The 49ers Long Road Back to Contention

Establish a quarterback and receiver chemistry

When you think of great 49ers teams of the past, what do they all have a common?

They all had a reliable receiver that could make the big play. Dwight Clark, Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens all fit the mold of No. 1 receivers who could control the game.

Wide receiver Torrey Smith is a deep threat and a lot of fun to watch when he gets the ball. The only problem is that you need someone on the other side to draw the double team so that Smith can win in a one-on-one foot race to the end zone.

Since Trent Baalke’s promotion to general manager, the team has spent high on only one wide receiver. A.J. Jenkins was not only a huge miss, but it seems as though the brass is scared to pull the trigger on drafting another receiver in the first round.

Furthermore, when they do find their guy, they need to sign him to a long-term contract. This is crucial for the success of the offense because a quarterback needs to be able to trust his go-to guy. He needs to build a chemistry that is so good that it scares other teams into thinking that one defender is not enough.

This will not only stretch the field for the offense, but it will keep the defense guessing in terms of where the ball is going.

Next: Draft the best player available