With San Francisco coming off three consecutive conference championships and a trip to the Super Bowl two seasons in-depthago, hopes were high heading into 2014. But injuries, infighting and the regression of Colin Kaepernick took the 49ers down a peg.

Now, Jim Harbaugh is coaching at the University of Michigan and Jim Tomsula is taking his place. Frank Gore is gone to Indianapolis and LBers Chris Borland and Patrick Willis have retired. Reggie Bush and Torrey Smith are newly signed. Carlos Hyde steps into Gore’s role. And, perhaps most importantly, Kaepernick has another shot to take the next step in his development.

So how does this team stack up in the NFC heading into the 2015 draft?

Al Sacco, who covers the 49ers for 49erswebzone.com, Ninerfans.com and Sportsoutwest.com, returns to Zoneblitz with some thoughts.

Zoneblitz: The 49ers fell from 12-4 and conference championship game to 8-8 and out of the playoffs. What caused the problems and how would you assess the season?

Sacco: I really feel like all of drama between Jed York and Jim Harbaugh hurt the team more than anyone wants to admit. They never looked like themselves, and seemed disjointed on offense. Injuries to the o-line didn’t help, and Kaepernick regressed to the point where he was almost a liability in the passing game. With Vernon Davis banged up, they didn’t have a deep threat, and had to play offense essentially in a box. I could go on and on … it was a rough one.

Zoneblitz: Jim Harbaugh led the team to a Super Bowl and two additional conference championships during his four year tenure – what’s your assessment of his time with the team, why is he gone and how do you feel about his exit?

Sacco: You can’t argue with the results he got over his first three seasons. He’s a terrific head coach and the 49ers were better off for having him. I think he was a tough person to deal with at times and for whatever reason Jed York just had enough. I think a lot of it was personal, unfortunately, and that got in the way of football. I do think the offense was a mess though and some of the blame has to be put on Harbaugh for that. He should have fired Greg Roman, but maybe he is loyal to a fault.

Zoneblitz: What do you think of the decision to hire Jim Tomsula as Harbaugh’s replacement?

Sacco: I like Tomsula, I do. There were rumblings about him being Harbaugh’s eventual successor for years (although no one thought it would be this quickly). I think the way the whole thing went down rubbed people the wrong way. If Tomsula was hired relatively quickly, then it’s like, “okay, the Niners had their guy all along.”

But there were rumors about Vic Fangio and Mike Shanahan, and then that whole last minute flirtation with Adam Gase. York and Baalke just led a messy search, which put Tomsula behind the eight ball perception wise. Now he looks like a puppet which is unfair to him.

Zoneblitz: How would you assess Colin Kaepernick’s development and do you think he’s a QB who can lead the team to a championship?

Sacco: I think he struggles to see the field, read defenses, and play from the pocket. Those are big problems. Again, Harbaugh deserves some blame here. Kaepernick was a mess last year and has had to go outside of the organization to get help (he worked with Kurt Warner this offseason). 2015 will tell a lot, because his o-line should be healthy again and they finally have a deep threat in Torrey Smith. If he doesn’t perform this year, it’s not crazy to think he won’t be with the team in 2016.

Zoneblitz: Frank Gore and Mike Iupati are gone. Torrey Smith and Reggie Bush have been signed. How would you assess the offense in 2015 versus 2014 and what still has to be done to give this unit a chance to step forward?

Sacco: They planned for the roster turnover (minus the Willis and Borland retirements) and I think they did all that can be expected. Iupati and Chris Culliver got ridiculous contracts, and so did Gore when you consider he’ll be 32 this season. I think they have younger players ready to go (Carlos Hyde, Brandon Thomas, Jimmie Ward, etc.) but while they look good on paper, they are still unknowns. I love the Torrey Smith addition and think he’s an upgrade over Crabtree. They needed someone who can get deep. Smith has a 16.9 yards per catch average for his career.

Zoneblitz: Injuries were at least part of what caused the defense to go from 272 points allowed in 2013 to 340 in 2014. Now, however, Patrick Willis and Chris Borland are retired. NaVorro Bowman still hasn’t fully recovered from his gruesome injury. A couple members of the secondary have moved on. Where is this unit at and how does it improve in 2015?

Sacco: There are a number of younger players that need to step up. Ward, Aaron Lynch, Quinton Dial, Tank Carradine, Dontae Johnson. Again, Baalke did a good job of drafting replacements, now they just have to perform. The health of Bowman will be huge. They aren’t the same defense, but can still be one of the better ones in the NFL.

Zoneblitz: What 49ers players have a chance to break out in 2015?

Sacco: I think Carlos Hyde could really breakthrough in year two. I like Aaron Lynch as well. He could get to double-digit sacks.

Zoneblitz: The West is still among the toughest divisions in football. How far are the Niners from making another run to and through the postseason?

Sacco: I think if Kaepernick plays well this is still a playoff team. I don’t think they’ll win the division but 10-6 could be realistic. I think whispers of the 49ers demise has been overblown a bit.

Zoneblitz: What is your reaction to the offseason additions at this point and what would you like to see the team do through the rest of free agency and in the draft?

Sacco: Love Smith (like I said earlier). I think Bush will offer a needed dimension in the offense as well as they can get the running backs more involved in the passing game. If Darnell Dockett has anything left he will be a nice veteran presence on the D-line. I think they’re done in free agency though.

Zoneblitz: How did you like the new stadium?

Sacco: It’s quiet. I don’t think it’s what people envisioned. A little too posh maybe? It wasn’t a home field advantage, that’s for sure

Zoneblitz: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Sacco: This team isn’t dead yet. If Kaepernick takes the next step, it’s still a good football team. This draft will be huge for them.

Follow Al Sacco on Twitter at: @AlSacco49
Follow 49erswebzone.com on Twitter at: @49erswebzone
Follow Ninerfans.com on Twitter at: @NinerFans
Follow Sportsoutwest.com on Twitter at: @SportsOutWest
Follow Zoneblitz.com on Twitter at: @ZoneblitzCom

Previous In Depth: Miami Dolphins
Next In Depth: Houston Texans