Kentwan Balmer: You Better Get Your S**t Together!

I honestly think Balmer's performance this season could be the key as to where our D shapes up with the rest of the league.

We have a load of talent at the linebacker and secondary positions,we have Justin Smith on the D-Line,and he plays his ass off, so I honestly think we are one more solid player on the D-Line away from being a top 5 Defense in this league.

With his added pressure, we would be a force on the defensive side of the ball.


However it's not certain that he's going to have a breakout season and I'm fearful that if he doesn't, we could be facing the same problems we had on that side of the ball.

Only time will tell

Originally posted by King49er:
I honestly think Balmer's performance this season could be the key as to where our D shapes up with the rest of the league.

We have a load of talent at the linebacker and secondary positions,we have Justin Smith on the D-Line,and he plays his ass off, so I honestly think we are one more solid player on the D-Line away from being a top 5 Defense in this league.

With his added pressure, we would be a force on the defensive side of the ball.


However it's not certain that he's going to have a breakout season and I'm fearful that if he doesn't, we could be facing the same problems we had on that side of the ball.

Only time will tell

I hope that people are not expecting an all-world pass rusher in KB. But I agree...I think this team is a trench dominant DE away from really letting loose on opponents.

One of the underlying factors of having a good pass rush from your OLB's is the ability of your 5-techs to get the correct amount of line pressure and occupy their share of blockers. If they dont or cant...the tackles can have field days on the LB's which will slow any pass rush...not just the 49ers in particular.

But as you said...time will tell...I think the 49ers would do well to just allow the young guys to play it out.

In your opinion, What should our starting defensive line look like? By season's end, I would like to see:

DE J. Smith---DT A. Franklin---DE K. Balmer

or flip it around... I'm not sure which side Justin Smith is on?

Originally posted by PTulini:
In your opinion, What should our starting defensive line look like? By season's end, I would like to see:

DE J. Smith---DT A. Franklin---DE K. Balmer

or flip it around... I'm not sure which side Justin Smith is on?

Smith is on the right side.

But that is the line I would like to see. I think, however, that for the first time in years the 49ers will have a very solid 6 man rotation on the defensive line. Can you even remember the last time you could say that???

It all depends though...Manusky seems to have a plan for what he wants to do. Which is step #1...and Singletary seems to be very comfortable with leaving him alone to carry it out (refreshing difference from Nolan). Those 2 elements I think will create a winning environment. But it just all depends on how the players perform. Now that they actually have some stability...I think they will do just fine.

Originally posted by PTulini:

hey look, you found a rare pic of balmer actually playing in a game.

its hard to say this is his breakout year, when he never really had a rookie year. he didnt even get enough experience to break himself in and build on for the next season.

I think for a rookie defensive lineman...just being on the practice field and seeing the pace of the game can be progression enough. Remember its technique thats missing from rookie DL's not strength, speed or talent.

Doesnt he sort of look like Junior Bryant in that pic?

Boy was he ever an underrated defensive tackle...

Originally posted by PTulini:
In your opinion, What should our starting defensive line look like? By season's end, I would like to see:

DE J. Smith---DT A. Franklin---DE K. Balmer

or flip it around... I'm not sure which side Justin Smith is on?

That lineup would make me weep openly. Much rather see:

RE J. Smith---NT I. Sopoaga---DE K. Balmer

Originally posted by Niners99:

Originally posted by PTulini:

hey look, you found a rare pic of balmer actually playing in a game.

its hard to say this is his breakout year, when he never really had a rookie year. he didnt even get enough experience to break himself in and build on for the next season.

Can you say "garbage time"

With the 49ers new website degign, I can't find some of the pictures that I originally posted in this thread. The ones I did find, their link addresses have now changed!



It appears the pictures from this year's mini-camps and OTAs are now missing!

We'll see. I'm rooting for him.

I sure hope after an off-season of working out with Justin Smith he is ready to go

Originally posted by susweel:
I hope he shows some improvement this year.

Balmer or reasonable1?

man i hope so it would suck bad if he doesnt pan out and we just burnt a 1st round pick

Looks like Balmer at least got a notice today pushing Boone back into Hill. If he can keep that up on a regular basis we may see him in action this year. Looks like his work with J. Smith may be working out.

He pushed back a rookie late rounder...