Reading into the numbers a little...

Starting Front 7
(Tackles(Solo+Assists)/Sacks/Forced Fumbles/Interceptions/Pass Defend)

P. Willis..........101(128)--6--2--0--5
T. Spikes........82(109)--0--0--3--9
J. Smith..........57(70)--8.5--1--0--1
M. Lawson.......48(59)--2.5--2--1--6
P. Haralson......29(42)--4--0--0--0
A. Franklin.......38(39)--0--0--0--1
I. Sopoaga......17(25)--1.5--0--0--1

OTHER DE......34(46)--1--1--1--3
OTHER LBs.....99(115)--10--1--1 (Brooks and LaBoy 5 sacks each)

Secondary
(Tackles(Solo+Assists)/Sacks/Forced Fumbles/Interceptions/Pass Defend)

D. Goldson.......59(80)--1--0--1--5
N. Clements.....72(82)--1--3--3--10
S. Spencer.......38(42)--.5--1--3--9
R. Smith..........38(42)--0--0--1--4
T. Mays...........31(38)--0--1--0--2

T. Brown.........36(39)--0--0--1--5
(Only other DB worth mentioning)

Initial thoughts:

1. We franchised Franklin for what?
2. Issac who?
3. Where did all the sacks go?
4. LaBoy payed off, damn that injury
5. I don't think our secondary is THAT bad off

Funny facts:

1. Old man Spikes led(tie) the team in interceptions
2. London Flecther had more PassDef.(12) than any one person on our team and Brent Grimes had just 2 less than our starting secondary(28).
3. R.Smith and Mays combined have almost the same stat line as Goldson.
4. LaBoy and Brooks matched Dockett's sack total()
5. R. Jean-Francois and Sopoaga had more sacks than Franklin
6. Back-ups produced twice as many TD's on Defense

Opinions I take just from the numbers (and minor thinking):

1. They BADLY need a solid and consistent pass rusher(wow. really)
2. Need more people to get theirs hands up and on some balls
3. We have back-ups on the roster more capable to produce than starters.
4. I like the idea of Clements to Safety the more I think about it.
5. I guess I'm not as negative about Goldson as I have been in the past.
6. Franklin, Haralson and Sopoaga can be easily replaced. How bout letting Jean-Francois and LaBoy/Brooks/McDonald getting more involved?(maybe some starts this year)
7. Lawson is still under-performing, but is still somewhat effective
8. Brown and R. Smith(better option than Mays) should also get more starting time (I believe they receive playing time by default, unless we pick some stud up)

I maybe way off base to some, but i figured I would throw you some numbers. So... Do your bashing, I just needed to see some numbers while I'm bored.

Thanks to NFL.com for most the info i used.


Disclaimer: The views expressed here are in no way those of a professional scout, coach, analyst, or mathematician. The above facts, statements and opinions are those of a person under the influence of a schedule 1 drug, read at your own risk.

[ Edited by Ibleedgoldnred on Jan 29, 2011 at 13:11:24 ]

Its pretty sad that a 34 year old MLB led the team in INTs and almost passes defensed :/

[ Edited by TheGoldenState on Jan 29, 2011 at 12:51:33 ]

I thought i had that under funny facts, daMNIT. Thanks for pointing that out

inconsistency as a unit

[ Edited by hb123 on Jan 29, 2011 at 13:04:54 ]

Originally posted by Ibleedgoldnred:

Initial thoughts:

1. We franchised Franklin for what?
2. Issac who?
3. Where did all the sacks go?
4. LaBoy payed off, damn that injury
5. I don't think our secondary is THAT bad off

For answer on Franklin, see final drive of Green Bay game.

For answer on Sopoaga, see our overall run defense. Second only to the Steelers in yards per carry.

We were not as aggressive in our blitzes this season and we played soft cover four = less sacks.

LaBoy was decent in his role. Seems like he may be made of glass, though.

Our secondary was bad. The question is, do you place the blame on the coaching (teaching) and scheme or on the players? I'm leaning toward the former, personally.

Franklin's job isnt to get stats its to eat blocks to help the linebackers make plays. He did it just fine. You wouldnt criticize Wilfork or Raji or Ratliff for not having huge stats.

Originally posted by TheGoldenState:
Its pretty sad that a 34 year old MLB led the team in INTs and almost passes defensed :/

Spikes is ageless. With that said, its pathetic. Just pathetic.

Despite Nate Clements Fumble in ATL, I liked the way our defense looked this year, stats dont really tell the whole story of our defense this year.

Originally posted by TheGoldenState:
Its pretty sad that a 34 year old MLB led the team in INTs and almost passes defensed :/

i blame alex smith

Originally posted by TheVoiceOfReason:

Originally posted by TheGoldenState:
Its pretty sad that a 34 year old MLB led the team in INTs and almost passes defensed :/

Spikes is ageless. With that said, its pathetic. Just pathetic.

The older you get the wiser you get, he is relying on his knowledge rather than athleticism to get those stats, we just need some of the younger guys to age mentally quicker than physically.

Our DBs really need to deflect more passes, but you cant say they're decent because they have a lot of tackles...they get beat then make tackles.... sooo they played pretty bad last year.and our pass rush needs work but i dont remember other qbs needing too much time for their receivers to get open.

