San Francisco 49ers: 5 Veterans Poised for Bounce-Back Season

The San Francisco 49ers will need exemplary performances from a number of their key veterans in the upcoming 2015 NFL season.

San Francisco has endured a rough offseason, which was marked by numerous retirements, free-agent departures and an overhaul of nearly the entire coaching staff. Doors have opened for younger players to step up, but the pending efforts from such veterans may be the difference between a successful season and a lost year.

Despite the personnel losses, the 49ers are fortunate enough to boast a number of vets who are on the brink of bouncing back from either lackluster or absent campaigns a year ago.

Some, like defensive cast members Darnell Dockett and NaVorro Bowman, missed all of 2014 with respective injuries. Others, like quarterback Colin Kaepernick, will be provided with the means to excel beyond uninspiring stats from a year ago.

Putting these bounce-back veterans into a position to succeed cannot be overlooked when examining San Francisco's chances in 2015. While fans will see a number of new and lesser-known faces this season, the crafty veteran presence of players who are looking to make a splash this season simply cannot be overlooked.

Keep an Eye on These Guys

Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Veteran running back Reggie Bush could provide another look for San Francisco's offense out of the backfield.

San Francisco will be giving a number of its veterans additional chances in 2015. While their respective impacts might not be as substantial compared to the remaining cast of vets on this list, one should least recognize that a few of these players' efforts are no less critical.

Look for some, perhaps all, of these veterans to bounce back in one way or another during the upcoming season.

Running Back Reggie Bush

Thirty-year-old veteran running back Reggie Bush was picked up by the 49ers this offseason in an attempt to give the offense a different element coming out of the backfield.

Over his nine-year career, Bush has totaled 466 receptions for 3,489 yards. These numbers give the 49ers an option to utilize a back in the receiving game—something that has been largely absent from San Francisco's offensive scheme in recent seasons.

According to Jeff Deeney of Pro Football Focus, the 49ers used only five screens to running backs last season, and this group caught just 44 passes overall.

Injuries limited Bush to just 11 games in 2014 and certainly influenced the Detroit Lions' decision to move on from him during the offseason.

Now in San Francisco, Bush will look to put his skill set to good use.

According to general manager Trent Baalke (h/t Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area), Bush is already fitting into his presumed role:

"

Reggie has really been an asset to Colin and has opened up some things. When you get the speed going down the field and you give a back like Reggie room to work in the third-down packages and stuff like that, it really is a bonus for the quarterback. And Colin is developing a real rapport with Reggie coming out of the backfield.

"

All that remains is for San Francisco's offense to properly utilize this weapon. The team will also hope to get backup running back Kendall Hunter into the fray after he missed all of last year with an injury.

Right Guard Alex Boone

Technically, 28-year-old right guard Alex Boone didn't have a bad year in 2014, overall. According to Deeney, Boone held a plus-13.5 overall grade over the final eight games of the season.

"

Over the final eight weeks of 2014, Alex Boone had a +13.5 grade, sixth best among all guards, and did not allow a sack or QB hit. #49ers

— Jeff Deeney (@PFF_Jeff) June 11, 2015"

These numbers might keep him out of the top players on the list. But his contractual holdout last season overshadowed his efforts and cast a doubt on his effectiveness in the final year of his contract.

Boone didn't repeat his holdout this season and reported to the 49ers' minicamp, per Tyler Emerick of 49ers.com.

“I was getting a little stir crazy at home watching two kids all day,” Boone said via the team's website. “I’m always happy being around the guys. Everyone is excited, just happy to be back.

Boone's return and subsequent efforts will be magnified after the loss of veteran right tackle Anthony Davis to retirement. While Boone could shift over to the right tackle position, this move has not yet been implemented, according to head coach Jim Tomsula (h/t Eric Branch of SFGate.com).

But the questions along the offensive line, and the fact that Boone enters a contract year, should be motivation enough for the veteran to have a solid campaign in 2015.

Linebacker Aldon Smith

When he's on the field, linebacker Aldon Smith is one of the most feared pass-rushers in the league. But off-the-field incidents held Smith to just six games in 2014. His overall efforts last year resulted in just 10 tackles and two sacks.

Those numbers should be expected to increase this season. While 2015 should be a bounce-back year, Smith's overall body of work suggests this shouldn't be a surprise as long as he can stay on the field.

“I don’t think I played to my level [last year], and I want to do everything it takes to play consistently at my level,” Smith said via Joe Fann of 49ers.com. “I know that when I’m playing consistently and I’m on my game, I can’t be stopped.”

"

"When I'm on my game, I can't be stopped." -@AldonSmith is on a mission. Read more: http://t.co/QZhn2bekkt pic.twitter.com/CoY7wguF9X

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) June 12, 2015"

Despite some of the changes along the defensive line this offseason, including the retirement of defensive end Justin Smith, Aldon Smith should have little trouble making his presence known at the line of scrimmage.

Wide Receiver Jerome Simpson

Off-the-field issues also plagued 29-year-old wideout Jerome Simpson last year. Combined with injuries, Simpson missed all of the 2014 season and was released by the Minnesota Vikings. Prior to that, Simpson amassed 145 receptions for 2,004 yards and eight touchdowns.

