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San Francisco 49ers: 5 Reasons for Hope in 2016

By Peter Panacy

November 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aaron Lynch (59) and defensive end Arik Armstead (91) celebrate during the first 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 outside linebacker Aaron Lynch (59) and defensive end Arik Armstead (91) celebrate during the first 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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San Francisco 49ers
Jun 8, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers guard Joshua Garnett (65) runs drills during minicamp at the San Francisco 49ers Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 4: Rookie Guard Joshua Garnett and the Revamped Offensive Line

One of the primary issues San Francisco faced a year ago was poor play from its offensive line.

According to Khaled Elsayed of Pro Football Focus, the Niners’ O-line ranked 27th in the league a year ago, and this unit’s run-blocking efforts came in at a paltry 30th standing in the NFL.

The right side of the line was particularly vulnerable, with a tandem of Jordan Devey and Erik Pears giving up a combined 13 sacks and 55 quarterback pressures, per PFF.

General manager Trent Baalke’s efforts to change up the O-line started by letting Devey go and signing free-agent guard Zane Beadles during the offseason — a player who enjoyed his best pro year with the Denver Broncos zone-blocking approach in 2012, which happens to be very similar to what head coach Chip Kelly will operate this year.

And the Niners also tabbed former Stanford run-mauling guard Joshua Garnett in Round 1 of the 2016 NFL Draft.

John Kosko of PFF wrote:

"The 49ers traded up into the first round to draft Garnett, the top-graded college guard from 2015. While PFF actually had a second-round grade on Garnett, he is a physical guard that excelled in Stanford’s power-run scheme. He was excellent on the move, played with good leverage, and was dominant on the playside of running plays. Garnett did struggle against now-teammate DeForest Buckner (Oregon), backside cuts in zone, and isn’t particularly strong in pass-protection. If he can clean up the issues he had in college, though, he has the ability to immediately make an impact in the league and become one of the NFL’s best run-blocking guards early in his career."

San Francisco needed help in the running game, especially up front, and Garnett provides that.

Tack on the likelihood of retired right tackle Anthony Davis’ return, and the 49ers O-line suddenly looks vastly improved over what it was a year ago.

Next: Carlos Hyde and the Inside-Zone Scheme