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Niner Noise Site Expert Peter Panacy Answers All Your 49ers Questions

By Peter Panacy

August 17, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; General view of Levi's Stadium during the first quarter between the San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
August 17, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; General view of Levi's Stadium during the first quarter between the San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Niner Noise reached out to all San Francisco 49ers fans on Twitter and asked them to submit their questions on the upcoming season. Many of the best ones are included below, so take a look at what site expert Peter Panacy had to say in response.

The San Francisco 49ers have a lot on their plate this offseason amid a wholesale rebuild.

General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have been tasked with turning a scuffling franchise around and putting it back on track. Needless to say, what happens in free agency this offseason and the NFL Draft will have huge implications for the Niners’ future.

But there is more to the story as well.

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Everything ranging from quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s future, scheme changes, cornerstone players and more will factor into the discussion.

Niner Noise reached out to our readers to engage them in a Q&A session on the upcoming year.

There were some great questions from the fans, and we tried to include as many of them as possible.

So let’s take a look at what was asked, and I try to provide you with the best analysis I can possibly give!

Projecting 49ers Offensive Numbers in 2017

So much of it will depend on what happens with the roster between now and Week 1. I expect some notable player upgrades, but this isn’t going to be a quick turnaround.

A good starting point would be the 2014 Cleveland Browns, when Shanahan was the offensive coordinator. The Browns ranked 27th in points scored that year (299), 23rd in total yards (5,193) but did have the league’s 17th-best rushing attack (1,728 yards).

Running back Carlos Hyde is certainly better than anything Cleveland had in 2014, so one should expect better production there. But anything better than No. 20 in year one of Shanahan’s reign is going to be a stretch.

Do the 49ers Try to Bring in Tight End Martellus Bennett?

San Francisco inked tight ends Vance McDonald and Garrett Celek to extensions last season, so they’re likely not going anywhere.

But Martellus Bennett would be an upgrade over anything the Niners had at the position entering this offseason. And I don’t see them making a play for a top-tier TE draftee like Alabama’s O.J. Howard.

Bennett will also be 30 years old this March, so I wouldn’t expect a long-term contract. He’ll be expensive too, although it isn’t as if the 49ers are hurting for money.

What Do the 49ers Do at Fullback?

Patrick DiMarco would be an ideal free-agent fullback target, since he played under coach Shanahan in Atlanta last year.

Assuming he or Kyle Juszczyk land elsewhere, don’t be surprised if the Niners use a late-round pick on someone in the draft. I like Virginia Tech’s Sam Rogers myself.

Shanahan doesn’t often use his fullbacks as runners, so an out-of-the-box theory could be moving tight end Garrett Celek to the position in a pinch.

Especially if San Francisco makes an upgrade at the TE position.

Is Colin Kaepernick on His Way Out?

Lynch and Shanahan met with Kaepernick the other day, and reports are it was a very good conversation.

I still think Kap can read the writing on the wall and wants to hit free agency sooner rather than later and will opt out early next month. That said, his stance on the national anthem has surely turned off a very large chunk of NFL executives from everything I’ve read. So it’s possible San Francisco is the only place that would welcome him.

Let’s go with one chance in three the quarterback returns.

More from Niner Noise

Niner Noise would like to thank those who submitted questions, and we apologize for having to leave a few out.

There will be more Q&A sessions this offseason and some with different takes than just myself, as we like to get our entire panel of contributors involved.

Next: 5 Blue-Chip Players the 49ers Should Target in Free Agency

In the meantime, let’s gear up for what promises to be an exciting offseason for the red and gold.