San Francisco 49ers: Disastrous 2015 Offseason Not to Blame for Current Team Woes
By Peter Panacy
The Departures Which Hurt
It would be naive to suggest none of the en masse 2015 departures hurt the 49ers. A few did, and some more than others.
Two players come to mind — linebackers Patrick Willis and Chris Borland.
Replacing Willis would have been an impossibility, except the Niners already had NaVorro Bowman emerge as the team’s best linebacker. Bowman would handle more of the coverage duties back when this tandem was tops in the NFL, which left the elder Willis in more of a run-stopping role.
Willis’ sudden retirement in 2015 wouldn’t have been too bad had it not been for the simultaneous retirement of Borland, who called it quits after just one stellar year at the NFL level.
Borland’s rationale regarding head injuries makes sense. But we can’t overlook how problematic San Francisco’s linebacker situation became immediately after both players called it a career. In fact, Michael David Smith of NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk called Borland’s retirement the one which hurt the Niners the most.
Yes, Bowman returned to All-Pro form in 2015 and led the league in tackles (116). But looking at the now-ranked 32nd 49ers run defense, one can only wonder how the stat line would look if Willis and/or Borland were still factors.
But one player or position can’t make or break a team, right?