There is plenty of hype surrounding the San Francisco 49ers going into the 2018 NFL season. Most of it has been due to the emergence of quarterback Jimmy Garappolo down the stretch of the 2017 campaign.
However, it appears the team may even be more optimistic about its batch of pass-rushers this season. According to Joe Fann of the team's official website, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh feels this group is much further along than they were last year:
“They’ve identified some stuff that’s going to be a cool dynamic,” Saleh said, via the team’s website. “I think we’re going to be much further along pass rush wise.”
San Francisco finished 26th in the league in sacks last season with 30. So it would be difficult to imagine they could get any worse over the course of the season.
The 49ers have done what they can to piece t0gether a formidable pass rush over the years. They have invested a bevy of quality draft picks on the likes of defensive ends Solomon Thomas, DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead.
Unfortunately, the three combined to finish with just one more sack than defensive end Elvis Dumervil last season, who is no longer with the team. That said, the 49ers will need to start seeing some return on their investment.
The NFC West has emerged as a hotbed of pass-rush productivity. The Los Angeles Rams managed to bolster their defensive line with the addition of All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh while the Arizona Cardinals' still boast the NFL's reigning sack leader in defensive end Chandler Jones. The 49ers will need to click on all cylinders if they are going to make a run at the playoffs.
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