A team on the brink????

Originally posted by darkknight49:

Originally posted by leolion:

Originally posted by Jersey9er:
And not too mention, I loved when they talked of Jason cambell last night and said he and smith are in the same boat.

Last night on espn they said , keep changing personnel, coaches, Oc's, why they need is some continuity and they may finally be gettng it. That you need continuity to be a successful NFL qb. And if u think otherwise then look at winning teams, etc, eagles, colts, pats. And that's just 3

Would that be the Titanic or the Andrea Doria?

lol, you and the titanic.

Could be worse, it could be a makeshift raft floating over open waters in an attempt to get to America.....wait that is actually a pretty good analogy of their careers.

Originally posted by WillistheWall:

Originally posted by Ronnie49Lott:

Originally posted by wysiwyg:
Even the most jaded observer realizes that you cannot have 8 coordinators in 8 years (if we fire Raye) and expect to finish more than 7-9, absent lightening in a bottle

Even in 1981, it was the Third year with the Same O, the Same OL (Cross, Ayers, Quilan, and Fahnhorst). Joe eased his way in 1980 after not playing as a rookie.

Clark was a third year player.

Solomon was a 10 year vet.

Earl Cooper was 2nd year player.

Constant reshuffling does nothing for a rebuilding team.

The Colts can drop in rookies (like we used to do) because they have a system that has been in place for 12 years.

A team on the brink?

Nah.

Frank's career is on the brink only because of surgeries to both knees and both shoulders.

Other than that,

A little patience is in order. VD showed he was worth the 6th pick. He'll never have Brent Jones or Eric Johnson hands, but that's ok.

Crabs is the real deal, legit, and will be a star.

Morgan needs to stop thinking he is all that and be the JT to Crabs' JR.

They need to find a bigger roll for Hill.

Delanie found a role.

Frank, 4 1000 yard seasons in a row, a franchise record. But, Coffee may not be the answer.

Alex can lead this team to the playoffs. I was enchanted by Nate's preseason play and his college "skills" competition. People call for firing Raye and for Nate's ascendance at the same time. Are they fing crazy? Nate needs time in the same system just as much as Alex. But, the Ipod, Facebook generation doesn't know that. Let's harken back to 1980

But, we should draft a QB next year, not necessarily on the first day. We should keep 1 first and trade down and down and down and accumulate picks for this year and next and next, Walsh style. THAT, ladies, is how you maintain a franchise.

I believe the glass is half full.

Who is with me?

1981 49ers starting lineup, (notice how many young players and rookies started).

QB Joe Montana* Age-25/ years NFL 2/games started 16/ 311 for 488, 3,565 yards, 19 td, 12 int, & 25 rushes for 95 yards and 2 td San Francisco 49ers / 3rd year/ 82nd pick / 1979

RB Ricky Patton 27 3 15 152 rushes for 543 yards, 4 td, & 27 catches for 195 yards and 1 td Atlanta Falcons / 10th / 257th pick / 1978

RB Johnny Davis 25 3 5 94 rushes for 297 yards, 7 td, & 3 catches for -1 yards and 0 td Tampa Bay Buccaneers / 2nd / 30th pick / 1978

FB Earl Cooper 24 1 11 98 rushes for 330 yards, 1 td, & 51 catches for 477 yards and 0 td San Francisco 49ers / 1st / 13th pick / 1980

WR Dwight Clark* 24 2 16 85 catches for 1,105 yards, 4 td, & 3 rushes for 32 yards and 0 td San Francisco 49ers / 10th / 249th pick / 1979

WR Freddie Solomon 28 6 15 59 catches for 969 yards, 8 td, & 9 rushes for 43 yards and 0 td Miami Dolphins / 2nd / 36th pick / 1975

TE Charle Young 30 8 16 37 catches for 400 yards, 5 td Philadelphia Eagles / 1st / 6th pick / 1973

LT Dan Audick 27 4 16 2 fumbles recovered Pittsburgh Steelers / 4th / 106th pick / 1977

