2015 NFL Preview: 49ers trying to pick up the pieces
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San Francisco 49ers
| 2014 Record | 2014 Finish |
|---|---|
| 8-8 | 3rd in NFC West/7th in NFC |
Heading into 2014 as a presumptive Super Bowl contender, things began crumbling rather slowly for the 49ers, before a complete collapse in the offseason. Around mid-season, rumors started intensifying about Jim Harbaugh's exit from the organization, but the team was still winning.
With a 7-4 record, and a legitimate chance to make a run at the NFC West, the 49ers lost four straight and the rickety structure built around Harbaugh's ego finally faltered.
Highlight of 2014
Colin Kaepernick can still make plays with his feet. This 90-yard touchdown was a rare glimpse of the Kaepernick who took the league by storm in the 2012 playoffs.
Preseason Power Ranking - #25
The offseason turmoil has led the 49ers to the bottom third of the power rankings - a place the franchise has not often resided over the past four years. It says a lot about the 49ers franchise that they can lose so much and still have a better roster than a handful of teams. More ...
2015 Season Outlook
Head Coach: Jim Tomsula
Off. Coordinator: Geep Chryst
Def. Coordinator: Eric Mangini
Not good. But the 49ers have turned low expectations into immediate success before. In 2011 - Harbaugh's first season as head coach - many predicted a four- or five-win season and a lengthy rebuild. The 49ers went 13-3 and made it to the NFC Championship. This is not that team, but total doom and gloom may be overkill.
Key Additions
- WR Torrey Smtih
- DT Darnell Dockett
- DE Arik Armstead (1st round)
- RB Reggie Bush
Key Departures
- LB Aldon Smith
- LB Patrick Willis
- DT Justin Smith
- OT Anthony Davis
- LB Chris Borland
- WR Stevie Johnson
- CB Perrish Cox
- WR Michael Crabtree
- RB Frank Gore
- G Mike Iupati
- CB Chris Culliver
Where does one start? The exodus from San Francisco via free agency, release, and retirement is completely unprecedented. Losing the three best players on your defense, your two best offensive lineman, and the backbone of the offense for the past decade is absurd.
The Niners did add a deep threat in Torrey Smith, a huge asset for Kaepernick's big arm, and veteran Darnell Dockett and Reggie Bush may be able to stabilize things slightly.
Bold Predictions
The 49ers will make the playoffs. After a disastrous offseason in which the 49ers lost key players on both sides of the ball, the odds are stacked against them in the difficult NFC. If there is one roster capable of overcoming such unprecedented losses, however, this may be the one. There's still plenty to work with if Kaepernick can take a step forward in his development as a quarterback. - Dan Wilkins
Kaepernick will demand a trade. To cap off the most hellish year in NFL history for any franchise, the 49ers will skid to a bottom-five finish punctuated by star quarterback Kaepernick demanding a trade on the grounds that the team failed to provide him with a strong supporting cast. - David P. Woods
The 49ers will not win their first game until Dec. 6 vs. the Bears. Week 13, 49ers fans, circle it on your calendar. That's when the fears of a winless season will come to an end. On paper, there are only three winnable games for the 49ers before Week 13. Therefore, the prospect of an 0-11 start is not that far-fetched. At least they won't go 0-16. - Joe Thomson