Gone is the plodding, methodical Harbaugh approach, and gone is whatever last year’s shit-pile offense was. Now we have the go-go Chip Kelly offense. Speed and simplicity replace endless shifting and the four-headed play calling system. They’ve only done a mini-camp, and the players are being taxed a lot more than under the last 2 coaches. The offensive players seem to like it so far, and I guess by association, the defense will get a lot of practice time in trying to defend it.
For the offense, the players said they were starting to catch on to the new system (hand signals, quick tempo) at the end of the minicamp, and the first of 3 OTAs start next week, so it’s full steam ahead. The giant question mark to this new team is the offense. And say what you will about Chip, he did wonders in Philly with their offense. How the defense plays, or even what their identity is, remains a mystery as well.
As we saw with Khaki Jim, things can turn around on a dime in this league. Chip? Hey it could happen. Not 13-3 happen, but 9-7 happen. Playoffs? Probably not, but a winning record would be manna at this point.
San Francisco 49ers Forever 
In Chip we trust.
It is totally new territory for our offense. Common sense says it’s will take some time to get it right. But being the 49er fan that I am common sense goes right out the window and expectations take over. We need a QB for all this to work. Gabbert isn’t the answer and the way it looks Kappy probably isn’t either. I still think we should have gotten a QB in the 3rd this year, I don’t particularly like Cook but he does have some potential to be good. Anyway, hopefully we have our eyes on a QB in the next draft.
I certainly have more faith in Kappy than Gabbert, but that will come out in the wash anyway.
Gonna be in interesting preseason to ay the least. Once the games start.
I have to follow up my gloomy posts from last night before Curry turned on the magic. The dude is a marvel. In our lifetimes, think of all the incredible athletes we as rabid supporters of Bay Area teams have been lucky enough to watch. Bonds, Montana, Mays, McCovey, Rick Barry, Steve Young, Rice and others. I mean, we’re talking all-time greats here. And this kid may be the best of them all.
He simply had no business doing what he did last night but shit like that just doesn’t stop this guy. One game played in the previous three weeks, a paltry first three quarters while he tried to shake off the rust, then BOOM, he just goes off. He puts team on his back and almost singlehandedly carries them to an improbable win. You cannot turn your back on him. You cannot give up on this team no matter how dire things may look. Just when you think they’re done, here comes Steph flipping the cosmic bird to the Basketball Gods.
Stephen Curry, the first unanimous MVP in NBA history. Even that doesn’t seem like worthy enough accolades for him. Unbelievable. He’s redefining the game right before our eyes.
Did the Dubs need him back? Oh, hell yes.
That being said we still have to areas to address. WR and TE.
Regarding Kap v. Gabbert and all the other 49er subplots, one thing is certain; this will be a very interesting and entertaining training camp period for this franchise. So much change, so many things to resolve, so much up in the air.
I honestly haven’t got a clue as to what the opening day squad will look like, but I’m looking forward to it.
The new offense is here. So is Parts Harralson. He’s hired as ” director of player engagement “
Paris of course
Curious to see what players get engaged now, aren’t we Rob?
Team Chaplain Scouting College Players.
Now, a Director of Player Engagement.
The Yorks can Micro-Manage with the best of them, can’t they?
Most scary is the title Paraag wears now too –
‘Chief Strategy Officer and Executive VP of football operations’
WTF does that suggest?
Is there some sort of MIT Algorithm involved?
Put this guy in a corner office and, restrict him from any contact within the Locker Room.
PLEASE…..
I would normally comment that I wouldn’t mind it if the Niners came in at 3-13 this season to get the high pick position. But, since Baalke would probably use it to draft a couple of guys in the first few rounds that previously had broken hips and a couple of ACLs, sure, why not a 9-7?…
We have a Chief Strategy Officer now Snarkk.
Fret not…. 😀
Add to that, the toughest statistical schedule in the League.
I’m thinking Top 5 Pick next year.
Strategy might suggest Drafting in the Top 10 improves the probability quotient for success however.
Maybe that’s the strategy?
Keep Drafting high,
Paying Rookie Deals and, keeping the Payroll low.
NJ, strength of schedule is a misnomer at this point. Teams rise and fall like the tide. No way to really see who’s doing what in the future. Especially with the middle of the pack teams. As NoFear so famously said, I think those teams will fall somewhere between 10-6 and 6-10.
Jed better stick to stadium operations and making money from Levis than worrying about the Niners. We all know he doesn’t have a clue about football. All these fancy titles don’t mean squat. You either succeed or not. The Niners are a losing operation now. No matter the activity it will add up to nothing in the end.
