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San Francisco 49ers: 5 players who need to improve in second half of 2018

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 10: Solomon Thomas #94 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up before their game against 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: Solomon Thomas #94 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up before their game against the Carolina Panthers at Levi’s Stadium on September 10, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Defensive End Solomon Thomas

It’s certainly worth putting second-year linebacker Reuben Foster on the list of top 49ers needing a lot of second-half improvement. But Foster has been hindered by a shoulder injury all season, and that’s affected nearly every aspect of his game. He’ll be fine if he can stay healthy.

Foster is a major investment for San Francisco. But so is fellow 2017 first-round draftee Solomon Thomas.

The defensive end might never live up to his No. 3 overall billing. And it hasn’t helped the Niners have largely miscast him as an outside rusher instead of maximizing where he excelled in college, rushing from the inside.

The past few weeks, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh has placed Thomas in more inside pass-rushing situations and with good results. Thomas picked up his first sack of the season against the Raiders, and he’s registered eight solo tackles the past three weeks after having just six solos the first six weeks.

All that said, Thomas is still little more than just an OK player this deep into his pro career.

A strong finish to 2018 would go a long way in determining whether or not San Francisco has something of value in its top pick from last year. But if he struggles, the Niners may be forced to regulate him to a rotational player and admit their first selection from last season was a bust.