Eric Heitmann is a Good Football Player | Page 22

MadDog49er · 2008-11-25T17:02:17-08:00

The Abominable Snowman Exists! Bigfoot is Alive and Well! Hilary Clinton Gave Birth to an Alien! The Moon has Turned to Blood! Eric Heitmann is not a Good Football Player! All of the above statements are myths, and yet, there are far too many people on this board (there are about 7 or 8 in one active thread right now) that seem to have blindly accepted the last "fact". So, I have taken on, as nearly a full-time profession, to dispell one the silliest myths in Webzone history, that Eric Heitmann is not a good football player and needs to be replaced. Here is the truth, no matter how much some may personally hate it: Eric Heitmann is having a very good football season. I believed this weekend would be an excellent opportunity to isolate and analyze his play, so I tracked his every down (I only took bathroom breaks when the Niners were on defense) against Dallas NT Jay Ratliff, who is considered one of the finest interior defenders in the NFL. Ratliff led all 3-4 NT's around the league with 6 sacks going into the Niners' game. He ranks 20th overall in the NFL in sacks, and is 3rd overall for all DT's in the NFL. Here were comments or thoughts by coaches, broadcasters and journalists about Ratliff going into the Niners' game against Heitmann: * Mike Martz stated last week that Ratliff was the best pass rusher from NT position he has ever seen. * John Madden put him on the horse trailer as his player of the game against the Redskins. *Many believe Ratliff is a Pro-Bowl candidate. So, I tracked all 53 snaps of the game, in the matchup between Ratliff and Heitmann. I listed the down, the yards to go, whether Heitmann doubled on Ratliff with another guard, or handled him by himself. I marked down the direction of the block. And, finally, I listed whether he won the battle against Ratliff by pushing him out of the way, stopping his rush, etc. Here is what I found: Heitmann excelled on 50 of 53 snaps. The three situations where I counted his play as a loss: 1) On the four yard line, at the 49 second mark left in the first quarter, on a 2nd and goal. Heitmann and Baas were to double Ratiliff, but did not get enough leverage to completely clean him out of the play. Ratliff gets an arm on Gore, but Thomas does most of the work coming through the middle. Play went for zero yards. 2) The next play, on third and goal, where Ratliff ran untouched into the backfield and Hill threw an incompletion. On the play, Heitmann went directly after the other DT Canty at the snap. Rachal blocked Spears, and Ratliff was unaccounted for. This may have been Heitmann's error, but it also may have been Rachal's. I'm guessing Rachal, but will count the miscommunication on Heitmann, just for the sake of argument. 3) The fumble with Hill. Now, Hill has already come out and said it was the QB's fault. Whether this is the truth, or if Hill is simply falling on the sword, we will never know. I will still count this against Heitmann. The other 50 snaps, Heitmann played extremely well. In fact, Ratliff is nowhere near Hill the rest of the game. He is not pressured once by Ratliff. Ratliff does not make a tackle behind the line of scrimmage. Ratliff does not break the line of scrimmage beyond the one pressure. Ratliff finishes with 2 solo tackles (one of his two solo tackles was made on a three yard run by Gore at the 9:05 mark in the second...and Heitmann drove Ratliff off the ball on the play) and 1 assisted (previously mentioned), and the sole pressure mentioned before. He would not have made the horse trailer, he would not be considered a Pro-Bowl candidate, he would be considered average at the end of this game. In fact, on most pass plays, Ratliff, matched one on one with Heitmann, is barely in the screen when Hill throws the ball. And after playing at a high level against one of the better NFC defensive linemen, he is garbage and needs to be replaced? I'm searching for some sign of intelligence in these statements. I am challenging any skeptic, who has the ability to be objective, to review the tape, and grade him yourself, instead of simply accepting this ridiculous board myth than Heitmann is a problem, and should be sat. There is no Bigfoot, there is no Abominable Snowman, and I am once and for slaying the silly myth than Heitmann is a problem. I call on the skeptics of the board to take the challenge. Watch the tape yourself, and then come back to the board and join me in crushing this silliness. I thought I would spare the board my entire description of the 53 offensive plays, but if someone wants to know about a particular play, or down, please let me know. Now, can we to another subject, like benching Patrick Willis. Or cutting Manny Lawson. Or taking away Joe Montana's Super Bowl rings. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Update: In order to prove how bad Heitmann has played this season, please check out the third page of this post, on the link that gives the stats for the Niners' running game. It may "shock and awe" you. Cheers. [ Edited by MadDog49er on Nov 25, 2008 at 20:35:19 ]

Dec 4, 2008 at 1:13 PM

#316

Joecool
Veteran
Posts: 70,984

Originally posted by BamBam49er:
Matrz says Heitmann is best center he's ever worked with

maddog knows his s**t...except for one HUGE exception in the 2007 draft

Remember in TC, Martz said this is the best Offensive Line he has ever worked with. Um....we will leave it at that.

