The San Francisco 49ers are tipped by many to contend for the postseason in 2018, here we look at five reason why they’ll make the playoffs.
The San Francisco 49ers have been a popular playoff pick for the 2018 season following a stunning end to their 2017 campaign. As with all teams who attract offseason hype, the Niners have their fair share of doubters who expect San Francisco to disappoint and miss out on the postseason.
However, this is a team that has the talent and the coaching, particularly on the offensive side of the ball, to cause problems for any team in the league.
Here we look at five reasons why the 49ers will continue to impress and make the playoffs in 2018.
1. Jimmy Garoppolo
Let’s start with the obvious. As much as some have tried to cast doubt on Garoppolo as a franchise quarterback, citing his small sample size of seven wins from seven starts, there has been nothing in the preseason to suggest he will not continue to excel in 2018.
Garoppolo was spotty in the preseason opener with the Dallas Cowboys, but then produced two excellent performances. Benefiting from excellent pass protection, Garoppolo showed off his lightning quick release, and his ability to modify it to negate pressure, continuing to deliver the ball with anticipation and further building his rapport with Marquise Goodwin.
Using the extra time afforded to him by the offensive line, Garoppolo was able to frustrate defenses in preseason by having the time to go through his progressions and hit his final read. He also demonstrated progress with his deep ball, which has been considered an area of concern.
Had it not been for a mountain of drops in the penultimate preseason game with the Colts, his numbers from his exhibition performances would have far more impressive and, worryingly for opposing defenses does not appear to have scratched the surface of what he can do in this offense.
With further pieces added around him, an improved O-line and a full offseason learning Kyle Shanahan’s scheme under his belt, this is set up to be a season where Garoppolo definitively proves he is the quarterback to lead the Niners back to prominence.