“If I’m the 49ers, I Would…”: Steps to Rebuild San Francisco in 2016

The San Francisco 49ers are nowhere close to being the same team which dominated the NFC between 2011 and 2013. While the current Niners are trying to turn their fortunes around, Niner Noise takes a detailed look — from an autocratic perspective — on what could be done to fix this franchise.

“If I was in charge of the San Francisco 49ers, I would…”

Finish that sentence. I bet you could. Each of us has his or her own ideas on how the 49ers should, could or must turn things around after the franchise has fallen flat on its face.

It’s what makes sports so fun and intriguing. Discussing the Niners’ current situation, or any other sports topic for that matter, is a never-ending debate. And yet the overwhelming majority of us have little-to-no influence on what the 49ers will do from this day forward.

But just imagine, for a second, you had absolute command and control over the Niners organization from top to bottom. There isn’t any CEO Jed York, no general manager Trent Baalke and, possibly, not even head coach Chip Kelly.

Unless you really wanted him there.

Fortunately, Niner Noise has an avenue and means to voice opinions. So I’m going to take it upon myself to offer up my own personal fixes and directives for San Francisco from this point forward.

You’re welcome.

To start, the 49ers are where they are right now. In all likelihood, those atop the organization are doing what they think is best to turn the team back into what it once was. There isn’t any fault in that. The only questions are the means by which such Niner brass is attempting all this.

This won’t be a retroactive piece. We can’t change the past, until someone invents a time machine. And the last we checked, no one has.

So without any further delay, let’s look at what yours truly would do if he wanted to “right the ship” in San Francisco this season in five easy-to-grasp steps.

Next: Cut Players 30-plus Years Old

If I were the 49ers, I would cut players 30 years old or older

Well, maybe not every one. Kicker Phil Dawson might have to stay. And maybe left tackle Joe Staley as well.

On a positive note, San Francisco is already moving towards a youth movement. Take a look at the team’s roster, courtesy of 49ers.com, and see just how many players over 30 years old are on the roster.

But if you’re too lazy, here they are:

• Kicker Phil Dawson, 41
• Tackle/Guard Erik Pears, 33
• Linebacker Ahmad Brooks, 32
• Safety Antoine Bethea, 31
• Tackle Joe Staley, 31
• Defensive Tackle Glenn Dorsey, 30
• Wide Receiver Jerome Simpson, 30

Aside from Staley and, arguably, Dawson and linebacker Ahmad Brooks, the remaining players are reserves at best. And while the NFL-ready experience is all-too valuable, these player are also taking up roster spots, which could be utilized by more promising players and, at least, guys who might be worth keeping around when the 53-man roster is formulated.

Even Brooks might be worth cutting. Yes, there are contract issues at hand here — and the Niners would have likely cut Brooks by now if they wanted to do so — but Brooks is clearly not the player he once was when he earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2013.

One could make a similar argument for veteran safety Antoine Bethea. While nowhere near the level of decline as Brooks, the safety has to be feeling the pressure from other defensive backs like Jaquiski Tartt, Jimmie Ward and, to a lesser extent, L.J. McCray.

Open up the competition for younger players, let them develop together and take the best options from a young group.

Next: Stop the ACL-Injury Experiments

If I were the 49ers, I would avoid ACL-injury risks altogether

General manager Trent Baalke’s “All-ACL” team hasn’t exactly panned out.

Think about some of the knee-injury guys Baalke has selected during his tenure as GM. Offensive guard Brandon Thomas, running back Marcus Lattimore, defensive end Tank Carradine, cornerback Keith Reaser and wide receiver DeAndre Smelter are the names Niner fans know most when considering players Baalke drafted, who were coming off collegiate injuries.

And which guys from that group have made an impact at the NFL level?

True, Smelter may have a ton of upside and could impact the 49ers receiving corps this season. It’s pretty untested behind No. 1 wideout Torrey Smith.

But critics made the same arguments about Carradine, Lattimore and even Thomas. None of those names have made an impact since joining the pro ranks.

Here’s the thing — it’s OK to take a flier on a late-round pick because of an injury. If he works out at some point down the road, fine. But when a team spends a moderate-to-high draft pick (Carradine, Round 2; Lattimore, Round 4; Thomas, Round 3) and winds up being redshirted, the team is losing out on at least one year of critical developmental progress and, at best, on-field production.

