Originally posted by 94Niners:
Now that the season's over (apart from a dead rubber against the Cards), and Singletary is now gone (thank you lord). What cuts need to be made to our roster to push this team kicking and screaming from our decade of disappointment? Obviously, this is all subject to us getting a decent coach, the Yorks willing to take some salary cap hits and the CBA being sorted (quite a few if's and but's I know...)
Personally, I think that although the coaches/head office have been talking up the talent on our team, and alot of fans believe that the coaching of these players, as well as game day decisions have affected their performance; many of the players are either not good enough to be playing for a team chasing the play-offs, or have had half a decade of poor performances/bad coaching badly stunt their careers (see Alex Smith for a good example). I think with an overhaul of coaching and hopefully some people in the front office (and I wish and pray for a change of ownership!), that the roster itself will need a hell of a lot of work.
Don't get me wrong, I believe that there are many talented players on our team, but some players are either not performing to the level the team requires to be a playoff contender or just aren't good enough in the first place.
This again raises questions about the quality of the team scouting and decisions made on draft day and with free agency. In the past 5-6 years, we are constantly told by the media, that the niners had another excellent draft, but three years later, these players are either busts or have not developed under our coaching regime. Is the coaching on the team that substandard or are the scouts recommending the wrong players? Either way it makes us look like a rudderless organisation in a culture of losing, and if this keeps up and is not sorted out soon, the team will be in a terminal decline and will be within that bracket with the Lions, Bengals, Panthers and Raiders.
The front office continues to tell us that we're following the leads of other teams whom treat the draft as the building blocks of the team while bringing in some free agents to complement and mentor the younger players, but I just don't see it. The good teams in the league have an excellent mix of youth and veteran stars, leaders all over the field and coaches the players respect and trust.
Anyways, rant over, here are my cuts:
QB: Everyone but Nate. I'm sure Alex will go on to have a pretty good career with a team that give him a chance and time to learn, but he and SF are done.
RB: Keep them all
FB: Don't know about you guys but I don't see the need for an old style FB, it hasn't helped our running game much this year, and I'd like to see more of a weapon in the H-Back role we've been promised ever since Mike Nolan turned up. Delanie Walker could play here, and would create so many mis-matches. Bye bye Norris.
WR: Kyle Williams or Ted Ginn, pick one, and let the other one go. I couldn't understand the decision to trade for Ginn and then draft a PR/WR. The niners need to sign a good veteran posession receiver to take the pressure of next years QB, they also need someone to challenge the starters.
TE: One of the few positions on the team to not need anything
O-Line: A new o-line coach whom will teach the line to block would be a good step. It remains to be seen how Eric Heitmann will play on his return. a few developmental draft picks would be good
D-line: The whole of the defence depends upon how the new HC wants to play 4-3 or 3-4, will Manusky be kept on (knowing ourfront office he'll probably be the next HC!), either way the d-line needs the offence to stay on the field longer to make it more effective. Justin Smith, Franklin and Francois would be the only members of this line I would want to keep.
LB: Willis, Spikes, Bowman. Lawson will be on his way in FA, Haralson and Brooks have proved this year that on a good team they would be back ups. 3-4 or 4-3 the niners need a LB to cover the TE and a proper 'elephant' (kevin greene) type LB/DE
Secondary: Really? This unit is nowhere near what it should be. Is Shawntae Spencer really a starting calibre CB, if so, he's the only one on this team. Tarrel Brown has gone backwards this year, as far as safeties go, Taylor Mays and Reggie Smith are worth keeping only in that they are young.
Special Teams: Joe Nedney's injury and jeff Read's play may mean that he will be gone. Andy Lee is still good, and Brian Jennings is a hall of fame long snapper (wouldn't it be great if he made it!). As far as the coverage and return teams go, the word 'poor' sums it up. ST needs leaders.
Whomever takes control of this team in the spring needs to work quickly and decisively to make the moves necessary to make this team competitive against anyone not in the NFC West.
Sorry for the length of this post, but I have never been more angry at the end of a season, and I have never seen such a hopeless team than this. The only bright spots are that the Wembley game was great, and we get a decent draft pick next year (hasn't helped for the last decade, but you never know!)
not bad. I think on the defensive side we need a new coordinator. Someone who can help bowman, give pat help...and get tmays kicking but