Does anybody believe that our pass rush is any better?

I think our pass rush and overall defense this year will be much better than last!
saying that, yes i think our pass rush will improve!

Originally posted by KknighthawkK_9er:
That is a pessimistic view, but here is my reply.

1. Who ever said that Parys and Manny will be taking every snap on defense? Very rarely do OLB's take every snap, or any position on defense for that matter. The only 3 players on our defense who will probably take every snap are Willis, Smith, and Clements.

Well, of course, someone has to play devil's advocate esp. on this board. Every year we hear about how much more improved our pass rush will be and every year we are well below expectations. That said, good, thoughtful post.

Manny played 1st and 2nd downs last year and was replaced on 3rd downs. This year he'll be counted on, now healthy, to take every snap with an occasional sub here and there. Haralson was the 3rd down "pass rush specialist" but he'll move into an every-down OLB as well. My point is that they will be on the field much more then last year and with the mentality that it's on them this year as opposed to the "role players" they were last year (for lack of a better term).

Originally posted by KknighthawkK_9er:
2. Manny has not had time, nor been given the opportunity to develop any Strength's, let alone weaknesses. His health has been a concern since his rookie season. He is said to be healthy.

I agree somehwhat with this. I always felt Nolan thwarted growth of many players and Manny was one of these. This year, he has a clearly defined role and knows what's expected of him. Without a doubt, he is going to be asked to rush the passer much much more like a true OLB in the 3-4. So far, when he's been asked to do this, he's been very unsuccessful but we'll see. This is truly his year to shine or crash and burn. Either way, we'll know where we'll need to go in FA and the draft next year.

Originally posted by KknighthawkK_9er:
3. We acquired Evans and RJF this offseason. Balmer did not play much at all last season. Both Evans and Balmer are being counted on to contribute heavily. Evans will likely emerge as the starter.

Evans is an undersized role-player for us along the d-line. Balmer, working with Smith all off-season and being a 1st round draft pick, clearly will be expected to start at LDE and moving Sopoaga to NT again is another indication of the clubs desire for that to happen. RJF has potential but if he makes the team, he'll play a similar role that Evans will play - role player for depth.

Originally posted by KknighthawkK_9er:
4. Injuries happen, and they are unpredictable. Who knows??? McKillop, the rookie, will not start this season. TKO is still the man there.

One injury to (God forbid) Willis or TKO and McKillop may be your starter. He could shine or not but injuries do happen and he's a rookie so you'd expect a pretty big dropoff if either of these two went down. With the extra weight, what is Manny goes down again? I'm not too worried about the d-line as I see all of them at about the same level which is pretty average right now save for Smith.

Originally posted by KknighthawkK_9er:
5. If we do not get to the QB early, my guess is that we blitz more, instead of laying back. We should have a more aggressive defense this year, instead of the opposite.

This I hope is what would happen, meaning Manusky would be turned loose and allowed to go to a more exotic blitz scheme (used in San Diego). But if we can't get there, don't be surprised if you see a more coverage-oriented approach again given the strength we have in Lawson, TKO and the secondary.

Originally posted by KknighthawkK_9er:
6. We have several new starters (or right now, projected) on defense. Evans or Balmer will likely start at one DE. Manny was not starting last season, or at least, for the full season, in the role that he will be involved with this season. Goldson is the new FS, and Brown or Bly will be new starters at CB. Hence, we have a minimum of 4 new starters on the D this season.

While we may have 3 (Manny was a starter) new starters only Goldson could be a position offenses target. Bly is basically the same player as Harris (a wiley veteran) unless Brown beats him out. Balmer is basically Sopoaga and b/c it's a 3-4, offenses don't really need to pay too much attention to a LDE uness he's Castillo or Seymour. In short, it's the exact same defense we finished up with last year.

Originally posted by KknighthawkK_9er:
I have a lot more confidence in Sing and a free-reigned Manusky than I did in Nolan and his "antics". The difference is probably somewhere in the middle.

