Michael Lombardi of The Athletic recently joined the Taylor Price Talk podcast and discussed the San Francisco 49ers at length. He spent about three decades as an NFL executive and started as a 49ers scout under Bill Walsh in 1984.
San Francisco is preparing to enter its third season with head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch at the helm. The 49ers have just 10 victories over the past two seasons, and hopes are high that the team is close to turning a corner.
"I think it's a huge year for them," Lombardi told Price. "Look, the injury to Jimmy Garoppolo last year derailed it. I think what they've got to do is improve defensively. They were 28th in the National Football League in offensive points allowed by their defense, which isn't going to be good enough. They're going to have to prove that they can slow some people down."
Shanahan faced a significant amount of pressure from the fanbase last season regarding the fate of defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. The head coach made it clear in December that Saleh was not going anywhere.
"I think it's really critical that they play better defense than they have in the past, which they have not been able to do," Lombardi continued.
Lombardi feels a crucial part of the defense's success will be based on the production of the defensive front. The 49ers worked hard this offseason to bolster their struggling pass rush by adding veteran edge defender Dee Ford and rookie defensive end Nick Bosa. Lombardi believes pairing the defensive bookends with DeForest Buckner in the middle has the potential to boost the pass defense.
Lombardi also believes the 49ers offense will be good this year, but the team needs to learn how to get off to a fast start and allow the defense to work with a lead. A lot of the offense's success rests on the shoulders of Garoppolo, who is returning from an ACL injury.
Lombardi worked as an assistant to the New England Patriots coaching staff from 2014 through 2016, so he has some familiarity with Garoppolo.
"I think he can clearly command a room," Lombardi said of the 49ers quarterback. "I think the players like playing with him. I think there's no doubt he's got great leadership skills. He's a tough kid. He may make some mistakes, but I think he can put them behind him.
"I think he's got the ability to make plays down the field. His accuracy down the field, he's just going to get nothing but better and better the more he plays, and I think this is a critical year for him, as well."
While Garoppolo's success will be crucial for the 49ers during the upcoming season, Lombardi acknowledges that the pressure can't solely sit on his shoulders.
"They've got to find a better way to win," Lombardi said. "They've got to be able to control games, not just win games."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Lombardi below.