Super Bowl bound! 4-12? Shit, who am I kidding. I have no clue how this season turns out. Despite the naysayers and those that laugh and predict doom for jettisoning St. Jim the Wolverine, the team still has talent and the offense will hopefully move out of the 70s.
The defense? Well, shit should be fine, if not a little thin in the defensive backfield. Which leads me to believe we will be a little more aggressive with the pass rush. Ahmad Brooks still remains a 49er, albeit that depends on the charges brought forth by the woman who brought down RayMac. Cutting him at this point would only save $1.5 mill against the cap, so he’ll probably stick around if these charges go away.
If anything, both Ahmad Brooks, and his bookend OLB Aldon Smith have a lot to prove with their recent travails and issues. The defensive line should still be fairly stout as Justin Smith hasn’t been himself the last couple years, and the rest of the crew, plus Darnell Dockett should be good to go. These OLBs (Lunch included) can wreak some havoc if the D line takes care of business. Eli Harold has been seen as a high-value pick where we got him. Arik Armstead? He’s got the ‘potential’ tag laid all over him. The positive being Jim Tomsula has done very well as a D line coach with a lot less than AA.
Inside LB? Well, there’s the rub. Bowman is by all intents coming along just fine, but his injury was horrific and he is a question. Wilhoite has shown decent game, but his ceiling isn’t very high. Moody and the rest? Ehh. Have to wonder if someone will fall off a team after cut-down time.
The secondary is thin as well. Even with the signing of Jaquaski Tartt, heir apparent to Antoine Bethea. The only question is when. The corners were left thin by the Cully and COX departures, but Brock should be healthy. Johnson came on very well last year, but he’s a question as a starter and Shareece Wright isn’t all that. They did sign UDFA Mylan Hicks (Mich St) to a 3 year deal so they see something there.
As far as the coaches go, they have a lot of guys with a lot of time in the game. What does it mean? Little to nothing in itself, but Mangini is on the right side of the line now at least.
Forty Niners Forever 
For what it’s worth –
Another opinion, regarding the Offensive outlook for our 9ers…
http://tinyurl.com/pqh8acs
NJ- Here is a paragraph from the article you posted:
“Roman’s scheme often included calling two plays in the huddle, motioning players around before the snap to see if the defense was in man coverage or zone. Then the quarterback would check to the proper play or let the first play run. It was a timely and, at times, costly process.”
If the only change made with the new coaching staff is not calling 2 plays in the huddle then the coaching change is worth it. I do not expect to lead the league in delay of game penalties anymore. There are idiot fans who blamed the penalties on Kap but anybody who understands the game knows it was the play calling that was responsible.
When we start getting plays off on time the Kap haters will say he’s improving. The reality is the problem was RoBaugh.
Funby thing is, Harbaugh should have stuck with young sir Alex since the offense he ran suited Smith better than Kappy.
Harbaugh didn’t (and stop me if you’ve heard this before) adjust to what he had in Kappy.
Kap was better than Smith from the start. Then the defenses adjusted to RoBaugh’s one dimensional play calling by stacking the box. So RoBaugh took the offense into the garage, tore it down and started over. They tried to run an offense they did not know how to call plays for and were still one dimensional. In the end, since Smith would check down by nature while Kap goes for the juggler, Smith would have suited RoBaugh better. That is not a good thing.
That’s the point. Smith was all about he the check down. Safe underneath shit that good teams ca take away. Even with all the changes. There was no consistency and no deep game to speak of. It was the same out routes over and over. No timing playys no screens or slants.
Either way the defenses adjust. So you either have them adjust to the dump off or to the deep pass. This doesn’t even account for the lack of adjustments Robaugh made during the game. I have zero doubt that if Harbaugh stayed we would be sub .500 this coming year. Possibly a top 3 pick. The only thing our offense would be able to count on is some big plays by Kap. I think the new staff will have some answers. We will soon find out.
Yeah, I just think they were trending down regardless of the injuries.
4 years and they still couldn’t get plays off in time. What’s funny is this gets blamed on Kappy, but Alex Smith had the same problems with Harbaugh, and the previous offenses as well. Cost them the Super Bowl.
Got to love the fans hoping they go 0-16 for a draft pick next year. No time like the future.
