Originally posted by SoCold:
Originally posted by 49AllTheTime:
Originally posted by SoCold:
I voted 8. A couple key injuries and 6 sounds about right.
For the 25% of you who voted 11, I'd like to know what 11 games on the schedule you think they will win?
cause I'm not feeling it.
We can possibly hit 7-2 at the bye mark
anything is possible lol
7 of their first 11 games are against playoff teams from last year
5 of which are road games the last @ seattle
3 prime time games when the 49ers haven't exactly been great in those
this schedule is tuff
They could possibly be 4-7 after 11
Agreed, the schedule is tough...but why so scared? We've owned every "playoff team" we've faced (with or without the "big names") save for Seattle but mostly that was d/t critical injuries/losses (even, in-game) and horrendous game planning and an inability to adjust in-game when an area was completely shut down (i.e. Gore).
Review the roster closely. You all are acting like we're the Jaguars and totally devoid of talent and depth and competent coaches. Sure, we have a few questions but so does every team this time of the year. Imagine all the questions the Ravens had after their Superbowl run...the Patriots this year. Tons of lost key players (big 'names'), coaching changes, offensive and defensive philosophical changes, etc. The difference is the Ravens adjusted by getting a new OC en route to the win, retooled the next year, changed to a ZBS, changed their offensive philosophy, tried different personnel combinations on defense, etc. The Pats will be doing the same this year re: adapting.
We just turned over a few older vets (Gore - 32/Smith - 35) and lost some players via FA/retirement (Iupati, Davis, Borland, Crabtree, Cox and Culliver). Teams lose this many players or more every off season...check the transactions around the NFL. The only difference here is that we lost 49er icons (recognizable names from the glory days) and the WAY we lost a couple players (i.e. young players retiring).
That perception seems to be only driving national media and some Niner fans in general. Yet, if you review the local media and media who have actually been to the facility, paid attention to the 1on1 interviews of players and coaches, etc. you'll hear the exact opposite of this perception.
I mean, realistically, just look at our "main camp battles." The only REAL battle is along the OL and finding the right combination for employing both a power and ZBS and better pass protection. The rest, we already know will all be part of a major rotation depending on personnel matchups that Mangini wants to employ from week-to-week and in-game looks. That said, if THAT is your only real battle, you're in great, great shape. Seattle won a Superbowl with a poor OL and can we really be worse than 52 sacks?
DON'T SELL YOUR TEAM SHORT!
1. No. 3 Wide Receiver
Behind Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith, there are a number of talented pass-catchers who will be fighting for the third spot on the depth chart. The receivers who were with the team in 2015 are Quinton Patton, Bruce Ellington andChuck Jacobs. The 49ers signed Jerome Simpson in free agency, draftedDeAndre Smelter and added five undrafted rookies: Dres Anderson,Issac Blakeney, DiAndre Campbell, Mario Hull and DeAndrew White.
Patton, Simpson and White were the standouts during OTAs and minicamp, but preseason games and full-contact practices will determine who makes the roster and sees playing time on Sunday.
2. All three cornerback positions
Defensive backs coach Tim Lewis said after minicamp that there wouldn't be a depth chart at cornerback going into training camp. Lewis added that he's never had a position group with more competition from top to bottom in his 20-plus year NFL coaching career.
The 49ers have nine corners on the roster: Kenneth Acker, Tramaine Brock,Chris Cook, Marcus Cromartie, Mylan Hicks, Dontae Johnson,Leon McFadden, Keith Reaser and Shareece Wright. That doesn't include 2014 first-round pick Jimmie Ward, who was the team's starting nickel corner last year before suffering a foot injury.
Each corner had their moments during the offseason program, and Lewis rotated each guy in with the first-team defense. That makes it impossible at this point to predict who will be starting Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings.
3. Entire defensive line
Jim Tomsula has called this the deepest group of defensive linemen he's ever had, but we don't really know who his starters will be. Ian Williams is likely to win the nose tackle job after doing so the last two seasons. Mike Purcell andGarrison Smith are the other two players listed as nose tackles on the roster.
There are nine other defensive linemen on the roster: Arik Armstead,Glenn Dorsey, Lawrence Okoye, Marcus Rush, Tank Carradine, Quinton Dial,Darnell Dockett, Tony Jerod-Eddie and Kaleb Ramsey. Some of the names on that list have the versatility to play nose tackle, but a majority will be competing for the two starting spots at defensive tackle. The health of Dockett will be a big factor as he continues to recover from a torn ACL. Armstead's progression and ability to play catch-up after missing the entire offseason program will be another factor.
Not every guy on the list will be a three-down player either, meaning that there will be a constant rotation of playing time. That mitigates the importance of who starts and who subs in, but it's still intriguing to see who will join the first-team defense nonetheless.
4. Every offensive line position not filled by 'The Joe Show'
There is certainly much more clarity here than there is at defensive line, although we don't know exactly which names will slot into each position. Marcus Martin andDaniel Kilgore (if healthy) are the two options to start at center. If Kilgore does win the job at center, Martin will likely move to right guard. Alex Boone will start somewhere, it's just yet to be seen where that will be. Head coach Jim Tomsula hinted that Boone might start at left guard since the technique is the same as left tackle. That would give the 49ers an insurance plan incase Joe Staley goes down.
Brandon Thomas, Joe Looney and Andrew Tiller will also be in the mix at right guard with Erik Pears and rookie Trent Brown competing to start at right tackle.Dillon Farrell, Sean Hooey, Ian Silberman, Patrick Miller, Ben Gottschalk andJustin Renfrow are the other offensive linemen on the roster.
There are plenty of possibilities with very few certainties as of now.
5. Kick and punt returner
Reggie Bush seems to be the leader in the clubhouse to win the punt-return job. The running back entering his 10th NFL Season is on a mission to prove he can still be a dangerous return man. Bush has five career punt-return touchdowns in his career, including one in the 2009 playoffs during the New Orleans Saints Super Bowl run. First-year rookie running back Jarryd Hayne and Ellington will be the other top candidates to return punts in 2015.
The kick-return job has far more gray area. Ellington missing the offseason program due to injury has something to do with that. Ellington served as the 49ers main return man in 2014, returning 24 kicks for 614 yards. He also led the team with 23 punt returns for 188 yards. Hayne and White will be among the others vying to return kicks.
6. Kickoff duties
It will either be Phil Dawson or Bradley Pinion. Special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey Jr. said the competition was open, but he also hinted that both specialists could share the job depending on the situation in games.
7. Time-share at running back
Second-year running back Carlos Hyde, Bush and Kendall Hunter are the most likely trio to carry the 49ers running game this season. What is yet to be determined is if it will be an even split or if each back will have their specific roles. All three believe they are complete backs that can also be a weapon out of the backfield as a receiver. Hayne, rookie Mike Davis and Kendall Gaskins are the other running backs on the roster. Stay tuned.
What competition are you most looking forward to? Comment below and voice your opinion.
http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/7-Position-Battles-to-Watch-During-49ers-Training-Camp/ddbd16da-9fd3-4e54-8121-084a8879890c
[ Edited by NCommand on Jul 22, 2015 at 7:05 AM ]