Dec 4, 2008 at 1:13 PM

#317

ea_thegreat
Veteran
Posts: 7,376

I think martz is making s**t up again. Heitmann has probably been our most consitent Olinemen but it doesn't mean he was good during that time and then he says he thought sims was doing very well before his injury.

Dec 4, 2008 at 1:16 PM

#318

SolRebe1
Veteran
Posts: 13,546

Martz, this is the same guy that said JTO will be something special... right?

Dec 4, 2008 at 1:16 PM

#319

vrabbit
Veteran
Posts: 35,953

Originally posted by Vrabbit:
originally posted on Dec 4, 2008 at 12:59:12 http://blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers/2008/12/martz-lavishes-praise-on-heitmann.html

Dec 4, 2008 at 1:19 PM

#320

ea_thegreat
Veteran
Posts: 7,376

Originally posted by BamBam49er:
Matrz says Heitmann is best center he's ever worked with

maddog knows his s**t...except for one HUGE exception in the 2007 draft

Look at what he said about sims. You can't take him that serious when he says that simms was playing well when we know that is BS

Dec 4, 2008 at 1:24 PM

#321

oldninerdude
Veteran
Posts: 4,330

Originally posted by LA9erFan:

WAAAY too cerebral for those of us following this thread to figure out.

(I got it. A pun. "Thread" as in the turns on a screw and "thread" as in a series of posts; "Die" as in something to cast or make machinery out of and "die" = cease, stop, quit breathing, etc.)

Dec 4, 2008 at 1:29 PM

#322

dj43
Moderator
Posts: 38,285

Originally posted by Joecool:
Originally posted by Bugdiver:
O.C. Mike Martz held his bi-weekly meeting with the media today.
Among the things he said:

--Center Eric Heitmann is having a fantastic season and would be worthy of Pro Bowl recognition if the 49ers had a better record. Martz said in 17 years of coaching in the NFL, Heitmann is the best center he's coached -- "by far."

What makes Heitmann special, Martz said, is his powerful hips and his quick hands. After the snap of the ball, Heitmann is able to get his hands on the nose tackle with astonishing speed.

Heitmann seemed uncomfortable talking about himself when told of Martz's comments. However, he did say he thought he was playing better than he has in past season. (And Heitmann was the 49ers' McKittrick Award winner the past two seasons.)

"Coming off the broken leg, there were some issues with mobility (last year)," Heitmann said. "Now, I've gotten that back."

Maiocco

Heittman is solid all around but he hurts us in one key area, short yardage.

And when has Martz ever said anything bad about a player? He lost credibility with his approvals a long time ago.

Centers and Guards are so difficult to judge but there is one key aspect of the game that really shows how good they are and that's run blocking. So far, we rarely get yards between the Center and the Guards.

And that is where there has been a merry-go-round of players. So far, NO ONE has played well at guard. Baas has played only a handful of games and is still struggling when asked to do much more than just bulldoze the guy in front of him out of the way. Wragge was doing "so well" that a raw rookie who should still be in college has replaced him, and he has only been there two games, one of which was a "less than brilliant."

Two years ago, Gore was running wild BUT he had the benefit of HOFer Larry Allen still able to knock guys into the cheap seats on every play. Eric Heitmann pre-broken leg. Justin Smiley doing what he does best - pulling and trapping and creating space. Those are three very big reasons why the 49ers haven't run well between the tackles this year.

Now add in the fact that in 2006 Kwame Harris was doing a very good job of not only making space on his own, but cutting off pursuit so when Gore did get through the middle, an outside defender wasn't already closed down on him. Adam Snyder has not yet shown he can do what Harris did in that regard.

