Yahoo Sports NFL analyst Nate Tice and fantasy analyst Matt Harmon break down all the positions the 49ers need to focus on this upcoming offseason. Check out the full conversation on “Football 301” – and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
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Video Transcript
I think we’re about to say something.
This is a bigger offseason than maybe it’s Being, yes.
Discussed as, because, yeah.
I think, and look, I feel this way.
When they lost the game on Saturday, I was like, “Okay, you can leave this season feeling fine about that.”
You got The Seahawks.
The Seahawks are the best team.
But you were banged up.
You just ran out of rope.
I think that’s what I said.
Yep.
You just, you ran out.
Uh, uh, you, uh, you drove.
So… You drove the car all the way to E, This very banged-up team.
My question, my problem is, Though, number one, you’re losing Robert Saleh.
That’s a big deal.
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And, mm-hmm, mm-hmm… You’re gonna get Nick.
You’re gonna get Nick Bosa and Fred Warner back healthy, theoretically.
But, like, you’re gonna- that’s great.
That’s gonna help the defense.
Uh, but you are losing the guy that just made chicken salad out of you-know-what.
Right?
Like, that’s a problem.
And then Offensively, other than Brock Purdy, who are the guys we’re counting on?
Next year?
Um, right.
I love this.
This is where I always go.
I love Ricky Pearsall.
I’m a… Yeah, yeah…
I, I love Ricky Pearsall.
I’m a huge Ricky Pearsall fan.
But obviously, I’d say you can’t really count on him based on how the season went.
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Year.
You’re hoping, like, okay, he plays 17 games next season, and he breaks out, and he’s awesome.
I think that’s totally, totally possible, just tough to set your watch to it.
After what happened this year, Jauan Jennings I would guess is moving on in free agency.
George Kittle tore his Achilles.
Like a week ago, guys, and he’s 33 years old.
Yes.
In October.
Yes.
That’s like… Is he going to be available in September?
Probably not.
No.
Is he gonna be George Kittle at all?
Any point next year?
Probably not.
No.
And Christian McCaffrey had 480 opportunities this year.
I’m ready.
That’s targets plus receptions.
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That is the fourth most for a running back since the year 2000.
It’s tied with Arian Fosterwow!
For the fourth most among a running back, and that’s regular season and playoffs combined.
Shooting.
Yeah, and don’t look at what happens to Guys, the year after, yeah…
They have those.
Like, 400.
I was hoping you had that stat.
I, I, I don’t have… Like, I have the players.
I haven’t looked deep into this in terms of like, Okay, this is how much their efficiency drops off or whatever.
But, um, I can just rifle off some of the names here real quick.
Number one is DeMarco Murray, 506 for the… Yeah.
2014, uh, the 2014 Cowboys.
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Died after that.
Nope.
Uh, Saquon Barkley, last year for the Eagles?
A Super Bowl run.
Obviously, I don’t think he was the main culprit of what?
Yeah, he was…
Went wrong with the Eagles’ running game.
…
But I don’t think it totally helped.
He dropped off.
Eddie George in 2000 had 489.
Oh, yeah, a famous one.
Arian Foster, 2012 Texans, had 480.
Just like Christian McCaffrey did.
He dropped off.
Uh, he had a bunch of injuriesbig time the next year.
Larry Johnson, 2006, Kansas City Chiefs, 475.
Yes.
Didn’t go well for him the next year.
Edgerrin James.
The year 2000, 474 for the Colts.
I believe he tore his ACL.
Wow…
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The season after that.
Yeah, so it’s just like…
It’s a lot of guys that it didn’t go well the next season.
Uh, yeah…
When you, once you get up to those, Like, 470 opportunities, and obviously he does a lot of stuff in the D. Um, mm-hmm…
In the pass game, which I think he can to do, but even McCaffrey’s rushing efficiency dropped off next year.
I think it would be, mm-hmm, flat out.
And I’m not saying, like, McCaffrey’s done, or he’s gonna be done next year or anything like that.
But I think it would be flat-out irresponsible to do what they’ve done been healthy next season, which is just… Talk about pressing the easy button.
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Just…
Uh, I get it.
He makes your offense and your playsheet come alive if you’re Kyle Shanahan.
Let him do that as a receiver, and get somebody else in here to do that.
Grinder rushing stuff.
Mm-hmm.
Um, Trent Williams is, What, 38 years old next season?
Mm-hmm.
We probably time to start thinking about the future there.
Again, they just have nothing at wide receiver beyond Ricky Pearsall.
Who’s an awesome, talented player but is coming off an injury-plagued season.
So, there’s a lot more to do than Yep.
You would think for the San Francisco 49ers.