49ers' center Eric Heitmann injured

It sucks that Heitmann had to get hurt for Baas to get a real chance at center. However I am excited about the potential in this line...
Starters
Staley 25
Iupati 23
Baas 28
Rachal 24
Davis 20

Backups
Boone 23
Snyder 28

I think its possible that Baas could keep the job if he performs well......He will likely have between 2-4 regular season games to prove himself. If the offense and the oline is clickling he will likely keeep the job....

Why do people think life is fair?

Maybe Baas's best position is center?

Was this not true of Heitmann?

Why didn't he start, why didn't the coaches do this or that with him, why does Smith get sacked, etc... is nonsense. There is too much complexity involved when looking at all of that.

You can take 1 guy, clone him into 3 duplicates, and then have them fight for a starting job. One of them is going to start, one of them is going to be 2nd string, and one of them is going to be 3rd string.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what anyone's opinion is. The only thing that matters is "How do they play when they are playing in the game." Not "What are their stats," not "What do the coaches think", not "What do the commentators think."

When Baas is playing, he is not too bad at pushing people around. He is slow, and poor at pulling (which brings up the question, why the hell do the coaches have him do it so much, but that is another topic). He does not easily get bull-rushed. In fact, he gets pushed backwards less than any other lineman on our team that I have seen. He wiffs in pass pro sometimes.

Heitmann rarely wiffs in pass pro, has quick feet, can pull well, can get to the second level very well, can block well on the move, can hold the point very well at times, smart with his leverage. But he gets bull rushed more than average, and can get manhandled at times.

Those aren't opinions, they are observations. Its possible two people see the same thing differently, but that's the advantage of everyone in the world being different I suppose.

Its great to have a smart center who can pull, trap and get to the second level.

Its also great to have a center who can blow you off the ball, and not get bull rushed.

I'm not as down on our o-line as most on the board are. I think RT has been the one truly crippling problem on the line for years.
If Davis can give us some good play from RT this year, I think whoever is playing center is going to be given an unfair amount of credit for "improving the line", but then again, like I said before, "Why do people think life is fair?"

Bill Walsh didn't draft players thinking, "He's good, he sucks..." he drafted players thinking, "In what specific way can this players specific ability help our football team?". He developed players, and used them CORRECTLY. I think Baas can do fine replacing Heitmann if used CORRECTLY.

Originally posted by bigmike55:


Wragge trying to hype up the team. At least it shows that he's vocal enough and passionate about the game. Between him and Baas, may the best man win. Sometimes change can be a good thing.

Yeah, I remember back in 2006 he dominated the position amidst Heitmann's previous injury (he was bulldozing guys for Gore's break-out season).

[ Edited by SnakePlissken on Aug 10, 2010 at 19:36:17 ]

DAMMIT!

In the span of 24 hours, Baas went from losing his job to rookie Mike Iupati to becoming the central figure of the 49ers' line. Heitmann was the heady veteran who directed traffic, no small task on a unit that will include rookies Iupati and right tackle Anthony Davis. Offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye called Heitmann's loss "huge" because in his system "the center is basically the backup quarterback. The things that he's responsible for -- from protection calls, to line calls -- are some of that you just can't teach in a shorter period of time. Eric was tremendously gifted that way."

Heitmann's loss is "HUGE"

Fire Jimmy Raye now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He clearly has no idea what he is talking about. Then, fire Singletary for being so incompetent that he is blinded to how poorly Heitmann plays football. Finally, we must dump the Webzone darling Solari, because he is obviously too stupid to place Heitmann as the starter on this team. All of these people are morons. They should have started ____________________ long ago.

All of these coaches are idiots. Replace them all with some of our genius webzone typers. They alone hold the keys to the truth.

Cheers.

[ Edited by MadDog49er on Aug 11, 2010 at 07:38:15 ]

Not to say Heitmann loss isn't a big deal but I can think of a lot of guys on the team that I'm glad are healthy. Smith..PWillis..Gore..Staley...Davis. Injuries happen. The good news is that it's relatively early. Better it happen now, then in the first game. Besides, was he THAT good? I'd say at this point in his career, he's a pretty average center. When defenses have success just blitzing up the middle for whole games then how complicated can the protection calls be?

So, sliver lining recap...
1. It's still early in the season
2. We have a healthy QB, healthy LT, healthy P-Willy etc.
3. Same O coordinator so filling in should be easier than past seasons
4. If the center is the backup QB then we can try Carr in the position

Originally posted by MadDog49er:
In the span of 24 hours, Baas went from losing his job to rookie Mike Iupati to becoming the central figure of the 49ers' line. Heitmann was the heady veteran who directed traffic, no small task on a unit that will include rookies Iupati and right tackle Anthony Davis. Offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye called Heitmann's loss "huge" because in his system "the center is basically the backup quarterback. The things that he's responsible for -- from protection calls, to line calls -- are some of that you just can't teach in a shorter period of time. Eric was tremendously gifted that way."

