Niner Noise
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49ers’ 2018 problems proving to be what we thought they’d be

By Peter Panacy

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 25: T.Y. Hilton #13 of the Indianapolis Colts drops a pass while defended by Ahkello Witherspoon #23 of the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter of a preseason game at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 25, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 25: T.Y. Hilton #13 of the Indianapolis Colts drops a pass while defended by Ahkello Witherspoon #23 of the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter of a preseason game at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 25, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – SEPTEMBER 16: Devon Kennard #42 of the Detroit Lions puts pressure quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter of their NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on September 16, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – SEPTEMBER 16: Devon Kennard #42 of the Detroit Lions puts pressure quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter of their NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on September 16, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Early in 2018, the San Francisco 49ers were projected to have some specific problems in the regular season. Two games in, those problems are proving to be pretty accurate.

Two games into the 2018 regular season, the San Francisco 49ers are living up to what many of us thought they’d be — an improved team from 2017 but one with plenty of problems and issues on both sides of the ball.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad is 1-1 on the young season, losing on the road 24-16 to the Minnesota Vikings before barely hanging on to a 30-27 win over the visiting Detroit Lions in Week 2.

Both games have told a lot about what the Niners are going to be like this season. And while there are plenty of positives, such as the continued ascendance of defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, there are also a number of telling problems the 49ers will have to address in coming weeks and months.

Let’s focus on those for now.

Last July, I broke down what I thought would be San Francisco’s top three problems this season. Weeks 1 and 2 have revealed a few more, namely quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo looking somewhat uncomfortable over the first two weeks and the lack of depth at linebacker (strange, considering this was a position of depth in training camp). But neither of those is exactly a long-term concern. At least not yet.

Instead, let’s go back and take a look at how the 49ers’ projected problems for 2018 are starting to reveal themselves early this season and what might potentially be done to address the issues moving forward.