So, if I were the 49ers, players with significant injury risks would have big red flags. The Niners need production, competition and impact now.

Next: Trim the Fat

If I were the 49ers, I would trim the fat

No, I’m not talking about weight loss and physical conditioning — although that may help, and it’s likely already a plan under head coach Chip Kelly.

This slide means getting rid of players who haven’t made the impact needed.

Similar to the first slide, roster spots are precious. And, at times, teams can find the proverbial “diamonds in the rough” simply by opening up competition for guys hungry to get things going.

San Francisco has a young team. It also has players not cut out for contributions at the pro level.

Outside linebacker Corey Lemonier is one such name. The fourth-year pro has just one sack and 27-career tackles over three seasons with the 49ers. He lost his depth-chart spot to then-rookie Eli Harold last season, and it doesn’t look likely he’ll ever climb as high again.

The same could be said of tight end Vance McDonald.

For a refresher…

McDonald can block. That’s OK. But he never materialized into the H-back player the 49ers were hoping could replace former tight end Vernon Davis.

With younger guys at the position — Blake Bell and Busta Anderson — McDonald’s roster spot isn’t of much use when the ball comes his way.

Next: Start Eli Harold and DeForest Buckner in Week 1

If I were the 49ers, I would give LB Eli Harold and DE DeForest Buckner starting gigs in Week 1

So if veteran linebacker Ahmad Brooks is out of the picture — this is autocratic after all — who takes his place?

The answer: fellow outside linebacker Eli Harold.

Harold saw limited action his rookie season a year ago. But he still managed a respectable minus-0.9 overall grade, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), which is a great step above Brooks’ minus-10.2 overall mark.

Remember, Harold is a guy who registered 17.5 sacks over three collegiate years at Virginia. And considering the 49ers pass rush ranked 29th in the NFL last year with 28 sacks, San Francisco needs all the pass-rushing help it can get.

Tie this in with the 49ers’ first-round draft pick defensive end DeForest Buckner. As noted earlier, teams typically need immediate production from Round 1 talent. Buckner is a force and, at 6’7″, will help bookend a promising defensive line for years to come.

Why not start that process as soon as possible?

Plus, the Niners defense will be what keeps them competitive within the NFC West this year. There are far more weapons on that side of the ball — NFL-ready ones too.

And Buckner’s return needs to be felt right away. Let the rest of the D-line shape itself up after that. It isn’t as if this unit won’t be able to share snaps.

Next: Leave the QB Competition Open All Season

If I were the 49ers, I’d leave the quarterback competition open all season

Wait, what?

Yeah, you read that right. If I were the 49ers, this season would be an open audition for 2017 and beyond. That means quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick, Blaine Gabbert and even Jeff Driskel would all be competition for the starting gig next year.

And 2016 would merely be the proving ground.

For starters, remember this year is a building year. Barring the impossible, San Francisco isn’t going to the playoffs this season. And while established roles, and players accepting those roles, is critical to a team’s success, there certainly isn’t any bona fide answer under center.

If you don’t believe me, just look at the research Niner Noise’s Rich Madrid did on Kaepernick, Gabbert and Driskel.

To be short, none of the quarterbacks look to be the essential link in a Chip Kelly-led offense. It is what it is. And while Kelly might be capable of making something very useful out of the 49ers current QB crop, a year of all-out competition would have its merits.

OK, so Gabbert is a free agent after this season. So he’s playing for a new contract. And Kaepernick is playing to salvage what was once a promising NFL career. Driskel is vying to prove he can cut it at the pro level.

Whoever starts in Week 1 may seem to be the upper hand. But one should absolutely guarantee if whichever quarterback has one or two other QBs looking over his shoulder, he’ll be pressed into rising to the occasion.

Or faltering from it altogether.

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There are many more steps one could take. And we could spend hours debating them.

Overall, such a discussion wouldn’t get us anywhere. None of these choices are ours to make. But for a moment, if Niner Noise were in charge, the 49ers would have a clear-cut direction in front of them.

And a team with a plan is, at least, on the move. Let’s just hope it’s in the right way.

Next: Why LB Ahmad Brooks May Lose His Starting Job in 2016

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated.