First half of season brought expected … unexpected
The 49ers have been full of surprises this season. They also have seen several things happen this fall that are turning out to be no surprise at all.
Here’s a look at both sides through San Francisco’s miserable first half of the 2016 season:
SURPRISE
While fielding an offense that generally floundered throughout the season’s first half — the 49ers ranked dead last in the NFL in total offense entering November — San Francisco actually developed an effective rushing game that has ranked among the league leaders throughout the season and was fourth in the league entering Week 9. The 49ers were able to maintain this standing even while falling hopelessly behind opponents in weekly score-athons, forcing them to abandon the run in favor of going to the air more often to keep pace with opponents on the scoreboard. San Francisco’s rushing attack actually was accounting for almost 40 percent of the team’s offensive production — a significantly high number in today’s NFL.
NO SURPRISE
With an opportunity to be a bell-cow centerpiece in an offense that revolves around him, and gain notoriety as one of the NFL’s most productive workhorse running backs, Carlos Hyde has again been unable to withstand the workload that goes along with being a No. 1 lead back in the NFL. Hyde went to the sidelines in October with a shoulder injury that forced him out of two games and could limit him through November, continuing an injury history that has plagued his three NFL seasons. Hyde missed two games to injury as a rookie in 2014 and missed the final nine games last season (and parts of others) with a foot injury. Hyde might run too hard for his own good, and his inability to remain healthy and at his best once again has become a setback to the team’s offense.
SURPRISE
This story is from the December 2016 edition of Niner Report.
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This story is from the December 2016 edition of Niner Report.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
EIGHT IS ENOUGH
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Calling all cornerbacks
Loss of Verrett exposes 49ers’ thin depth at CB
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THE BACK LIST
STOCK UP STOCK DOWN
DEOMMODORE LENOIR | AMBRY THOMAS
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Raheem Mostert was primed this year to be the centerpiece of one of the NFL’s most dynamic offenses, featured as the lead performer in San Francisco’s grinding rushing attack while making his climb among the league’s top running backs.
THE WONDER OF WARNER
49ers make All-Pro star highest-paid LB in NFL
Making the right choice at QB
In the weeks that follow after you read this — and perhaps sometime even sooner than that — Kyle Shanahan and the rest of the 49ers organization will make a titanic decision that will have present, future and perhaps even everlasting implications for the franchise. It will chart the course for the team’s pivotal 2021 season while determining whether San Francisco really does have the juice to return to powerhouse status and again be considered a legitimate contender to get back to the Super Bowl.
TOP 10 Linebacker seasons
Fred Warner vaulted to stardom with a spectacular 2020 season — and the 49ers rewarded him this summer with a $95.225 million deal that makes him the highest-paid inside linebacker in NFL history. By today’s standards, Warner’s performance last year was worth the money as he posted an Approximate Value of 19 — matching the highest score ever recorded by a San Francisco defender according to a Pro Football Reference formula that puts a single number on each player-season across all positions since 1960. Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman (twice) also had seasons with an AV of 19 as they dominate this list of the greatest individual seasons by a linebacker in 49ers history.
