By: Joe Lami

ninernoise.com photo: When it comes to the problems of the San Francisco 49ers in handling personnel and staffing critics point to 49ers general manager Trent Baalke for being responsible

SANTA CLARA–It’s week eight in the NFL season, and good news for 49ers’ fans, the team won’t adding another loss to their record due to their bye week. 2016 has been a nightmare season for the team in Santa Clara and just when you think the team has hit rock bottom, they find another way to sink even lower.

Week eight has the potential of being a big turnaround week for San Francisco. It will allow banged up players to get their health back and a mental rest from a six-game losing streak. Week nine will be the most important game of the Niners season. It can allow the team to regain confidence and get back to winning or it can tank them the rest of the season with a loss. If San Francisco can’t defeat the Saints on home turf, I don’t expect them to win another game this season.

The biggest problem is San Francisco hasn’t been the  players or coaching, it has been the talent of players, and the blame needs to be pointed at GM Trent Baalke, who will be seeing his final half season of his 49ers’ tenure and possibly his football career. What owner or GM would want to give him another chance after his implosion of a once great team.

The personnel problem for San Francisco is an absolute joke. There are only five players that should return to the 53-man next year and the rest could be let go. NaVorro Bowman, Carlos Hyde, Josh Garnett, Joe Staley, and Eric Reid are the types of players that the team needs to be built around. When there are only five players that should be kept, you know it’s time for a complete rebuild.