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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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Aug 7, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyrod Taylor (2) gets sacked by San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Tank Carradine (95) in the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 7, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyrod Taylor (2) gets sacked by San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Tank Carradine (95) in the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /

Most Improved Player: Tank Carradine

This was a tricky one. There are several players on this squad who are poised to breakout in 2016. However, the player who management is very much behind, and are accommodating him to a new role, is Carradine.

Carradine was miscast as a defensive tackle, being asked to put on weight and to rush from the inside. This was never his skill-set. At Florida State he played at around 270 pounds, and he got up to 295 pounds, which just made him slow and wasn’t accommodating to his strengths.

Now, he has lost this weight and the team is trying him at the outside linebacker position. He has the ability to rush the passer (he finished with 11.5 sacks in his last year at college). The team currently has him working on his pass rush skills from a 2-point stance, as you can see below:

Carradine is a better edge rusher. He has excellent power and bull-rush ability, as this video shows:

With the loss of weight, and the sole focus of rushing the QB from the outside, should enable Carradine to finally reach his potential. O’Neil will devise schemes which will enhance his strengths.

It is now-or-never for him. If he cannot make this change work, he is done. But if he does, he will be the team’s most improved player, and he could be a 5-10 sack guy in 2016.

Next: Team Record