Richard Sherman has had an impressive season with the 49ers this year and has truly emerged as a leader in the locker room. How much has his presence helped to improve the culture of the team?

You’d be hard-pressed to find a more important player in the 49ers’ turnaround than Sherman. His attitude has completely turned around a defense that was headed in the wrong direction. His even-keeled demeanor has helped the club from getting too high or too low, which has given them the edge in several tight games this season. He’s also playing at an elite level again. He has three interceptions and 11 pass breakups while earning exceptional marks from Pro Football Focus. Having a shutdown corner on the left side of the field allows the 49ers to cheat a little defensively to give themselves advantages elsewhere. Players like Nick Bosa and Jimmy Garoppolo have been important for the 49ers this season, but Sherman helped establish the foundation that his 12-3 club is built on.