737 comin’ out of the sky
Oh, won’t you take me down to Memphis
On a midnight ride, I gotta move
Hey, you need a travellin’ band, yeah
By popular demand, we’ve switched to Creedence Clearwater Revival. Another excellent American band that sounded Louisiana but actually came out of El Cerrito. One of many bands that signed onerous contracts that paid them pennies on the dollar while the record company reaped huge profits. John Fogerty broke up the band because, a) he was a control freak, but he also realized that he couldn’t work under the conditions imposed by Fantasy Records. So he broke up the band. Fantasy Records later sued John Fogerty, saying the song “Old Man Down the Road” sounded too much like the Creedence song “Run Through the Jungle.” In other words, he sounded too much like himself. Brilliant. Vanz Can’t Dance, and Mr. Greed are songs dedicated to his boss at Fantasy Records.
Anyhow, what’s the fastest and best way to travel? Through the air, of course. And this is where the biggest question around this team lays. We’ve all bemoaned the lack of a speed WR, a guy like Randy Moss, who regularly took a safety and CB with him on every pass play. Problem was he was, for all intents and purposes, a decoy. He cleared out routes underneath for Crabs and VD. Getting a guy like DSJ to fill this role would be instant discord, as he’d bristle immediately about not being the focus of the passing game. And he’d be right, but that a different kettle of fish.
And therein lies the rub. There is talk around the water cooler that this team wants to use more 3 WR formations. Problem is, this talk has been out there for a long time. I’ve been advocating this since before the stone age of Singletary/Jimmy-Hat. Mainly because you can run more effectively with less guys in the box. If you have a speed threat that is an actual weapon, and NOT just a threat, the defense is forced to cover that outside guy with a CB, and provide help over the top with a safety. Which clears the 2nd level for the run game.
And that’s the other sticking point. Can we even BE an effective deep passing team? The prevailing theory was that Alex Smith was the problem. Well, now that we have a cannon-armed young stud in Kappy Kaepernick, well, it’s more of the same. Sideline passes, buttonhooks, the occasional deep fade. The only guy running go routes is our TE. I don’t see a plethora of deep balls flying around. In 2011, Alex Smith’s last full season as a Niner, he was at 7.07 yards per attempt. Kappy’s 7.69 last year isn’t a vast improvement. Even the split year of 2012, AS was at 7.97, and Kappy was at 8.32. More of the same.
All this leads me to believe that it is the design of the offense, not the lack of a burner, that is the main culprit here. So, there is little reason to draft a WR in the 1st round. I mean, I’d love to get an Odell Beckham, but if we are merely going to use him as a decoy, then screw it. Draft a low level burner in the 3rd or 4th round. If they DO draft a WR, I hope to God they really revamp this offense to take better advantage of Kaepernick’s abilities rather than continue with the same power running game. Sure, they may struggle early, but who cares? This team needs to be a little more explosive. They have the defense to stop people. They need to get on top of teams and dominate rather than let teams hang around all game and prey for a game-winning field goal.
Forty Niners Forever 
Well, I’m not going to win a billion dollars. But that’s not the half of it. After that ND St. upset I borrowed big time on my potential winnings and purchased some beachfront property in Malibu. Then I compounded that mistake by buying up all of the available Alex Smith apparel that I was going to use to fuel my big bonfire at my Malibu mansion during my huge “I Won a Billion Dollars!” victory party. You were all invited of course. Now there’s no party. No seaside property. And worst of all, I’m stuck with all this Alex Smith crap.
Guess I better go put an ad in the paper: For Sale; Alex Smith memorabilia. $2 each/OBO/OB/OB/OB… Or beer. Or beer. Or beer…
Cheap, cheap beer.
Just as well Del –
A dollar a week for a billion weeks is pretty hard to budget for 😀
Best move I ever made was switching allegiance from Chargers to Niners. That came about when Bill traded fer Fred Dean (from SD). A light bulb went on and I thought “So This is what winning is like”.
Worse move was switching allegiance from Packers to San Diego when I graduated HS and moved West. A side benefit was learning to hate the Raider tho.
Commitment to crap…….the Raider’s way!
This blog will be happy to know in sobriety my golf game is becoming lights out. I know. I know. This is the blog for it and this topic isn’t too much information. There’s music, lotto, Russia and now golf. It’s the off season. There are two ways to lower your scores: one is to slow down your golf swing and take a longer club, and the second is to play 16 holes. I know. I know. Hilarious, right? Today I hit the most pure shot I’ve ever hit. Par four, 185 yards out ….. tears in my eyes, I guess. About to become the blog hero. I hit a soft 4 iron, no movement left or right, straight as a Nebraska nun, two feet from the pin. “Golf: A good walk spoiled,” or the best damn game ever! 84 with 32 putts, not too shabby.
