The San Francisco 49ers have been the talk of the league after finishing their season on a 5-0 run with their mid-season acquisition of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and as a result, their expectations for 2018 are high.
Finally, after a rough stretch where they haven’t reached the playoffs the last four seasons, they seem to be on the right track to not only earn an NFC wild-card spot but even contend for the division title.
Here a look at what needs to happen this season for the 49ers to achieve their goals:
1.- Jerick McKinnon needs to step up in the running game: McKinnon, who has never run for 600 yards and scored more than three touchdowns in a season, needs to show right away that he has the ability on the ground to be the perfect complement to Garappolo’s passing game.
Since Frank Gore left a few in 2015 the Niners running game has been subpar, to say the least. When Gore was their starting running back he rushed for 1,00o yards or more in eight of nine years. Since he left for Indianapolis they haven’t had had a 1,000 yards rusher and they have had only four games with a 100 yards rusher.
Having a dominant running back allows the quarterback to have comfort within the offense as it keeps the pressure off them and opposing defenses in check. McKinnon, who was acquired from the Minnesota Vikings in the offseason, has the opportunity to do that so now he must step on the field and prove it.
2.- Their offensive line needs to show improvement: During the offseason, the Niners went out and obtained players to shore up their offensive line, which in the last two years has had quarterbacks running for their lives as it ranked 27th in sacks allowed. That, of course, changed last year when Garoppolo showed up and the offensive unit became a lot more efficient and dangerous. If the 2018 offensive line can continue to protect Garoppolo San Francisco will not only fight for the division title but reach the postseason.
3.- Reuben Foster has to prove his worth on defense: The former first-round pick had an impressive 2017 season and although he will miss two games for violating the league’s policies on personal conduct and substance abuse, he will need to become a force in the middle of the Niners defense.
Despite missing six full games with an ankle injury during his rookie season, Foster still finished as San Francisco’s second-leading tackler in the 2017 season — five tackles behind team leader Dontae Johnson’s 77.
In 2018, the controversial middle linebacker needs to stay healthy and out of trouble to show what he can do over the course of 14 games because the Niners are going to face some elite running backs in the NFC West and he needs to be out there stopping those guys.
