Something Is Missing......

Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are once in an era QB's.

That being said, they aren't perfect. The last super bowl was won on onside kicks and defensive t.d.'s.

Just wasn't really too many free agents out there due to the pending lockout.

Originally posted by TonyStarks:
Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are once in an era QB's.

That being said, they aren't perfect. The last super bowl was won on onside kicks and defensive t.d.'s.

TRUE!!!!!! But the push to get to the big game was led by them. I am not bashing Alex I hope he make the probowl this year which is possible but after all these years I think we know what we got.

Every team has holes, we're no different.

Originally posted by D-NOTTE:

Originally posted by TonyStarks:
Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are once in an era QB's.

That being said, they aren't perfect. The last super bowl was won on onside kicks and defensive t.d.'s.

TRUE!!!!!! But the push to get to the big game was led by them. I am not bashing Alex I hope he make the probowl this year which is possible but after all these years I think we know what we got.

Hey! I thought you said you were going to lay off the Qbs?

I agree about something missing but I don't agree that it's any of what you mentioned. There's been enough good things to say about our safety situation that the beat writers are talking about keeping an extra one and our defense as a whole ranked up there in sacks. Granted we had more opportunities to rush passer because our offense couldn't stay on the field, maybe depth like Travis LaBoy can help keep the rushers fresh.

The offense is where I feel we're missing something. Moran Norris is a one-trick pony apparently but he's an integral blocker for Gore. He did have that one crazy long receiving td against the Ravens couple seasons back but really, I don't think teams account for him as a threat and it kills our balance.

Waaay too early to be making my wish list for next off season but it's always fun to think about it. (my job sucks)

Our D-line was far better last year than the year previous and I expect them to keep getting better. Just the same, I'd like to see us take a run at a proper NT next off season. There's some wicked one's coming up in free agency:

Pat Williams is up and Minny has a lot of talent to make decisions on next year, so maybe he'll escape the franchise tag. Haven't seen em in a 3-4 but I'm sure he'd handle himself just fine. Shaun Rogers will have had enough of Cleveland and I'm sure we'll make an honest run at landing em this time. Ngata's up too but I'm sure he'll be franchised. Here's to hoping

I think we're pretty much set everywhere else as long as we keep drafting well. IMO we're at the stage of the game where we're drafting for depth. I'm expecting us to be drafting WELL into the back half this year so my draft wish list would be:

1-NT; Unless we fluke out. Come on Ngata Kinda doubt 1 would slide to us in the 1st round if we pick late.

2-weak side pass rusher; I'm giving Lawson and Brooks the benefit of the doubt but you can never have enough pass rush. Again, I doubt 1 will slide to us but there's always the "raw" guys.

3-CB (1st rd'er); I can't see us letting Clemons' contract mature to $11 mil+ unless he really steps up his game this year. Really hope we can find a way to trade up on this one.

4-DE (2nd rd'er); I'm kinda anticipating having to replace McDonald and the guys below him are kind of unknowns. On top of that, Justin Smith can't play forever so might as well get the talent in the system before hand.

[u]5-WR (3rd rd'er)[u/]; There's always a bad 40 time waiting to be drafted in this round and you don't get the 1st round attitude. Might lose Morgan next year and this could wind up being a cheap upgrade.

[u]6-DE again (4th rd'er)[u/]; For the same reason as the first DE.

[u]7-the best O-lineman we can get (5th rd'er)[u/]; I'd like to see us keep the cupboard full this time and avoid another mess. Little make work projects like this should pan out with the line coaches we have now.

[u]8-FB (6th rd'er)[u/]; Does Bar None have any kids coming up soon? If so, get em in here cuz our Full Backs have been stock as a rock for way too long.

[u]9-K/P (7th rd'er)[u/]; not exactly pressing but I wasn't gonna bring up the Q word in the 7th round. If we're drafting another Q word it'll be in the top 10 anyway. Besides, last year I think I seen one of Ned's old balls fall out the bottom of his pants. Never hurts to have someone for the team to wedgie either.

Now that's how you waste a work day.

I think even though we might be caught with bare buns, we should trade Franklin with a lowly team to swap first round picks. I think it would work for both teams and allow the niners to go after a top qb if needed and also maybe trade back the pick to the original club if a qb is not needed. Contingincy plans sort of. It costs too much to get up there during the draft but prior positioning might be well worth it. I think RJF and that guy Khalif and Balmer can handle the nose. The possible high pick also lets us get a qb without tradeups and also I am sure teams like the rams do not want super high picks anymore due to costs. A top nose tackle with a swapped first round pick may seem pretty decent since many DTs looked pretty bad the first year. Raji, Dorsey etc and the Rams should know since they have bombed on quite a few recently. That scenario could apply to any lowly team. It also could be the niners and Alex could sink and the trading team could really make out. There is quite a lot of cynical views on Raye and Singletary's coaching abilities to cast doubts about our drafting spot next year.

Originally posted by D-NOTTE:

Originally posted by TonyStarks:
Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are once in an era QB's.

That being said, they aren't perfect. The last super bowl was won on onside kicks and defensive t.d.'s.

TRUE!!!!!! But the push to get to the big game was led by them. I am not bashing Alex I hope he make the probowl this year which is possible but after all these years I think we know what we got.