Fuck me.
lmao
I’ve got a five dollar McDonald’s gift card. I haven’t been in one for years. What should a value customer get?
I’d scalp it, take $3 for it and go to a Taco Bell instead. Much better line of e coli…
Offer the bum outside in the McDonald’s parking lot your $5 gift card for his 40 oz of malt liquor. If he’s truly hungry, he just might make the trade. The best thing I ever bought at Mickey D’s was outside their door.
Talks heating up around DeShaun Jackson. Seattle is said to be jumping into the conversation, but how much merit there is to that remains to be seen. The Eagles are reportedly saying “We’re either cutting him or trading him,” which seems like a stupid thing to say if you’re looking at trying to get compensation; however, Jackson’s contract is damn good for a team (not so great for Jackson).
It’s the owners meetings right now so the boyz in the smoke filled room will make a deal on Jackson soon. Maybe it’s a blessing we have no cap room to speak of. Sounds like Kelly said “Enough already; you’re gone.’me first boy’? Whatever. If we get him let’s tolerate the crap and win a SB = all will be well.
But really getting DSJ is secondary to Harbaugh-Roman-Jeep Christ ‘getting it’ and using who we have and can get this year.
Jedi underestimates frustration level of Niner fans at our sophomoric passing attack =
“Jed York pokes fun at DJax rumors, free agency” (Niners Nation)
But he needs a laugh after being vilified by fans for jacking with Hendrix
Baalke denies talking with Philly about DeSean Jackson, but then he would since it would mean tampering. I doubt they do this deal but still believe they should.
Worth the gamble if the Contract was acceptable I guess 12th.
I question his willingness to accept a Cap friendly deal to play for the hardware.
I just don’t think he’s concerned with the concept of ‘Team’.
I still find his personality to be risky but, there’s no denying his playmaking abilities.
I’m more inclined to see him joining Vick and Mornhinweg in NY, since there’s a familiarity with the system and, the better Cap situation there.
See what flies…..
I’d like it better if he were released and free to negotiate.
No way we could handle his current Contract arrangment.
In that scenario, there would be some room to find out what really matters to him.
For the sake of comparisons –
Santonio Holmes 381 Rec 5963 Yds 36 TDs 9yrs
Desean Jackson 356 Rec 6117 Yds 32 TDs 7yrs
Could Santonio offer us anything?
He’s a head case too, and a couple years older.
Desean is definitely the better PR/KR factor.
One stat both Santonio and Desean have in common is YPC.
Each guy is capable of the deep threat assignments.
Santonio – 15.7 YPC Avg
Desean – 17.2 YPC Avg
Chuck I gotta do this…..Just picked up Joe’s Live CD from last year – OUTSTANDING!
Now I have to own the DVD 😀
How Chris Cook could affect 49ers’ defense (from espn). This is what I was saying they would do with Cook = we’ll see
http://tinyurl.com/kdf57am
“ESPN scout Matt Williamson doesn’t believe the 49ers will adopt the one-high safety attack full time and instead thinks it will be a “wrinkle.” Despite the fact he doesn’t have an interception in four NFL seasons, Cook could help the 49ers.
“They want him to be their Richard Sherman with (safety Eric) Reid over the top. Cook is big and physical in press and does have a lot of ability,” Williamson said. “Not saying he is Sherman, but I do think that best uses Cook’s skill set.”
“Williamson said if the 49ers use Cook in press coverage, they can move new starting strong safety Antoine Bethea closer to the line of scrimmage than they played former starter Donte Whitner. Williamson said that can help compensate for playing without injured inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman early in the season. Bowman could miss up to half the season as he recovers from a torn ACL he suffered at Seattle in the NFC title game Jan. 19.”
So, perhaps, the acquisition of Cook could have multiple benefits.
Yeh Phil, I see Cook being the physical presence Carlos was unable to be.
We certainly need to start getting physical at the LOS, not playing off as we tradionally have.
Carlos was definitely has better coverage skills but, wasn’t very physical.
Add to this the anticipated Draftees and this Secondary is likely going to be re-tooled for the foreseeable future.
I’m on the fence regarding CB Jason Verrett due to his size but, he’s extremely quick and nimble. Could be upgrade for the slot duties where Carlos was notmally assigned.
I still see a pair of DBs and WRs from this shopping trip in May.
Perhaps even a late RD project pick for the Secondary to add a third selection?
Fodder fer a rainy afternoon from Bleacher Report: Nothing new but quick recap of Dealin’ Trents work so far
Ranking the 2014 Impact of San Francisco 49ers’ Free-Agent Signings so Far (reverse order)
http://tinyurl.com/lregdkd
6. Chris Cook CB
5. Eric Wright CB
4. Michael Wilhoite ILB
3. Antoine Bethea S
2. Phil Dawson K
1. Anquan Boldin WR
Rain? What’s that?
I’ll send some over at ya in CA
New thread is up