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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 /
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Oct 4, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aaron Lynch (59) reacts after recording a sack against the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium. The Packers defeated the 49ers 17-3. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 4, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aaron Lynch (59) reacts after recording a sack against the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The Packers defeated the 49ers 17-3. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 6: Focusing on the Pass Rush

San Francisco’s defense ranked 29th in the NFL last season with just 28 sacks. Linebackers Aaron Lynch and Ahmad Brooks led the team with 6.5 sacks apiece, and it’s clear the former is the 49ers’ future in generating pressure on the quarterback.

Still, the above stat tells us most of what we need to know regarding the 49ers anemic pass rush.

Additions of rookie defensive linemen DeForest Buckner and Ronald Blair — each of whom boast strength here — should help the Niners pass-rush potential. And while Brooks is no longer the player he once was, San Francisco can hope to get more production out of younger players like Tank Carradine and Eli Harold.

Best-Case Scenario

Thanks to a reinforced defensive line, Lynch emerges as one of the preeminent pass-rushers in the league. He’s also complemented by Carradine, whose switch from defensive end to more of an edge-rusher only benefits his abilities — those which were so highly touted coming out of Florida State.

Harold, who has been adding weight during the offseason, also enters the fray as an additional pass-rushing option.

Finally, the 49ers can regularly get pressure within the pocket.

Worst-Case Scenario

The experiment with Carradine never pans out, and the former 2013 second-round pick is finally labeled as a bust. Brooks, who finished with a minus-10.2 overall PFF grade last year, only gets worse. And even Harold can’t quite assert himself into a bigger role.

As a result, the Niners pass rush remains just as anemic and stagnant as it was a year ago.

Next: No. 5: Stopping the Run