No. 2: Offensive Passing Yards Allowed
Speaking of passing yards, San Francisco allowed a net total of 3,764 of these in 2017 — an average of 235.25 per game — 22nd best in the NFL.
OK, so why should we expect a regression here? After all, the Niners parted ways with cornerback Dontae Johnson and replaced him with three-time All-Pro Richard Sherman, right?
Yes, and fellow corner Ahkello Witherspoon is on the ascent. But there’s not much outside depth behind these two. That could be problematic, particularly if injuries are an issue. But let’s dive into a deeper factor here — one that actually suggests the 49ers are in better shape this season than they were a year ago at this time.
This possible regression is largely due to how much “hand in glove” the NFL is.
Forgetting any concerns about Jimmy Garoppolo’s deep ball, we should still expect San Francisco’s offense to be notably more potent than it was over the first two-thirds of 2017.
In turn, there’s a good chance opponents will be trying to catch up to the 49ers’ offensive attack over the course of games. That means less of other teams’ running games and much more by the way of the pass.
You know, trying to catch up quickly.
If San Francisco boasted an elite defense, particularly in the secondary, it wouldn’t be a major worry at all. Heck, the number might even improve in 2018. But the personnel isn’t quite there yet, especially up front where it’ll matter most.