Funny thing is, the delayed reaction of the pundits. Yeah I had hope there would be a better offense last year, and after a promising start, the team crapped out. While the year before was 8-8, what were those expectations? Pundits follow the numbers for the most part. If you were good last year, you automatically will be good this year. 2015 had a lot of the problems of the 2014 team. Namely injuries. But the talent that either retired or re-signed elsewhere left a gigantic talent hole. Knute Rockne and Vince Lombardi wouldn’t have done too much better with that team. But the prevailing sentiment is that this team stinks on ice. Sure, that may be the case, but as we proved the last couple seasons, if the coaching is suspect, the team has no chance. Bad coaching and talent drain leads to a shitty product. Fresh blood can lead to
The new coaching staff is a complete mystery to us, but the improvement of the Eagles with the arrival of Chip is fairly impressive. I’m usually on the optimistic side, anyway. I mean really. Why the fuck not? I thought 9-7 with the new coaching regime under Harbaugh, and I’ll go with that this year. If we don’t, big whoop. This team has disappointed me quite a bit since I became a rabid follower back around 1968. All the clowns in the clown car can dance madly with each other and play grab-ass while they bask in the glory of predicting the suckitude. Yay! I predicted 5-11!!
chuck, I am overly optimistic myself. I can see us winning some games but my problem is with the QB. I have a feeling Kappy is done whether it’s because of injuries I don’t know. Without a viable QB we ain’t going nowhere. Maybe Chipski can squeeze out a few more wins, who knows. Believe me I am not happy about this but I don’t see anymore than four wins.
If Chip can win with Sanchez , Vick, and Foles, he certainly can win with Kappy.
Ok, I am good with that but what if Kappy doesn’t play. The way it looks now is there is a good chance of that. He doens’t want to be here and I figure he’s one hit away from taking the year off.
Pretty funny NJ9ER
Never heard of a director of player engagement. Maybe York thinks he needs one in case the stories about Kelley’s alleged bad side turn out to be more than just that ? Giving the players a sounding board maybe ?
Yeah CHUCK
There’s way too much doom and gloom here. We won 5 games last year with Tommy a bargain basement staff and Gabbert. So far we’ve added Kelley , and a future pro bowler to our lines on both sides of the ball, Buckner and Garnett .
No reason we shouldn’t consider ourselves a .500 team at least.
Not to mention a healthy Hyde and Kap getting a new lease on life !
rob- just calling it as I see it.
My two biggest needs we have to address before the season starts are WR and TE
Yup WINDER I feel ya. John and Denise’s ownership would send JOB running home crying to his mommy .
Talk about taking the wind out of your sails , those two being in charge could suck the air out of the Goodyear blimp
Agreed Chuck, which is why I suggested ‘statistical’ schedule.
It’s weighed against previous year’s records.
However, we are facing some brutal competition with, as yet, an unknown ‘Trigger Man’ under Center.
Based simply on the perceived opponents’ normal production, I’d be happy to see 6-10.
If we don’t achieve Maximum Chip-ness on Offense out of the gate, I’m wagering 4-12.
Chip is a known commodity now as well.
Not much of a surprise to anyone as he was in Philly.
His brand of Offense is predicated on execution at a break neck pace.
If this goes as a 3-n-Out-fest, we’re not in a position quite yet to know what this revamped D is capable of.
Good news, (I guess), is we’re dramatically younger now. Which should be conducive to better conditioning and guys that have limited expectations.
The old, no pressure, just play scenario.
Would love to see something more balanced from Chip, in terms of TOP.
Younger OLine would likely do well to lean on the Ground Game hopefully, while giving the passing game some time to gel.
I can see the sacks being reduced dramatically, if these guys can get things clicking in rhythm early on.
From what’s been reported thus far, simpler should equate to faster pace.
Still comes down to moving the chains of course.
Yeah. Tons of questions. Miles of uncertainty. Should be fun.
Bye bye Blazers! You matched up with the Warriors as well as any team in the league. Unlike the Rockets, who are a sinking ship, you’re a dangerous team, someone to watch out for next year.
But, too bad, BYE!
Next up Okie See? They can close it out at home against the Spurs tomorrow night.
Eight down, eight to go. Halfway home…
Portland is relentless. Tough team that is probably going to get better. SA has a tough roadie coming up
I’m not as sure as some of you guys that Kap will be the guy at QB. I think it’ll end up being Gabbert. I am assuming, though, that Kap will get a full shot at winning the job, but his attitude stinks right now and he may well have alienated some of his teammates.
