SANTA CLARA -- The 49ers finished last season on a five-game winning streak, then headed into the offseason with momentum and, perhaps, unrealistic expectations for 2018.
The best the 49ers can do this year is to match Kyle Shanahan’s first-year record of 6-10. But the coach said he believes the 49ers are in a more advantageous position heading into this offseason.
“We found some players last year as the season went that we knew would help us and be part of this turnaround,” Shanahan said on “49ers Game Plan,” which airs Saturday at 7 p.m. on NBC Bay Area (Ch. 3).
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SIGN UP HERE “Some guys have gotten better throughout the process, like (George) Kittle and (Matt) Breida. But I also think we’ve added a new group of guys who are starting to step up this last month. When you can combine all those guys together next year, get a few guys back healthier, hopefully add a few guys in free agency and the draft, yeah, I think we’re getting better each year. “
Before back-to-back victories over the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks the past two weeks, the 49ers were in prime position for the No. 1 overall draft pick to fill the team’s biggest offseason need at edge rusher.
While the 49ers still could end up with a difference-maker to fill the biggest hole on defense, it's no longer a sure thing. Currently, the Oakland Raiders and the Arizona Cardinals have worse records. The 49ers, New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars all enter Week 16 with 4-10 records.
Shanahan said he doesn't think about his team’s draft status. He also believes the concept of carrying momentum from one season to the next is overrated. Instead, he is more concerned with evaluating how certain players finish the season because it helps shape the offseason plan.
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“When you do play well at the end of the year, it changes some of the decisions you make,” Shanahan said. “Some of the guys, maybe, you didn’t think were as good at the beginning, they show things at the end you know you can build off. Some guys who fell off at the end of the year, you realize, ‘Hey, we have to go in a different direction.’
“So it’s extremely important at the end what guys put on tape, how hard they’re going. And when you do play better, you end up winning those games, and it helps a lot of people with the decisions you make going into next year.”
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The 49ers’ improved play has been sparked by a handful of young players who are setting up themselves to be starters or primary backups in the future. Quarterback Nick Mullens, wide receiver Dante Pettis, nose tackle D.J. Jones, linebacker Elijah Lee, nickel back D.J. Reed, safety Marcell Harris and cornerback Tarvarius Moore are among the promising young players who will get two more games to make their cases for increased roles.
“What excites me the most is you go to our third year here, and there’s a lot more competition,” Shanahan said. “Some of the young guys that ended the year well the first year, you feel real good about them, but I didn’t think we were in a spot where we had a ton of competition.
“Now, adding another draft and watching how some of these new young guys have finished this year, it makes me a lot more excited about going into OTAs and training camp to where there really aren’t many penciled-in starters. There will be some good battles. When you have two good players competing at a position, both of those guys get better.”