The 49ers ended last season with a dismaying 4-12 record after a bad rash of injuries that led the team to overhaul their training and conditioning staff, and the disappointing (lack of) development of several highly touted youngsters (such as Ahkello Witherspoon, Joshua Garnett, Trent Taylor and Adrian Colbert).
But underneath those grim results, they upgraded the roster at almost every position (except in the secondary). Some of these improvements were obvious and much-discussed. (Hello, George Kittle!) Tackle Mike McGlinchey was considered for rookie of the year, and while Dante Pettis started the season slowly due to injury and erratic quarterback play, he was amazingly productive after the bye, as Kyle Posey recently broke down.