Can the San Francisco 49er’s repeat their success in 2012?
There were second grade children watching the San Francisco 49er’s playoff victory against the Saints in the divisional round who had never even seen their beloved Niners make the playoffs. From 1981 through 2002 San Francisco only missed the palyoffs 4 times, and then the 8 year playoff drought set in like a fog by the bay. Needless to say the turnaround that Jim Harbaugh orchestrated in his first season as head coach was phenomenal. He took a quarterback in Alex Smith that everyone wanted to get rid of and helped make him a 13 game winner, he helped the defense get back to a top 5 ranking, but most importantly he re-instilled the hard nosed attitude that you were used to seeing with 49er greats like Ronnie Lott.
There aren’t many areas that you can identify on a 13-3 team that need improvement, but I’m sure if you asked Jim Harbaugh he could give you a laundry list of things that his team needs to get better at. Offensively the 49ers ranked in the top ten in rushing with 127.8 yards per game, but were at the end of the pack when it came to passing this past season averaging a meager 183.1 yards per game. The last time that San Francisco had a 1,000 yard receiver it was the 2003 season and that wide receiver’s name was Terrell Owens. Michael Crabtree has continued to show improvement, increasing his yardage and reception totals in each of his first three seasons and Vernon Davis is prone to run by and or over anyone in his way, as evidence by the NFC championship game, however neither one of them has ever reached the 1,000 yard plateau. The chances that the 49ers can go out and draft a receiver that can get you 1,000 yards is unlikely, however surrounding Alex Smith with as many weapons as possible is a good way to repeat your success.
Statistically this past season San Francisco’s defense had one of the most dominant performances ever. They didn’t allow a rushing touchdown until the Seahawks game in week 16 and only allowed 3 rushing total on the season. As you can guess from numbers like that, they had the league’s top rush defense giving up an average of around 77.2 yards a game. When your team is holding the opposition to numbers like that on the ground, most of the time this means they will be attempting to throw more against you and this was the case against the 49ers. Numbers wise San Francisco was in the middle of the pack ranking 16th, giving up an average of 230.9 yards per game through the air, not bad but definitely room for improvement. San Francisco did get one good season from Carlos Rogers (6 ints, 18 Passes Defensed), who is a free agent this offseason as well as Donte Whitner (3FR, 10Passes Defensed) and Dashon Goldson (6 ints, 1FF). Behind Rogers (if he is re-signed) there isn’t much proven talent, so it would be wise for the 49ers to address the cornerback position and maybe find a second or third rounder that can come in and compete right away to be your nickel back. The good news for San Francisco is there have been an abundance of corners at the Senior Bowl this week who have the scouts buzzing and just might be available in the second or third rounds.
Projected first round pick: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers
Projected second round pick: Leonard Johnson, CB, Iowa State
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