Here we sit on the eve of training camp, and the blogosphere is abuzz with the impeding doom of the San Francisco 49ers. The national media has gone from laughing and pointing to basically laughing at every next domino that falls to drive another nail into the coffin that is the 2015 season.
Well, fuck that. The national media had the 2012 Eagles being a juggernaut due to their free agent acquisitions, and look what it got them. Shit, the 2007 Niners were turning a corner under Nolan, and the 2010 team was poised to be great under Singletary. All turned gold into shit. Yeah, we’ve lost a bunch of players and coaches. Shit, the year he got here no one gave the Niners chance.
Point being, the national media doesn’t follow the team like the local fans. Even then, look at the bullshit flying around. Sue, laugh, point, ands ridicule all you want, but I think the team will come out of this in better shape than if Harbaugh had stuck around. One more year of Harbaugh would have been another year of the Roman offense. One more year of a front office and a head coach that didn’t communicate. One more year of Harbaugh being Harbaugh. A driven coach who drives everyone else crazy. Bear in mind he hasn’t lasted anywhere longer than 4 years. This appears to be his shelf life.
Anyhow, gone are Patrick Willis, Frank Gore, Michael Crabtree, Justin Smith, Perrish Cox, Chris Culliver, Anthony Davis, Andy Lee, and Chris Borland. Beyond that, revolving door Jonathan Martin and Stevie (Good for a moment) Johnson were cut. As daunting as this appears to the uninformed eye, and yes, vet presence is a thing, the only ones that hurt are Cox and Davis, in my mind.
Crabs and Cully had their bags packed before the AZ game and were not expected to stay. Willis and Borland were retirement surprises in that no one expected them to retire as they did. Willis was slowed at the start of the year, and was lost or 2/3 of it. This allowed Borland to shine, but he left as well citing his health. AD waited too long to announce his retirement, but whatever. He did what he felt was necessary. I figured the Niners would focus on Cox to stay, and I didn’t like the decision to let him go. Gore? Well, he took the money. 3 years beats one every time. Good luck, Frank. Justin Smith was basically the same. He was not himself these past couple years, and therefore isn’t a big loss. Lee? He needed a change of scenery due to his tragedy so the team did him a favor by sending him closer to his hometown. J Mart? No there there. Stevie? Meh.
Forty Niners Forever 
The pessimists dread the loss of old faces and former coaches. They pine for the super bowl appearances of past years and the victories of long, long ago. The optimists are ready for new faces and new challenges. A new approach is needed. The optimists can’t wait for the season to begin even in a training camp. The pessimists reside on the “other” blog full of trepidations and fears of the unknown. Yes loathing and fear darkens the “other” blog.
Do you post at Skeebs Nipper?
I’m not sure Roman was the problem, only that he had to go to find out if it was him or Harbaugh. If he does well in Buffalo it was Harbaugh. Either way, if Harby came back Roman was back. It was wonderful to see them both go. That took care of that problem. Let us now call only one play in the huddle and have one coach call the plays instead of four.
It is a big deal that we lost 3 leaders in Justin, Frank and PWilly. This is my biggest worry. If we have good leaders to fill the void we could have a great year. I anticipate a couple players to step up.
I also hope when the red flag is tossed someone on the sidelines was paying attention.
I think we still have enough guys like Boldin, bowman, even Darnell Dockett. A lot of guys got playing time so that experience helps.
Other than that, just get to wait and see.
Willis, Smith, Lee and to a lesser extent Davis will be missed. I figure Borland would have been a rotation guy so less of an impact losing him. Frank was an amazing RB but his time had come.The rest is just faces changing. With Dial, Tank, Bowman and Docket I figure the D line will be OK.
Davis was good in the RG which Harbaugh favored but got beat way too much in the passing game so I figure his loss will be felt less than maybe some expect.
Despite the pundits and haters saying it all rests on Kap this year, how the O line comes together will be the biggest factor IMO.
Un-real
Deep.
Far-out
Lets meet and get high.
Hev-eeeeee man
Yaah, we get to see if Brandon Thomas was a steal in last year’s draft, or if its another busted waste of a choice. Talk is he’s looking great. But talks is well, go talk to skeebs.
Iupati was dogshit in other than a straight-ahead role. Since we’re moving to zone blocking, I don;t see him being a big loss. Davis? Well, shit no one saw that coming. The dude should have retired before the draft at least.
Well put, Billy. Got anything else?