Signing Simpson during the offseason gave the 49ers added depth at a position that lost veteran wideouts Michael Crabtree and Brandon Lloyd. This unit also lacked sufficient speed across the board.

Simpson will provide that.

“Jerome Simpson is another one who can really run and make plays on the perimeter," Baalke said via Maiocco. "So watching those three guys out there [Simpson, wide receiver Torrey Smith and tight end Vernon Davis] just brings another dimension."

Simpson is competing for the No. 3 receiver slot along with younger targets Bruce Ellington and Quinton Patton.

Patton is another player worth watching as the scantly used receiver has just 10 regular-season games under his belt.

San Francisco's passing offense, which ranked No. 30 in the league last year with just 3,063 yards, could use some dynamic playmaking abilities within this crop. 

If Simpson can help provide that, the 49ers will be that much better off.

Linebacker Ahmad Brooks

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Linebacker Ahmad Brooks might see his role increase if he gets moved to the inside.

The 49ers are considerably thin at inside linebacker after the offseason losses of Patrick Willis and Chris Borland. But they do have some excess at the outside linebacker position.

Linebackers Aldon Smith, Aaron Lynch, Corey Lemonier and rookie Eli Harold will be high on the depth chart, as will be 31-year-old veteran Ahmad Brooks.

Statistically, Brooks put in a solid season last year. His six sacks were tied with Lynch for the team lead in 2014. But Brooks' multiple benchings were what overshadowed his on-the-field efforts during the season. Lynch's emergence meant Brooks wouldn't receive as many snaps.

But losing Borland and Willis might open up an opportunity for Brooks to switch to the inside. San Francisco will need some depth behind presumed starters Michael Wilhoite and NaVorro Bowman.

Brooks could provide that.

Brooks broke into the NFL as an inside linebacker with the Cincinnati Bengals. The move is something general manager Trent Baalke has considered (h/t Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee):

"

Well, he's played inside before. He's played inside in our goal-line packages as (recently) as last year. Never say never. He's versatile. Ahmad has played in there, so he's a guy you can cross train. But right now, he's starting at outside linebacker. We are going to take all these guys, put them out there on the practice field, let the coaches decide who plays, where they play and how they play.

#49ers linebackers (minus the retired Willis and Borland) warm up at OTAs. Ahmad Brooks, Aldon Smith lead way http://t.co/9Z64YNCbNJ

"

"— Cam Inman (@CamInman) May 22, 2015"

Brooks' bounce-back efforts will be contingent on this move and whether the veteran can avoid the sideline issues that plagued him a year ago. Moving to the inside will be beneficial, given the notable depth at outside linebacker.

If Brooks does move inside, San Francisco will have formidable depth at this position and would allow for Brooks to make a substantial impact.

Defensive Tackle Darnell Dockett

San Francisco's defensive line has to figure out a way to make things work after the retirement of veteran defensive end Justin Smith.

Making this easier will be the acquisition of 34-year-old D-lineman Darnell Dockett—a player who torched the 49ers over 11 NFC West seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.

Given his age, and the fact Dockett has generally struggled against the running game, he likely won't be an every-down player. According to Pro Football Focus, Dockett owns a minus-122.9 grade against the run over his career.

"

Darnell Dockett has a career +50.2 pass rush grade, but his -122.9 run defense grade is the lowest of any interior DL over the PFF era.

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) March 1, 2015"

Also clouding Dockett's prospects for 2015 is the fact he missed all of last year with an ACL injury.

But Dockett indicated via Taylor Price of 49ers.com his recovery is "way ahead of schedule," and he should be ready for the 49ers' Week 1 contest vs. the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football.

"

.@ddockett said his rehab is "way ahead of schedule." Read more in #49ers Notebook: http://t.co/RveAjHxUl6 pic.twitter.com/L1UFv0H7xt

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) June 10, 2015"

Dockett could be inserted into pass-rushing formations on the end of the D-line. With amicable depth behind him, the 49ers won't be pressed into exposing liabilities against the run or risking injury given his age and recovery.

This is the perfect situation for the veteran, and it allows for San Francisco's defense to potentially emerge as a strong unit for the team in 2015.

Tight End Vernon Davis

No. 1 tight end Vernon Davis endured one of the worst seasons of his nine-year career in 2014.

Davis hauled in just 26 receptions for 245 yards and two touchdowns—numbers that resembled a lackluster rookie campaign back in 2006.

Now, the question is whether last season was just an anomaly or a sign of things to come.

Davis indicated his 2014 numbers were a result of game-planning and nothing else.

“Whenever I’d run, like, my deep over routes, there was a safety sitting over there already,” Davis told Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. “It was just game-planning. And nothing really ever opened up. But I wasn’t really ever a factor in the offense last year...The first game, yeah. But the second game, the tight ends (weren’t) really involved as a whole.”

San Francisco's coaching staff—including the majority of its offensive coaches—has been completely overhauled, which may open up the door for Davis to return to the type of player for what he was once known. It is also a question asked by B/R in the above video.

