Regardless of who mans the ship in 2016, the 49ers need improvement from multiple positions.
San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke is knee-deep in a search for the team’s new head coach after the firing of Jim Tomsula following the 49ers’ win over the St. Louis Rams. In the middle of the week, there was wide speculation that New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton may be traded to the Niners but that ended when the Saints announced Payton would return to the team in 2016.
Baalke has now turned his focus towards other coaches and many names continue to fly across timelines. Perhaps the two biggest names are Chip Kelly, the polarizing former coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, and Hue Jackson, the offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Without knowing who the 49ers new head coach will be, it is difficult to project how players might be used moving forward. Nonetheless, we can certainly review how they did previously and whether or not the team ought to be looking for an upgrade this offseason.
The improvements necessary may come in the form of a draft pick, free agent signing or simply a player performing at a higher level. Often times, the improvements of one player may, in turn, improve the play of others as well.
In ascending order, here are five positions that the 49ers must improve at in 2016.
Next: The Jekyll to Hyde
Backup Running Back
The 49ers have a wonderful starting running back option in Carlos Hyde. Unfortunately, Hyde hasn’t been fully healthy in either of his two seasons in the league. As impressive as Hyde’s performance was in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings, his bruising and aggressive running style may not ever last for a full 16-game season.
The 49ers will need to have a solid backup option as the team moves into 2016.
Reggie Bush was meant to be that option. Bush, one of the most exciting college football players of all time, has largely failed as an every-down running back in the NFL.
Bush has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in a season twice in his 10 year career and has only rushed for over 600 yards three times total. Those numbers aren’t anywhere near what a team would expect from a starting tailback.
Fortunately, the 49ers signed Bush to be a backup to Hyde and a change-of-pace back from the downhill runner that Hyde is. After a stress fracture in his foot, Hyde was forced to sit out of the 49ers contest against the St. Louis Rams on November 1, 2015.
Bush, in one of the first plays from scrimmage, managed to trip on the concrete surface surrounding the field in the Edward Jones Dome and tore his ACL in the accident. He was placed on injured reserve and the 49ers running back shuffle began.
Since the Bush injury, the 49ers have signed running backs Travaris Cadet, Shaun Draughn, Pierre Thomas, and DuJuan Harris to fill the roster spot. Cadet and Thomas were both released relatively quickly but Draughn and Harris received solid playing time as 49ers.
Draughn managed over 400 total yards in six games before an injury forced him out for the season as well. Harris, in the final two games of the season, gained over 230 total yards of offense and showed an impressive ability as both a runner and receiver in the 49ers offense.
The 49ers will likely have one of these men return for 2016. While Carlos Hyde has the starting running back spot secured, the immediate backup should be the better performer between Harris and Draughn.
Training camp in 2016 will likely feature a solid battle for the backup running back position and 49ers fans should expect Harris and Draughn to both enter training camp as a possibility for the position.
Next: Better Looking Big Ugly
Interior Lineman
The 49ers, as of now, have two solid starting guards in Andrew Tiller and Alex Boone. The issue is that Boone will become an unrestricted free agent in March and has noted his desire to test the open market.
Many other teams will value Boone as a tackle, earning the six-year veteran significantly more money. According to Over The Cap, the highest-paid guard earns an average yearly salary that is less than half of the average yearly salary of the highest-paid right tackle.
More from Niner Noise
- 49ers 2023 NFL Draft tracker: Pick-by-pick news and analysis
- Predicting 49ers NFL Draft picks by looking at final mocks
- DraftKings NFL Draft Promo – Win $150 Guaranteed on Any $5 Bet
- 2023 NFL Draft: EDGE Byron Young could be impact player for 49ers
- 5 low-key NFL Draft options for 49ers who are flying under the radar
Boone has played tackle for the 49ers in a pinch, but has primarily been utilized as a guard. The 49ers are in clear rebuilding mode and it would be hard to imagine a scenario in which Boone takes significantly less money to stay as a 49er. The team will either have to compensate him as a right tackle or expect to see him sign elsewhere in free agency.
As such, the 49ers need a major improvement at whichever guard position that Tiller does not start at next season. The 49ers gave Jordan Devey and Marcus Martin an opportunity to earn the position and both have largely failed.
In the 2016 NFL draft, the 49ers might be interested in targeting Cody Whitehair, an offensive lineman from Kansas State. Matt Miller of Bleacher Report noted Whitehair as a name to watch in his Scouting Report, suggesting that the Wildcat tackle will move inside as he transitions to the NFL.
The 49ers have larger needs than interior lineman but if Trader Trent can play the boards right at the top of the second round, the 49ers could solidify their offensive line for 2016.
While pick number seven is too high, the 49ers could target Whitehair in the second round to immediately upgrade over players currently on the roster.
Next: Down with Brown?
Right Tackle
The 49ers will have many options to improve this position in 2016. Fortunately, regardless of the route they choose, the right tackle in 2016 will likely be far better than Erik Pears in 2015.
Jeff Deeney of Pro Football Focus has routinely noted the poor play of Pears this year.
Aside from Erik Pears (2 sacks, 2 hurries allowed) rest of OL held their own and had positive pass block grades. #49ers
— Jeff Deeney (@PFF_Jeff) November 23, 2015
Pears largely underperformed this season and was seen as the weakest link on a 49ers offensive line that gave up 53 sacks this season. That number, paired with ineffective quarterback play and questionable play calling, led to a 49ers passing offense that ranked 29th in the league based on yards per game averages.
Pears inability to protect the quarterback was a contributing reason for the lack of success of the 49er offense. With a contract that pays close to two million dollars, it’s hard to think he won’t be cut next season in favor of other players.
The two players that will compete to replace Pears are already familiar with the 49ers, ensuring that the team won’t have to look far for an upgrade.
