The NFL is back, and Sportsnet is breaking down everything you need to know about each of the 32 teams—including why you should or shouldn’t be rooting for them this season—in the month leading up to kickoff on Thursday, Sept. 10. Today, the San Francisco 49ers.
Last year’s record: 8-8
Head coach: Jim Tomsula
Core players: Colin Kaepernick (QB), Carlos Hyde (RB), Reggie Bush (RB), Anquan Boldin (WR), Torrey Smith (WR), Vernon Davis (TE), Joe Staley (OT), Ahmad Brooks (LB), Navarro Bowman (LB), Eric Reid (FS)
2015 is about… Starting anew. With a different coach and so many fresh faces throughout the roster, the 2015 season will be about molding a new identity in San Francisco. That starts with QB Colin Kaepernick. Since his electric debut in 2012, No. 7 has yet to take the next step forward and will have to do that this season for the Niners to have a chance in the ultra-competitive NFC West. If he can’t, 2015 will be a tough season for the 49ers.
FOOTBALL PICK’EM: Play for a chance to win $3,000! It’s FREE and easy to play
They lost… Jim Harbaugh. Say all you want about the controversial coach, but before he landed in the Bay Area, the 49ers were an unmitigated disaster. In his first season at the helm, Harbaugh led San Fran to a record above .500 (13-3, in fact) and into the post-season for the first time since 2002. He also revived the career of Alex Smith, who was inching closer to bust territory. The 49ers went to three straight NFC title games, including a Super Bowl appearance to cap the 2012 season. Sure, things ended badly, but Harbaugh made the Niners a contender and his exit will be tough to rebound from.
But the off-season woes didn’t stop with Harbaugh. Far from it. Patrick Willis, San Fran’s general on defence for the better part of a decade, retired and will not be easily replaced. Chris Borland, the rookie who filled in admirably for Willis when he was hurt last season, retired unexpectedly at just 24. Plus, pair of crucial members of the front seven are gone (Aldon Smith, Justin Smith), as well as both of the team’s starting cornerbacks (Perrish Cox, Chris Culliver). Along with the team’s all-time leading rusher, Frank Gore, two of the offensive line’s anchors have been uplifted in Anthony Davis, Mike Iupati as well as reciever Michael Crabtree.
Yeah, but they got… One of the best stories of the off-season has been Jarryd Hayne, a former Australian NRL star who left his home country to fulfill his dream of making it in the NFL. After an impressive showing at training camp and throughout the pre-season, Hayne did just that. Hayne has great vision and is a shifty runner, traits that make him a dangerous man out of the backfield and in the return game. Oh, and the 27-year-old has also shown he’s not afraid to take a hit … or dish one out.
Another key addition is Torrey Smith, the former Baltimore Ravens receiver. A lack of viable pass catching options outside of Anquan Boldin hurt the 49ers last season, and the hope is that Smith can help take some of the pressure off Boldin and Kaepernick. Reggie Bush was brought in to back up Carlos Hyde as well as contribute on special teams. However, with Hayne’s surprise emergence, Bush won’t get too many looks in the return game and could lose some backfield touches to the Aussie.
After a full season on the sidelines, the Niners also get game-changing linebacker NaVorro Bowman back from a devastating knee injury. While some questioned if he’d come back and play effectively, Bowman was dominant in the pre-season and appears ready to step up in the absence of so many of his former teammates.
Growing from within: With Gore off to greener pastures in Indianapolis, 2014 second-round pick Carlos Hyde takes over as the 49ers’ No. 1 running back. The former Ohio St. bruiser had just 83 carries in his rookie season, but has shown potential in the pre-season that he can get the job done.
Since being drafted 18th overall by the 49ers in 2013, Eric Reid has contributed in a big way in the secondary. After making the Pro Bowl in his rookie season, the safety continued to take strides in his sophomore season and will now be depended upon to be a leader on San Fran’s new-look defence.
Why this team? History, because it may end up being all the 49ers will have going for them. If 2015 begins to go awry, it may ease fans’ minds to remember the times when San Francisco boasted the world’s best wide receiver, were led by two of the NFL’s all-time quarterbacks back-to-back and won five Super Bowls between 1981 and 1994.
Why not? Because it’s hard for any team to recover from this amount of roster turnover, let alone the amount of leaders and playmakers the 49ers lost. If Kaepernick is not able to take a serious step in the right direction, it could take a while for San Francisco to get back on track.
Perfect for fans of… The unknown. After the success the team enjoyed under Harbaugh, Tomsula leads San Fran into uncharted territory. The Niners’ defence has a whole new look, and other than Kaepernick, Boldin and Vernon Davis, the offence is dependent on a entirely different roster of playmakers. If uncertainty excites you, go with the new-look 49ers.
How much hope? 6/10. With so many question marks heading into Week 1, it’s hard enough to imagine the 49ers in the post-season. Couple that with the other teams San Francisco faces in the NFC West, and those playoff hopes appear even slimmer.
Will you be mocked for front-running? Yes. If you’re a fan of the team because of its glory days, you’re going to get mocked. If you’re a fan of the team because of Colin Kaepernick and the team’s recent success, you’re going to get mocked even worse.
A Meme to Remember