5 stats where the 49ers will need improvement in 2018
By Peter Panacy
![SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 10: Kyle Juszczyk #44 of the San Francisco 49ers drops the ball as he is hit by Shaq Green-Thompson #54 of the Carolina Panthers at Levi's Stadium on September 10, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 10: Kyle Juszczyk #44 of the San Francisco 49ers drops the ball as he is hit by Shaq Green-Thompson #54 of the Carolina Panthers at Levi's Stadium on September 10, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/234c14be926701551975cd048ae7fce236c4c997fa3af8a23e1de3dce873d6fc.jpg)
No. 5: Pass Protection
Sacks Allowed: 43 — 10th most in the NFL
This is a bit tricky of a breakdown, as the 49ers’ 2017 campaign along the offensive line is almost a “tale of two seasons” — before and after quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s starting debut in Week 13.
San Francisco 49ers
With 43 sacks allowed, ranking 10th most in the league last year, the Niners offensive line still needs a lot of work heading into 2018. The majority of issues came from within the interior, as center Daniel Kilgore and left guard Laken Tomlinson each posted Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grades of 52.1 and 51.2, respectively.
Those numbers aren’t particularly great, although they certainly indicate an improvement over the mid-40s numbers we regularly saw prior to Week 13.
Overall, the 49ers O-line finished with a pass-blocking efficiency rating of 79.0, which ranked 14th in the league, according to PFF.
That’s not bad, and Garoppolo’s ability to get the ball out quicker than his predecessors, Brian Hoyer and C.J. Beathard, help skew the numbers in the right direction.
Kilgore and right guard Brandon Fusco are unsigned for 2018, and it’s likely the O-line becomes a major priority for general manager John Lynch and Co.
And while Garoppolo’s ability to avoid pressure is top notch, it would be wise for San Francisco to invest in some added protection.