The Lions and Rams Games: Foundation Games for the 2010 Season | Page 2

MadDog49er · 2009-12-23T12:49:24-08:00

The Niners are on the cusp of a .500 season, which would be a major step forward for an organization parked in a near complete decade of losing seasons. The Niners should be heavily favored to defeat the Lions (the line is at 12 points this week...41.5 over-under...bet the over) and the Rams. Although winning is the highest priority for these two games (could you imagine the bloodletting if we lose either game), there is even more at stake for building a possible playoff run in 2010. There are many questions unanswered about the direction of the team, and a lot of guys will be playing for a paycheck next season. First, the team needs to establish the direction it wants to take offensively. In 2009, we have seen a schizophrenic offensive pattern. We played "smashmouth" football (whatever that means) under Shaun Hill and a Crabtree-less team for the first collection of games, and looked pathetic. Then, we moved to the Alex Smith/Michael Crabtree/shotgun/spread offense style for about 6 more weeks. But, we almost completely ignored Gore. Now, the team is beginning to show a tad more balance running and throwing the ball, focusing more attention on Gore and the running game. So, as the curtain falls in 2009, the team needs to establish what direction we want to head in 2010. Will we run and gun, run the ball down people's throats, play tight to the LOS, spread the field, etc.? This team needs to figure out an offensive philosophy now that the major players (Smith/Gore/Crabtree/Gore) are firmly in place. And, the final two games allows a real opportunity, in game conditions, to help solidify the path we will take next season. Second, the final two games will allow us to make a final evaluation in player personnel matters. Starting with the DL, how much of a value do we want to assign Aubreyo Franklin? Is he worth the franchise tag, which is currently at $6 million/year? Is Franklin the $6 million man? I'm sure the board will be split on this issue. If not, who comes in to play the position? Do we slide Soap or Balmer into that role, and could either play at Franklin's level? Is Franklin playing at a high level the past year and a half because of an upcoming large payday, and could his play slide after the armored car drops off a large stack of money at his house? At linebacker, does the team think the Lawson, Haralson, Brooks combo is good enough, better yet, consistent enough week-to-week, to handle the starting role in 2010? I think the jury is still out on this one for most people. In the secondary, three of the four starting jobs seem on shaky ground. Outside of Spencer, who has been tremendous, there are serious question marks. Does the team have enough confidence in Clements to let him retake his former starting job, at his current contracted amount, and what will the team do with Bly and Brown? At free safety, Goldson hits hard, but has given up a ton of big plays as the deep man on defense. Is he a player the team trusts to start at FS or SS? And, is Michael Lewis playing his final games as a 49er due to the numerous concussions he suffered in 2009? He is a tackling machine, but does the team think he is a liability in coverage? On the offensive line, the biggest question mark revolves around David Baas. Will Baas prove that he is worthy of keeping as a starter on the OL? He needs to play lights out in the final two games to be considered the starter going into 2010, and even that might not be enough. The Niners may simply let him slide away in free agency, so Baas is going to have to scrap to remain with the team. Finally, will any of the "lost souls of 2009" come back from the dead? Will any of these guys make a claim for any more playing time in 2010: Jason Hill, Brandon Jones, Glen Coffee. All seem lost in the shuffle, and are nearing the point of being completely interchangeable in value with undrafted free agents, and Arena League stars. Jones, in particular, is signed through the year 2037, or somewhere close, and has made less of an impact than towelboy on the sidelines. He might want to practice hard this week. So, while we all celebrate the team to victory the next two weeks (hopefully, I haven't completely jinxed the team), beyond the win is the larger picture of where this team is headed in 2010, as they ride off into the offseason. I'm looking just as much for answers as "W's". Cheers.

Dec 23, 2009 at 1:46 PM

#16

mayo49
Veteran
Posts: 65,216

Mad, you didn't add Alex to your list. Do we assume you think he's the starter in 2010 no matter what happens these last two games?

Dec 23, 2009 at 2:04 PM

#17

YungAce
Veteran
Posts: 46,920

^^^

He did

Quote:
This team needs to figure out an offensive philosophy now that the major players (Smith/Gore/Crabtree/Gore) are firmly in place.

And we get it Maddog, you want to run the offense to revolve around Gore

Great post bro !

Dec 23, 2009 at 2:11 PM

#18

sixbricks
Veteran
Posts: 411

Originally posted by King49er:
Well if we're not making the playoffs then I'll settle for 8-8, but this whole missing the playoffs business has to come to an end.

Lets hope the Lions doen't play like they did against the Cards last weekend

Dec 23, 2009 at 2:12 PM

#19

jreff22
Veteran
Posts: 67,473

As always MD

Do you expect post season action for us next year?

Dec 23, 2009 at 2:12 PM

#20

MadDog49er
Hall of Fame
Posts: 19,400

Originally posted by Oakland-Niner:
@ this post.

Look at who our 8 wins would be against. 5 divisional opponents, the lions, Jaguars and Bears, oh my. I will give you however that against better teams we've played a whole lot stronger.

However, for me it already feels like the season is over. I dont feel we can learn anything from these last two games. Now matter how well we play you can always chalk it up to, "well it's just the Lions or Rams." If I remember correctly we blanked the Rams earlier in the season and ultimately what did that mean? It would be pretty hard to follow that act up.

I would much rather go 6 and 10 by playing top quality competion the last two games because at least then we could really measure ourselves. As far as I'm concerned anything we do the rest of the season is meaningless except VD breaking the TD record and Gore getting his 1000 yards.