Tho O-Line is my biggest concern also. It’s not always about who’s on the line but about cohesiveness. We got a lot of bodies in camp. I’m looking forward to seeing how Brown and silberman pan out. It usually takes time to learn to work together. I just hope they’re quick learners.
Ahh, nevermind. Billy is V. You’ve been a busy little boy, V. My filter caught a shitload of, well, shit from you.
You didn’t t defend me at Skeebs site. You merrily played along with those guys. As for the other BS, the reason I banned you is because you post racist shit. Dennis got banned for that. He Others, too. I learned my lesson with the previous blog. Give people like you unfettered access to a platform and they abuse the privilege.
Skeebs can ban me as he chooses, but I don’t feel i crossed any lines. I just called them out on their bullshit. He’s a little chickenshit hiding behind Bullit and NoFear. And now Spitty.
Foerster has had success running one blocking schemes. I think we can get going fairly well. I mean, the problems last year were huge. We couldn’t block 4, let alone 5 or 6 rushers. Add to that the fact that the coaches were telling Kappy to hold the ball, and the fact we ran our slow-ass plays, and you have a recipe for disaster.
Quicker plays, a rhythm offense, and better schemes where we attack what the defense shows rather than the typical Nolan/Sing/Harbaugh idea of ‘stop what we do, we won’t adjust to anything the D shows’ offense will be a dramatic change. The reason I have hope is that Chryst was constrained by the offense that Harbaugh/Roman were putting out there.
I would love to see us utilize the screen, quick slants, and some play action that actually works. Truly hope that’s the case. Playing small ball will open up the long stuff.
Yeah “long” sounds good.
Was just listening and thought others might like.
Yeah, they HAVE to establish a rhythm before they can expect big plays to work. They have varying success running, but too often fall short on 3rd and short. Play action doesn’t work when the situation is obvious. And we don’t use things like an RB in the flat very much. Or even dragging VD behind the linebackers. It’s all outs and digs. And it has been for 9 years.
Here is a recent quote by Kap:
“We did leave a lot out there last year, but I don’t think it’s a situation where we have to press,” Kaepernick said in June. “It’s being able to execute the plays that are called and execute them more efficiently. I think with our new offensive coordinator, with our new quarterback coach, we’ve cleaned a lot of things up and made it more comfortable and friendly for players to be able to go out and make plays.”
Yeah, we’ll see. I really like the idea of quicker plays and more rhythm. Can’t be that hard.
Interesting article regarding Harbaugh way back in February of 2014.
Some people value working with their superiors for the greater good of the team. Some put themselves above the team and burn every bridge offered to them. $10 mill? Fuck off, Jimmy.
http://deadspin.com/has-jim-harbaugh-worn-out-his-welcome-in-san-francisco-1529632026
Some smart observers would see this as a guy who wants his cake without earning it.
Other simpletons would see it as ‘Give him what he wants!! He’s 1-2 in NFCCGs! He’s a regular season wonder!” I see him as a guy who regularly got beat by good teams.
That’s the Mendoza line for me Chuck.
Did Jed give Jim the raise for a SB Win and, did Jim consider that an insult?
Too many ‘non-reports’ to speculate on.
Said it many times, we don’t know what went on behind closed doors.
Interesting, if not fluffy, article re: the 49ers in SI:
http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/07/15/san-francisco-49ers-offseason-report-card?xid=si_nfl
Funny thing is, the commenters have more insight than this Doug guy.
Even funnier, the guy is from Seattle. Hmmm. Any bias there?
Doug’s big point is this:
—
One of the main things that prevented the 49ers from making the playoffs for the first time in the Harbaugh era was Kaepernick’s undeniable regression. He fell from seventh in Football Outsiders’ opponent-adjusted metrics for quarterbacks in 2013 to 29th in 2014, right between world-beaters Charlie Whitehurst and Austin Davis. One thought behind the issue is that Roman and Harbaugh tried to keep Kaepernick in the pocket too often, limiting his reads and denying him his athletic advantages. However, the numbers don’t jibe. According to Pro Football Focus, Kaepernick threw 402 passes from the pocket in 2013, completing 236 for 3,135 yards, 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. In 2014, he actually threw fewer passes from the pocket: 381, completing 243 for 2,673 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven picks.
—
Dougie draws a very stupid conclusion here. By the coaching staff telling Kappy to tone down the running means that he’s holding the ball and not running. Unless the blocking fails (gee, did it?) and he’s forced to break contain and throw on the run, or simply run. What those numbers support is that the protection was lousy.
