Are we or are we close to being a complete team?

A friend and I were having a talk last night about teams in the NFL...talking about teams that are considered a "complete" team..not one glaring weakness.

Are the 49ers there? Or are we close?

QB? (Smith)
OL (Rookie OL)

Your opinion?

Depends on whether our QB situation will work out or not. If it works out, then we're very close.

Maybe...

question marks:

QB
OLine
DBs

Originally posted by NinerBuff:
Maybe...

question marks:

QB
OLine
DBs

-Nate Clements
-Shawntae Spencer
-Tarrell Brown
-Karl Paymah
-Will James
-Phillip Adams
-Tramaine Brock

Solid group IMO.

Originally posted by jrg:

Originally posted by NinerBuff:
Maybe...

question marks:

QB
OLine
DBs

-Nate Clements
-Shawntae Spencer
-Tarrell Brown
-Karl Paymah
-Will James
-Phillip Adams
-Tramaine Brock

Solid group IMO.

I think the starters are solid. But Paymah and James stink. And Brown hasn't looked too impressive, and he can't tackle worth a lick. And we are yet to see what we have in Adams,

well

matthew barry of espn.com seems to think we will represent the NFC in the Superbowl

but all the espn folk (analyst/experts) seem to think so

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/preview10/news/story?id=5493278

lmao at the coach of the year selections..seems like they just picked guys named mike

Originally posted by NinerBuff:
Maybe...

question marks:

QB
OLine
DBs

I agree.

QB I won't comment cause I don't want to turn this into a Smith thread.

Oline is only a question imo because of lack of experience. I know it's early, but I think we hit on both our 1st round picks and think at worse they will be adequate players in the NFL.

DB's I worry about our depth at corner. I don't think Brown is as good as the team wants him to be. Clemments should be a safety and starting next to Goldson. Spencer is good but getting up there.

Originally posted by ads_2006:
well

matthew barry of espn.com seems to think we will represent the NFC in the Superbowl

but all the espn folk (analyst/experts) seem to think so

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/preview10/news/story?id=5493278

lmao at the coach of the year selections..seems like they just picked guys named mike

Losing to the Ravens

Originally posted by jrg:

Originally posted by NinerBuff:
Maybe...

question marks:

QB
OLine
DBs

-Nate Clements
-Shawntae Spencer
-Tarrell Brown
-Karl Paymah
-Will James
-Phillip Adams
-Tramaine Brock

Solid group IMO.

You miss the Raiders game last week? I mean goddam, it was the RAIDERS!

Originally posted by Lott49ersFan:

Originally posted by jrg:

Originally posted by NinerBuff:
Maybe...

question marks:

QB
OLine
DBs

-Nate Clements
-Shawntae Spencer
-Tarrell Brown
-Karl Paymah
-Will James
-Phillip Adams
-Tramaine Brock

Solid group IMO.

You miss the Raiders game last week? I mean goddam, it was the RAIDERS!

You miss the fact its pre-season? I mean, goddam, it's pre-season!

Originally posted by jrg:

Originally posted by ads_2006:
well

matthew barry of espn.com seems to think we will represent the NFC in the Superbowl

but all the espn folk (analyst/experts) seem to think so

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/preview10/news/story?id=5493278

lmao at the coach of the year selections..seems like they just picked guys named mike

Losing to the Ravens

That can't be right... If theres one thing the Niners have proven; when they make the big game, they don't lose.

Originally posted by jrg:

Originally posted by ads_2006:
well

matthew barry of espn.com seems to think we will represent the NFC in the Superbowl

but all the espn folk (analyst/experts) seem to think so

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/preview10/news/story?id=5493278

lmao at the coach of the year selections..seems like they just picked guys named mike

Losing to the Ravens

this. 49ers don't lose superbowls.

That would mean we are superbowl bound b/c we have top talent, coordinators, coaching, scheming, depth, etc.

I think we have a "shot" at making the playoffs but we still have a lot of ?-marks and one-dimensional players.

We still don't have one or two dominant evey down OLB's; we are forced to generate pressure using a sack-by-committee approach which dumb-downs this defense and makes it very predictable for the offense to block against us. We could have every down players in Brooks and LaBoy and an emerging Briggs. Haralson could turn it around now that he's healthy too. Lawson will have his best year most likely b/c it's his contact year or he could be benched after a few games.

NT's are both one-gap specialists. We have depth here but in short yardage and goal line situations, we fail. Always.

Speed is beyond suspect with Michael Lewis, Clements & Spikes. No-name TE's and crossing WR's have field days against us esp. in the middle of the field. We play down hill well but are suspect in retreat and even sideline-to-sideline is OK. I still don't see a lot of "team tackling." It's usually Willis of a RB has over a 5+ yard gain. Coverage on screens, swing passes to RB and in the middle of the field. Horrible no matter how you look at it.

Coaching; under Singletary, I have yet to see a coach game plan properly coming into a game and make early adjustments. We need X's and O's guys who can target an opponents weaknesses. Period. We are still terrible on the road and are pop warner when it comes to managing the clock, TO's and getting play calls in.

Injuries are something we always seem to have esp. on the o-line. Part of that is b/c of the predicatbility of the offensive play calling and trying to run up the middle against 8-9 men blitzing fronts

Special teams is still a huge question mark, even more so with Nedney hurting some and a year older.

So are we a complete team> Heck no! We still have the same major question marks that we started out with in preseason; though, there appears to be some solid hints we'll be better and with more depth.

Coaching the right players up appears to be the difference between good teams and playoff bound/super bowl bound teams. This year will be no different.

Originally posted by jrg:

Originally posted by Lott49ersFan:

Originally posted by jrg:

Originally posted by NinerBuff:
Maybe...

question marks:

QB
OLine
DBs

-Nate Clements
-Shawntae Spencer
-Tarrell Brown
-Karl Paymah
-Will James
-Phillip Adams
-Tramaine Brock

Solid group IMO.

You miss the Raiders game last week? I mean goddam, it was the RAIDERS!

You miss the fact its pre-season? I mean, goddam, it's pre-season!

I's the first string, getting torn apart by the RAIDERS. I know it's preseason but, thats only an excuse. Your first string can't go out and play like that. It's not like the DB's have been absolutely amazing and just blew this game. They haven't been very good at all...

Five question marks that would decipher this:

1. Smith - Can he even further up his game?
2. Rookie OL - Can they gel with and solidify our line for years to come?
3. Pass Rush - What will Manny and Brooks do this season -- can they up their game?
4. Corners - Can Nate and Spencer stay healthy?
5. Safeties - After Michael Lewis goes, will Mays or Smith be able to fill the spot and play even better?