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5 Reasons Why the 49ers Will be Worse than You Think in 2016

By Bryan Knowles

November 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) looks on next to quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) during the second quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Falcons 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) looks on next to quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) during the second quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Falcons 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 6, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly looks on from the sidelines during the second half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly looks on from the sidelines during the second half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /

Has the NFL Figured Out Chip Kelly?

I’m of the opinion that Kelly’s struggles last season were due to his failures as a general manager, not as a head coach. Poor personnel acquisition was what doomed the Eagles last season, I believe, and that means I’m somewhat optimistic about Kelly’s odds of bouncing back as only a head coach in San Francisco.

That’s not a guarantee, though.

In Kelly’s last 19 games as head coach of the Eagles, he was 7-12.  In his last 28 games, he was 13-15. It’s arguable that the NFL has caught up to Kelly’s innovative and fast-paced offensive style, and the benefits that it brings to the table has ceased to outweigh its negatives, including more time on the field for the defense.

Remember the Wildcat? It was going to be the next big thing in the NFL; a version of the old Single Wing updated for the modern era.

It turns out, no, it was a gimmick, and NFL defenses learned how to defend against it, making it merely a wrinkle for an offense rather than a revolutionary new scheme. Sometimes, new concepts come into the league and succeed until someone figures them out and brings them back to Earth; perhaps that’s what’s happened to Kelly.

I’m not saying Kelly’s uptempo offense is anywhere near as gimmicky as the Wildcat or anything like that, but it wouldn’t be the first time a coach came into the NFL with unorthodox ideas stoked by the college game, only for NFL defensive coordinators to eventually figure out its weaknesses and shut it down.

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Until we see whether the last season and a half has really been a trend for Kelly or just an aberration, we can’t dismiss the fact that, well, Kelly’s on a cold streak, and it could be a sign of long-term issues with his coaching style.

If Kelly’s offense really has been solved by the NFL, and if neither of his quarterbacks really gel in his system, and if the schedule is as hard as it seems and the 49ers’ luck from last season drops back to Earth and last year’s players plays about as well as they did last year…it could be another long season in the Bay Area.

Next: 5 Reasons Why the 49ers Will Be Better Than You Think in 2016

They’re all long, though, aren’t they?