Quarterbacks: C
Colin Kaepernick had moments of brilliance, but his lack of development as a pocket passer kept the offense shackled.
Running Backs: B
Carlos Hyde showed promise before getting hurt. Frank Gore came on strong at the end of the season.
Receivers: D
Anquan Boldin was the only guy who lived up to expectations. TE Vernon Davis practically disappeared.
Offensive Line: F
The 49ers’ decline can be traced directly to poor O-line play. And it wasn’t all due to injuries.
Defensive Line: B
Justin Smith continued to be SF’s workhorse. Ray McDonald played well until he was suspended for “bad decisions.”
Linebackers: B
Considering the significant injuries here, a fine year. The 49ers found keepers in Chris Borland and Aaron Lynch.
Defensive Backs: C
SS Antoine Bethea was the only guy who was consistently effective. Injuries at cornerback really hurt.
Special Teams: B
Phil Dawson (25 of 31 on field goals) was Mr. Reliable and Andy Lee’s punting helped field position.
Coaching/Overall: D
The Jim Harbaugh magic seemed to dry up as the edgy coach began to feud with management. Player behavior became a major issue, and the inaugural year of Levi’s Stadium was a dud.
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