I have a lot more confidence in Singletary/Manusky then in Nolan as well. Nolan was a cancer in my eyes. The big thing to watch is to see if, with the continuity of regolar starters back this year (barring injury of course), will he turn the dogs loose and take that next step? I sure hope so. I would LOVE to see the Niners defense get back to tradition where they used to LIVE in the backfield of the opposition!

[ Edited by NCommand on Jul 30, 2009 at 14:15:17 ]

Originally posted by PatrickWillisHOF:
Is anybody buying into our pass rush this year? I mean, we are going to let Manny loose this year, but I´m still not convinced that our pass rush will be a key element in our defense. What do you guys think?

To date, Lawson has not shown any evidence he has NFL pass rush skill, yet.

no. well, kind of. i think parys is due for a breakout year. but thats about it.

Originally posted by PatrickWillisHOF:

i think we might have a solid nt w Soap. for our 3~4 d. I believe that was his position before the NFL. If he can demand a double team on an almost weekly basis then itll really open up our outside rushers b/c j.smith is above average and can get about 8~10 sacks if he has a good yr but i dont see him doing much more in the pass rush. K.Balmer might continue to become a threat at DE in our 3~4 i hope he can get a good 8 sacks as well. Now I think its really up to two players to step up for our pass rush to be a true threat. Manny Lawson said that he had gained a good 15 lbs maybe that and a solid yr can make him a good pass rusher. The other is Parys Haralson he could either continue to be an average threat and get 8~10 as well or with a full season Im hoping that he or M.Lawson can get 14 or more. This is a lot that needs to happen but i dont think none of it is impossible we might not have the best dline this yr but we still have plenty of young talent to cont. to build on

It'd be F***ing awesome if just on a few plays a game they would turn willis loose. Not have him rush from the MLB spot but the OLB spot. But i can understand why they won't do that...

I think our pass rush will be better for the following reasons:

1. Clear and simple plan and everyone knows what they are supposed to do. No more confusion.

2. All the players will know their roles, no ambiguity.

3. J. Smith will have a whole season at DE. I expect 8 sacks this year as well.

4. J. Smith has been teaching Balmer. If Balmer gets 3 mop up sacks it will be an improvement.

5. Franklin/Soap will one gap the whole year. They together should get 5 sacks.

6. Haralson will be the OLB for the whole year this year, so I expect his next step in growth and I expect 10+ sacks out of Haralson.

7. I expect 7 sacks out of Lawson this year. Any extra will be gravy. He does not have to be a great pass rushing OLB but enough so that they have to think about him. So if they start doubling up on Haralson then Lawson should get some more. So far that is 32 sacks without any extraordinary development, just gradual development.

8. I predict at least 3 sacks a piece from Willis and Spikes. So that is 6 more

9. We should get 5 sacks out of backfield blitzes. That is a total of 43 sacks for the year. That is a significant improvement over 08.

10. Manusky should be able to be more aggressive on attacking an offense. If Goldson can get us a 5 interceptions, that will slow up the pass game a bit and they will have to think about things and it may get us a couple of coverage sacks.

11. I think we can have some improvement on the defense just because we will be playing the same defense the whole year and everyone knowing their job and doing it well. So overall I see an improved pass rush.

12. I also think we need to get some quality players in the defense. I think our next draft we should go for a high quality NT, and another CB and a SS. We can always use another quality LB to push Lawson and Haralson and have quality depth and improve the pass rush even more.

Originally posted by Ninefan56:
I think our pass rush will be better for the following reasons:

1. Clear and simple plan and everyone knows what they are supposed to do. No more confusion.

2. All the players will know their roles, no ambiguity.

3. J. Smith will have a whole season at DE. I expect 8 sacks this year as well.

4. J. Smith has been teaching Balmer. If Balmer gets 3 mop up sacks it will be an improvement.

5. Franklin/Soap will one gap the whole year. They together should get 5 sacks.

6. Haralson will be the OLB for the whole year this year, so I expect his next step in growth and I expect 10+ sacks out of Haralson.