I think people just say shit to get a reaction. What kind of fan would hope their team would lose every game? Getting some low round draft picks sound good but it usually takes years and quite a few picks to turn a team around.
I think Kappy will shine this year myself, even with a patchwork o-line which is what we will have.
What kind of fan roots for another 21 years of mediocrity and failure? Not a very good one IMHO. Yeehah, we made it to 8-8 this year. Break out the champagne!
rt- who’s rooting for mediocrity?
21 years of mediocrity base on what, RTF? The fact the Jed fired St Jim? Right. It’s end times.
We made it to 8-8 WITH Harbaugh. If that’s the definition, then mediocrity has already set in.
How Harbaugh comes across as not being part of the problems surrounding this team continue to baffle me. Yes he amassed a great record as a coach here. But he was given they keys to a talented team. He didn’t quite get over the top and he pissed everyone off in the building. Why shouldn’t he be held to the standards he himself set?
He gone. He gone he gone. Move on. Firing Harbaugh guarantees 21 years of mediocrity? He’ll of a leap there. Beyond that, the talent is certainly different this year. Better or not remains to be seen. Is this team as talented as the 2012 team? I do t think so, but I think the defense can hold its own and the offense improves, so we are in the playoff mix.
If St Jim showed us anything it’s thT a c group of coaches can turn around a team quickly without too much problem. And Harbaugh did it in a strike shortened offseason.
Will this staff succeed? No way to know until they hit he field. Watch the games. To hope for failure based on poor St Jim’s fate is ridiculous.
Beyond that it worked out well for the Warriors.
21 years based on what? Huh? I can count. Quick question: What NFC West teams – PLURAL – have won Lombardi Trophies since the last time the Niners did?
What advantage do you think the team will obtain by a mid-range draft position vs. the obvious advantage of #1 overall?
What the hell does Harbaugh have to do with anything? Where in my post or any of my posts relating to the subject of draft position did I ever mention Harbaugh? You have Harbaugh on the brain. You are fixated on Harbaugh. You are haunted by Harbaugh. You know you are flat out wrong about Harbaugh’s superior coaching ability and it has driven you to distraction, so you use every defensive technique ever described by psychiatrists to try and mask your own knowledge of your wrongness. You see Harbaugh in your dreams and on the walls. You find Harbaugh in posts where no such Harbaugh exists.
But I digress…
Hi RT, just trying to understand your position. You want the Niners to have the first pick in the 2016 draft so they can become better than mediocre in a shorter timeframe?
That;s the idea, 12th – the quickest route to hoisting a Lombardi Trophy.
Not sure what your point is then, RTF. 8-8 was a reference to what? This year’s expectations? 21 years spans 9 years of Eddie’s ownership as well as the Dorks.
Well, the Niners were close in 99 ’til Steve went down. They were close under Harbaugh. They were close in 1970, 1971, and 1972. 1985, 1986, and 1987 as well. None of those times did they get over the hump. So, what yodo you do? Quit watching? I’ve suffered through every playoff loss of theirs except for Detroit in 1957.
So, we do what? Call it a day and change everything every time? That’s a very short-term approach. And one that rarely works. Talk to Dan Snyder and Jerry Jones about it. This team was seen as a mess under Nolan/Sing but majically got wonderful under Harbs? Well, it wasn’t all peace love and granola, was it? As noted for, oh the last 15 years since Eddie fucked up, even a great owner can screw the pooch. Lesser ones more so. Are we there now? No way to know without seeing results from the new coaching staff. The latest regime hasn’t covered itself in glory, but they aren’t at the Browns level of decrepitude. Sure, nothing to hang your hat on, but
Jed is seen as a meddling punk, but what he did with Harbaugh was dictated by Harbaugh’s actions as time went on. Eddie was seen the same way when he hired Joe Thomas, who then jettisoned everyone in sight, including a very popular coach in Monte Clark, and traded away a raft of draft picks for OJ Simpson. Beyond that, a #1 pick guarantees what? Nothing. Who was our last #1? You know, the guy who was misused and traded after 7 years. Is that on the owner? No. Is it on the GM? No. That was on the coaching staff. the GM has been great to poor depending on the drafts you look at.
If it was easy to win championships, everyone would have a trophy.
Sir Spit awards himself a trophy every *** damn day! If he could kiss himself on the a** he would do it.
