2015-16 NFL Preview: San Francisco 49ers

The Ultimate Sports Blog's

2015-16 NFL Preview

2014-15 Record: 8-8

Last Playofff Win: 2013 Divisional vs. Carolina Panthers

Last Playoff Appearance: 2013 NFC Championship vs. Seattle Seahawks

Last Super Bowl Win: Super Bowl XXIX vs. San Diego Chargers (1994)

Last Super Bowl Appearance: Super Bowl XLVII vs. Baltimore Ravens (2012)

Head Coach:

Jim Tomsula (1-0 all-time in San Francisco, 0-0 in playoffs)

Offensive Coordinator: Geep Chryst

Defensive Coordinator: Eric Mangini

2014-15 Team Leaders:

Passing Yards: Colin Kaepernick (3,369 passing yards, 60.5% completions, 19 TD's, 10 INT's, 86.4 QB rating)

Rushing Yards: Frank Gore (255 attempts, 1,106 yards, 4 TD's)

Receiving Yards: Anquan Boldin (83 receptions, 1,062 yards, 5 TD's)

Tackles: Chris Borland (107 tackles)

Interceptions: Perrish Cox (5 interceptions)

2014-15 Team Rankings:

Passing Offense: 30th in NFL

Rushing Offense: 4th in NFL

Points Per Game: 25th in NFL

Least Points Allowed Per Game: 5th in NFL

2014-15 Potential Starters:

Player Guide:

Purpe - Elite Starter
Blue - Above Average Starter
Green - Average Starter
Orange - Below Average Starter
Grey - Rookie
Red - Disgusting, Awful, Horrible, E.J. Manuel


Offense:

QB: Colin Kaepernick

RB: Carlos Hyde

WR: Torrey Smith

WR: Anquan Boldin

TE: Vernon Davis

C: Daniel Kilgore

OG: Alex Boone

OG: Marcus Martin

OT: Erik Pears

OT: Joe Staley


Defense:

DE: Tony Jerod-Eddie

DE: Tank Carradine

DT: Ian Williams

LB: Ahmad Brooks

LB: Eli Harold

LB: Michael Wilhoite

LB: NaVorro Bowman

CB: Shareece Wright

CB: Tramaine Brock

FS: Eric Reid

SS: Antoine Bethea

2014-15 Schedule:

(September 14) vs. Minnesota Vikings

(September 20) vs. @ Pittsburgh Steelers

(September 27) vs. @ Arizona Cardinals

(October 4) vs. Green Bay Packers

(October 11) vs. @ New York Giants

(October 18) vs. Baltimore Ravens

(October 22) vs. Seattle Seahawks

(November 1) vs. @ St. Louis Rams

(November 8) vs. Atlanta Falcons

(November 15) BYE WEEK

(November 22) vs. @ Seattle Seahawks

(November 29) vs. Arizona Cardinals

(December 6) vs. @ Chicago Bears

(December 13) vs. @ Cleveland Browns

(December 20) vs. Cincinnati Bengals

(December 27) vs. @ Detroit Lions

(January 3) vs. St. Louis Rams

Final Prediction: 4-12 (2-4)


Overlook: I feel bad for fans of the San Francisco 49ers. I do. I used to be a 49ers fan when I was a kid, so I have always had a soft spot for this team. For years, this franchise was down and out until finally Jim Harbaugh came along and rescued it from obscurity. During Harbaugh's time in San Francisco, him and his minions constructed one of the best rosters in the NFL and were THIS close to winning a Super Bowl in 2012 and were a Michael Crabtree catch away from returning to the big game just a year later. Things were looking good for San Francisco 49ers fans as it seemed like you had a head coach who was going to be there for a very long time and the time built a roster that was full of depth and looked to be able to contend for years in the league. It's almost amazing how quickly things fall apart sometimes. The past off-season was a nightmare for 49ers fans as players left the team in droves and the roster now lacks the talent it once had, all the while former head coach Jim Harbaugh is relaxing in Ann Arbor, Michigan, knowing he's pretty safe at his alma mater (who's laughing now 49ers upper management?) and will be contending for National Championships in no time at all. Life is a bitch sometimes and works in mysterious ways.

Offensively, the 49ers are just "meh". I'm not a fan of Colin Kaepernick. I think he's an OK starter in the league, but he's not a guy I want leading my NFL franchise. Even though I'm not the biggest fan of Kaepernick, he does have some weapons to work with. Torrey Smith is a decent wide receiver and I'm a big fan of Anquan Boldin. Boldin seems to never age and is a consistent monster year-in and year-out. I expect more of the same from him. It's going to be weird watching the 49ers play and not seeing the ball get handed off to Frank Gore, but something tells me that Carlos Hyde is up for the task of replacing him. Vernon Davis is a shell of himself and the 49ers need to start looking for his replacement. The offensive line is OK, but there are two giant holes that are going to be huge detriments week-in and week-out. Like I said, much like last year....just a bunch of "meh" here. No elite players outside of Joe Staley and a QB who can't put the team on his back and win you 10+ NFL games.

Defensively is where the 49ers are really feeling the pain of the off-season. Gone are guys like Chris Borland, Aldon Smith, Chris Culliver, Patrick Willis, Perrish Cox, and Dan Skuta. What we are left with is Antoine Bethea, a hopefully healthy NaVorro Bowman, Ian Williams, Eric Reid, and a bunch of either "bleh" or unknown guys. San Francisco was the fifth ranked defense in the NFL last season and I would be absolutely shocked if they got anywhere close to that ranking with this year's unit. They just lost way too much talent on this side of the ball and will be feeling the effects of it for years. The good news is, if the wheels completely fall off like I predict they will, the Niners will have a high draft pick and maybe, just maybe, there is someone out there who can bring this team back up to respectability. The league is better when the 49ers are good and San Francisco fans and Seattle fans are wanting to rip each others heads off. Man, I miss the 2011-2013 San Francisco 49ers "Dynasty" already......