Not sure about that. Alex had missed almost two years and then stepped in last year and played a lot better than many had expected and better then what he had done in the past. This was accomplished with an O-Line that really struggled (hence the use of both the #1 picks on o-linemen) and and offense that was installed 1/3 of the way through the season.

I'm not wanting to argue whether or not Smith has hit his ceiling. Maybe he has. But last year at this time a lot of people on this board delcared that we knew what we had in Smith: Alex Leaf. Nobody who isn't trolling says that any more.

I'm with you, I hope he makes the pro-bowl. I expect him to be solid. And I'll be disappointed if he doesn't step up this year. But I am not ready to say that we know what we've got quite yet.

Enough about Smith.... I dont want to turn this into one of those threads. I do think we could have upgraded at the center position. Is the old center from the titans last year still availible, good for veteran depth if nothing else. Hell we know he can run block(see chris Johnson stats)

Originally posted by D-NOTTE:
Enough about Smith.... I dont want to turn this into one of those threads. I do think we could have upgraded at the center position. Is the old center from the titans last year still availible, good for veteran depth if nothing else. Hell we know he can run block(see chris Johnson stats)

I really like Heitmann at C. Imo he's gonna be that glue guy, not only because he's the center and makes the line calls but because he's the most experienced 9er and is the unquestioned leader up front. I think those traits are going to be key in bringing this line together quickly. Imo, letting go of that kind of leadership would be a huge set back, particularly to the interior lineman where Heitmann has experience at playing G.

But depth wise it would be a great move you're right. I don't think any of our guys are going to get enough top team reps to ever be able to come into a game and replace Heitmann. We'll only get that from a guy who's done it already. Trick is finding one to sit on the bench and be a teacher.

Originally posted by NinerGM:

Originally posted by TonyStarks:
Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are once in an era QB's.

That being said, they aren't perfect. The last super bowl was won on onside kicks and defensive t.d.'s.

I would Peyton Manning is .... not sure about Brees yet. If anything Brees, like Montana may have found the best system with Peyton as coach. We will see if New Orleans can sustain that output. Time is always the test.

Manning and Brady are certainly once in an era QB's, Brees needs to do it consistently for more than just two years to show he is more than the next Rich Gannon with Raiders, Trent Green with the Chiefs or Kurt Warner with the Rams/Cards (though you can make the argument that Warner is a HOF). Brees seems like a good guy so I'm rootin for him, but not penciling him in as a sure fire hall of famer just yet.

And I think I know what's missing... Optimism Hopefully this season will answer everyones questions.

Originally posted by prometheus:
I think even though we might be caught with bare buns, we should trade Franklin with a lowly team to swap first round picks. I think it would work for both teams and allow the niners to go after a top qb if needed and also maybe trade back the pick to the original club if a qb is not needed. Contingincy plans sort of. It costs too much to get up there during the draft but prior positioning might be well worth it. I think RJF and that guy Khalif and Balmer can handle the nose. The possible high pick also lets us get a qb without tradeups and also I am sure teams like the rams do not want super high picks anymore due to costs. A top nose tackle with a swapped first round pick may seem pretty decent since many DTs looked pretty bad the first year. Raji, Dorsey etc and the Rams should know since they have bombed on quite a few recently. That scenario could apply to any lowly team. It also could be the niners and Alex could sink and the trading team could really make out. There is quite a lot of cynical views on Raye and Singletary's coaching abilities to cast doubts about our drafting spot next year.

Originally posted by 5280High:

Originally posted by NinerGM:

Originally posted by TonyStarks:
Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are once in an era QB's.

That being said, they aren't perfect. The last super bowl was won on onside kicks and defensive t.d.'s.

I would Peyton Manning is .... not sure about Brees yet. If anything Brees, like Montana may have found the best system with Peyton as coach. We will see if New Orleans can sustain that output. Time is always the test.

Manning and Brady are certainly once in an era QB's, Brees needs to do it consistently for more than just two years to show he is more than the next Rich Gannon with Raiders, Trent Green with the Chiefs or Kurt Warner with the Rams/Cards (though you can make the argument that Warner is a HOF). Brees seems like a good guy so I'm rootin for him, but not penciling him in as a sure fire hall of famer just yet.

And I think I know what's missing... Optimism Hopefully this season will answer everyones questions.

Agreed! We are the 49er faithful, after all!

we dont have any one guy who gets 15 sacks a year but as a whole group our defense was in the top 3 i believe in total sacks. to me thats more dangerous because it means we can apply pressure from all over and disguise where the heat is gonna come from, no one guy can be blocked out or double teams as being the main threat. it would be nice to have a top sack artist but we can get the job done like this. secondary is a little light but i think young guys like Reggie Smith and Mays will step up. as far as QB i dont worry about that at all, a good line is what we needed and we have the making of a great one. that makes anyone standing back there with the ball instantly better and Gore will have a monster season behind these new guys. the thing im most excited about is continuity for the offense. even with the oline injuries, the crabtree holdout, the midseason qb and philosophy change we still finished 8-8 with a couple last minute heartbreakers thrown in there (vikes, colts and houston but smith was put in too late) we had a feisty team that played together despite all of those things they stayed competitive throughout the whole season. i dont know about your doubts but im pumped and cant wait for this season to get here