In Defense of the 2016 San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers are widely expected to struggle again in 2016, but there are plenty of reasons why they should be more competitive than anticipated.

Simply replacing your head coach does not immediately lead to an upturn in fortunes and, despite the hiring of Chip Kelly, few are expecting the 2016 San Francisco 49ers to show many signs of improvement.

That is no surprise given that the 49ers went 5-11 and own the toughest schedule in the NFL but, while San Francisco boasts a largely young and unproven roster, this is a team that should not be completely discredited from being competitive in 2016.

The over/under for the amount of games the 49ers will win in 2016 has been set at 5.5, and CBS Sports’ Will Brinson took the under in that regard, stating that “it’s hard to find more than four wins for this rebuilding team”.

Rotoworld’s Evan Silva has been similarly pessimistic about the 49ers. In tweeting about the fantasy prospects of starting running back Carlos Hyde, Silva referenced bad game flow as a reason for him being down on the Niners tailback this season, meaning he expects San Francisco to be behind in most games.

I'm fading Carlos Hyde again this year.

- Bad team. Bad game flow.
- Has never caught passes.
- Always injured.
- I expect RBBC.
— Evan Silva (@evansilva) June 3, 2016

Following on from the dismal performances under Jim Tomsula, predictions of more misery for the 49ers this season are to be anticipated but – for all the doom and gloom – the fact is San Francisco has improved its team this offseason.

The coaching staff, headed by Kelly, is a considerable upgrade on last year’s under-qualified group and, although free-agent additions were minimal, the 49ers made themselves better on both sides of the trenches via the draft.

In bringing in DeForest Buckner the 49ers further boosted their interior pass rush while Joshua Garnett’s addition should aid a running game that Kelly will likely rely heavily on to try to turn the offense around.

Jun 8, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle DeForest Buckner stretches during minicamp at the San Francisco 49ers Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

Of course the cause of the defense has not been helped by Aaron Lynch’s four-game suspension but this remains a front seven with much promise.

Buckner, who racked up 10.5 sacks in his final collegiate season, forms a potentially fearsome duo on the defensive line with former Oregon teammate Arik Armstead, coming off a rookie year in which he had 38 total pressures, per Pro Football Focus, and two sacks.

Quinton Dial and Ian Williams, who may miss Week 1 after offseason surgery, make the run defense tick and the hope will be that NaVorro Bowman can regain some of his old form in pass coverage after returning to be one of the better linebackers in the league in stopping the ground game and rushing the quarterback in 2015.

There are undeniably some holes on the defense, Lynch’s absence for the opening quarter of the campaign leaves the ageing Ahmad Brooks and Eli Harold – who endured a rookie year without a sack – serving as the primary edge threats.

But as a group this is a front seven that should get better providing Armstead continues to develop and Buckner lives up to his billing, and they will be playing in front of a decent secondary.

The back end of San Francisco’s defense was better than it received credit for in 2015, with Tramaine Brock enjoying a bounce-back year after an injury-hit 2014 and Jimmie Ward locking down the nickel job in an excellent sophomore term.

Questions remain over who will fill the other starting corner role – the lengthy Dontae Johnson is arguably the best candidate – but the Niners have players they can rely on in the secondary, especially at safety with experienced starters Eric Reid and Antoine Bethea backed up by Ward and a second-year player with huge potential in Jaquiski Tartt, and they should be in a better position to succeed if the pass rush improves.