SANTA CLARA – Kyle Shanahan’s third training camp is afoot, and the 49ers coach has more talent to work with than the camps that preceded 6-10 and 4-12 seasons.
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is back, with a rebuilt knee. The defense’s pass rush is upgraded, with ex-Kansas City star Dee Ford and yet-to-be-signed rookie Nick Bosa. From one position group to the next, more cohesion exits, as does more competition.
Thus, a winning season is much more realistic than a year ago, when false hope enveloped the franchise. Harsh reality struck with Garoppolo’s Week 3 injury and a toothless defense.