Broncos at 49ers: Behind Enemy Lines with Niner Noise

What are the plans for the 49ers going into the offseason? What area do you believe they need to improve on?

Going into the offseason, the 49ers’ biggest need is the same as it was last offseason; San Francisco needs to improve their lackluster pass rush with – at a minimum – one effective edge rusher.

Opposing offenses feast on San Francisco’s defense in obvious passing situations, because the Niners lack both the personnel to effectively rush the quarterback off the edge, and a defensive coordinator who is willing and able to scheme quarterback pressure. One statistic tells the entire story: DeForest Buckner, the 49ers’ 3-technique defensive tackle, has more sacks in 2018 than all of San Francisco’s edge-rushers combined.

The loss of Jimmy Garoppolo early in the season might have been the most devastating injury. Do you believe he can get back and lead this team in 2019?

Garoppolo proved to be an immediate leader when he took control of the 49ers’ offense last season. Garoppolo’s teammates told reporters that the young quarterback commanded respect for a host of reasons, including his level of preparation, his ability to stay focused under pressure and simply the way he handled himself on a daily basis. Whether Garoppolo’s leadership skills came naturally or were learned over four years of studying his former teammate Tom Brady, the similarities between the two quarterbacks are hard to miss:

Given the 49ers’ lack of success at the position in Garoppolo’s absence, there won’t be a quarterback controversy when the Niners’ QB returns to game action from his knee injury. Given his type of injury and the current status of his recovery, Garoppolo should be back under center for San Francisco in Week 1 of the 2019 preseason.