Then he says this:
—
Kaepernick was pressured more often in 2014: 215 snaps under pressure as opposed to 175 the year before. But it’s going to be on him to develop as a pure passer.
—
No it isn’t. So Kappy in the first paragraph is chided for not throwing from the pocket, but it is noted that he was under more pressure? What does that tell you? It tells me there was a problem up front.
Coming from a guy who apparently knows who Russell Wilson is, he should realize that what Seattle does is give RW options to hit underneath. Harbaugh and co have been hell-bent on not being an underneath-type team. Coming off of the Alex Smith years, I guess you can’t blame them, but still and all, Gore (or even VD for that matter) is rarely used as a dump-off guy and VD isn’t used as a guy who can get behind the LBs on 15 yard crossing routes. The offense that Harbaugh and Roman have been beating us down with has gotten progressively worse. Like Harbaugh and Co were determined to take away the good parts of Kappy’s game and supplant it with the Peyton Manning style of QBing. Doug mentions and then pooh-poohs the idea that the coaching staff fucked things up and lays it all squarely at the feet of Kaepernick.
I hope they decide to go with Kappy’s strengths this year.
Hey Bullit, is Marty Schottemheimer one of teh greats? Meh. He’s OK. Marv Levy is, but he did what o coach has ever done and that’s get there 4 times in a row. But for Scott Norwood . . .
If you think Harbaugh would have improved things this year, you are crazy. They likely would have been 7-9 or worse. They would have been a dysfunctional mess from the get-go. Lame-duck status and a front office full of animosity.
How about you post here, chikenshit? You and NoFear are safe little hens taking your potshots behind Skeebie’s skirt. It’s all well and good to post your drivel with no repercussions.
Regular season records are well and good, but the NY Giants won a SB with a 9-7 record. 5-3 as Harbaugh’s playoff record sounds great until you realize that the Niners are 0-1 in Super Bowls, and 1-2 in championship games. Yippee. Give him $10 mill,
Guess what? I need more surgery on “My Left Foot” (1989), Daniel Day-Lewis. Son of a motherless cock-sucking no-God POS world. I’m sick and tired of this shit. But my misfortune leaves an opportunity for another…
There’s a job opening in Pinole to be the head CCC — Creek Critter Caretaker. Applicant must be willing to talk to the animals just like Dr. Dolittle did. Must also possess a working knowledge of ornithology, consisting of a specialty in Anas platyrhynchos. Also, one must know the inner workings of the Sciuridae species. Better known as your friendly tree squirrel. And last but not least, one must be verse with the Columbidae. You’ll recognize them as your statue and car-defecating pigeons.
Applicant must also provide all food supplies. This will consist of any and all breads. Preferably fresh sandwich, hamburger and/or hot dog buns. Wild bird seed purchased from your local grocer. Along with steel oats, barley and grain rice. Both brown and white. Finally peanuts, both shelled and unshelled for my furry little friends. Shelled peanuts help with their foraging habits.
Please send your resume with a cover letter to yours truly. Also note: bribes, especially those of the alcohol variety will be accepted and increase your chances of selection. The better the booze, the better your chances.
He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.
—Immanuel Kant
My advice is to get one of those scooters with a basket for the munchies.
Scooter people are people too dammit! If Bruce Jenner gets to be Caitlyn Dennis can transform too!
I was in Disneyland recently watching the scooteratti roam those hallowed streets with wanton abandon, free at last.
Ever see the kids movie Wall-E, a scary peak into Dennis’ future?
peek
When my mom was still roaming this planet she got herself a scooter and it did transform her quality of life considerably. It was everyone else’s responsibility to look out.
And for the love of fucking Christ…STOP with all of these Kaepernick excuses already. It’s the same fucking shit that you Alex Apologists did during his tenure. “The OL sucks. The play calling is horrible. The coaches don’t use his strengths and put him in a position to succeed. The WRs run poor routes and never get any separation from the DBs.”
And blah, blah, blah, blah boo-fucking-hoo. Both Alex and Kap have been, and will continue to be trash. Neither will ever get into Canton unless they purchase a ticket like the rest of us.
And raise your goddamn hand if you still think Kap is a better QB than Russell Wilson? I’m coming over to crush your left foot with a fucking sledgehammer. You don’t *deserve* to walk like I won’t be fully able to again. Probably not til Christmas.
And if I don’t blog again until then. As the Dennis minus the one ‘n’ said…
Wilson just lost a SB in very similar fashion to Kap. The difference between the 2 teams O has been Lynch over Gore not Wilson over Kap.
