Key Position Battles Will Determine 49ers Fate in 2016
The 49ers, for their lack of significant talent or depth, have only a few unsettled spots in their presumptive opening day starting lineup. That of course is led by the quarterback position where new head coach Chip Kelly will make his first critical move of his 49er tenure. The battle is obviously contingent upon Colin Kaepernick being healthy and actually on the roster, but could prove compelling throughout training camp and the preseason. With Kaepernick still rehabbing from his offseason surgical procedures, Blaine Gabbert assumes the pole position and based on their respective 2015 performances, it’s rightfully deserved.
Kaepernick has had more success over the course of their short careers but has suffered a steep decline from the heights of his first year and a half as starter. The choice, with both players healthy, would then come down to who Chip Kelly feels better fits his offense. Gabbert has the more accurate throwing arm and while Kaepernick has the stronger arm and better speed, the difference in those areas could be considered rather negligible.
Unless Chip Kelly really does love Colin Kaepernick like many have speculated, the job should be Gabbert’s to lose.
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Training camp’s most wide open competition will be at cornerback. The prospective group is young and unproven and the 49ers will look for someone from Trent Baalke’s stockpile of recently drafted cornerbacks to separate himself from the pack this camp. Tramaine Brock is an incumbent starter and remarkably the only player out of the ten man group with more than three years of experience. His play has been steady if unspectacular and will likely hold onto his spot to start the year.
Kenneth Acker played the most snaps out of anyone from last season’s young group which has been complemented by this season’s three cornerback rookie class. Jimmie Ward has played primarily at safety and nickel back in his first two pro seasons, but has already been seen playing a lot at left cornerback in the early season camps. Dontae Johnson has the physical tools to be the modern prototype for cornerbacks but has yet to find a consistency to his game. Keith Reaser, Marcus Cromartie and Chris Davis return and are joined by rookies Prince Charles Iworah, Will Redmond and Rashard Robinson. Redmond is rehabbing a torn ACL and Robinson has not played a competitive football game since 2014 due to being kicked off the LSU football team.
This season will serve as a major verdict on Baalke’s cornerback stockpile strategy.
The offensive line is the other major question mark for Baalke and Kelly. Joe Staley will anchor left tackle but that is the line’s only certainty. First round pick Josh Garnett will likely be expected to win one of the two guard positions over the likes of Brandon Thomas and Andrew Tiller. One of the few free agent signing this offseason was former Pro Bowl guard Zane Beadles who will assume the other guard spot.
Right tackle will be the key spot as none in the current group stand out from the others. A certain Anthony Davis would seem to slide in nicely on that right side but that is a bridge long ago burned. Daniel Kilgore will once again be the penciled starter at center but will need to prove durable in order to keep the job over Marcus Martin. Quarterback, secondary and offensive line. Three positions riddled in uncertainty which need to be addressed if the 49ers will be successful in 2016.
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