Sir Spit has vowed to quit reading this blog. He just can not take the intelligence and high minded discourse that takes place here. Also he takes the opportunity to kiss Skeeber’s arse and the blog he runs. Can we think it? Sir Spit is a brown nose! How can one man sink so low!
Skeebs must be hurting for participants to keep Spitty around for more than a couple of weeks
Indeed Nippy indeed.
Under the column, “You Can’t Fix Stupid”, Bullit can’t comprehend simple English. Here is what I wrote:
“I have zero doubt that if Harbaugh stayed we would be sub .500 this coming year. Possibly a top 3 pick.”
And here is what he responded:
“Our departed friend MR B who has gone to the safe confines of Fairyland Blog North Korea is stating that if Harbaugh stayed on the Niners would have one of the top 3 picks in next years draft.”
What a stretch of the truth to suit one’s hatred. I definitely made the correct decision to stop blogging there. Putting up with that kind of shit from a dumb ass is not worth it. Those people were made for each other. At least I’m glad to see Bullit is reading and learning from my posts.
Yeah, the whole ‘we accept differing viewpoints’ deal is funny. The differing viewpoints range from ‘I HATE JED’ to ‘I don’t like Jed’ to ‘Jim Harbaugh is God’ and ‘Jim Harbaugh is the 2nd best coach in Niner history’ to Jim Harbaugh is my daddy’.
Bullit is still misrepresenting everyone and everything if they disagree with him. His logi leaps defy gravity and the normal thought process.
RTF can keep posting here. He’s been a solid contributor over the years. No problem there. NoFear as well. They choose to play it safe in Skeeberland. That’s fine as well.
Phil? He went off the rails last year when he started posting under a slightly different name and flamed everyone here. I blocked what I thought was the fake name and it turned out to be his real one as well. Odd to say the least.
V and Spitty? Fuck ’em both. Too little bang for the buck.
I try (and sometimes fail) to not be influenced by the mob mentality seen there and here as well at times. It too shall pass.
Phil went batshit. Other than his annoying use of silly names like Hendrix ad nauseum I kinda liked the guy. Then he goes off on some weird tangent agreeing with all of the Spittoons bullshit and slamming anyone who had a differing opinion. Whatever.
Lol
There is an OT available for the supplemental NFL draft o July 9th. His name is Isaiah Battle from Clemson. The PFT article says he could help a team this year. I guess I’ll need to read up on him. NJ, what do you have on this guy?
This is getting funny! Here is what Bullit now writes:
“Berger claims I am misrepresenting his statement.
I replaced his word possibly with if.
Who wants to blog with someone who writes one thing and then starts spinning what he wrote?”
Changing the word ‘possibly’ to ‘if’ completely changes the meaning from an outside chance to a prediction. Can a man really be this stupid? I guess so, we are seeing it in action. LMAO!
This is what I get for reading two days worth of posts over there for the first time in a month or two. I’ve just killed a bunch of brain cells.
Bullit has made a living deliberately obfuscating others posts. Nothing new there Berger.
Mob mentality? Have I written 500 consecutive threads bashing Harbaugh? No. The subject comes up a lot because some folks can’t get over the fact he wore out his welcome here. No one knows the details but certainly the fact Harbaugh did go 8-8 played into it. Plus the fact he pissed off everyone above him in the organization.
Regardless of how you feel about him, one has to acknowledge that Harbs played a big role on his leaving.
But it is ancient history now. What so we get? Guys hoping the team fails for a high draft pick. Constant belittlemwnt of the current coaching staff.
I’d they do suck, have at it. I xos give a rats ass. But they have put together a very strong defensive coaching staff in my mind.
As I’ve said since these O guys got hired, I have no idea how they will do. But they are at least noting the problems with the last offense. Getting in synch. Getting plays off much quicker. Screen passes. Timing plays.
Will it work? Who knows? But to bitch for 7 months about evil Jed and blah blah blah is pathetic. Skeebs has made it a breeding ground for the constant whine about Haebaugh. Bullit was nicknamed company man for a reason. Now he’s king whiner?
Now this site spends 90% of its time discussing another site. You don’t see the mob mentality here?
RT- I don’t talk about that site. Since Bullit absolutely lied about one of my posts I replied. I usually don’t even read that site because I know what is being talked about, anti 49er, pro Harbaugh talk.
