Are the 49ers the most improved team in the NFL?

Originally posted by WillistheWall:

Originally posted by northvan49erman:

Originally posted by ZRF80:
Based on what ?

What kind of question is that? if you're speculating during the offseason what exactly are you supposed to base things on? I suppose I'm basing my opinion on the points listed above.

don't worry new guy ZRF acts like this all the time. Just ignore him.

edit:

As for the topic, I would say we're up there. Some people say washington but their OLine is still a mess IMO, plus they didn't have very many draft picks. Personally as much as I can't stand the Seahawks I'd say them, they had probably the best draft(I think we were right up there with them) and they added 2 decent RBs. Their improvements might not pan out though. Also Baltimore had a really good draft with Cody/Kindle and adding Boldin+a few tight ends in the draft. I really like how we shored up our OLine, got a better oline coach, added some speed, etc. We got tougher as a team. I definitely like what we did, hopefully we win the division this year.

Nice... ya, I agree, seahawks are up there, but, okung for jones is probably a downgrade (at least for okungs first year) ... I'm meh on the RB's... white is average and washington might be injured... tate will take a while... hasselbeck is a year older.

baltimore looks good fosho.

yes especially because we got William James

No. Jets, Dolphins, Redskins, Lions, Seahawks, Bengals, Ravens. Those teams are. 49ers are certainly improved but not as much as those teams. They didn't address a severe weakness sufficiently so far this offseason. The secondary is horrifying with the exception of 38. O-line has been upgraded to a satisfactory degree. The WR's are very questionable. Thankfully we have a pro-bowl TE.

Originally posted by northvan49erman:

Originally posted by WillistheWall:

Originally posted by northvan49erman:

Originally posted by ZRF80:
Based on what ?

What kind of question is that? if you're speculating during the offseason what exactly are you supposed to base things on? I suppose I'm basing my opinion on the points listed above.

don't worry new guy ZRF acts like this all the time. Just ignore him.

edit:

As for the topic, I would say we're up there. Some people say washington but their OLine is still a mess IMO, plus they didn't have very many draft picks. Personally as much as I can't stand the Seahawks I'd say them, they had probably the best draft(I think we were right up there with them) and they added 2 decent RBs. Their improvements might not pan out though. Also Baltimore had a really good draft with Cody/Kindle and adding Boldin+a few tight ends in the draft. I really like how we shored up our OLine, got a better oline coach, added some speed, etc. We got tougher as a team. I definitely like what we did, hopefully we win the division this year.

Nice... ya, I agree, seahawks are up there, but, okung for jones is probably a downgrade (at least for okungs first year) ... I'm meh on the RB's... white is average and washington might be injured... tate will take a while... hasselbeck is a year older.

baltimore looks good fosho.

Good stuff. I wouldn't say that Baltimore is the most improved, simply because they have been good for 10 years. Good analysis on the Seahawks. Both of these teams had good drafts, but I'm not sure how much improved they are in the short term. Baltimore's offense could be really good this year; pair that with a defense that will be stingy as long as Ray Lewis walks the field, and a winning formula ensues.

It's gotta be the Lions for most improved. They acquired Tony Scheffler to pair with Pettigrew, CB Chris Houston, Vanden Bosch (who could be good if he's healthy), Nate Burelson, DT Corey Williams, and several other good depth players before the draft. Then they drafted Suh, Best, DE Willie Young, and CB Amare Spievey, all who could and likely will start right away, and Jason Fox (Starting LT in 2011, maybe RT at some point this season).

They still have a patchwork offensive line, their secondary has some question marks, and their LB corps doesn't have much depth, but there is room for optimism. The offense could be fun to watch this year, Megatron is one of the best 3 or 4 receivers in football, the Defensive Line could be really good, and if Jahvid can stay healthy, he has ROY written all over him.

It is the Lions, but not long ago, they were 0-16.

P.S--They got a new backup QB as well

one thing- Carr never had playing time and a good oline at the same season.

Could this be it?

And if so, could he be head to toe legitimate?

Originally posted by TonyStarks:
one thing- Carr never had playing time and a good oline at the same season.

Could this be it?

And if so, could he be head to toe legitimate?

but I wouldn't rule it out

our cb depth is really f**ked

the Ravens

Ravens, Raiders, Redskins... and yes I'm gonna say it.. the Lions. They might actually field an NFL caliber defense this year... who woulda guessed. If their line doesn't do their annual impression of a turn-style Stafford to Mega-tron could be the talk of the NFL next year, but only because they've been so horrible for so long.

