Adrian Fedkiw
Each day leading up to the official start of the NFL football season, I will be providing you with player rankings, team previews, analysis, predictions, opinions and a whole lot more.
From the golden rush of the decade with Jim Harbaugh at helm to the golden flush with Jim Tomsula, what’s in store for up-tempo aficionado Chip Kelly?
Kelly is the third San Francisco 49ers coach in three years, taking over for Tomsula, who was fired after going 5-11 in his lone season after Harbaugh was thrown out the door despite a 49-22-1 mark to go with three NFC Championship Game appearances and another in the Super Bowl.
Gone from the Harbaugh era are Patrick Willis, Frank Gore, Justin Smith, Aldon Smith, Vernon Davis and Mike Iupati. It’ll be far from a lightning-fast rebuild. The offensive guru Kelly has to turn around an offense that ranked 31st in total offense, 29th in passing and averaged an NFL-worst 14.9 points per game.
The 49ers had a plethora of salary cap space to work with, but the only splash they made was the signing of guard Zane Beadles. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, why spend if you’re not ready to win now. General manager Trent Baalke has explained many times during the offseason that San Francisco wants to be a draft-and-develop franchise.
Grading the Roster
QBs- Colin Kaepernick (7.4), Blaine Gabbert (7.3)
RBs- Carlos Hyde (7.5), Shaun Draughn (7.2), Mike Davis (7.1)
WRs- Torrey Smith (7.3), Quinton Patton (7.2), DeAndrew White (7.1) Aaron Burbridge (7.1)
TEs- Vance McDonald (7.2), Garrett Celek (7.2)
Ts- Joe Staley (8.2), Trent Brown (7.2), Fahn Cooper (7.2)
Gs- Zane Beadles (7.3), Anthony Davis (7.3), Joshua Garnett (7.3)
Cs- Daniel Kilgore (7.3), Marcus Martin (7.3)
DEs- Arik Armstead (7.5), DeForest Buckner (7.5), Glenn Dorsey (7.3), Quinton Dial (7.3)
NTs- Ian Williams (7.6), Mike Purcell (7.2)
OLBs- Aaron Lynch (7.6), Ahmad Brooks (7.3), Corey Lemonier (7.3), Eli Harold (7.3)
ILBs- NaVorro Bowman (8.3), Gerald Hodges (7.2), Michael Wilhoite (7.2), Shayne Skov (7.2)
CBs- Tramaine Brock (7.4), Jimmie Ward (7.4), Chris Davis (7.2), Dontae Johnson (7.2)
Ss- Antoine Bethea (7.5), Eric Reid (7.5), Jaquiski Tartt (7.3)
K- Phil Dawson (7.3)
P- Bradley Pinion (7.3)
KR- Bruce Ellington (7.3)
PR- Bruce Ellington (7.3)
HC- Chip Kelly (7.3)
Team Rankings
Team- 7.346 (27/32)
Offense- 7.315 (29/32)
Defense- 7.402 (14/32)
Quarterbacks- 7.35 (27/32)
Running Backs- 7.27 (25/32)
Receivers- 7.22 (32/32)
Offensive Line- 7.43 (7/32)
Defensive Line- 7.4 (6/16)
Linebackers- 7.43 (5/16)
Secondary- 7.38 (15/32)
Special Teams- 7.3
Coaches- 7.3
PREDICTION– 3-13 (4th NFC West)
QUARTERBACKS
Colin Kaepernick was benched after eight games last year in favor of Blaine Gabbert, who currently appears to be the starter heading into the season.
Kaepernick is making headlines for not standing up for the national anthem, but has been far from standing out as a quarterback since breaking out 2012 when the 49ers reached the Super Bowl. That’s when the read-option was the flavor of the week and Kaepernick was at the forefront of it, but as defenses began to adjust, Kap failed to counter back. He still struggles in the pocket with his awareness and accuracy and going through his progressions.
Gabbert, the No. 10 overall pick in 2011, goes through his progressions better and gets the ball out, but the knock on him is the lack of aggression on third down and his preference of checking down.