RT, strikes me as a little extreme hoping for the first pick in the draft to get above mediocrity.
How about we see how this season pans out before we cheer on the crucifixion?
Another issue would be is that a first round pick means very little to the following seasons results for a team lousy enough to earn the privilege.
I know you don’t agree, but I see no reason this team can’t do better than last years heavily injured and massively dysfunctional one. If nothing else, whether one approves of the way Harbaugh left or whether Tomsula is seen as a viable alternative, at least there is harmony and everyone pulling in the same direction, the dysfunction has ended.
Lots of talent on this team both players and coaches. I’m encouraged by what we have heard and seen from so far regarding tempo, scheme and skill sets of the new receivers. The DB’s lack star names but have quality players by all accounts. Granted the Oline is in flux but TC has yet to begin and I don’t think the Oline could be much worse than last years.
I honestly don’t see the reason to despair before even TC/pre-season has begun. I have noticed the press in general, who en masse proclaimed the end of the Niners as we know them, are coming around to a less skeptical position as more is seen and understood.
And yes, I stand by my opinion that if Harbaugh was still the coach we would be sub .500 this year. Possibly even a top 3 pick. I absolutely have no doubt about the sub .500. He was heading so far into dysfunction with his divide and conquer approach that a mutiny was about to happen. It’s a good thing Jed saw it and reacted before it got out of hand.
Its a really bad sign when players publicly criticize the scheme during the season, mutiny indeed.
And say they wanted to kick the coaches ass after.
That too!
What about Mark Davis telling Harbaugh he was more dysfunctional than him before the Raiders game. I wasn’t happy to hear that back then but now that Harby is gone it is funny.
What’s the topic then RTF? How about my thread? How do you think the defense looks?
We have a very deep coaching staff on the d side of the ball. Bowman is coming back strong. Brock, Reid and Ward aRe healthy. AA could be a beast, and the line depth looks pretty solid with Dockett here and Dorsey healthy. A Smith and A Brooks have a lot to prove, and play for.
What say you about the defense?
Chuck the upside for me this year is the youth movement in the Secondary.
Mangini is a gambler on D.
With a youth movement taking place, he’s got them on the ground floor of development.
I think Tartt is in the same sort of conversation with Chancellor in Seattle.
Big Safety/Small LB sort of flexibility.
For all the upheaval we’ve endured, it’s a new beginning on D now.
Growing pains are to be expected.
Again, I’ll reserve judgement until I see some football being played under the new regime.
Looking forward to seeing Eli Harold and Tarrt in particular.
They’re pups with plenty of potential. Up to them to deliver.
I think the defense is going to get torched against good teams. I don’t trust either or ability to stop the run or the pass. The loss of Willis. Smith, Borland, question mark in Bowman, old question mark in Dockett, no corners does not fill me with confidence.
I have more hope for the offense. We won’t be able to run as effectively without Iaputi and Davis, but we should have better pass blocking. Plus, I expect Kappy to have more free rein running, if he can stay healthy. I like Hyde, but will he get any help from the line?
Given question marks vs. established Pro Bowlers, I know who I’m going to choose. We’re the team with the question marks everywhere.
No doubt the Offense has to step it up RT.
As stated, it’s damn near impossible to predict anything with all the unknowns surrounding our team thus far.
Plenty of big shoes to fill.
That’s why this game is so unpredictable.
Things change, new players, new schemes etc.
On Offense, I’d just like to see better timing between Kaep and the receivers.
By all accounts, they’re attempting to step up the tempo at least.
Berger I’d heard some rumblings on Isaiah Battle via the NYG.
He’s a Brooklyn kid so, he’s apparently somewhat familiar in these parts.
Word has it he’s in the Supp Draft due to off field issues as well as weed possession.
http://tinyurl.com/pbs44cd
I’d pass.
I’m pretty impressed thus far with Trenton Browns’ early reports.
If we can get him in shape and playing in the 330Lb range, I think he’ll have the potential to make an impact at RT.
Boone this year, Brown next?
See what develops.
NJ- Thanks, I figured you’d have something on this guy.
Here’s an Optimists/Pessimists view of things from BR –
http://tinyurl.com/njdhnu4
Interesting read on weed as well….
http://tinyurl.com/olykzvb