It’s that time of year again. Here are three burning questions for the San Francisco 49ers.
Does Jimmy Garoppolo have enough weapons?
Coming off a season in which he passed for just under 4,000 yards, 49ers signal-caller Jimmy Garoppolo will be looking to pick up where he left off. Deebo Samuel was one of the dynamic rookie wide receivers last season and is poised for a strong 2020 season, although his presence will be delayed due to a foot fracture. The offense will miss Emmanuel Sanders, who was a key target last season through their playoff run.
Tight end George Kittle is one of the top tight ends in the league and was often Garoppolo’s go-to guy when the team was in dire need of a timely late-game catch.
Will their defense carry them again?
Last season, the Niners’ defense was led by rookie pass-rusher Nick Bosa. Bosa took home Defensive Rookie of the Year honors on the heels of his nine-sack season.
Bosa is part of a defensive front that is filled with past first-round picks in Arik Armstead and Solomon Thomas; the latter’s fifth-year option was declined by the Niners this offseason. The team added South Carolina defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw with the 14th pick in the draft.
Linebacker Kwon Alexander is hoping to stay healthy after battling injuries last season and veteran cornerback Richard Sherman, although he has lost a step or two, is still among the top in the league at the position.
With almost all of last season’s talent still in place, the San Francisco defense should wreak havoc on opposing offenses the same way they did a season ago.
Could they repeat as NFC champions?
The reigning NFC champions will have a massive target on their backs this season, second only to the Chiefs. Their defense dominated week in and week out, giving the offense every opportunity to win every game.
Although they came out on the losing end in the Super Bowl, the 49ers were the most complete team in football. Their running game was explosive regardless of who was in the backfield. Although Matt Breida took his talents to South Beach, Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman could be a solid one-two punch on the ground.
The defense will keep them in every game even if the offense takes a few series to get things going. The key will be if they can survive their division where Arizona drastically improved and Seattle still has Russell Wilson at the helm.
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