RUNNING BACKS
Carlos Hyde stated during the offense that he “can’t wait” to play in Kelly’s offense due to the similarities to the one he played in while at Ohio State under Urban Meyer.
Hyde got off to a great start last year, opening the season with 168 yards and two touchdowns against the Minnesota Vikings, but was lost for the season in October with a foot injury. Hyde is a patient runner who follows his blockers well and puts his foot in the ground and goes when he sees the hole. He also has the ability and vision to bounce runs to the outside.
Kelly’s system prefered three-headed rotation at running back. Shaun Draughn and Mike Davis appear to be the next backs in line after Hyde.
RECEIVERS
Torrey Smith was a disappointment in his first year after signing a four-year deal. He’s a big play threat that uses his speed to get deep, but the 49ers’ lack of production at quarterback had something to do with Smith’s struggles.
What other reliable targets are out there? Quinton Patton, DeAndrew White and sixth-round rookie Aaron Burbridge are unproven.
Tight end Garrett Celek has some potential if he can stay healthy, a high ankle sprain ended his season. He’s more of a blocker than receiver, although his pass catching skills are improving. Vance McDonald is the backup.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
At 6’5, 315, left tackle Joe Staley is quick for a man his size and uses it to his advantage when the 49ers moved the pocket for the mobile Kaepernick. He also has a lot of power in his upper body, which allows him to punch opposing pass rushers effectively.
As a run blocker he’s powerful at the point of attack. Staley’s strong enough to close down and seal the edge. He also uses that quickness in space. San Francisco liked to pull and trap him from the tackle spot. Last year’s seventh-round pick Trent Brown has earned the starting job at right tackle.
Former right tackle Anthony Davis came out of retirement and has moved inside to right guard. The free-agent signee Beadles plays the right guard spot. I love San Francisco’s first-round selection Josh Garnett, who is a mammoth road grader in the running game.
Daniel Kilgore is the starer at center.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Nose tackle Ian Williams was one of the few bright spots on the team last season before re-injuring the leg he broke two years ago. If he can’t stay healthy, however, Glenn Dorsey is a more than capable replacement.
A pair of Oregon Ducks and first-round picks Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner solidify the defensive end spots. Both have length and athleticism, with Armstead showcasing power and explosion in limited snaps last year. Quinton Dial is a solid backup.
LINEBACKERS
NaVorro Bowman suffered a gruesome ACL injury in the 2013 NFC Championship Game, missed all of 2014, but was back to his old ways in 2015.
He’s as an athletic and instinctive linebacker as there is. He’s a great inside blitzer and outstanding chasing running backs down running sideline to sideline. He might be the most ferocious hitting linebacker in the league. Bowman is very smooth in coverage and quick in space. He can turn and run and change direction to cut off underneath routes. Michael Wilhoite will start alongside him at inside linebacker.
Outside linebacker Aaron Lynch is underrated, but has been suspended the first four games of the season. He has power, speed and a couple different pass rushing moves in his arsenal. Ahmad Brooks is a veteran that has seen his best days behind him. We’ll see if last year’s third-round pick Eli Harold takes the necessary strides forward in year two.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Tramaine Brock is a reliable starter at cornerback, but San Francisco doesn’t have much after that, although Jimmie Ward made the transition from safety to nickel corner and was solid. He’ll be the starter opposite of Brock. After that, either Chris Davis, Dontae Johnson or Keith Reaser needs to emerge.
Eric Reid is a tall and lengthy safety that plays the run and pass equally well. He likes to lay the wood to receivers going over the middle and is physical with them at the line of scrimmage when asked to play man. Antoine Bethea is a solid starter as well and Jaquiski Tartt adds depth.
TEAM PREVIEWS
Buffalo Bills | New England Patriots | Miami Dolphins | New York Jets
Baltimore Ravens | Cincinnati Bengals | Pittsburgh Steelers | Cleveland Browns
Indianapolis Colts | Houston Texans | Jacksonville Jaguars | Tennessee Titans
Denver Broncos | Kansas City Chiefs | San Diego Chargers | Oakland Raiders
NFL PLAYER RANKINGS