San Francisco 49ers
Offense
Quietly, the Niners have assembled a really dynamic offense this offseason. The team locked up Colin Kaepernick; added Carlos Hyde — widely considered the top running back in the NFL draft — to a backfield featuring the ageless Frank Gore; and added slot receiver Stevie Johnson to the mix.
It wouldn’t surprise me to see the 49ers become more offensively driven in 2014, not just because of the additions but because the defense could lag. With more weapons and more freedom, Kaepernick could be poised for a breakout year.
Defense
San Fran’s usually dynamic defense is going to be without a lot of its key players to begin 2014. Three of its starting four defensive backs — Donte Whitner, Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown — are now elsewhere. Aldon Smith may be destined for a suspension, and NaVorro Bowman will be sidelined until about midseason.
The unit is destined for regression — at least early on — but you have to trust Jim Harbaugh has a plan in place. The Niners have long been one of the NFL’s deepest teams, so it’s just a matter of whether these role players excel in starting positions.
Outlook
The team’s offseason losses may have cemented the 49ers as a distant second in the NFC West race behind Seattle. But still, the team has enough firepower to compete with the best of the best in the conference.
If the Niners can hold down the fort until Smith and Bowman are back in the fold, and Kaep can make the strides he’s expected to, this is still a playoff team. It may not be the 49ers we’re used to, but that’s just a credit to a very good head coach.
