To fully understand the 49ers offseason we need to take a step back and get a broader perspective on how the club got there. Let's dial-up some observations as far back as 2014.

After the departure of Jim Harbaugh in 2014, everyone was abandoning ship for the 49ers. Patrick Willis, Chris Borland, Justin Smith, and Anthony Davis got out before the beginning of the 2015 season. Except for a brief comeback followed by another retirement by Davis, none of them have looked back once. The following two years the 49ers would post a record of 7-25 before hiring head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch to six-year deals.

Shanahan’s first two seasons have not gone over smoothly. He is 10-22 as the head coach and he and Lynch have made a few questionable calls in personnel for San Francisco. Including signing Jerick McKinnon to a four-year 30-million-dollar contract last season. McKinnon suffered an ACL injury just prior to the beginning of last season and hasn’t played a regular-season down for the 49ers. Also following a practice just a couple of days ago had what felt like his tenth setback during his recovery.

It was reported a couple of weeks ago that McKinnon could start the season on IR. Then it appeared he would be ready for Week 1. Now he may go back on IR. This also proves not all ACL injuries are the same as quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo tore his ACL three weeks later and has already played in the preseason.

Speaking of Jimmy and the preseason. After Shanahan made the decision to hold Garoppolo out of the first preseason game he would make his debut in game two against the Broncos. There was the much-publicized five straight interception practice; followed by Garoppolo’s game against Denver only competing one pass for zero yards on six attempts. His quarterback rating for that game 0.0. Of course, when the press gets ahold of this type of stuff we often hear, is Garoppolo really the future in San Francisco? And there is one beat reporter for the 49ers who has made it his personal agenda to make sure everyone knows how bad the 49ers are.

But Garoppolo would rebound the following week in Kansas City where he tore his ACL last season when he went 14-20, 188 yards, and one touchdown, with zero picks in the first half. His quarterback rating in that game, 116.2. Garoppolo hadn’t played in over a year and we saw the rust against Denver. But he must have taken a trip to Disney and got himself some Rusteze from Lightning McQueen, rubbed that on, and now he seems prime for the regular season.

The offensive line has looked suspect this offseason, but they have been without their starting center and right guard. However, their starting center Weston Richburg was activated off the PUP and returned to practice this past Monday. Despite the offensive line looking rough, the running game has been as sexy as ever in a Shanahan offense.

I have seen reports lately, including by another 49ers beat writer that makes you wonder how they have a job, asking if Dante Pettis is still going to be on the team after Saturday’s cuts are made. Were you dropped on your head as a kid to ask that question? Pettis is still very young and maybe slightly immature. Chances are he went into this season believing he was the number one and it was his job by right. He may have felt going through the motions of practice would be sufficient. This seemed to get onto Shanahan’s radar and he made it his goal to change Pettis’ thought process. Including having him play late in some preseason games.

Let’s not beat around the bush, Pettis is the best receiver on the 49ers and will be in the starting lineup come Week 1. He just needed some coaching up and have his pedestal knocked down a few pegs. Shanahan said following the Kansas City game, “But if anyone knows me, I am the hardest on people that I believe in. And I do believe in him a lot. And I’m always going to be probably a little disappointed because I think he can be very good. And it’s important to our team that he is.”

Here's what I know about football. It’s like a rollercoaster ride with some many ups and downs. It will have a twist or two, looking at you Andrew Luck. And maybe something that will throw you for a loop, still looking at you Luck. It hasn’t been an easy road for Shanahan and Lynch. San Francisco was an open book during the Harbaugh years and people didn’t like what they were reading. The Jim Tomsula and Chip Kelly years feel like something out of a Steven King novel that makes you want to throw the book into a freezer and forget about it. That’s a Friend’s reference if you didn’t get it.

And fans have been less than thrilled with what they have seen on the field. But they were given six-year contracts for a reason. Owner Jed York knew this was going to be a long process. On paper, things seem to be trending in the right direction. But it doesn't matter what the paper says if it doesn't translate to the field.

All 49er fans can do now is hope for a better year in 2019. We haven’t seen Nick Bosa and Dee Ford on the field yet and the defense already seems to be better. But can we keep Solomon Thomas from trying to cover running backs, asking for a friend? The front office went full-on Batman and put in a contingency plan by bringing in Tevin Coleman. Following the McKinnon ACL mess, they did the right thing.

Deebo Samuel and Jalen Hurd have looked extra special on the field this preseason and I can’t wait to see them, Pettis, and George Kittle on the field together at the same time. What is opposing defensive coordinators to do?

If it ain’t football news, is it worth reading?