On the surface he seems like the perfect fit for Kelly’s offense but I’m in wait and see mode. Gabbert seems to be the more accurate passer and he still runs well. Kelly may value the accuracy more than what Kap brings to the table.
If Kappy can’t beat out Gabbert then we are 5-11 or worse. Kappy alienated his teammates? Horse shit. This is the BS the front office floats out to fuck with people they deem on the outs. They did it to Singletary, Nolan did it to Alex, Crabtree dealt with it, and Harbaugh caught a ton of it, even Paraag got caught up in the whisper campaign.
If they start winning no one will give 2 fucks about chemistry. I know it may help some, but at this point these guys need to at least buy in to what Chip is selling. The rest can follow later.
Whisper……….hey you hear something…….whisper…..oh yeah……Niners gonna stink? Shissssh…….keep it quiet!
No, it’s more like-
Jed: Hey, did you hear Harbaugh lost the locker room?
Parang: Oh yeah? Who said that?
Jed: Uhhhh, one of the guys…
Parang: Oh! I’d better tell Kawakami
pretty nice rob. never heard that one before
Western Conference Finals
Game 1
Monday, May 16 2016
6 PM PDT
Oakland Coliseum Arena
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Golden State Warriors
Interestingly enough, this will be the first playoff matchup between the Warriors and the Thunder since OKC stole the Sonics from Seattle and renamed them. More interesting, perhaps, is that the just concluded Blazers series was also that first ever playoff matchup for the Warriors.
Or not. I don’t care; that just shows how few Warrior playoff appearances there really have been over the years. I’m enjoying every moment of this one.
The Niners are just conspiracy fodder until the pads come on, anyway, and then we’ll just switch our focus to speculation.
OKC’s only been in existence about 7 years so there’s not a huge playoff history. And like you said, missing the playoffs for 18 out of 19 seasons does not engender playoff matchups. Lakers, Suns, Dallas, Utah, Sure. Not much after that. Bulls and Bullets of course, in their ’75 championship.
I just hope Bogut makes it back. Portland got a ton
of 2nd chance points.
Remember in Chip we trust. Do we have a choice?
You guys see Jarryd Hayne retired?
Another off season of talent loss after the draft. I had high hopes for him in a Kelly O.
Maybe we can replace him with someone who actually plays football. Cudo’s for the effort and I hope the kid is ok.
I think he’ll go back to NZ to play rugby. Talent drain? What exactly will we miss?
Hayne retires already ? Huh
Did I miss it when we put in the best early retirement plan in the league or something ? WTF people ?
Going to play Rugby in the Olympics for Polynesia. I thought he had very good potential, especially under Kelly. He was electric on punt returns, with a second year of camp I had hopes for him.
I’m pissed about Hayne.
——————————–
Here’s something to whet your appetite for the upcoming series. Steph got knocked out of the game for awhile. What happened? (Hint: When the announcer said “We get FIVE more minutes of this!!!”, he was reading the exact words in my mind at the time.)
One of those games you never forget…
Thanks for that RT
Baseball Gods been good to our Giants this weekend. Cain still can’t get a win but he didn’t get the loss.
Yeah, they’ve got the starters, but can they hit and can the bullpen show consistency? They’re in the right division at least.
A bit more on Hayne.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/05/15/nfls-lack-of-wada-compliance-could-keep-jarryd-hayne-out-of-olympics/
Hey at least the Giants got payback on the sweep they laid on us here.
Dub time!!! Just hope Bogut heals up. we need him on the inside. The 2nd chance points Portland got was annoying as fuck.
Bogut doesn’t match up well against certain teams. I thought he was a non-factor against the Blazers. Against the Cavs in the Finals last year, the Warriors turned it around when they benched Bogut for the smalls to start games (which, ahet ahem, I called for in advance on this very blog).
However, against most teams Bogut’s a valuable defensive force inside. OKC crushed the Spurs on the boards; Bogut is really needed both to keep Westbrook out of the lane and to keep Durant and Adams from killing us rebounding.
At least Timmy isn’t gonna be in our division. Wish him the best of luck, he will always be a Giant.
Ahhhh, yeah. Gonna be weird to see him in a different uni. Well, this might actually get me to go see an A’s game.
Derailed on the track to repeat ARRRRRRRRRGGGHHHHH
Yeah they got jobbed with the missed traveling with 17 seconds left, but still…
Yeah, bad call ghee but they just got beat. Couldn’t hit anything in the 4th.
New thread is up . . .