For the last 10 years or so..

I've struggled the last couple of year because I find watching the games so much more stressful now. When we lost almost every game, I just expected it. These days I expect to win and freak out if we don't. I find it helpful to remind myself of the bad old days, to be grateful for what we have now:

* Remember when it seemed like we had safety coverage breakdowns several times a game, with some no name receiver running completely uncovered behind the defense? I can't remember the last time this happened.

* Remember when our pass rushers used to get completely stonewalled at the line almost every play? Even when we do the late-game, three-tired-man pass rushes these days, there's at least some penetration.

* Remember when Singletary would slam Gore into the middle of the line every darn play? I wonder how many rushes that futility took off his career. Gore's vision and burst at the line still make him a great back, but I think those couple of years destroyed the ability he used to have to carry the pile on his back for an extra two yards every play.

* Remember when you used to grimace every time our quarterback tried to throw the ball down the field? I was still doing this most of the way through last year until I finally accepted that the bad old days were gone and downfield passes were more likely to be caught by us than them.

* Remember when our OL had a half dozen total assignment breakdowns every game? This one took a few games into last year to fix, but since then, when's the last time we let someone scott free through the middle with no hot receiver ala the killer sack that injured Alex Smith in 2010?

Props to those who still wore their gear through those years, and for enduring all the smack talk from others. Now that we're in the playoffs I see a lot of red. Where were these people during the dark years?

That's when the Senior Bowl was the biggest thing to look forward to before the draft

Originally posted by hroberts:
I've struggled the last couple of year because I find watching the games so much more stressful now. When we lost almost every game, I just expected it. These days I expect to win and freak out if we don't. I find it helpful to remind myself of the bad old days, to be grateful for what we have now:

* Remember when it seemed like we had safety coverage breakdowns several times a game, with some no name receiver running completely uncovered behind the defense? I can't remember the last time this happened.

* Remember when our pass rushers used to get completely stonewalled at the line almost every play? Even when we do the late-game, three-tired-man pass rushes these days, there's at least some penetration.

* Remember when Singletary would slam Gore into the middle of the line every darn play? I wonder how many rushes that futility took off his career. Gore's vision and burst at the line still make him a great back, but I think those couple of years destroyed the ability he used to have to carry the pile on his back for an extra two yards every play.

* Remember when you used to grimace every time our quarterback tried to throw the ball down the field? I was still doing this most of the way through last year until I finally accepted that the bad old days were gone and downfield passes were more likely to be caught by us than them.

* Remember when our OL had a half dozen total assignment breakdowns every game? This one took a few games into last year to fix, but since then, when's the last time we let someone scott free through the middle with no hot receiver ala the killer sack that injured Alex Smith in 2010?

Great first post!

2007 was probably the worst after 03/04.
Norv leaves late, Alex gets badly hurt in game 3, NOlan throws him under the bus, ALex makess an illadvised comeback still hurt, and messes up his mechanics. We Go thorugh 4 starting QBs
Alex, Dilfer, Hill, Weinke. looked completley pathetic and finished 5-11 with some meangless wins. And in the 08 draft we draft the one the only the legendary Kentwan Balmer

Oh brother it hurts just writing this.

Originally posted by JeuSF49:
2007 was probably the worst after 03/04.
Norv leaves late, Alex gets badly hurt in game 3, NOlan throws him under the bus, ALex makess an illadvised comeback still hurt, and messes up his mechanics. We Go thorugh 4 starting QBs
Alex, Dilfer, Hill, Weinke. looked completley pathetic and finished 5-11 with some meangless wins. And in the 08 draft we draft the one the only the legendary Kentwan Balmer

Oh brother it hurts just writing this.

This! I still remember my wife telling me that the Chargers fired schottenhiemer, after we had sweated out the few interviews Norv already did. I knew he would be gone. Stupid Chargers.

Originally posted by 49erfeeeever808:

03-04............ 2-14, with both wins over arizona in OT........

That was the first year I took over the payments for my family's season tix. lol

Originally posted by SFTifoso:
Props to those who still wore their gear through those years, and for enduring all the smack talk from others. Now that we're in the playoffs I see a lot of red. Where were these people during the dark years?

You wouldn't believe the static I constantly took from Raider fans around here when I was wearing my old red vinyl Niners warmup jacket back in the 70's. They all used to get a big laugh out of that.

It's crazy what good coaching and front office decisions can do for a team.

Feels great to be a perennial playoff team again.

Chip Douglas sounds like a porn star name

Remember when Singletary would say, "this is what we're going to do and I dare you to stop it," and then the opposing defense would be calling out Niner plays on the line of scrimmage before they were run? Remember when Nolan question his QB's toughness as that QB was attempting to come back in the same season after suffering a dislocated throwing shoulder? Remember when Erickson seemed like he just didn't care and couldn't wait to get back to his place in Malibu?

For you older fans: remember when Leonard Marshall ran 60 yards the wrong way for a Vikings safety and the Niners STILL LOST THE GAME!? Remember when the Niners were 11 points up on the Cowboys with 1:50 remaining to go to their first Super Bowl and the Niners STILL LOST THE GAME!? Remember when Joe Thomas had all the Niner Hall of Famers' pictures taken down at the facility?

Originally posted by Garcia:

Chip Douglas sounds like a porn star name

I get that a lot! Haha. My actual porn name is Poncho Alhambra

Originally posted by GNielsen:

Remember when Singletary would say, "this is what we're going to do and I dare you to stop it," and then the opposing defense would be calling out Niner plays on the line of scrimmage before they were run? Remember when Nolan question his QB's toughness as that QB was attempting to come back in the same season after suffering a dislocated throwing shoulder? Remember when Erickson seemed like he just didn't care and couldn't wait to get back to his place in Malibu?

For you older fans: remember when Leonard Marshall ran 60 yards the wrong way for a Vikings safety and the Niners STILL LOST THE GAME!? Remember when the Niners were 11 points up on the Cowboys with 1:50 remaining to go to their first Super Bowl and the Niners STILL LOST THE GAME!? Remember when Joe Thomas had all the Niner Hall of Famers' pictures taken down at the facility?

The. Erickson era started with such a bang! We pummeled the bears I think, I am pretty sure we put 50 pts on them. Sadly it was all down a very steep hill after that. He definitely couldn't wait to get fired

People should remember this as they b***h this week about "Willis' lack of passion," "Aldon taking plays off," & "Greg Roman being fireable."

Originally posted by NickSh49:

People should remember this as they b***h this week about "Willis' lack of passion," "Aldon taking plays off," & "Greg Roman being fireable."

This!!!