I got invited to watch the game from the company suite on Sunday. I saw Levis from a different angle and I have to say...I don't care what people say, I love that place.
Anyway...
1) Kap: I don't hate Kap and I don't love Kap. I just don't think he's a part of the future. I mean the guy finished the season with a 4 to 1 TD to INT ratio and his best QB rating since 2013.
I just think he needs to go and the team needs to start fresh with another young QB.
2) Baalke: It was time. The more I hear the more I'm convinced he should have gone earlier. I defended the guy for several years so I'm not going to pretend I didn't, but I flipped around midseason this year. If what I've been hearing lately tho is true and he was the reason they didn't hire Gase (although I'm not really sold on him yet) and the reason they didn't hire Hue Jackson (per Michael Silver), then the firing came far too late. Problem is tho...how much of that is true and how much of that is Jed spinning.
Dunno.
3) Kelly: I've been saying that I wouldn't mind him coming back and I'm actually still on that page. I don't hate Chip and there were aspects of his offense I really like. Here's the rub tho...once you decide that Trent is done, what do you do next? If you force a coach on a GM then you limit who is willing to take that job. You can't give the job to Chip as he's proven he can't do both jobs.
Essentially...once the decision was made to fire Baalke, they HAD to fire Chip.
4) Jed: I've seen from ALOT of people that they didn't like Jeds "I own the team" line. I couldn't disagree more. I LOVED it. It was the closest I've ever seen him to acting like Eddie. He was cordial about it, but it was effectively an FU to Lowell Cohn and precisely the answer I'd want from an owner.
Jed wasn't cut out to be in front of the camera and many would say he wasn't cut out to hold the job he has. That wouldn't be entirely unfair either. THAT response tho to me was perfect. Loved it.
5) Reset: Jed has been trying to hang on desperately thinking that they could somehow recreate some of that Harbaugh magic. I think he finally woke up here. It was an expensive lesson (more on that later). The 49ers haven't completely reset since 2005. They came close in 2011 but Trent was essentially just promoted.
Bringing in all new blood is precisely what the team needs. All that talent from 2011-2013 is gone now. Bill Walsh, George Seifert, or Jim Harbaugh aren't walking in the door anytime soon.
Start over. Start fresh. There are some you pieces to build around but get the right guys in place to move this team into the future.
As far as the expense....can we PLEASE stop with the "Yorks are cheap" mantra? It hasn't been the case since Jed took over and it isn't the case now. They are dropping 30 mil or so for coaches who won't be coaching the team...and thats just the HCs. Yes...they didn't use the cap space, but guess what? It rolls over and they HAVE to spend it or not comply with league rules. It'll get spent and NOW that cap space is a huge plus to perspective GMs and Coaches.
6) "Who would want to coach there?": Everybody. Seriously. 80 to 100 mil in cap space. 2nd pick of the draft. An owner who wants to win so desperately he'll be dropping 30 mil on coaches not coaching the team. A brand new stadium with revenue streams galore. A historic NFL franchise. When the Niners are good, they OWN this town. They can be good again.
Don't let people convince you that the 49er job isn't desirable. Thats BS...in particular because Baalke isn't there anymore.
7) Frank Gore: I was listening to the radio this morning and Ted Robinson said they should get Frank Gore back just to have in the locker room. I couldn't agree more. I'd LOVE to have Frank back. He still has a year left on his deal in Indy and I don't know their situation, but I really hope they go get him if the Colts cut him loose.
He just has the personality you want in your locker room to show younger players. Oh yeah, and he can STILL play.
8) Who do I like?: My hope for the first 2 picks are Myles Garrett in round 1 and Deshaun Watson in round 2. Now that I've said that I can all but guarantee those will NOT be the picks.
9) Damnit Cleveland: Seriously? A fumble on the 3 years line? Really? Sigh.
10) FINALLY over: At least now we can finally begin the process of looking to next year. I've been looking forward to this for months. :)
[ Edited by Marvin49 on Jan 3, 2017 at 3:33 PM ]