I posted Kap has better numbers than any other QB at the same point in their careers except President Brady and that not by much. I know you are a stats guy Dennis because you fawn over Romo, well those are the stats.
As a winner its hard to argue Kap doesn’t have it when he has won more road playoff games than Montana and Young, combined.
As for the O line, I don’t see any argument you can put up that doesn’t agree with lasts years awful play. No QB, including Brady/Romo/P.Manning are successful without at least some protection.
Kap has a big year in front of him no doubt. His contract is structured in such a way that the team pays almost no penalty to release him, but be careful what you wish for Dennis. It took Young a while to figure it out too.
As for P Manning would have won the Niners at least 2 more SB, well that has not been his track record has it?
Good for you Dennis. Are you made out of spit and baling wire?
Your post is you usual poppycock but the Denis Leary thing is great.
Seriously. Ask yourself the question: Is Colin Kaepernick now or will he ever be a HOF QB?
The answer is an emphatic — NO! There’s a decent chance Kap won’t even be wearing a 49er uni after this year. Then what will your excuse be? Thought not.
But this whole QB fiasco can be laid upon the shoulders of one Jim Harbaugh. He let his ego override his intellect Harbaugh was only “evaluating” a certain QB. You lying sack of fucking shit.
This team under HC Jim Harbaugh would have won at least one, if not two Super Bowls if…
Did we sign Peyton Manning yet?
Oh fuck off Dennis. No one expect every QB we draft to be an instant hall of famer. If that’s your expectation, feed the fucking ducks.
Life is just a Christmas carol short of a glass half empty when Dennis comes around with his logic on life and sports. I feel better already!
I wonder if happy hour has begun in earnest. Quack!
Ace Sanders is available…
Was it NJ or Spitty that had a crush on him?
Joe Staley:
“The year we had Harbaugh his first year, everybody thought we were going to be really crappy,” Staley said. “Then last year everybody thought we were going to be amazing. … There’s a million factors that go into a team being successful or unsuccessful.”
Steve Bono:
“Kaepernick will be better, because of some of the negative forces that are gone,” said Steve Bono, a former 49ers quarterback and now one of their alumni coordinators.
Trent Dildo:
“Everybody says they’re going to be terrible. Wait, what were they last year?” asked Trent Dilfer, an ESPN analyst and Baalke confidant. “They were 8-8 and an OK team. To get better, sometimes you need dramatic changes.”
Dilfer sees an encouraging difference under new coach Jim Tomsula, who succeeded Harbaugh after eight seasons as a defensive line coach. A younger roster requires better teaching and learning, and Dilfer insisted that Tomsula and his staff are suited for that task.
Added Dilfer: “Is that the secret sauce to a Super Bowl? Probably not, but I think sure as hell they’re a playoff team.”
Just pointing out some other POV from pros.
Staley is dead right, 2011 Niners were not expected to be 8-8, 2014 they were SB bound, all according to experts and pundits and people from geneoushire.
Breaking news from Dallas. Dennis should like this.
http://www.theonion.com/article/tony-romo-practicing-for-first-time-since-surgery–33253
Dennis is BBQing the cyst today!
That scarring of the fallopian tubes sounds bad.
Theyust be reading my blog then, 12th. Cuz ghats exactly what I said.
The national media is all about superficial understanding. Most fans of a given team have more in/depth knowledge of their team than them. Them again, some folks buy in to the bullshit. Dilfer seems to want to be the contrarian. Although he still has ties to the team. But I agree with him for once.
Its funny to me that the crew from Skeebs are towing the media line of the Niners will suck, based on uninformed mass perception, which is the very definition of sheeple, and this is from guys who proclaim themselves as “thinkers” who don’t follow the crowd.
Sounds like the crowd to me.
Crystal balls are hard to come by but if pressed at this point before seeing any game action I would say the Niners will do better than last year and have a shot at the playoffs, where anything can, and does, happen.
It doesn’t matter what anybody thinks, me, you, the media, what matters is what happens in September. I am sure we would be 7-9 or worse with Harbaugh still here. I am confident we will be better than that this year with the new staff. I’m feeling good about making the playoffs.
I know we lost some leaders but I think we still have good talent. It might not be Super Bowl winning talent like Harbaugh had but we have upgraded the offensive coaching. Who knows! I’ll feel better about saying anything more after seeing 3 pre-season games.
I agree it makes no difference, I guess that’s my point. In the absence of any concrete evidence one way or the other, why choose to shit on your own team?