San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk's season ended much better than it started. Yes, he suffered through the most difficult loss of his young NFL career, but he was also a bigger part of the offense compared to those earlier weeks.
Aiyuk managed just six receiving yards through Week 2, prompting many to question whether he was in head coach Kyle Shanahan's doghouse. It turned out there were things to be fixed, and after some talks with his head coach, Aiyuk emerged from that metaphorical doghouse as a better player and became a significant contributor down the stretch.
Some questioned whether coaches were disappointed with how Aiyuk returned to the team after an impressive rookie campaign. He led the team in receiving yards with 748 as a rookie and followed that up with an 84-catch, 826-yard campaign this season after turning things around.
The second-year wideout believes remaining injury-free will lead to a better offseason.
"I think first, this offseason, I get to go into an offseason healthy, which is a huge blessing," Aiyuk told reporters on Monday. "To get through an entire season, and come out on the clean side, and to be able to start the offseason on my terms, and to be able to start working on what I want to work on instead of having to start the offseason rehabbing."
Aiyuk knows there is work to be done this offseason if he wants to be considered among the NFL's elite receivers.
"I have what I think I need to improve upon as a player," Aiyuk said. "So, I think this year is just understanding what they want, what they think are the areas of improvement for me, and coming out to OTAs, whatever it is, the first time we get together, just being on the same page. But I think, for me, just having my legs under me."
At least part of that will involve working with his young quarterback, Trey Lance. Most figure Lance will be the starter next season, following a year of understudying behind veteran Jimmy Garoppolo.
"Trey and I, we have the same trainer," Aiyuk shared. "We both work out together down in Southern California. So, I've talked to him. I've talked to Nate [Sudfeld] as well. We'll be down there, throwing together, working out together."
One reporter asked if Aiyuk feels his run-blocking skills improved throughout the season. The receiver feels that has always been one of his strengths but acknowledges that his understanding of what was being asked of him may have made strides.
"I think, if you turn on the tape, I was blocking well from Week 1," Aiyuk said. "But I just think there was more of an understanding of the blocking assignments, and where the runs were going, and what I needed to do. Just understanding the run game a little bit more to not just be physical, but also add a level of finesse, I guess, to make blocks easier for myself, and knowing where the ball is going to be hitting.
"I think, throughout the course of the season, you understand how big each block becomes, even more important as the magnitude of the games get more and more important. So, it's just holding yourself to that standard of the person I'm blocking is not going to make the tackle. I'm not going to let a corner or a safety fall off and be the reason our back got tackled or the reason why we don't bust a huge run, because of your guy.
"I think the whole entire [receiver] room, and everybody kind of developed that—their guy wasn't going to be the one making the play, and that was kind of the thing from special teams to offense to defense."