Niner Noise
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10 reasons the San Francisco 49ers win the NFC West in 2018

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates his touchdown against Los Angeles Rams during the second 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: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates his touchdown against Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD – OCTOBER 15: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the sideline as they play the Washington Redskins during the second half at FedExField on October 15, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – OCTOBER 15: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the sideline as they play the Washington Redskins during the second half at FedExField on October 15, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Kyle Shanahan’s Offense Takes a Massive Leap

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense is one of the most complex in the NFL. It’s one of the reasons why he and John Lynch brought in so many former Shanahan offensive understudies in free agency a year ago.

The Niners will carry over a lot of their offensive cast members from last season, particularly at the skill positions. A new name, running back Jerick McKinnon, is poised to break out after being something of an afterthought with the Vikings the last four years.

McKinnon’s explosive potential is going to be a massive boost to this group. And with a quarterback already in place — we’ll get to him in a second — Shanahan’s offense will be multifaceted and dynamic. It’s something he didn’t exactly enjoy for most of 2017.

With an offensive cast tailored to Shanahan’s liking, it wouldn’t be a shock to see San Francisco what the head coach implemented when he was the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive coordinator the last two years.

Note the statistical-rank jump between 2015 and 2016:

Team’s Ranks Table
Over Over Over Over Offe Offe Offe Rush Rush Rush Rush Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass
Year Tm Role WL% T/G Pts± Yds± Yds Pts GvA Att Yds TD Y/A Att Yds TD Int NY/A
2015 ATL OC 14 27 15 10 7 21 26 16 19 12 25 8 6 23 24 10
2016 ATL OC 5 4 2 4 2 1 1 12 5 3 5 26 3 2 4 1
2017 SFO HC 22 20 19 16 12 20 19 22 21 7 17 2 9 28 23 16

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/29/2018.

The 49ers may be a bit further off than Shanahan’s Falcons entering 2016. But the massive leap Atlanta enjoyed between 2015 and two seasons ago is notable.

Heck, it’s exciting.

And if San Francisco comes anywhere close to the leap Shanahan influenced with the Falcons, the Niners will be in hot contention for the NFC West.