identity; when do you think we'll find ours?

not sure "what it is to be a 49er" means, but I think sometime late in the season, early December until the end of the season, when the team has had time to play together, taken some lumps (many lumps, probably), and finds itself in a stretch of games that includes very strong opponents (Ravens and Steelers) and very weak ones (NFCWest). In that stretch of games I think we'll get a good idea of what the teams strengths and weaknesses are relatives to the top and bottom of the league, we'll see Harbaugh's offense begin to click (partly from the experience of a season, partly from the HC getting a better handle on what his personnel allows him to do), and through all of that an "identity" will begin to take shape.

that said, the team's "identity" is largely dictated by its roster, so it will be a year or two until a true identity is developed for this team. This year is really about Harbaugh implementing his philosophy and seeing what he has, and next year he'll start building around that.

Depends what the identity will be. If Harbaugth and Smith are closers when the playoffs become realistic the identity will be created. The Walsh 9ers did not establish their identity until Montana proved to be one of the best closers in football history.

The Pittsburg itentity is a D that gets it done and an offense that can score enough. Big Ben is not my favorite QB but he does stand tall in important games.

NE identity comes from the coach and Brady as a smooth QB.

If Smith can't play big at important times then the D will create the identity...hopefully a positive one.

Well i think after the first 3 regular season games. I think by then we should know exactly what we have. As many know in pre-season, yes we are gonna play hard but we wont be doing all of our exact detailed gameplans until the season starts. And u figure game 1 the bullets are full steam, game 2 we can see if we learned from game 1, and then by game 3, it all should start to fall in place 100%.

For example, if we are down lets say 7pts and its about 5 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter. thats when the real offensive creativity will be in motion. Thats when our D will truly be tested in the close games.

IMHO, it's when u can make it out of the close games with a win, thats what really tells if the players, the coaching, and the overall identity is exactly what you want it to be.

I'll say this, If Harbaugh is the master as they say at playing to player's strengths, i really see us fininshing out the season with a post season birth. At least im praying that it will happen.

Agreed with above. This group of players and coaches won't come together as a true team until they've collectively experienced live bullets. I think it will take at least the 3 regular season games. Harbaugh himself as his own learning curve in terms of understanding what it takes to coach and gameplan in the NFL.

It is going to take a total team effort this year if we are going to have a good season, anything less and it will be a struggle.

Originally posted by valrod33:
when patrick willis murders a qb

kill that motherf**ker patrick willis

Originally posted by cNiner:
when Alex gets benched and we get our heads out of our asses and relize he wasted 7 years of our team 1

Here we go

Originally posted by KowboyKiller:

Originally posted by valrod33:
when patrick willis murders a qb

kill that motherf**ker patrick willis

it's weird seeing P Willis Violent, he's a calm dude when he's not playing football.