Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: The all-bad team

By Peter Panacy

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Dec 20, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers team helmets on the sidelines during the game against the San Diego Chargers at Levi's Stadium. Charges won 38-35 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers team helmets on the sidelines during the game against the San Diego Chargers at Levi’s Stadium. Charges won 38-35 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports /

Special Teams

Kicker: Mike Cofer (1988-1993)

Punter: Barry Helton (1988-1990)

True, Mike Cofer was a Pro Bowl kicker in 1989 and compiled an 80.6 field-goal percentage during that season.

Yet everything afterwards was in decline. Just take a look:

1990: 66.7 percent (27th)

1991: 50 percent (28th — last)

1992: 66.7 percent (22nd)

1993: 61.5 percent (27th)

There isn’t any way to get around those stats. And it’s hard to imagine why the 49ers kept Cofer employed during those years of Niner greatness. Perhaps San Francisco was accustomed to scoring more touchdowns back then. Who knows.

If fans want to be upset about the 2015 drafting of punter Bradley Pinion in the fifth round, they should be looking back at former fourth-round selection Barry Helton who was drafted in 1988.

Helton lasted just three seasons with the 49ers — and four NFL years total — and never averaged more than 40.5 yards per punt in San Francisco. Helton punted 202 times averaging only 36.8 yards a punt which is good for last among 49er punters with at least 100 punts since 1970.

Next: Safety