The final round of the NFL West Coast Training Camp Roundtable goes to several 49ers experts from across the web. Stephanie McCarroll,\u00a0Chris Wilson, Mitchell Blahut and Kevin Molina all write for different 49ers websites. Each one offers their insights on San Francisco\u2019s weaknesses, strenths, questions and expectations via email as the team heads into training camp.<\/p>\n
Stephanie McCarroll<\/strong><\/a>:\u00a0\u2026And while there is hope with the new regime, only time will tell. Since the 2013 NFCCG versus the Seattle Seahawks, which resulted in a 23-17 loss, the 49ers have struggled with the offensive line. The stability of left tackle,\u00a0Joe Staley<\/a>\u00a0is waning due to the brunt of the last three seasons and his age is not helping. At 32, he leads the team morally but there have been no standouts along side him in the past three years.<\/p>\n Right tackle, Trent Brown was mediocre at best in run support. Further, OG\u00a0Joshua Garnett<\/a>, the 2016 1st round pick, had a disappointing rookie season. Yet, it appears there are new faces in the mix, i.e.,\u00a0Jeremy Zuttah<\/a>,\u00a0Tim Barnes<\/a>,\u00a0Brandon Fusco<\/a>\u00a0andGarry Gilliam<\/a>. Even so, the OL will undoubtedly struggle\u00a0learning\u00a0a new blocking scheme under Shanahan.<\/p>\n If we judge Shanahan\u2019s offense, a lot of calls require an outside-zone approach. It is a lot to learn, especially for a group that has had four schematic offensive changes under four coaching staffs for the fourth straight season.<\/p>\n Mitchell Blahut<\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong>Starting off with the obvious is the quarterback position. Not many teams are going to have a winning record with\u00a0Brian Hoyer<\/a>\u00a0as the starter. Plus, with guys like\u00a0Matt Barkley<\/a>\u00a0and CJ Beathard as backups, it doesn\u2019t seem to make fans optimistic about this stuff\u2026<\/p>\n Chris Wilson<\/a>:<\/strong>\u00a0The San Francisco 49ers\u2019 biggest weakness this season was also their biggest weakness the past two seasons: their offensive line. The\u00a049ers<\/span>\u2019 offensive line was the NFL\u2019s worst over the past two years, per Football Outsiders, and is a major reason why the Niners won only 7 games over that timeframe.\u00a0The new\u00a049ers<\/span>\u00a0front office recognized this problem, and brought in a handful of players to compete for starting positions in 2017; Pro Bowl center Jeremy Zuttah was the team\u2019s biggest offseason addition on the\u00a0line,\u00a0and will be an immediate starter. The\u00a049ers<\/span>\u00a0also added tackle Gary Gilliam, guard Brandon Fusco and center Tim Barnes. Although all three linemen started for other teams in 2016, none are locks for starting jobs in 2017, but they should provide competition in a group that needs immediate improvement.<\/p>\n Kevin Molina<\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong>Defensively, their biggest weakness is one that many teams struggle with and that\u2019s EDGE pass rushing. The current group of EDGE rushers can be disruptive from time to time, but they are either completely unproven or on the downside of their careers. In the last few years, they have made a serious investment in their interior pass rush group and that will in time show real benefits. Just ask\u00a0Aaron Donald<\/a>\u00a0andMuhammad Wilkerson<\/a>\u00a0about the damage they can wreck from the interior. In 2017, the interior group of\u00a0DeForest Buckner<\/a>, Solomon Thomas and\u00a0Arik Armstead<\/a>\u00a0(who even though has been lumped in at the LEO position will still likely be an interior pass rusher) will have to lead the way while the EDGE rush group will have to be more than the sum of their parts. The 49ers have no illusions about this position, they understand its importance and that they need to commit real resources to rectify it. In the 2018 offseason, they have an estimated $113 million in salary cap space and they will have five draft picks in the top 100 selections, so this weakness will almost assuredly be addressed.<\/p>\n Stephanie McCarroll<\/a>:<\/strong>\u00a0Although\u00a0the 49ers struggled on the defensive end of the ball last season, the new brass made the defensive a priority. General manager,\u00a0John Lynch<\/a>\u00a0used his first three NFL Draft picks to address\u00a0defense. He also made significant moves in free agency.<\/p>\n In the 49ers\u2019 2-14 abysmal season, there was hardly a bright spot. However, if you look at the play of DE DeForest Bucker, he certainly shined. Buckner led all interior defenders in snaps last season.<\/p>\n Yet, there is room for improvement, the 49ers allowed franchise highs in rushing yards (2,654) and all-purpose yards (6,502). Hence, the NFL Draft No. 3 all around pick, DE Solomon Thomas from Stanford made complete sense. Although NT\u00a0Earl Mitchell<\/a>\u00a0was signed in free agency, there was a serious need in the trenches. Thomas reinforced the front seven and alongside Mitchell, it appears the run defense has been addressed. If Arik Armstead returns from his season ending injury, he can become another significant component to a new 4-3 defense needing strength and depth.<\/p>\n All-pro linebacker\u00a0NaVorro Bowman<\/a>\u00a0and first-round rookie, LB Reuben Foster should only add fuel to the fire. Additionally, with LB\u00a0Malcolm Smith<\/a>\u00a0and pass rusher,\u00a0Elvis Dumervil<\/a>\u00a0in the mix, the defensive group is a definite bright spot, especially when it comes to talent and depth.<\/p>\n Mitchell Blahut<\/a>:\u00a0<\/strong>The young unit that is coming in from this year\u2019s draft. The first-rounders of Thomas and Foster will be solid pieces in fixing the defense. Also, the additions of offensive guys like\u00a0Joe Williams<\/a>\u00a0and George Kittle is also something to get excited about. Not to mention with the early cornerstones that the team added in the 2016 Draft with Buckner and Robinson.<\/p>\n The running game is also something to look at with the acquisition of fullback,\u00a0Kyle Juszczyk<\/a>\u00a0and the new zone-stretch scheme that Shanahan implements.<\/p>\nWhat are the 49ers\u2019 biggest strengths?<\/b><\/h2>\n