Actually, i like us up there with the skins, seahawks, maybe jets, bengals....IF:

a) 3 things have to happen on OL: Rachal has to get back to what he came here with and Foerster undid, Iupati and AD have to get untracked by midseason, and lastly, we still have to come up with a center(baas=heitmann=snyder= rags), and then there is wallace. One of those guys has to step up and actually play like a starter. With solari and bigRay, i believe chilo will be okay, maybe after a few games. Getting both AD and upoti up to speed, will, as Kolohe reminded me, not be a gimme. My bet is Poti comes around before AD, who i hope makes bonafide starter by midseason.

b) Our HC has to kick it up a notch and not get schooled by some other top notch HCs. We lost two games last yr(maybe a 3rd) on the coaching level. Can't do that this yr.

c) with protection(not a guarantee) alex will have to make his case for deserving $ and trust of ownership. Poti and AD are aggressive run blockers(hurray for frank), but pass protection, may be a bit more of a challenge. These guys have to come thru pass blocking for alex to show us what he really has.

d)with protection, i am assuming alex is gonna pass well. It is up to our WRs to a) get open, and b) catch the ball. If i had to guess about last yr, i would say our WRs had a real bad yr concentrating on both route running and catching. They cannot be dropping catchable balls. Ginn may end up being the surprise of the yr here...i hope.

e)Our #1 draft pick balmer, still has to be heard from. Either he was a bad busto, or he comes around this yr. By three yrs if he can't make a legit case for starting, then we really got egg on our face from draft a couple yrs ago. We need him to become a bonafide starter, and i don't know if he doesn't have the tools, can't focus, or is just a slow learner.

f)It would be really sweet if Mays surprises and lives up to his ESPN highlights. Also, we are overdue to have a late round surprise starter in either Bowman, Dixon, or our new TE. I'd take any one of the 3 to start for a huge plus.

If all of those things mesh, then we did do better than everybody else. Right now, tho, that list sure has a lot of "to be determined" after each item.

No.

We were 8 - 8 last year. The most improved team is usually 2 - 14, 3 - 13 or 4 - 12 the year before. And they are poised for a big jump the next year. We may take a jump but it may only be 2 or 3 games. So it won't be that big.

We weren't that bad. We were average. Now we'll probably be a little better than average with the improvements in our oline. I'm still not sold on our QB or CB situation.

No. We are still mediocre as last year.

I'll get back to you in January.

Originally posted by pasodoc9er:
Actually, i like us up there with the skins, seahawks, maybe jets, bengals....IF:

a) 3 things have to happen on OL: Rachal has to get back to what he came here with and Foerster undid, Iupati and AD have to get untracked by midseason, and lastly, we still have to come up with a center(baas=heitmann=snyder= rags), and then there is wallace. One of those guys has to step up and actually play like a starter. With solari and bigRay, i believe chilo will be okay, maybe after a few games. Getting both AD and upoti up to speed, will, as Kolohe reminded me, not be a gimme. My bet is Poti comes around before AD, who i hope makes bonafide starter by midseason.

b) Our HC has to kick it up a notch and not get schooled by some other top notch HCs. We lost two games last yr(maybe a 3rd) on the coaching level. Can't do that this yr.

c) with protection(not a guarantee) alex will have to make his case for deserving $ and trust of ownership. Poti and AD are aggressive run blockers(hurray for frank), but pass protection, may be a bit more of a challenge. These guys have to come thru pass blocking for alex to show us what he really has.

d)with protection, i am assuming alex is gonna pass well. It is up to our WRs to a) get open, and b) catch the ball. If i had to guess about last yr, i would say our WRs had a real bad yr concentrating on both route running and catching. They cannot be dropping catchable balls. Ginn may end up being the surprise of the yr here...i hope.

e)Our #1 draft pick balmer, still has to be heard from. Either he was a bad busto, or he comes around this yr. By three yrs if he can't make a legit case for starting, then we really got egg on our face from draft a couple yrs ago. We need him to become a bonafide starter, and i don't know if he doesn't have the tools, can't focus, or is just a slow learner.

f)It would be really sweet if Mays surprises and lives up to his ESPN highlights. Also, we are overdue to have a late round surprise starter in either Bowman, Dixon, or our new TE. I'd take any one of the 3 to start for a huge plus.

If all of those things mesh, then we did do better than everybody else. Right now, tho, that list sure has a lot of "to be determined" after each item.

All good points. I would add that we also need to find the players who can take us out of last place in the return game as well ----- that would be huge help for the offense.