Originally posted by Goldtimer:Originally posted by ajsjohnson:
I think many of you are getting caught up in the wrong details. It is true that simply having a good QB will not guarantee success, just as having a mediocre one doesn't guarantee failure. A good OL is important either way--that is not really up for debate. The big issue for us as 49ers fans is that we have neither a great QB (yet, at least) nor a great OL (hopefully we just changed that). Having both dramatically improves our chances, and pretending that the QB isn't important--as Sing is doing--is not helpful. We are on the cusp of actual success for the first time in a decade and it is at risk of being undone very quickly should Smith regress. Not being able to pass effectively will be a huge problem, no matter how well we run block. I am rooting that Smith takes a quantum leap forward, but if he doesn't and we are stuck in neutral offensively, then we need a plan B and guess what--Sing's lack of attention to the QB position means that we don't have one. Grooming a young QB this year was critical to ensure that we hedged our bets at that position; Davis may be that guy, but with a learning disability and zero reps that is looking unlikely in the near term. IF Smith fails, be prepared for us to draft a young QB again next year and throw him into the fire....that does not likely translate into lots of wins, and we may be sitting watching as a really good defense and RB is wasted waiting for this new guy to learn the ropes.
I think you're taking his words a little too literally. To me he's saying the QB is just as important as the rest of the guys around him equally. The problem is we have fans that think they know exactly what's going to happen. Did the Rams know what they had in Kurt Warner before they lost Trent Green? Did the Pats know what they had in Tom Brady? Stop with all the what ifs and trust in what the coaches visions are. Let me give you a taste of what you are doing. IF he didn't think the QB was important than we would still have Martz as our OC with JT at QB and Vernon would've been blocking all game last year.
Perhaps, but in the cases you cited I think that 1. Martz was actually MORE concerned with QB play than Sing wanted to be, hence the switch to the much more conservative Raye, 2. Sing was more concerned with the fact that JT was turning the ball over more often than a short order cook turned over pancakes at IHOP than his actual QB related performance (comp %, TDs, efficiency) and 3. VD was used more because the running game bogged down early in the season and we had to change offensive gears midstream to be competitive
These are just opinions, obviously, but my main point is that Sing simply does not feel that a top QB is necessary to win in the NFL. He's right--it isn't. But to win a super bowl (that is the goal right? Or are we so beaten down as fans we just aim for a winning season and an early playoff exit?), i am saying that you better have a redonkulous defense and an unparalleled ability to control the ball if you hope to win with an average QB. Look at history and you will see that that didn't happen very often....
Don't get me wrong--Sing blows the doors off of any coach we've had since the suckage began. I am just ready to win now, and I am in skeptical mode until given reason to feel otherwise.