10 things the 49ers need to do to reach the Super Bowl in 2020
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: Turnover Improvement on Both Offense and Defense
While boasting an elite red-zone offense isn’t exactly a requirement for a Super Bowl title, being highly productive in the turnover department usually is.
Both the Rams and Patriots finished in the top 10 of turnover margins per game, posting differentials of plus-0.6 and plus-0.5, respectively in this category.
Not surprisingly, the 49ers ranked dead last here with a game differential of minus-1.6.
Overall, San Francisco’s turnover differential in 2018 was a whopping minus-25, with the team losing 32 possessions by the way of a turnover and generating only seven defensive takeaways — a record low in a non-strike season. And the 49ers defense managed just two interceptions, too, with none coming from its crop of cornerbacks.
There are a number of reasons for this, albeit ones hard to quantify. A general lack of a pass rush could explain the few turnovers, as pressure on opposing quarterbacks forces early decisions. And early decisions typically lead to mistakes, and those lead to turnovers.
Scheme could also be to blame, which likely explains why defensive coordinator Robert Saleh felt some heat over the course of the season.
Lost in all this is the fact the 49ers turned the ball over 32 times, which was third worst in the season. So, for all the talk about defensive takeaways, protecting the ball on offense should be just as vital a necessity.