Now, mixing sports metaphors freely, it's time to see if new coach Kyle Shanahan can pick up the fumble and run with it.
The 49ers open training camp a huge mystery. That's not a bad thing when their place among the worst teams in the NFL was easy to predict heading into the past two training camps.
The optimist would point out that San Francisco, which went 2-14 last season, has upgraded at as many as 10 positions since January.
Alas, the pessimist might counter they needed to do so at about 10 other spots.
Expectations are perhaps highest at the coaching position, with Shanahan almost immediately commanding the level of respect 49ers fans afforded last year's big-name hire, Chip Kelly, before the team was drubbed 46-27 in Week 2, triggering an avalanche of 14 consecutive losses.
"Give us some time," Shanahan preached at his introductory press conference in March. "Be patient with us."
Camp opens with no buzz at the quarterback position. In fact, the hottest topics on talk radio leading into the first practice were Kirk Cousins' contract situation in Washington and the length of Colin Kaepernick's hair.
Brian Hoyer? Many see him as no more than a rental until Cousins becomes available next year.
The 49ers ranked 31st in total offense and 32nd in total defense last season. With apologies to Hoyer, wideout Pierre Garcon and center Jeremy Zuttah, the greatest potential for improvement appears to be on defense.
Shanahan and new defensive coordinator Robert Saleh have changed from a 3-4 to a 4-3 alignment, one that could see the top picks from the last three seasons -- defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and ends Solomon Thomas and Arik Armstead -- on the field at the same time.
Pass-rush specialist Elvis Dumervil and former Alabama standout linebacker Reuben Foster are two other reasons to believe the unit won't necessarily live and die with star NaVorro Bowman's health this season.
With the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics well out of contention and Oakland Raiders fans not sure how to respond to their team's plans to relocate to Las Vegas, more people will be watching Shanahan and his new-look crew in training camp than the stench of a 2-14 season might ordinarily indicate.
Even the National Anthem won't be a distraction this year.
TOP THREE TRAINING CAMP GOALS
--Get defensive end Elvis Dumervil and linebacker Reuben Foster healthy. The 49ers are going to need all hands on deck in order to improve significantly from the defensive unit that allowed the most points in the NFL last season. Neither Dumervil nor Foster participated in OTAs. Having both up to speed by the regular-season opener would maximize the unit's chances of getting off to a fast start.
--Figure out the offensive line. Left tackle Joe Staley and center Jeremy Zuttah are set. Everyone else in the running for a starting spot has proven himself to be a versatile backup. The question is: Can the 49ers find three starters from among the group, or will the season be another squeaky revolving door up front?
--Determine an offensive identity. The 49ers took a run-first approach to recent seasons, dictated by talented back Carlos Hyde and Kaepernick's strength as a quarterback. But Kaepernick is gone, and new general manager John Lynch has done a good job upgrading the receiving corps with the additions of Pierre Garcon and Marquise Goodwin. Brian Hoyer is no Kaepernick, but what is he? New coach Kyle Shanahan must determine this before scripting his first game plan.
PROJECTED CAMP DEPTH CHART
QUARTERBACKS: Starter -- Brian Hoyer. Backups -- Matt Barkley, C.J. Beathard, Nick Mullens.
RUNNING BACKS: Starters -- Carlos Hyde, FB Kyle Juszczyk. Backups -- Tim Hightower, Joseph Williams, Kapri Bibbs, Matt Breida, Raheem Mostert, FB Tyler McCloskey.
TIGHT ENDS: Starter -- Vance McDonald. Backups -- Garrett Celek, Blake Bell, George Kittle, Logan Paulsen, Cole Hikutini.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters -- Pierre Garcon, Marquise Goodwin, Bruce Ellington. Backups -- Jeremy Kerley, Trent Taylor, Aaron Burbridge, DeAndre Smelter, Aldrick Robinson, DeAndre Carter, Victor Bolden Jr., BJ Johnson, Kendrick Bourne.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- LT Joe Staley, LG Zane Beadles, C Jeremy Zuttah, RG Josh Garnett, RT Trent Brown. Backups -- LT John Theus, LT Darrell Williams, LG Brandon Fusco, LG JP Flynn, LG Richard Levy, C Daniel Kilgore, C Tim Barnes, RG Erik Magnusson, RT Garry Gilliam, RT Norman Price, RT Andrew Lauderdale.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- DLE Solomon Thomas, NT Earl Mitchell, DT DeForest Buckner, DRE Arik Armstead. Backups -- DLE Elvis Dumervil, DLE Tank Carradine, DLE Ronald Blair, DLE Noble Nwachukwu, NT Quinton Dial, NT D.J. Jones, DT Chris Jones, DRE Aaron Lynch, DRE Pita Taumoepenu.
LINEBACKERS: Starters -- LOLB Ahmad Brooks, MLB NaVorro Bowman, ROLB Malcolm Smith. Backups -- LOLB Eli Harold, LOLB Ray-Ray Armstrong, LOLB Jimmie Gilbert, MLB Brock Coyle, MLB Donavin Newsom, ROLB Reuben Foster, ROLB Dekoda Watson.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters -- LCB Dontae Johnson, RCB Rashard Robinson, FS Jimmie Ward, SS Eric Reid. Backups -- LCB Keith Reaser, LCB K'Waun Williams, LCB Zach Franklin, LCB Will Davis, RCB Ahkello Witherspoon, RCB Adrian Colbert, RCB Prince Iworah, RCB Will Redmond, FS Don Jones, FS Vinnie Sunseri, FS Lorenzo Jerome, SS Jacquiski Tartt, SS Chanceller James.
SPECIAL TEAMS: K Robbie Gould, P Bradley Pinion, LS Kyle Nelson, KOR/PR Jeremy Kerley, K Nick Rose, KOR/PR Bruce Ellington.
No comments:
Post a Comment