Heitmann's loss is "HUGE"

Fire Jimmy Raye now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He clearly has no idea what he is talking about. Then, fire Singletary for being so incompetent that he is blinded to how poorly Heitmann plays football. Finally, we must dump the Webzone darling Solari, because he is obviously too stupid to place Heitmann as the starter on this team. All of these people are morons. They should have started ____________________ long ago.

All of these coaches are idiots. Replace them all with some of our genius webzone typers. They alone hold the keys to the truth.

Cheers.

Skinny_Post

RT @Astand49: @Skinny_Post who is our starting center if we played tomorrow? >> w/o question, David Baas

Originally posted by bigmike55:


Wragge trying to hype up the team. At least it shows that he's vocal enough and passionate about the game. Between him and Baas, may the best man win. Sometimes change can be a good thing.

I actually thought Wragge looked pretty good when he was in for Heitmann, in 2006 I think it was. I hope they let both Baas and Wragge compete for the job.

My prediction: The OL will struggle immensely, even chaotic at times, perhaps even worse than last year's disaster. Alex will struggle because of missed protections, pressure, etc. And the Alex haters will be out like a pack of wolves howling and growling. Anyone trying to defend Alex will accused of resorting to "excuses" again. Call it what you want; I prefer to call it "reasons."

Originally posted by Kolohe:

Originally posted by bigmike55:


Wragge trying to hype up the team. At least it shows that he's vocal enough and passionate about the game. Between him and Baas, may the best man win. Sometimes change can be a good thing.

I actually thought Wragge looked pretty good when he was in for Heitmann, in 2006 I think it was. I hope they let both Baas and Wragge compete for the job.

Same. But I think that Baas has to show once and for all that he's the answer at Center.

This issue is similar to Smith in that Baas has one year left. Either he comes around or he goes out the Exit door at the end of the season. It's sink or swim for them both. My personal thought is that Baas should be able to handle himself fine at the position. It's the protection schemes that bother me. But Heitmann did say that he would help whoever steps up and plays the position. And Ray Brown will be there too.

Heitmann IS a big loss. But I'm not going to run around like Chicken Little. It wouldn't magically heal Heitmann's leg. And as I pointed out I doubt this team goes out and gets a Veteran like Kevin Mawae to play for a month or so.It would be better if they did of course, but we need to be realistic about this.

~Ceadder

If it makes any of you feel better it doesn't only happen to us-

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-colts-replacingsaturday

And that guy is a pro bowler.

per MM

Stock falling: Center David Baas continues to struggle with the execution of the shotgun snap, airmailing one over Smith's head and being high on some others. Baas and Wragge are competing for the right to fill in for Heitmann as the starter.

Read more: 49ers Camp Report: Practice 19
Tune to SportsNet Central at 6, 10:30 and midnight on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area for more on this story

Originally posted by MadDog49er:
In the span of 24 hours, Baas went from losing his job to rookie Mike Iupati to becoming the central figure of the 49ers' line. Heitmann was the heady veteran who directed traffic, no small task on a unit that will include rookies Iupati and right tackle Anthony Davis. Offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye called Heitmann's loss "huge" because in his system "the center is basically the backup quarterback. The things that he's responsible for -- from protection calls, to line calls -- are some of that you just can't teach in a shorter period of time. Eric was tremendously gifted that way."

Heitmann's loss is "HUGE"

Fire Jimmy Raye now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He clearly has no idea what he is talking about. Then, fire Singletary for being so incompetent that he is blinded to how poorly Heitmann plays football. Finally, we must dump the Webzone darling Solari, because he is obviously too stupid to place Heitmann as the starter on this team. All of these people are morons. They should have started ____________________ long ago.

All of these coaches are idiots. Replace them all with some of our genius webzone typers. They alone hold the keys to the truth.

Cheers.

Almost had me there MD! Till I read the line.

Originally posted by jreff22:
per MM

Stock falling: Center David Baas continues to struggle with the execution of the shotgun snap, airmailing one over Smith's head and being high on some others. Baas and Wragge are competing for the right to fill in for Heitmann as the starter.

Read more: 49ers Camp Report: Practice 19
Tune to SportsNet Central at 6, 10:30 and midnight on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area for more on this story

mattbarrows

Another David Baas special -- shotgun snap looks like an infield pop up.

Originally posted by jreff22:

Originally posted by jreff22:
per MM

Stock falling: Center David Baas continues to struggle with the execution of the shotgun snap, airmailing one over Smith's head and being high on some others. Baas and Wragge are competing for the right to fill in for Heitmann as the starter.

Read more: 49ers Camp Report: Practice 19
Tune to SportsNet Central at 6, 10:30 and midnight on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area for more on this story

mattbarrows

Another David Baas special -- shotgun snap looks like an infield pop up.

Cast the bust for Canton.

Cheers.

P.S. How many days until Wragge takes over?