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Last season, the Colin Kaepernick-led San Francisco 49ers made a somewhat surprising run to the Super Bowl. Do they have what it takes to get back there this year or will the season fall short? Let’s take a look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios.
On paper, the 49ers have one of the best teams in the NFL. Not only are they returning the same players that led to them to the Super Bowl last year, they’ve added a lethal weapon for Kaepernick in Anquan Boldin. He is added to a receiving corp that includes Vernon Davis at tight end and Kyle Williams at the other wide receiver spot.
In the backfield, Frank Gore and LaMichael James will carry the rock. They will be a great one-two punch.
Defensively, they could become the best in the NFL. Justin Smith, Ahmad Brooks, Patrick Willis and Aldon Smith are all capable of Pro Bowl years in any given season. In the secondary, Carlos Rogers leads the way. If you’re looking for a weakness, keep looking because they are a sound football team.
In 2012, the 49ers ranked fourth in rushing yards per game with 155.7 and 23rd in pass yards per game with 206.1. On defense, they ranked fourth in both pass defense (200.2) and run defense (94.2). Expect the passing game to improve as Kaepernick gets a boost from Boldin in the receiving corps.
So, what can we expect out of the 49ers this fall? What is their best-case scenario and their worst-case scenario? A worst-case scenario would be the 49ers missing the Super Bowl. This team is far too talented to not get there. A best-case scenario would obviously be them winning it all.
If you’re a 49ers fan, this fall has to be an exciting time for you. They return a fantastic group of players and have a ton of momentum heading into this season. Expect them go deep into the playoffs and likely get back to the big game.
Brian Skinnell is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, Like him on Facebook and add him to your network on Google.
