The 49ers may be 0-4 this season, but one area where they've been holding their own against anyone in the league is special teams. In fact, the 49ers are currently rated as having the best special teams unit in the NFL by ProFootballFocus.com.

"What a difference a year makes," wrote Eric Eager of PFF. "One of the worst special teams units a season ago, the 49ers have turned it around with the solid play of Robbie Gould (11-of-11 on field goals), Bradley Pinion (second overall in our punting grades) and Raheem Mostert (averaging one tackle a game in coverage). Fifth-round rookie Trent Taylor has averaged a solid 11 yards per punt return through four games, and undrafted rookie Victor Bolden forced a key fumble on a kickoff return in their near comeback against Los Angeles in week 3."

Pro Football Focus currently ranks Mostert as the highest-graded special teams player in the league. Mostert, according to PFF, has four special teams tackles, no missed tackles, and two fair catches forced.

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters Wednesday he's seen effort from his players in all three phases of the game, but special teams is the one phase where the execution has shown up. Meanwhile, Pinion has shown improvement in his punting this season, while Gould has a streak of 28 straight field goals.

"It starts with effort, but it goes to executing and playing the best that you can," Shanahan said, per 49ers.com. "Statistic-wise and result-wise, we’ve done a better job of that on special teams compared to the other two phases. We’ve been more consistent in all four games like you’re saying. I really don’t come to conclusions really until the year’s over. There’s a lot of ebbs and flows throughout a year... I think our special teams has definitely been the most consistent and done the best so far, but we’ll see when the year is over.”