Dec 4, 2008 at 1:43 PM

#323

MadDog49er
Hall of Fame
Posts: 19,400

If God himself came down from heaven, and declared Heitmann to be a good football player, there would still be some people on this board who would deny it was God that appeared. "It was just an optical illusion, or a mirage".

At least one local beat writer, Barrows, has said in the past couple weeks, that Heitmann is having a good year. Now, the OC is saying he is not only having a good year, but should be a Pro-Bowl candidate.

Come on, skeptics. Give it up!
Count it as a loss and move on.
I feel like we are doing "Lelie: Part 3" here.

Trust me, I'm not an idiot at this thing.

I called Nolan to be gone before last season, and Singletary to take over.
I stated that JTO would be benched when about half the board thought he would throw for 4,000 yards. I was going down in flames with that one...until about week 5, when the wheels began to fall off.
I stated that Lelie would be cut. OOOHHH, that was a toughy.
I stated that Sopoaga would be average, at best, not a raging star, as many board member thought, with the move to LDE. Remember the board members who thought he would collect 10 sacks this year?
I stated that A. Brooks would not be a star, or even a productive player on this team.
I stated the Niners would be 6-10 at the beginning of the year.
I stated the Niners would be 2-6 at the bye.
I stated that the Niners would not have a top 10, nor top 15 defense. We rank 23rd.
I stated that the Niners would not have a top 10, nor top 15 offense. We rank 26th.
I stated Nolan would be fired. I will say I thought it would happen at the end of the year, or at the break. The Niners beat me to the punch.
And I stated that Heitmann was a good football player.

And this is just a starter list. I'm sure some are looking through the archives now to verify. Please do so. Trust me, whenever I am wrong, people jump out of the woods with clubs. That's fine, I am wrong from time to time.

However, I'm batting about .999 this season, so I am not blowing ________ out of my a$$ when I make an assessment. And, yes, right now I'm patting myself on my back.

So, throw the dog a bone, and simply agree with the NFL world that Heitmann is a good player. It will do good for your mental health. Or continue to believe the world is flat.

Cheers.

[ Edited by MadDog49er on Dec 4, 2008 at 20:15:17 ]

Dec 4, 2008 at 1:45 PM

#324

Joecool
Veteran
Posts: 70,984

Originally posted by MadDog49er:
If God himself came down from heaven, and declared Heitmann to be a good football player, there would still be some people on this board who would deny it was God that appeared. "It was just an obtacle illusion, or a mirage".

At least one local beat writer, Barrows, has said in the past couple weeks, that Heitmann is having a good year. Now, the OC is saying he is not only having a good year, but should be a Pro-Bowl candidate.

Come on, skeptics. Give it up!
Count it as a loss and move on.
I feel like we are doing "Lelie: Part 3" here.

Trust me, I'm not an idiot at this thing.

I called Nolan to be gone before last season, and Singletary to take over.
I stated that JTO would be benched when about half the board thought he would throw for 4,000 yards. I was going down in flames with that one...until about week 6.
I stated that Lelie would be cut. OOOHHH, that was a toughy.
I stated that Sopoaga would be average, at best, not a raging star, as many board member thought, with the move to LDE. Remember the board members who thought he would collect 10 sacks this year?
I stated that A. Brooks would not be a star, or even a productive player on this team.
I stated the Niners would be 6-10 at the beginning of the year.
I stated the Niners would be 2-6 at the bye.
I stated that the Niners would not have a top 10, nor top 15 defense. We rank 23rd.
I stated that the Niners would not have a top 10, nor top 15 offense. We rank 26th.
I stated Nolan would be fired. I will say I thought it would happen at the end of the year, or at the break. The Niners beat me to the punch.
And I stated that Heitmann was a good football player.

And this is just a starter list. I'm sure some are looking through the archives now to verify. Please do so. Trust me, whenever I am wrong, people jump out of the woods with clubs. That's fine, I am wrong from time to time.

However, I'm batting about .999 this season, so I am not blowing ________ out of my a$$ when I make an assessment. And, yes, right now I'm patting myself on my back.

So, throw the dog a bone, and simply agree with the NFL world that Heitmann is a good player. It will do good for your mental health. Or continue to believe the world is flat.

Cheers.

I will only buy in if you predict which year we win the Superbowl.

