San Francisco 49ers: 5 Biggest Obstacles in the Way of 2011 Repeat

The San Francisco 49ers shocked the football world after going 13-3 in 2011 and earning a trip to the NFC Championship Game.

They fell short of moving on to the next round, but with even higher expectations this year, the 49ers are looking to run through the NFL.

With last year's breakout season behind them, they are now poised to build on what they did and make a run to the Super Bowl.

But there are some key issues that could stop them from repeating their magical run.

5. Secondary Depth

The 49ers secondary lacks a true shutdown defensive back, but the combination of Carlos Rogers and Dashon Goldson patrolling is still lethal.

However, behind the starters, there does not appear to be any real depth.

No major changes have been made to the defense that placed 16th in opponent's passing yards, and the secondary should remain relatively the same.  

As a whole, the 49ers defense is a constant threat when it comes to takeaways, but the secondary is open to getting abused by teams that have several skilled wide receivers. 

4. Red-Zone Scoring

The 49ers didn't have a problem getting to the red zone last season. Their major flaw was scoring touchdowns once they got within range.

The team finished 30th in red-zone scoring percentage in 2011 (TD only). Struggling to get touchdowns, kicker David Akers was often the man called on to finish the job.

Hell, Akers even broke Jerry Rice's record for most points in a season after amassing 166 points of his own.

3. Defending NFC West Title

The NFC West has not been a powerhouse for many years, and most of the time, it seems like only one team in the division is any good.

However, since teams have improved their rosters this offseason, the division won't be a cakewalk for the 49ers again.

The young crop of quarterbacks made up of Matt Flynn, Kevin Kolb and Sam Bradford could pose some problems, since they have each had a year to grow and mature. 

2. Converting Third Down

The 49ers converted just 28.11 percent of their third downs last season, good enough for 31st in the league.  

As good as the 49ers defense is, it would serve the unit well to keep it refreshed on the sideline.

The offense needs to sustain its drives longer and cut down on the three-and-outs.  

1. Alex Smith

In his 2011 campaign, QB Alex Smith put together a respectable stat line after several mediocre years with the 49ers.

He managed to pass for over 3,000 yards while also maintaining a 90.7 quarterback rating, both career highs.

Smith's conservative style of play had the team ranked 29th in passing yards per game. In order for the team to advance to the next level, Smith will have to expand on his game and become more accurate when throwing downfield.