7. I expect 7 sacks out of Lawson this year. Any extra will be gravy. He does not have to be a great pass rushing OLB but enough so that they have to think about him. So if they start doubling up on Haralson then Lawson should get some more. So far that is 32 sacks without any extraordinary development, just gradual development.

8. I predict at least 3 sacks a piece from Willis and Spikes. So that is 6 more

9. We should get 5 sacks out of backfield blitzes. That is a total of 43 sacks for the year. That is a significant improvement over 08.

10. Manusky should be able to be more aggressive on attacking an offense. If Goldson can get us a 5 interceptions, that will slow up the pass game a bit and they will have to think about things and it may get us a couple of coverage sacks.

11. I think we can have some improvement on the defense just because we will be playing the same defense the whole year and everyone knowing their job and doing it well. So overall I see an improved pass rush.

12. I also think we need to get some quality players in the defense. I think our next draft we should go for a high quality NT, and another CB and a SS. We can always use another quality LB to push Lawson and Haralson and have quality depth and improve the pass rush even more.

We don't need a SS we need a FS

Our pass rush will be better

No more 4-2-5, I'm gonna say, yes, our pass-rush should be much improved. But until someone steps up at the Nose, and disrupts the middle of the pocket, we will continue to see the QB step up and avoid the rush from the outsides. So until we take care of that, we will continue to see minimal improvement.

Can anyone honestly say that we have upgraded since last year? I mean what was done this off season to fix the pass rush?

Originally posted by rigs49:
Can anyone honestly say that we have upgraded since last year? I mean what was done this off season to fix the pass rush?

Added Pass-rush specialist Al Harris, Marques Harris (rush LB from San Diego). Settled in at a 3-4 defense (no more Big sub), simplified to a one-gap and no more gap control. Got rid of Tully Banta-Cain and Roderick Green, and made Haralson the full time starter.

Doesn't look like much, but believe it or not, those are improvements. Were you expecting Brian Orakpo, Everette Brown or trading for Terrell Suggs or Julius Peppers....I was (to be honest).

Originally posted by rigs49:
Can anyone honestly say that we have upgraded since last year? I mean what was done this off season to fix the pass rush?

"Sing, sing, sing...." "motivate, motivate, motivate......" "fire, fire, fire..." Get the hell outta here with all that noise.

Mike Singletary is not a miracle worker!

Originally posted by Kolohe:

Originally posted by rigs49:
Can anyone honestly say that we have upgraded since last year? I mean what was done this off season to fix the pass rush?

Added Pass-rush specialist Al Harris, Marques Harris (rush LB from San Diego). Settled in at a 3-4 defense (no more Big sub), simplified to a one-gap and no more gap control. Got rid of Tully Banta-Cain and Roderick Green, and made Haralson the full time starter.

Doesn't look like much, but believe it or not, those are improvements. Were you expecting Brian Orakpo, Everette Brown or trading for Terrell Suggs or Julius Peppers....I was (to be honest).

Even if we had drafted a rookie passrusher. They weren't going to make much of an impact.

Gholston, Groves anybody?

-9fA

Originally posted by Kolohe:

Originally posted by rigs49:
Can anyone honestly say that we have upgraded since last year? I mean what was done this off season to fix the pass rush?

Added Pass-rush specialist Al Harris, Marques Harris (rush LB from San Diego). Settled in at a 3-4 defense (no more Big sub), simplified to a one-gap and no more gap control. Got rid of Tully Banta-Cain and Roderick Green, and made Haralson the full time starter.

Doesn't look like much, but believe it or not, those are improvements. Were you expecting Brian Orakpo, Everette Brown or trading for Terrell Suggs or Julius Peppers....I was (to be honest).

If we would have traded for Suggs or Peppers......you wouldn't of heard one beep from me. Kolohe I missed it, Al Harris?