Dec 4, 2008 at 1:47 PM

#325

MadDog49er
Hall of Fame
Posts: 19,400

Originally posted by Joecool:
Originally posted by MadDog49er:
If God himself came down from heaven, and declared Heitmann to be a good football player, there would still be some people on this board who would deny it was God that appeared. "It was just an obtacle illusion, or a mirage".

At least one local beat writer, Barrows, has said in the past couple weeks, that Heitmann is having a good year. Now, the OC is saying he is not only having a good year, but should be a Pro-Bowl candidate.

Come on, skeptics. Give it up!
Count it as a loss and move on.
I feel like we are doing "Lelie: Part 3" here.

Trust me, I'm not an idiot at this thing.

I called Nolan to be gone before last season, and Singletary to take over.
I stated that JTO would be benched when about half the board thought he would throw for 4,000 yards. I was going down in flames with that one...until about week 6.
I stated that Lelie would be cut. OOOHHH, that was a toughy.
I stated that Sopoaga would be average, at best, not a raging star, as many board member thought, with the move to LDE. Remember the board members who thought he would collect 10 sacks this year?
I stated that A. Brooks would not be a star, or even a productive player on this team.
I stated the Niners would be 6-10 at the beginning of the year.
I stated the Niners would be 2-6 at the bye.
I stated that the Niners would not have a top 10, nor top 15 defense. We rank 23rd.
I stated that the Niners would not have a top 10, nor top 15 offense. We rank 26th.
I stated Nolan would be fired. I will say I thought it would happen at the end of the year, or at the break. The Niners beat me to the punch.
And I stated that Heitmann was a good football player.

And this is just a starter list. I'm sure some are looking through the archives now to verify. Please do so. Trust me, whenever I am wrong, people jump out of the woods with clubs. That's fine, I am wrong from time to time.

However, I'm batting about .999 this season, so I am not blowing ________ out of my a$$ when I make an assessment. And, yes, right now I'm patting myself on my back.

So, throw the dog a bone, and simply agree with the NFL world that Heitmann is a good player. It will do good for your mental health. Or continue to believe the world is flat.

Cheers.

I will only buy in if you predict which year we win the Superbowl.

I said in 2006 that the year would be 2011, with Alex Smith at QB. I think I'm going down in flames with that one.

There is one for the skeptics. Feel free to take your shots. Cheers.

Dec 4, 2008 at 2:04 PM

#326

Watchutalkinbout
Member
Posts: 10,049

Originally posted by Vrabbit:
http://blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers/2008/12/martz-lavishes-praise-on-heitmann.html

What a joke. He said he should be in the pro-bowl if the Niners had a better record! HAHA

Dec 4, 2008 at 2:12 PM

#327

49wyztoscore
Veteran
Posts: 7,048

Our own coaches aren't going to clown our own players. What did you expect him to say. Heitman isnt bad, he's an average center. how many division leaders have an average center ?

Dec 4, 2008 at 2:27 PM

#328

MadDog49er
Hall of Fame
Posts: 19,400

Originally posted by 49wyztoscore:
Our own coaches aren't going to clown our own players. What did you expect him to say. Heitman isnt bad, he's an average center. how many division leaders have an average center ?

He could have simply stated that Heitmann was a good center. However, in that he stated that Heitmann was the best center he has had,"by far", and that if the team was better (this is true...bad teams get little representation), he would be a Pro-Bowl possibility, I'll say that Heitmann meets the criteria of being a good player.

Dec 4, 2008 at 2:35 PM

#329

GoreGoreGore
10HourChicken
Posts: 61,622

Let's not forget, Martz also said that JTO is the best QB he has ever had

Dec 4, 2008 at 2:49 PM

#330

MadDog49er
Hall of Fame
Posts: 19,400

Originally posted by TheG0RE49er:
Let's not forget, Martz also said that JTO is the best QB he has ever had

I believe you are misrepresenting his quote. According to Kevin Lynch, Martz stated that O'Sullivan could be the best quarterback he ever coached. This was earlier this season, back in mid-September, after the second game, when JTO had a QB rating over 96, was completing 65% of his passes, and had 9 TD's. It was a good start.

As for Heitmann, he's now had him for 12 games, and seen him play against some pretty good DT's in the league for almost one full season.

While Martz does have a tendency to exaggerate, it shows that he thinks Heitmann is a solid football player. I will agree with him, and others that cover the game.

[ Edited by MadDog49er on Dec 4, 2008 at 14:49:43 ]