Is Willis hurt?

8to80,
This 3-4 D scheme is designed so both Willis & Spikes can quickly "spill" to the ball in pursuit & conceal their blitz packages. Problem is we're losing a lot of our 1st & 2nd downs.

Pat & Takeo look slow in space and hesitant at times in run support. Hesitant tells me their processing too much. But, there's no excuse other than injury for these two because many experts rated them among the very best in the league. And as a few posters have previously noted, getting their backups a few more reps, like most winning teams do, would certainly benefit the team in the long run.

Originally posted by billbird2111:
I don't know -- but I do agree he's not as effective this season as he's been in past seasons.

If he's hurt -- you're not going to hear about it. Not unless the injury gets to a point where he can't practice or play.

But he's nowhere near the dominant player he once was. I would hope that it wouldn't be because he finally "got paid" in the form of a fat contract.

The entire defense is not playing to the level they were last year. Line play has been mediocre at best. The secondary gives up huge chunks of yardage. We're still not getting a decent pass rush push -- so yeah -- the problem is more than just Willis.

But he's part of that overall decline in play.

it can't be that other teams are game planning around Willis, like they can do around a shutdown CB (by not throwing his way, etc), right? With Willis' position and capabilities, I don't think you can really game plan to make him less of a factor. Therefore, it has to be one of the things you noted... most likely that Franklin isn't pulling his weight. Good thing he's on a one year contract.

I just saw the replay of the end around by the raiders that went for a looooong gain. Willis was slow and DEFINITELY looked hurt. Could not get into 5th gear. Matter of fact, he looked like he was stuck in 3rd gear.

Does he have an injury? groin? calf? quad? toe? I don't know. Why are the Niners omitting it from the injury report? I don't know.

He really looked hurt on this play. Watch the replay for yourself.....

Originally posted by swim4speed:
I just saw the replay of the end around by the raiders that went for a looooong gain. Willis was slow and DEFINITELY looked hurt. Could not get into 5th gear. Matter of fact, he looked like he was stuck in 3rd gear.

Does he have an injury? groin? calf? quad? toe? I don't know. Why are the Niners omitting it from the injury report? I don't know.

He really looked hurt on this play. Watch the replay for yourself.....

he had surgery during the off-season.

Originally posted by swim4speed:
I just saw the replay of the end around by the raiders that went for a looooong gain. Willis was slow and DEFINITELY looked hurt. Could not get into 5th gear. Matter of fact, he looked like he was stuck in 3rd gear.

Does he have an injury? groin? calf? quad? toe? I don't know. Why are the Niners omitting it from the injury report? I don't know.

He really looked hurt on this play. Watch the replay for yourself.....

willis has 6 gears because hes a newer model, but i agree i think hes in either 3rd or 4th, its kinda hard to tell