5 stats the 49ers must show improvement in 2019
By Peter Panacy
No. 1: Turnovers and Giveaways
To little surprise, the 49ers ranked dead last in turnover differential in 2018, posting a minus-25 on the season, which was a full seven turnovers worse than the 31st-ranked Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Jimmy Garoppolo’s return, combined with an upgraded receiving corps, should hopefully address the offensive side of things. Yet it’s pretty clear the defensively forced turnovers are the biggest issue heading into 2019.
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Seven defensive takeaways in 2018. Seven. That number was four worse than the previous single-season record held by the 2016 Chicago Bears, 2015 Dallas Cowboys, 2013 Houston Texans and the 1982 Baltimore Colts.
Additionally, the Niners had just two interceptions on the year, and neither came from their crop of cornerbacks.
San Francisco didn’t do much to upgrade or shake up the back side of the defense, outside of signing free-agent, oft-injured cornerback Jason Verrett. So it appears to be the 49ers are banking on the hope of up-front pressure making the secondary’s life considerably easier.
And if Dee Ford manages to force a good number of fumbles, as he did with the Chiefs in 2018, perhaps that number increases, too.
Next. Way-too-early look at 49ers' 2020 NFL Draft needs. dark
Just like red-zone touchdown efficiency, there’s no other direction for the Niners to go in 2019 but up.