Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: 10 Best & Worst Case Scenarios for the 2016 Season

By Peter Panacy

Oct 18, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers free safety Eric Reid (35) jumps up with cornerback Tramaine Brock (26) to break up the pass intended for Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith (89) on the final play during the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Baltimore Ravens 25-20. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers free safety Eric Reid (35) jumps up with cornerback Tramaine Brock (26) to break up the pass intended for Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith (89) on the final play during the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Baltimore Ravens 25-20. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 11
Next
Aug 15, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Trent Brown (77) defends against Houston Texans defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey (91) in a preseason NFL football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 15, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Trent Brown (77) defends against Houston Texans defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey (91) in a preseason NFL football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 8: How Will the Offensive Line Pan Out?

San Francisco’s offensive line was one of the primary weaknesses the team had over the course of 2015. Aside from Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Staley, this unit never once established itself as a top-tier group.

Fortunately, the Niners made changes this offseason. General manager Trent Baalke brought in free-agent guard Zane Beadles, drafted former Stanford guard Joshua Garnett in Round 1 of the NFL Draft and let go of turnstile-like guard Jordan Devey.

Tack on rookie tackles Fahn Cooper and John Theus, and the 49ers can’t be faulted for trying to move in a different direction. But will it be enough?

Best-Case Scenario

Staley continues his Pro Bowl-caliber efforts, but the Niners also get better-than normal contributions from veteran O-linemen like Beadles and center Daniel Kilgore. Garnett is everything San Francisco wanted, and his physical style of play opens up the door for the 49ers running game to be dominant once again.

Cooper and Theus either push likely incumbent starter Trent Brown to be a dominant force, or one of the two rookies secure the starting job and never look back. And the 49ers have good enough backups in players like Andrew Tiller, Brandon Thomas and Erik Pears (who should be considered an OK reserve).

Under Kelly, the 49ers O-line thrives within a zone scheme.

Worst-Case Scenario

The 49ers, for whatever reason, decide Marcus Martin is the better center over Kilgore despite the former boasting a minus-45.6 overall PFF grade last season. Garnett doesn’t emerge as the run-blocking force the 49ers wanted, and his scheme fit within the zone doesn’t make him any better.

On the right side of the line — San Francisco’s primary weakness last year — Brown doesn’t live up to the hope and hype exemplified in his brief starting stint at the tail end of 2015, which forces either Cooper or Theus to take over a starting job.

And neither rookie is totally ready for full-time roles at the NFL level.

Next: No. 7: Upgrades to the Defensive Line