© Cary Edmondson | 2018 Aug 9
After two unlucky and disappointing campaigns that saw the team finish a combined 10-22, the San Francisco 49ers are about to enter a pivotal year in the John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan regime. As the new season approaches, there’s pressure on both the general manager and head coach to finally deliver results, and the aggressive nature by which the Niners approached the offseason shows this is understood within the organization. Still, even with all the new faces, there are a number of holdovers who must step up their game in order for the team to be successful.
Here are five players with something to prove in 2019:
Jerick McKinnon
We may never really know what Shanahan had in mind for McKinnon, who signed a four-year, $30 million free agent deal prior to the 2018 season. While it appeared he was headed for a major role in the offense, an ACL tear squashed any plans that were in place, and now McKinnon faces steep competition just to get touches.
Truth be told, McKinnon hasn’t produced like Tevin Coleman or Matt Breida yet in his career, and while he’s an accomplished receiver, his 3.58 yards per carry average from 2016-2017 leaves a lot to be desired. McKinnon will have to prove he’s fully healthy and a good fit for Shanahan’s scheme to have any kind of future in San Francisco, especially at his price tag.
Weston Richburg
The other prize of the 2018 free agent class, Richburg was a disappointment in his first season with the 49ers. According to Pro Football Focus, Richburg was the 33rd ranked center in the league with a below average grade of 51.9. He also gave up the third most pressures of any center with 33.
The big variable here is Richburg’s health, as he struggled with injuries for most of last year. It’s fair to wonder if the player we saw then was even the real Richburg, and if improved health will turn him into the center San Francisco hoped for. If he does return to form, it could have a ripple effect on the entire offensive line.
Solomon Thomas
It’s been a difficult start for Thomas, who came into the league with huge expectations after being the third overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft. Thomas was miscast as an edge rusher as a rookie, and struggled to get accustomed to the position change. As he tried to rebound in his sophomore campaign, he was forced to deal with the ramifications of a personal tragedy.
As Thomas enters year three, he will be moved to the inside which is where he’s comfortable and more effective. While he’s always been solid against the run, the 49ers will need to see more than just the four total sacks he’s had thus far in his career.
Ahkello Witherspoon
Despite starting only nine games as a rookie, Witherspoon was tied for the team lead in both interceptions (two) and passes defensed (seven). His performance led to him being an unquestioned starter at cornerback heading into 2018. However, a lower leg injury hampered him early, and constant targets coming his way exposed some flaws. Overall he ranked 112th out of all corners per Pro Football Focus.
Although the narrative is that Witherspoon was bad all the way around, he actually played better as the season progressed. Coming into 2019, he’ll have to not only prove he’s a long-term answer for the 49ers, but also beat out veteran free-agent addition Jason Verrett. How Witherspoon responds will go a long way in deciding his future with San Francisco
Jimmy Garoppolo
If the 49ers truly are going to take a step forward and compete for the playoffs, they need Garoppolo to be every bit of the franchise quarterback they hoped he would. While there’s every reason to think he can get the job done, there simply hasn’t been enough of a sample size to make a definitive assessment.
One thing that’s for sure is that the Niners score when Garoppolo’s behind center. The team has compiled 25 points or more in six of his eight starts, and average 27.1 per game overall. Even with the offense struggling to find it’s footing prior to Garoppolo’s injury in Week 3 last year, they were still able to move the ball, averaging 24 points per game.
The priority in 2019 has to be keeping Garoppolo healthy and upright. He was hit a whopping 22 times in his three 2018 starts and sacked 13 times. In turn, Garoppolo has to solidify himself as the face of the team, both by his performance and availability.
