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So, the 49ers have all these injuries, but are they all coming back next year? Are they gonna be a force next year?
I’m afraid I have to think that the answer to that is yes.
They were a force this year with a staggering number of injuries to key players. And while I don’t watch them much at all outside Rams games, I do peek at them from time-to-time, and I hear a few samples of what the local radio sports dudes say when I’m in the car, and I just don’t think there was much “fluke” in their record this year. At some point you have to acknowledge that they aren’t over-achieving. You can’t simply win 12 games in the NFL, even against a last-place schedule, unless you’re really pretty good. That defense got the job done again and again without its 2 All-Pro players in Bosa and Warner, and without its #1 draft pick DL Mykal Williams. And the offense go the job done again and again without Trent Williams, Brock Purdy, Brandon Aiyuk, Ricky Pearsall, and George Kittle for some/most/all of the season.
Christian McCaffrey played all season, though. I think he’s their MVP. In fact, there’s no doubt in my mind. McCaffrey is crucial to their offense. He put up HOF production levels this year, actually. I think he would be a slam dunk HOF guy if it weren’t for his injury history. He’s been hurt a lot, and the RB position has a short shelf life, as we all know. He’s played 9 years, although 3 of those were mostly washed out with injuries. Still, he has had 6 full seasons in which he’s stayed healthy, and he is clearly a force when he does so. He showed no signs of diminished or fading play this year, so I’m expecting him to be every bit as good next year.
All of those guys will be ready to go in camp (except Aiyuk, who’s divorce from SF is inevitable). Trent Williams and Nick Bosa are the only two who will possibly be diminished players, but since they are both elite at their positions, being diminished is still better than most guys at their positions. And any hope that Brock Purdy was a lucky beginner whose shortcomings would be exposed is gone. The 9ers redeemed themselves from the Trey Lance disaster by getting a borderline pro bowl QB with the last pick in the draft. He’s going to be in SF for a long, long time.
And how well they played this season is a reflection of outstanding coaching. They could well lose Salah, but it starts at the top. Shanahan is every bit as capable of managing an ongoing influx of coaches as McVay is. Both of these guys have replaced many coordinators in the 9 years they’ve been in the league, and I don’t think either one has failed to find a solid replacement. Shanahan was starting to have a few skeptics among the fan base after last year, but he’s put all that to rest by giving the fans here a very memorable season when they were completely demoralized after Bosa, then Warner were lost. They resigned themselves to a second consecutive miserable season, and Shanahan had them believing they could go all the way by the end, and with Kittle’s injury just adding an exclamation point to their season, the 49er faithful is pretty damn happy with this season, and will be all on board next year. And John Lynch has been a pretty good general manager. Their drafts have been pretty good, although their last 2 first round picks have been hurt a lot, and haven’t made waves. Yet.
The 49ers are a really good football team, and they are going to be a problem next year. A big problem.
Yeah, I think Seattle, LA, and SF might ALL be a little better next year. Picture ‘that.’
Yep.
AFAIK, none of the 3 teams are facing significant FA loss or attrition through retirement. So they all figure to be a year more experienced, and replenished with off season acquisitions.
If the Eagles and Lions rebound, and the Bears fix their defense, it’s gonna be a spectacle.
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