And please dont let us lose either of these games, because that will make for a really s**tty off season.

I'm already looking towards the draft. I can't wait to read your input.

I'm pumped for the draft as well. Two first rounders, one that should be pretty high. The draft should also be very interesting in its new format, stretched out over more days.

Dec 23, 2009 at 2:14 PM

#21

MadDog49er
Hall of Fame
Posts: 19,400

Originally posted by mayo63:
Mad, you didn't add Alex to your list. Do we assume you think he's the starter in 2010 no matter what happens these last two games?

Unless he is a complete disaster in the last two games, this offense is going to run through him in 2010.

I anticipate two solid games, and very little argument over the starting QB in 2010.

Dec 23, 2009 at 2:15 PM

#22

MadDog49er
Hall of Fame
Posts: 19,400

Originally posted by jreff22:
As always MD

Do you expect post season action for us next year?

As stated in a thread I posted last summer, 2010 is the year.

Dec 23, 2009 at 2:20 PM

#23

jays9ers
Veteran
Posts: 4,560

We say this every year towards the end of the year

Watch out! Next season is ours for the taking! blaaaahblaaaaahblaaaah..

Dec 23, 2009 at 2:23 PM

#24

mayo49
Veteran
Posts: 65,216

Originally posted by MadDog49er:
Originally posted by mayo63:
Mad, you didn't add Alex to your list. Do we assume you think he's the starter in 2010 no matter what happens these last two games?

Unless he is a complete disaster in the last two games, this offense is going to run through him in 2010.

I anticipate two solid games, and very little argument over the starting QB in 2010.

I agree. Looking foward to another draft season with you mad, should be fun.

Dec 23, 2009 at 3:15 PM

#25

BETTERDAYZ9ERS
Veteran
Posts: 3,078

As long as you don't call these next 2 wins "flukes"

Dec 23, 2009 at 5:17 PM

#26

darkknight49
Veteran
Posts: 10,878

Originally posted by Oakland-Niner:
@ this post.

Look at who our 8 wins would be against. 5 divisional opponents, the lions, Jaguars and Bears, oh my. I will give you however that against better teams we've played a whole lot stronger.

However, for me it already feels like the season is over. I dont feel we can learn anything from these last two games. Now matter how well we play you can always chalk it up to, "well it's just the Lions or Rams." If I remember correctly we blanked the Rams earlier in the season and ultimately what did that mean? It would be pretty hard to follow that act up.

I would much rather go 6 and 10 by playing top quality competion the last two games because at least then we could really measure ourselves. As far as I'm concerned anything we do the rest of the season is meaningless except VD breaking the TD record and Gore getting his 1000 yards.

And please dont let us lose either of these games, because that will make for a really s**tty off season.

I'm already looking towards the draft. I can't wait to read your input.

steps man. Gotta be able to beat the lesser teams before you can beat the good ones. You don't climb a ladder by trying to jump to the 5th rung.

Dec 23, 2009 at 6:26 PM

#27

Oakland-Niner
Member
Posts: 24,062

Originally posted by darkknight49:
Originally posted by Oakland-Niner:
@ this post.

Look at who our 8 wins would be against. 5 divisional opponents, the lions, Jaguars and Bears, oh my. I will give you however that against better teams we've played a whole lot stronger.

However, for me it already feels like the season is over. I dont feel we can learn anything from these last two games. Now matter how well we play you can always chalk it up to, "well it's just the Lions or Rams." If I remember correctly we blanked the Rams earlier in the season and ultimately what did that mean? It would be pretty hard to follow that act up.

I would much rather go 6 and 10 by playing top quality competion the last two games because at least then we could really measure ourselves. As far as I'm concerned anything we do the rest of the season is meaningless except VD breaking the TD record and Gore getting his 1000 yards.

And please dont let us lose either of these games, because that will make for a really s**tty off season.

I'm already looking towards the draft. I can't wait to read your input.

steps man. Gotta be able to beat the lesser teams before you can beat the good ones. You don't climb a ladder by trying to jump to the 5th rung.

No offense man, but in this era of FA and the salary cap, there is no excuse for missing the playoffs seven years, especially when you consider our division. It's sad when a lot of the core guys we drafted are in the last year of their contract or their time is already up.

You have to excuse me, I'm just very depressed. I basically have to wait a year to feel this way again...

Dec 23, 2009 at 6:33 PM

#28

backontop
Veteran
Posts: 14,346

Originally posted by BETTERDAYZ9ERS:
As long as you don't call these next 2 wins "flukes"

every time the team wins with Smith at QB it will always be called a fluke by Smith haters. Just like his average 2TD's a game is a fluke

Dec 23, 2009 at 6:57 PM

#29

PatrickJira411
Member
Posts: 4,117

Good post MadDog

Dec 23, 2009 at 7:37 PM

#30

excelsior
Veteran
Posts: 1,432

The draft is important, but let us not forget FAs. The Yorks simply have too much cap money sitting on the sidelines. I know, FAs are too high-priced.

McC should use some of this money to plug a number of holes with solid FAs. To leave $50M (or whatever it is) unspent is almost like trying to play defense with 10 men on the field. But he is going to have to do much better than he did with Jonas Jennings, Marvel Smith, D Jackson, Leslie Lelie, TBC, Brandon Jones - boy, that's enough to put a stake through McC's heart.