Biggest surprise for you this year? Who will be the biggest improvement next year?

Oldschool9erfan · 2012-02-03T22:25:11-08:00

This is an interesting question because so many people had great years for us. Most Surprising player 1) Navarro Bowman was unbelievable this year. I was a huge Takeo Spikes fan and was bummed that he wasn't going to play for us, but Bowman silenced everyone. I thought Patrick Willis was a find. Bowman was a great pick for us in the 3rd round. He and Willis patrolled the middle for us making it the best inside linebacking core in the league. You could make an argument for Aldon Smith, Willis, Bowman and Brooks were the best. At least top 3. Either way, these guys are just going to get better, the more that they play with each other. I've never seen middle linebackers as fast as Willis and Bowman. 2) Aldon Smith set the tone for the Baalke Harbaugh era to begin. Player with potential with the upside for the home run, but also a total solid team guy. Our biggest weakness for a long time has been the pass rush because the pass rush makes everything better. If we pressure the quarterback our secondary can make plays. A lot of people DIDNT LIKE this year. A Lot of people on the board didn't like the pick. And some people on the board still don't like the pick. Wait until this year becomes everydown player and then teams won't be able to pass on us in the early downs. I'll be honest at the time I was going who is that, but I knew that they were looking for our pass rush specialist (ala fred dean) and Baalke nailed it. And the best part is....."he's the youngest player on the team!" What an absolute beast. He will be a fierce rusher for us for years to come. Think of all of the passes he can bat down with that wingspan. 3) Tarrell Brown was a surprise for me. He had been rising as a player but this year as a starter he really broke out. He is fast enough to keep up with the shifty recievers and actually has great hands. He had a sweet pick in the Saints game and he should have gotten the pick in the Baltimore game but they called it PI which was b******t! By the end of the year he might have been our best cornerback even more than Rogers (who couldn't keep up with Cruz in the Championship game). Don't get me wrong I think Carlos Rogers is our best corner and the team has to make it a priority to sign him. Come on they gave Nate Clements a friggin 80 million dollar deal (the last year of the deal was 15 million which we didn't pay him) I think Rogers is a must sign. Player to break out next year 1) Iupati and Davis.....I think both of these players are going to get better and better. I think the line can be dominating at times and if they keep improving with a full offseason WOW. We can be like the old Cowboys O-line when they had their Superbowl run with Emmitt Smith. 2) Crabtree has too much talent to not improve. He didn't show up in the playoff because he and Alex don't have the trust that they should have. Also I bet Crabtree is still struggling to learn the O line the whole team. Vernon Davis said at times he felt like he wasn't getting the offense at all until the last five games of the season. Plus, I also think that the Niners will bring in some other players and that will open up the offense more. 3) TE/WR - The team will draft a big TE like in the 6 6 size, hopefully it's Fleener and/or they will also pick up a Premium receiver (through the draft or FA). This will open up the offense for the whole team and we improve dramatically on offense next year. On a side note, even though they learned a new defense this year, it's still a 3-4 concept and we have more talented players on defense right now. Our front seven is beastly.

Feb 3, 2012 at 10:38 PM

gavindirishmen
Veteran
Posts: 670

Biggest surprise was pass rush no question. Excellent improvement and looks to be getting better. Biggest Improvement better be Alex Smith not being hot garbage
on 3rd down!!

Feb 3, 2012 at 10:41 PM

JustinNiner
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Posts: 6,762

Culliver and Josh Morgan (hes 99.9% coming back)

Feb 3, 2012 at 11:04 PM

crabman82
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Posts: 17,024

biggest suprise will be kyle williams, he'll be back, you'll hate it, and cheer him when he makes first downs and touchdowns

Feb 3, 2012 at 11:42 PM

PacTiger
Member
Posts: 30,146

Carlos Rodgers, Donte Witner, Adam Snyder, Bowman were my biggest improvements/surprises for me this season. I can also add goldson into this conversation also. But, I also believe goldson benefited the most from a better pass rush. Donte and Carlos were given up on by their former teams. Now they are key points on the best defense 2011. Snyder stepped up when Rachal was playing really bad.

Bowman was a monster for most of the season. He was plain nasty the first half of the season. He looked like he was wearing down towards the end of the season a little.

Feb 3, 2012 at 11:53 PM

elguapo
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Posts: 26,432

Biggest improvement tarred brown and bowman
Next year Alex smith bc our oline will be better and hopefully our new or existing Wrs

Feb 4, 2012 at 12:06 AM

SanDiego49er
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Posts: 52,248

Harbaugh - how fast he turned around the team.

Alex Smith - how much influence Harbaugh had on him in 1 season, no offseason due to the lockout in limited time.

Aldon Smith - no way I saw him being this good.

Bruce Miller - Pick a pass rusher in college an convert him to a FB and he is a Pro Bowl alternate the first year. Incredible.

Carlos Rogers - Better than I ever saw him play. Better than I thought he could be.

Donte Whitner - A steal for the money we pay him. Helped solidify the safety position.

Akers / Ginn / Lee - One of the best special teams in the league.

Coordinators - High end guys for the first time in a decade. What a joke we used to have. Guys who can't communitcate the plays to this.

Baalke - Far better than I thought he would be or could be. I got to give him credit so far.

[ Edited by SanDiego49er on Feb 4, 2012 at 12:07 AM ]

Feb 4, 2012 at 12:16 AM

Kronos2560
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Posts: 1,243

Scott Tolzien, no QB is a god in their first season.

Feb 4, 2012 at 1:00 AM

hofer36
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Posts: 8,257

daniel kilgore who wins rt guard job

Feb 4, 2012 at 1:04 AM

hofer36
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Posts: 8,257

someone mentioned demacus dobbs as a possible successor to ahmad brooks should he leave---could dobbs cnvert to lb....i was impressed with his strength and movement in preseason

Feb 4, 2012 at 1:35 AM

#10

SanDiego49er
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Posts: 52,248

Originally posted by hofer36:
someone mentioned demacus dobbs as a possible successor to ahmad brooks should he leave---could dobbs cnvert to lb....i was impressed with his strength and movement in preseason

I don't think he is fast enough or nimble enough for OLB. He is more of a stout linemen in the middle. He's there to occupy blockers. But if you had to use speed and have quickness I don't think he is that guy.

Feb 4, 2012 at 4:51 AM

#11

49erRider
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Posts: 7,508

Originally posted by crabman82:
biggest suprise will be kyle williams, he'll be back, you'll hate it, and cheer him when he makes first downs and touchdowns

Yes, because regular season TDs and 1st Downs in 2012 > Super Bowl in 2011.

I'll cheer for the team scoring and driving, but not Kyle Williams specifically.

Feb 4, 2012 at 4:57 AM

#12

SofaKing
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Posts: 27,442

Originally posted by crabman82:
biggest suprise will be kyle williams, he'll be back, you'll hate it, and cheer him when he makes first downs and touchdowns

This!

Feb 4, 2012 at 5:29 AM

#13

RishikeshA
Veteran
Posts: 12,720

Originally posted by hofer36:
someone mentioned demacus dobbs as a possible successor to ahmad brooks should he leave---could dobbs cnvert to lb....i was impressed with his strength and movement in preseason

I think the backups on the d-line will get more pt. I like Dobbs and Williams.

Feb 4, 2012 at 6:19 AM

#14

UKNiner
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Posts: 737

Aldon Smith...and Aldon Smith.