LG John Ayers 28 4 16 San Francisco 49ers / 8th / 223rd pick / 1976

C Fred Quillan 25 3 16 San Francisco 49ers / 7th / 175th pick / 1978

RG Randy Cross* 27 5 16 San Francisco 49ers / 2nd / 42nd pick / 1976

RT Keith Fahnhorst 29 7 16 2 fumbles recovered San Francisco 49ers / 2nd / 35th pick / 1974

Defensive Starters
LDE Jim Stuckey 23 1 15 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered San Francisco 49ers / 1st / 20th pick / 1980

NT Archie Reese 25 3 16 San Francisco 49ers / 5th / 127th pick / 1978

RDE Dwaine Board 25 2 11 Pittsburgh Steelers / 5th / 137th pick / 1979

RDE Lawrence Pillers 29 5 6 New York Jets / 11th / 296th pick / 1976

LOLB Willie Harper 31 8 16 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered San Francisco 49ers / 2nd / 41st pick / 1973

LILB Dan Bunz 26 3 8 0 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered San Francisco 49ers / 1st / 24th pick / 1978

RILB Jack Reynolds 34 11 16 1 interception, 0 fumbles recovered Los Angeles Rams / 1st / 22nd pick / 1970

RILB Craig Puki 24 1 6 0 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered San Francisco 49ers / 3rd / 77th pick / 1980

ROLB Keena Turner 23 1 14 1 interception, 3 fumbles recovered San Francisco 49ers / 2nd / 39th pick / 1980

LCB Ronnie Lott*+ 22 Rook 16 7 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered San Francisco 49ers / 1st / 8th pick / 1981

RCB Eric Wright 22 Rook 16 3 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered San Francisco 49ers / 2nd / 40th pick / 1981

SS Carlton Williamson 23 Rook 16 4 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered San Francisco 49ers / 3rd / 65th pick / 1981

FS Dwight Hicks* 25 2 16 9 interceptions, 4 fumbles recovered Detroit Lions / 6th / 150th pick / 1978

Special Teams Starters
K Ray Wersching 31 8 0 17 of 23 field goals & 30 of 30 extra points
P Jim Miller 24 1 0 93 punts for a 41.5 average, 0 blocked San Francisco 49ers / 3rd / 65th pick / 1980

PR Freddie Solomon 28 6 15 29 punt returns for a 6.0 average and 0 td Miami Dolphins / 2nd / 36th pick / 1975

KR Amos Lawrence 23 Rook 0 17 kick returns for a 25.7 average and 1 td San Diego Chargers / 4th / 103rd pick / 1981

Link

That team had a lot of young talent but at the same time they had some vet players who were legit an showed the young guys the ropes/leaders:

Fred Dean
Jack Reynolds
Fahnhorst
Soloman
Pillers

Then some of the other guys were just in their prime. I don't think you need a whole veteran laden team that's old but you need some legit vets who can give you some leadership. And then the OL had a lot of guys in their prime that were 25-30.

The '81 team was mostly put together by BW with a blend of old and young parts that fit well together unlike what we have today.

Being on the brink means nothing.

This is big-boy time now.

The playoffs were well within reach this year. (imagine attempting to win the minny game instead of three futile rushing attempts straight up the middle).

I could see 4 or 5 games that were winnable. So to me the "brink" was this year. Unless actual real talent is added next year....all this team will be is has beens, developmental players and flashes of what could have been.


....it all starts with the OLine.

IF they go out and make a respectable line with depth next year could be special.

Originally posted by Crown:
Being on the brink means nothing.

This is big-boy time now.

The playoffs were well within reach this year. (imagine attempting to win the minny game instead of three futile rushing attempts straight up the middle).

I could see 4 or 5 games that were winnable. So to me the "brink" was this year. Unless actual real talent is added next year....all this team will be is has beens, developmental players and flashes of what could have been.


....it all starts with the OLine.

