San Francisco 49ers: 5 Positional X Factors for 2016 Season

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Nov 23, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Washington Redskins in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Redskins 17-13. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

The San Francisco 49ers opened the 2015 season with a bang. They played the Minnesota Vikings, at Levi Stadium, on September 14th. It was Monday Night Football in prime time, and X-factor Carlos Hyde led the 49ers to victory with a 168 yard, two-touchdown performance.

That’s close to ending X-factors for the 2015 49ers. They went on to win just five games and Hyde, their most promising offensive player, played in just their first seven contests. Without Hyde, the 49ers run game stalled, their pass game suffered because of it and their defense was too tired to help their struggling (to put it nicely) offense.

Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

2016 will be a much different story from 2015.

The 49ers offense will most assuredly rebound if only because of new head coach Chip Kelly. Kelly’s offenses have never been ranked worse than 12th in yards or 13th in scoring. In two of his three seasons, as the Philadelphia Eagles head coach, Kelly’s offenses ranked in the top five in both yards and scoring.

Last season was a different story, mainly because of a beat up offensive line, but there is hope for San Francisco’s offense this year. It should be the best offensive unit the 49ers have seen since 2012’s Super Bowl run and before that, since quarterback Jeff Garcia and wide receiver Terrell Owens’ departures in 2004.

Sep 25, 2014; New York, NY, USA; San Fransisco 49ers tight end coach Eric Mangini waves to the fans before the game between the New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers at Metlife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Perlman/NJ Advance Media for NJ.com via USA TODAY Sports /

The defense in 2015 was even worse than the offense in a way.

Eric Mangini, former defensive coordinator, ruined a potentially solid unit with his silly blitz schemes. Having outside backers Ahmad Brooks and Aaron Lynch in coverage, and then blitzing safeties Eric Reid and Antoine Bethea just wasn’t smart and the 49er defense suffered as a whole.

They couldn’t rush the passer, or cover opponents receivers downfield. Because of this, the 49ers finished 29th in total defense. The were a laughing stock following a great run from 2011-2014. Yes, they definitely lost some great players, but stalwarts such as Ian Williams, Antoine Bethea and especially Navorro Bowman should have led a much better unit.

But again, 2016 is bright. The 49ers should be better on scheme alone. Defensive Coordinator Jim O’Neil will bring a much smarter aggressiveness to a very talented group of players, highlighted by Bowman, Lynch, Bethea and Reid. Rookie DeForest Buckner should be a big deal too.

So, which positions will make or break the 49ers this coming season? Let’s get right into it, starting with the offensive line.

Next: Offensive Line