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San Francisco 49ers: Predicting team player awards for the 2017 season

By Peter Panacy

December 11, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive end DeForest Buckner (99) sacks New York Jets quarterback Bryce Petty (9) during the third quarter at Levi's Stadium. The Jets defeated the 49ers 23-17 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
December 11, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive end DeForest Buckner (99) sacks New York Jets quarterback Bryce Petty (9) during the third quarter at Levi's Stadium. The Jets defeated the 49ers 23-17 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 1, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; 49ers offensive guard Joshua Garnett (65) looks on from the sideline during the second half of the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. San Francisco won 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; 49ers offensive guard Joshua Garnett (65) looks on from the sideline during the second half of the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. San Francisco won 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /

Most Improved Player — Joshua Garnett

2016 may be a season right guard Joshua Garnett would like to forget.

San Francisco’s first-round draft pick that year struggled to live up to his draft stock despite being awarded with the Outland Trophy — given to NCAA’s best interior offensive lineman.

Garnett wasn’t even active in Week 1 last year. And by the time the season was done, Pro Football Focus had awarded him a lowly 42.4 overall grade on the year. Only Zane Beadles (40.2) was worse.

But there are a number of reasons to expect a positive change this season.

San Francisco will operate with an outside-zone scheme under head coach Kyle Shanahan this year. It’s not unlike the scheme Garnett saw at Stanford, so that’s a bonus for the second-year pro.

It’s also not hard to see the link between Shanahan, the Atlanta Falcons and how San Francisco’s new head coach might have used Garnett had both been in the NFC South last year.

But if you can’t see the link, just read this from Knox Bardeen of Atlanta’s CBS Local just over a year ago:

"“You’ve got to be able to pull,” Garnett said. “You’ve got to be able to move in space and kind of dance and play basketball with those corners and safeties and fast linebackers.” If his comment wasn’t enough to bring an idea of true fit with the Falcons, his next answer surely will. Garnett was asked how he honed his blocking skills away from the line of scrimmage: “A lot of footwork skills,” said the Stanford All-American."

Garnett may be the player Shanahan wants in place this season. And if you believe players improve the most between their first and second years, Garnett should be in line for a big jump this season.