The San Francisco 49ers had a disappointing 2020 season because their core players sustained injuries all throughout their campaign. After tallying a 6-10 record, Kyle Shanahan and his squad are expected to bounce back and aim to be title contenders once more.
Just like in previous seasons, tight end George Kittle will continue to banner their offensive attack and be a threat on the field next season, whether it's Jimmy Garoppolo or rookie Trey Lance under center. In 2020, he slowed down and failed to be productive due to the broken foot that he suffered, which kept him out for multiple games. After a down year, the two-time Pro Bowler has already recovered and will surely try to be in the pink of health in a bid to get back to his old self in 2021.
Aside from him, another talent that will be crucial to the team's success is outside linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who is poised to be their X-Factor in 2021. He has come a long way, but his ceiling to be a great contributor is definitely promising for the 49ers moving forward.
Looking back, there were really no expectations set for the Arkansas product after he was picked late in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. During that season, Shanahan had to slot the rookie in as a replacement for Kwon Alexander, who went down with a chest injury. Greenlaw took advantage of the opportunities given to him and never looked back as he earned a PFWA All-Rookie selection in his first year in the league.
Over the past two seasons, Greenlaw has been an integral part of Shanahan's system. In 2019 and 2020, he was able to notch a total of 178 tackles combined and served as a steady presence on defense for San Francisco. Though last season was definitely a frustrating one for the team, Greenlaw's continuous improvement has been a silver lining for them amid the absence of their star players on the field.
Heading to his third campaign in San Francisco, Greenlaw will have an opportunity to secure a sizable role for himself on the field, especially within the linebacker corps. His ability to make tackles and cover pass plays will definitely be counted on by Shanahan and his staff next season.
In 2021, the 49ers are looking forward to a comeback season highlighted by the return of Nick Bosa, who suffered a season-ending torn ACL injury last year. Along with Greenlaw's development, the team's defense will surely cause a ton of headaches for their opponents on the field next season. Other players such as Fred Warner, Arik Armstead, and Dee Ford are also expected to step up and complement both of them on the defensive end.
Indeed, the 2021 season will be a crucial campaign for the 49ers as they aim to prove that their Super Bowl LIV appearance was not a fluke. Additionally, they are expected by many to come out with better performances and show that the team still belongs among the upper echelon of the league next season.
Ultimately, a healthy 49ers side will be hard to stop on the field, and Dre Greenlaw's impact on the team will surely dictate the level of success that they can attain in 2021. If he manages to live up to the billing and exceeds expectations, Shanahan and his men are in a great position to contend for another title in the upcoming season.
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