Tight ends coach Tony Sparano likes what he has seen out of Davis during camp.

“What I’ve seen is an eager guy getting better every day on the practice field," Sparano said via Joe Fann of 49ers.com. "When you have the ability to be as dynamic as Vernon has, to go out there and get better the way he has, those are really positive signs.”

"

Tony Sparano likes the passion and excitement he sees so far from @VernonDavis85. Read more: http://t.co/nmY0afVblW pic.twitter.com/svpUBwG1zn

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) June 16, 2015"

Davis should also benefit from the additions of wideouts Torrey Smith and Jerome Simpson during the offseason. Given the latter's speed on the field, Davis likely won't be asked to be the lone deep threat on offense. This should open up more traditional tight end routes for Davis and, potentially, allow for him to get more involved within the offense.

Perhaps this is the spark he needed in order to return to Pro Bowl form.

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick is the ultimate enigma when it comes to evaluating a player at his position.

Last November, B/R's Joseph Akeley put together a piece breaking down just how confounding Kaepernick has been over his career and, more specifically, in 2014.

Akeley wrote:

"

Yet, despite struggling with some of the subtle areas of playing quarterback and poor offensive line play, Kaepernick's PFF QB Rating has gone up eight points from last year. It's possible that he's progressing, but we aren't seeing it in his stats because those around him are in decline. 

What the 49ers need is consistently transcendent quarterback play. They need Kaepernick to shed the enigma label.

"

San Francisco's offense was pretty abysmal last season. This unit ranked No. 25 in the NFL last season with just 306 points. The passing game ranked No. 30 with 3,063 yards through the air.

Kaepernick does have to share in the overall struggles within the offense. It's a question that was asked last December by B/R and can be viewed in the above video. The 49ers also ranked third in total sacks (52) last year. While the offensive line was a part of this specific problem, Kaepernick's poor decision-making and reaction skills also were a factor.

The 27-year-old signal-caller won't have as many excuses in 2015. 

He spent a portion of the offseason working with legendary quarterback Kurt Warner and quarterbacks coach Dennis Gile, which was first reported by Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee (h/t ESPN).

Additionally, the 49ers upgraded the offense with the additions of deep-threat receivers Torrey Smith and Jerome Simpson. San Francisco lacked speed within this unit last year, so these pieces should help reinvigorate a stagnant passing game.

Joe Fann of 49ers.com described how these new weapons should impact the offense:

"

Smith alone has recorded a catch of 50-plus-yards in each of his first four NFL seasons. His longest reception went for 74 yards with Simpson’s career-long going for 84 yards. Those skillsets combine nicely with the much-improved 49ers quarterback.

"

And Kaepernick has been quick to recognize what this will mean for his own efforts.

“They’ve been huge so far,” Kaepernick said of Smith and Simpson, via Fann. “They bring a lot of speed to the field and a deep vertical threat. That’s something I’m looking forward to this coming season is having the opportunity to take shots (downfield).”

"

"We have the weapons to go downfield" -@Kaepernick7 on #49ers aerial attack. Read more: http://t.co/9JBLh7uUsS pic.twitter.com/SzaNuNHNEe

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) June 14, 2015"

The O-line will still be a question mark after the offseason losses of left guard Mike Iupati and right tackle Anthony Davis. But the reinvention of Kaepernick should also be seen, provided the veteran can put the pieces together.

If he does, 49ers fans should enjoy seeing a much more dynamic offense in 2015.

Linebacker NaVorro Bowman

With the retirement of perennial Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Willis, the 49ers are going to be hard-pressed to find a heart-and-soul player to represent the defense.

Or will they?

Three-time All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman will be returning in 2015 after suffering a devastating knee injury during the NFC Championship Game back in 2014. The injury forced him to miss all of last year, and it certainly raises questions as to whether Bowman will be able to return to All-Pro form.

He'll have to, given the departures of players like Willis, fellow linebacker Chris Borland and defensive end Justin Smith.

Bowman's accolades are known well enough, and there is little doubt he should be an elite player, provided he returns 100 percent. Heck, most 49ers fans would be happy with a 90-percent effort out of this stellar linebacker.

Signs have been good for Bowman and the 49ers defense so far.

Here is what Joe Fann of 49ers.com (h/t Marc Sessler of NFL.com) said about Bowman's efforts during the team's minicamp:

"

Linebacker NaVorro Bowman continues to be all over the place, and is seemingly in the backfield on every play. He ruined a number of running plays and registered a would-be sack of Colin Kaepernick. Bowman also showed off his coverage skills in the red zone, keeping up with tight end Blake Bell step-for-step.

"

"

NaVorro Bowman is back. And wreaking havoc at @49ers minicamp: http://t.co/simmWdZ5um pic.twitter.com/H0VwWWV1Fi

— NFL (@nfl) June 13, 2015"

Bowman's presence in the middle of the field should do wonders for what should be San Francisco's prime strength. The defense, under new head coach Jim Tomsula, will likely be the heart of the team.

And Bowman should be the heart of the defense, which makes his return of utmost importance.

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated.

Peter Panacy is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the San Francisco 49ers.

Follow him @PeterPanacy on Twitter.