Why the San Francisco 49ers will be winners again

The San Francisco 49ers look to improve their wins in 2018 with key components in quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, wide receiver Pierre Garcon and fullback Kyle Juszczyk making contributions.

With the addition of versatile players, such as quarterback Jimmy Garappolo, the San Francisco 49ers should see more wins in 2018.

Niners fans have had to endure a lot the past few seasons. Most of which left us with a bitter taste in our mouths, which is horrible, considering the fact that, just as recently as 2012, the 49ers were playing against the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII.

They lost, but by a mere three points. And in the two seasons that followed, the Niners were still contenders in the NFC West.  Indeed, San Francisco was still riding high, what with a square-jawed, “take no prisoners” head coach, Jim Harbaugh, and a team riddled with talent.

Alas, how the mighty fell from prominence!

In what seemed like overnight, the fans’ fearless leader was stripped from the team because he could not see eye to eye with the overbearing then-general manager, Trent Baalke, (whose name I cannot seem to utter without sounding like a cartoon sheep), and replaced by former defensive line coach Jim Tomsula. San Francisco’s starting quarterback seemed to forget how to execute any play that did not involve him performing a handoff, or throwing an interception. The veteran players began to retire and look for ways to abandon the sinking ship. Even some of the younger players retired or moved on in some form or another.

And so, things went, until the 49ers were left with a depleted roster, and all of the fans’ collective hopes and dreams blown away by the wind. The win-loss record reflected as much, and in an effort to make up for the boo boo of firing Harbaugh, CEO Jed York and Baalke hired Chip Kelly as head coach in 2016.

Kelly, in his own right, is a talented coach. Yet he too was kicked to the curb after a disastrous season, going 2-14 in his lone year at the helm.

So, then finally, Baalke was let go. San Francisco hired a new coach, Kyle Shanahan, along with former player and first-time GM, John Lynch.  

At last! Maybe the 49ers could start trying to piece back together what was once a juggernaut of a team in the NFL.

The two came in like a dynamic duo, hitting the NFL Draft strong and acquiring stellar athletes in free agency, such as Pierre Garcon and Kyle “can I buy a vowel please” Juszczyk to boost the offense.  Though plagued with weaknesses, the Niners’ true Achilles heel appeared with the lack of talent in the quarterback position. San Francisco needed a field general, who was not only a physical specimen, but also smart and calculating. This man needed to see each play unfold in advance, surveying the land around him and picking defenses apart.

The staff searched through all possible avenues, and many Niners fans wanted Kirk Cousins, and he, in turn, wanted San Francisco.

It was not meant to be, however. The Washington Redskins smacked the would-be 49ers QB with a second straight franchise tag, making him the first player at this position to ever have that happen. The Niners muddled through half of the 2017 season, piling up loss after grievous loss.  

Then, as luck would have it, the New England Patriots agreed to trade Garoppolo for a 2018 second-round draft pick. It seemed like a no-brainer. At least it would add more depth under center, if nothing else. The Pats were in a committed relationship with quarterback Tom Brady, and seemed to have eyes for no one else. Losing Jimmy G meant little to the defending champs. He had held his own during Brady’s absence, but these two players certainly were not cut from the same cloth.

Or were they?

Late in the season, then-rookie C.J. Beathard came out of a lackluster game against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 12, due to injury. Enter Garoppolo.

While the Niners did not light up the field in a sudden spontaneous rejuvenation the following week when Garoppolo saw his first start, having found their missing link, they did pull out a 15-14 win over the Chicago Bears. Some would say a W of any sort was at least a step in the right direction.

Over the course of the next four games, confidence built. Under the leadership of this new quarterback, they won week after week. I am not saying they were the cleanest wins, but any team that has ever hit rock bottom has to start somewhere. 

This looks like a real fine place to start.  

Next: 5 49ers players who should have a breakout year in 2018

Predictions say the upcoming season will surprise a lot of people, giving pause to the naysayers who hate on our red and gold gladiators. So, ice down the beers and the sodas. Get the chicken wings and finger foods ready. It shall be a brand new era in San Francisco!