3 reasons why 49ers special teams will be exceptionally better in 2022

Reason No. 1: 49ers now have a return specialist in Ray-Ray McCloud

For a number of years, the 49ers tried to get by with now-New York Giants wide receiver Richie James in the return game. When James missed all of 2021 with an injury, the Niners attempted to get the most out of a carousel of return specialists, including Trenton Cannon, JaMycal Hasty and others.

No longer.

San Francisco brought aboard former Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Ray-Ray McCloud to mostly solve these issues, a player who took out 35 kickoff returns last season for 776 yards and who also added a league-best 38 punt returns for another league-high 367 yards in that category.

Read More: How 49ers get the most out of Ray-Ray McCloud

Remember that part about the 49ers’ starting field position being abysmal? Well, that shouldn’t be the case this season.

Granted, McCloud does create some concerns with ball security, as he had four fumbles last season. Yet if Brian Schneider and Co. are able to help him clean that up, there’s little reason to believe the Niners will hurt for a better return game this season.

Hopefully in assisting the offense with a significantly better field position in the process.