IF they go out and make a respectable line with depth next year could be special.

IMO Scot doesn't think the Oline is a problem. If the only effort you make is to get Marvel Smith after two 55 straight sack seasons then I wouldn't call it a top priority for MehCloughan.

Originally posted by wysiwyg:
LCB Ronnie Lott*+ 22 Rook 16 7 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered San Francisco 49ers / 1st / 8th pick / 1981

RCB Eric Wright 22 Rook 16 3 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered San Francisco 49ers / 2nd / 40th pick / 1981

SS Carlton Williamson 23 Rook 16 4 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered San Francisco 49ers / 3rd / 65th pick / 1981

FS Dwight Hicks* 25 2 16 9 interceptions, 4 fumbles recovered Detroit Lions / 6th / 150th pick / 1978

Dwight Hicks and the HOT LICKS!

Probably the most amazing secondary I've ever witnessed in 49er uni's. And Walsh plucked three of them out of the draft. Hicks was a castoff that nobody wanted. So was Dwaine Board (Tiny) for that matter.

Yep. No doubt about it. Bill Walsh knew talent. He spotted it right away. I can't think of one instance where Walsh cut a player who later went on to star for another team.

Yet, in the early years, he was always picking up castoffs and making them into legit stars.

Originally posted by Ronnie49Lott:

Originally posted by Crown:
Being on the brink means nothing.

This is big-boy time now.

The playoffs were well within reach this year. (imagine attempting to win the minny game instead of three futile rushing attempts straight up the middle).

I could see 4 or 5 games that were winnable. So to me the "brink" was this year. Unless actual real talent is added next year....all this team will be is has beens, developmental players and flashes of what could have been.


....it all starts with the OLine.

IF they go out and make a respectable line with depth next year could be special.

IMO Scot doesn't think the Oline is a problem. If the only effort you make is to get Marvel Smith after two 55 straight sack seasons then I wouldn't call it a top priority for MehCloughan.

word

Originally posted by ninjaniner420:
As disappointed as we all are on not making the playoffs....again. I think we're finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. A year can make all the difference in the world in the NFL. Look at last years Saints for example. They finished the season 8-8 and were last in there division. I'm not comparing our Niners to the Saints but if we can finish the season with 2 wins (which we should), I truly feel that next year could be special. We have lost 6 games this year by a touchdown or less. All of these games were within our reach and maybe with a little more experience on both the coaching and players side we could have won those games. This year was a learning experience for many of our players and our rookie head coach. If we can learn from the mistakes that we made this year, we could be in for one hell of a season come next year. Just a thought. Go Niners!!!!

I agree, definitely a team on the brink. IMO we missed the playoff's by a nat's hair. The Niners are potentially 5-1 in the NFC West if they beat the Rams.

The past 7 season has been rough, but I believe we are on the verge of returning to a winning team. I'm looking forward to the draft and free agency. I'm anticipating the addition of good players that can fill needs and contribute. Its going to be a long off season waiting for the 2010 Niners to hit the field. If things go right, it should be worth the wait..........

Originally posted by Ronnie49Lott:

Originally posted by Crown:
Being on the brink means nothing.

This is big-boy time now.

The playoffs were well within reach this year. (imagine attempting to win the minny game instead of three futile rushing attempts straight up the middle).

I could see 4 or 5 games that were winnable. So to me the "brink" was this year. Unless actual real talent is added next year....all this team will be is has beens, developmental players and flashes of what could have been.


....it all starts with the OLine.




IF they go out and make a respectable line with depth next year could be special.

IMO Scot doesn't think the Oline is a problem. If the only effort you make is to get Marvel Smith after two 55 straight sack seasons then I wouldn't call it a top priority for MehCloughan.

If McClueless fails to address the OLINE in the draft or pick up legit players through free agency, he should be fired!!!

Picking up guys with a year of two left in thier careers is not going to cut it either. We need young powerful maulers on the Oline that can pass protect Alex and open run lanes for Gore!!!