Originally posted by Sjceruti:
Franklin's job isnt to get stats its to eat blocks to help the linebackers make plays. He did it just fine. You wouldnt criticize Wilfork or Raji or Ratliff for not having huge stats.

Raji had 6 sacks this year.

Originally posted by Wodwo:

Originally posted by Ibleedgoldnred:

Initial thoughts:

1. We franchised Franklin for what?
2. Issac who?
3. Where did all the sacks go?
4. LaBoy payed off, damn that injury
5. I don't think our secondary is THAT bad off

For answer on Franklin, see final drive of Green Bay game.

For answer on Sopoaga, see our overall run defense. Second only to the Steelers in yards per carry.

We were not as aggressive in our blitzes this season and we played soft cover four = less sacks.

LaBoy was decent in his role. Seems like he may be made of glass, though.

Our secondary was bad. The question is, do you place the blame on the coaching (teaching) and scheme or on the players? I'm leaning toward the former, personally.

To add to the Franklin/Soap debate, these guys are there to clog up the running lanes, nothing more. They have done that, they've done that very well actually. Show me a 3-4 defense where the NT and BOTH DEs blow up the stat sheet? You won't find one and if you do, it's the exception and not the rule.

The failure of this defense or weak link if you will, is the OLBs and Secondary. Manusky relied on a rotation of 4 OLBs and all these guys pretty muched tipped his hand when they were in the game. If it was Laboy and Lawson, chances were Laboy was rushing and Lawson was dropping into coverage. Same with Haralson and Lawson, Haralson rushing/Lawson again dropping into coverage. And if by chance Manusky changed things, things were not going to go our way. Haralson and Laboy were HORRIBLE playing in coverage and Lawson was HORRIBLE rushing the QB.
In regards to the secondary, they might have been as bad as the secondary from the 2005, 2006 years. To make a statement such as "the secondary isn't that bad off" is just plain silly. These guys got owned more often than not, plain and simple. The whole league knows that Nate will bite on double moves, Spencer regressed from last season, and Brown just isn't that good. Brown was supposed to be a starter by now, but it's clear that he's over matched.
Even when they had a play sniffed out, they found a way to blow it. In fairness, they did seem to have more than their share of bad luck. Throw in the revolving door at SS, Goldson playing hurt, Will James' injury (was supposed to be the nickel back), and playing an overall soft zone 90% of the time it's no wonder they got beat up on. Add the lack of production from the OLBs and "pass rush specialist" RayMac and you get this years debacle. And if you think about it, the LBs contributed to the horrible pass defense stats. Those guys blew coverages also and I already mentioned how bad guys like Haralson and Laboy were in space.

Also, after Sing left we heard about how the team was playing scared. These guys were playing with the mentality "don't f**k up, don't f**k up, don't f**k up, oh please god don't f**k up". MAYBE this added to their difficulties, who knows.

Bottom line, the Niners need to address TALENT needs at OLB, CB, and Safety. The guys on the line have been playing just fine. Granted they need a NT if Franklin walks, but they don't need a NT because he sucks.

Originally posted by Sjceruti:
Franklin's job isnt to get stats its to eat blocks to help the linebackers make plays. He did it just fine. You wouldnt criticize Wilfork or Raji or Ratliff for not having huge stats.

I am not looking for a huge stat line, just something more than "0". The three mentioned all had better years than Franklin. If they would have a had a guy who was pressuring the QB (at least a little) and getting his hands on balls, wouldn't that make it easier for everyone, just not the LBs, but the secondary as well? I'm by no means saying Franklin is dog s**t, just that he wasn't worth the hold out and franchise tag and that he replaceable. Odd fact... Every team that made it to the playoffs this year had at least one D-Linemen with 5+ PassDefended, just odd.

Basically you say Franklin just has to the bare minimum to get by, therefore he is replaceable. Smith can't be the only one doing more than just taking up blocks on the Dline. eh,IMO I would want more action

[ Edited by Ibleedgoldnred on Jan 29, 2011 at 23:53:35 ]

Originally posted by Ibleedgoldnred:

Originally posted by Sjceruti:
Franklin's job isnt to get stats its to eat blocks to help the linebackers make plays. He did it just fine. You wouldnt criticize Wilfork or Raji or Ratliff for not having huge stats.

I am not looking for a huge stat line, just something more than "0". The three mentioned all had better years than Franklin. If they would have a had a guy who was pressuring the QB (at least a little) and getting his hands on balls, wouldn't that make it easier for everyone, just not the LBs, but the secondary as well? I'm by no means saying Franklin is dog s**t, just that he wasn't worth the hold out and franchise tag and that he replaceable. Odd fact... Every team that made it to the playoffs this year had at least one D-Linemen with 5+ PassDefended, just odd.

Basically you say Franklin just has to the bare minimum to get by, therefor he is replaceable. So you are all just fine with J. Smith being the only one on the D-line to do more than just "take up blocks"? eh, IMO I would want more action

That could very well happen now that Fangio is running the D. I've read that he likes a very active and aggressive 3 man front. Soap and Franklin certainly are capable of being "active and aggressive", but they will have to produce more in terms of QB pressures and sacks.
I'm not that familar with Fangio..............If anybody is, maybe they could enlighten me as to what their opinion is in regards to the D-line