Niner Noise
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49ers 2017 season review: Full position grades and analysis

By Logan Stanley

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass Los Angeles Rams during the first quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass Los Angeles Rams during the first quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 03: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers stands on the sidelines in the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 03: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers stands on the sidelines in the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Special teams

During the roller coaster of a season 2017 was, one constant was kicker Robbie Gould. In his 13th year in the NFL, Gould set a career-high with 39 made field goals — tied for third most in the NFL history.

As well as being prolific, Gould was accurate too, only missing two field goal attempts and one extra-point attempt.

There was a three-game stretch from Week 13 to Week 15 where Gould made 15 field goals, a staggering amount. In all, Gould had three games with four or more field goals, including one game with six.

In reality, kickers are often mocked. But Gould’s contributions were crucially important to an offense that needed it.

Gould was not the only player to excel in this unit — punter Bradley Pinion had a fine season.

According to PFF, the fifth-round pick had a 71.8 yard average depth on kickoffs, which was the highest in the NFL. Pinion’s 41.3 yard net average was No. 11 out of 33 punters.

Grade: A

Coaching

With an 0-9 record, it was clearly not the best of starts for Kyle Shanahan. The first-year head coach saw his squad become the first team in NFL history to lose five consecutive games by three points or less. So while the record indicated awfulness, there was a lot more to it.

The fact that Shanahan was not only able to keep the locker room together, but was also able to strengthen the atmosphere at that time is telling. Both Joe Staley and Garoppolo have mentioned this, commending Shanahan’s handling of the locker room.

Once Shanahan got his hands on a quarterback of his liking, the offensive creativity began to flow. That was most apparent in the Week 16 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, in which Shanahan’s savvy play-calling eviscerated whatever defensive coordinator Todd Wash threw at him.

The 49ers end the season No. 13 in NFL.com’s power rankings, notably finishing as the second-highest ranked team in the NFC West. Since Shanahan has taken over, there is denying the team has gotten better.

On the other side of the ball for the 49ers, Robert Saleh is turning out to be a solid coordinator. The defense is leaps and bounds better than last year, as noted in the dip in yards allowed per carry.

San Francisco ended the season on a seven-game streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher. Last season, they set an NFL record by allowing a 100-yard rusher in seven consecutive games (13 total). The year-to-year improvement has been noticeable.

Grade: B+

Next: 3 reasons why the Niners make the playoffs in 2018

While the 2017 season got off to a troubling start, the 49ers head into the New Year with potential jumping off the charts.