Trent Brown, who started at right tackle for the final two games of the season, will be the incumbent to earn the starting spot in 2016. His competitor, however, has started at right tackle for the 49ers since being drafted in 2010.
Anthony Davis has said he will return to the 49ers in 2016 and will immediately compete to regain his starting position.
Davis had a shocking retirement in the offseason before clarifying that he wanted to step away and give his body time to heal. Since then, he has tweeted about his comeback and has made it clear he plans on returning to the team next season.
Brown played solid in his limited opportunities at the end of the year but he may not have excelled quite enough to be considered a front-runner moving into the offseason.
Entire OL was in the red. Brown finished with a -4.7 grade. Had a rough time vs. Donald (+15.4 yesterday) and Hayes. https://t.co/xvr9CjSbql
— Jeff Deeney (@PFF_Jeff) January 5, 2016
The offensive coaching staff next season will likely be choosing between these two when determining who should start at right tackle next season. Although there will be impressive free agents available, the 49ers might be best served to save that money for other positions.
The team will have a choice to make regarding who controls the right side of the offensive line in 2016.
Next: Setting the Edge
Outside Linebacker
Aaron Lynch is continuing to develop as a young pass-rusher and outside linebacker, filling the void of former linebacker Aldon Smith. Lynch, who played impressively despite injuries and a shaky overall defense, will need help in 2016.
Aaron Lynch finished fifth among 3-4 OLBs in our Pass Rush Efficiency Stat behind McPhee, Houston, Ware, and V. Miller. #49ers
— Jeff Deeney (@PFF_Jeff) January 6, 2016
The 49ers ought to part ways with outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks this offseason and, as such, will turn to a new player to provide a pass rush in the 3-4 defense.
As a team, the 49ers haven’t registered more sacks in a season than they have given up since 2009. In a passing league, an inability to effect the quarterback is a tremendous disadvantage.
The top nine teams in sacks this season all made the playoffs. Out of the 12 teams in the playoffs, all are ranked in the top 20 for sacks this season. The teams with high sack numbers all typically have a single player that is dominating on the edge on Sundays.
The 49ers will need to find that player in their defense. The improved play of Lynch, who is entering just his third season, could indicate who the 49ers choose to build their defense around.
However, if the 49ers feel that they need more of an impact player at outside linebacker, they could choose to target Von Miller in free agency. Miller is the Denver Broncos All-Pro outside linebacker but will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
The Broncos can, and likely will, franchise tag Miller, making it more difficult for a team to sign him.
If Baalke isn’t interested in spending the money to target someone like Miller, he might trust the new coaching staff to develop players already in the building.
The 49ers drafted Eli Harold in last year’s draft and are in the process of converting former defensive end Tank Carradine into a stand-up edge player. The development of those two players in the offseason will likely influence the choices that Baalke makes in the draft and free agency.
Whether the 49ers use free agency, the draft or home grown players to fill the role, they will need to see significant improvement from the outside linebackers in 2016 if they expect to field a top-10 defense.
Next: The Next Montana
Quarterback
It’s fair to say that most expected to see the quarterback position somewhere on this list. Depending on your support of quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert, you might not have expected to see it as the most important position to improve in 2016.
Again, this list is not about finding the best outside player to improve. In fact, in some cases it is about the coaching staff preparing the current players to succeed.
As for 49ers signal caller, they have plenty of choices to make this offseason.
A new head coach is sure to be approached about his desire to work with Kaepernick and how he answers that question may be a deciding factor of his interview.
Kaepernick signed what appeared to be a mega-deal in 2014 but the structure of the contract turned out to be incredibly team-friendly. The contract has been scrutinized since the details were made available and some feel that Kap was taken advantage of by a front office when he tried to help secure other players.
Gabbert took over for Kap after the 49ers began the season with a 2-6 record. Former head coach Jim Tomsula said he wanted Kap to “step back and breathe“, although the 49ers high-priced QB never took another snap in the 2015 season and was placed injured reserve to end the year.
Baalke will have decisions to make this offseason as to whether the 49ers keep Kaepernick and hope that the incoming coaching staff will be able to rectify the problems or whether the team releases him, dealing with the contract repercussions as a result.
The team has game tape on the quarterbacks and will likely spend the majority of the offseason figuring out exactly what to do.
The free agent quarterback class won’t look much better than the options already on the roster, meaning that if the 49ers decide that neither QB is a long-term answer, they could turn to the draft to find their next signal caller.
Jared Goff, the quarterback for the University of California Berkeley Golden Bears, is a hot name among most scouts right now. Although Goff isn’t consider a Day 1 starter, most scouts believe he could develop into a solid NFL quarterback if he is given the time to adjust to the NFL.
49ers fans remember the debacle of Alex Smith’s first years in San Francisco and avoiding that scenario needs to be priority number one for Baalke and Co.
Jon Ledyard of USA Today Sports broke down another intriguing quarterback prospect. And he will be available much later in the draft than Goff:
Carson Wentz isn’t quite as large a name as Goff now, but he could gain serious traction in the weeks leading up to the draft. 49ers fans should familiarize themselves with Wentz now, as we may hear some rumors leading up to April.
The 49ers are busy interviewing for the head coaching vacancy but will need to immediately begin assessing this roster once that process ends.
There are more than a handful of players on this roster that may not return in 2016 and Trent Baalke will need to find ways to improve this roster dramatically in 2016.
Fans are hoping for a turnaround after a tumultuous season 2015 and and introducing new names to the roster could be the shakeup that excites fans and players alike.
If Baalke and his scouts can improve just a few positions, the 49ers are immediately back to being playoff contenders yet again.
Next: Why Firing Jim Tomsula was the Right Move
All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com unless otherwise indicated.