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San Francisco 49ers: 10 Early Predictions for 2016 Regular Season

By Trevor Irvine

January 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Chip Kelly addresses the media in a press conference after being introduced as the new head coach for the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Chip Kelly addresses the media in a press conference after being introduced as the new head coach for the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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The San Francisco 49ers have several question marks going into the 2016 season. With a completely new coaching staff, key players coming back from injury and an extremely tough schedule, how this season shakes out is anyone’s guess. However, it is not in our nature to not take a stab at the prediction game. Niner Noise takes a look at 10 early predictions for the 2016 regular season.

Sep 21, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) and quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) take the field for warmups prior to the game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 21, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) and quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) take the field for warmups prior to the game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

The Niners had a difficult 2015 season, finishing at 5-11. After a promising first game, everything went south – the coaching staff, the players, the offense and the defense. Several key contributors went down with injury, and their replacements failed to deliver the goods.

If you are not changing, you are sitting still. We cannot accuse the Niners team of this. The coaching staff has been completely overhauled. A few veterans have not been retained, namely Anquan Boldin, Reggie Bush and Kendall Gaskins, plus the retirement of Jarryd Hayne.

The modus operandi for 2016 is to build the team “inside-out”, where the emphasis is to dominate the opposition from the trenches. The successful Niners teams from 2011-2013 were successful in this area. Three of the recent draft picks were to specifically improve in this area.

Whether this team can implement this strategy remains to be seen. A lot of things have to go right. But where there is will, there is hope.

Let’s a take a look at 10 early predictions for the 2016 regular season.

Next: Blaine Gabbert wins starting QB job