What is your biggest concern after seeing Broncos game (preseason)?

Originally posted by NCommand:
True, CK masked many of our pass blocking issues and for a large, powerful line, the OL can get blown back in running plays resulting in loss of yardage (James had a bunch that first half esp. on off-tackle runs...just no where to go at all and outnumbered).

Ok but lets be fair to the lineman here. There were multiple run plays that the oline opened holes big enough for me to run through and James was barely able to crack 4 or 5 yards because he lacks vision and power. I like James and all but lets be honest. He has a long ways to go. He needs to open his eyes and hold on to the damn ball. I bet Gore was chomping at the bit to run through some of those holes the other night.

Originally posted by xtm059:
I still don't think the past is indicative of the future

True...just getting the bad injury mojo out of the way now!

Originally posted by NinerG94:

Originally posted by NCommand:
True, CK masked many of our pass blocking issues and for a large, powerful line, the OL can get blown back in running plays resulting in loss of yardage (James had a bunch that first half esp. on off-tackle runs...just no where to go at all and outnumbered).

Ok but lets be fair to the lineman here. There were multiple run plays that the oline opened holes big enough for me to run through and James was barely able to crack 4 or 5 yards because he lacks vision and power. I like James and all but lets be honest. He has a long ways to go. He needs to open his eyes and hold on to the damn ball. I bet Gore was chomping at the bit to run through some of those holes the other night.

This is fair...and I agree. In fact, I was VERY encouraged by the INSIDE lanes Kilgore was helping to open up (a weakness of Goodwin). James was hitting this off-C runs for big gains and that is very encouraging. And then Looney came in at C and my GOD, that man is huge and he had no issues with snapping, pounding guys, etc. I initially liked Looney b/c he seemed nasty and would fit in well at C. But Kilgore played very well too. James seems more decisive in returns and running in this game. He still needs quite a few more carries before he can truly let his athleticism shine and show that "explosiveness" that Hunter already possesses. But he seemed to make some strides which is encouraging. I want Hunter hitting those off-tackle runs to compliment Gore inside and use James more in the passing game. That to me, would be ideal. Hunter can also run inside very well.

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by NinerG94:

Originally posted by NCommand:
True, CK masked many of our pass blocking issues and for a large, powerful line, the OL can get blown back in running plays resulting in loss of yardage (James had a bunch that first half esp. on off-tackle runs...just no where to go at all and outnumbered).

Ok but lets be fair to the lineman here. There were multiple run plays that the oline opened holes big enough for me to run through and James was barely able to crack 4 or 5 yards because he lacks vision and power. I like James and all but lets be honest. He has a long ways to go. He needs to open his eyes and hold on to the damn ball. I bet Gore was chomping at the bit to run through some of those holes the other night.

This is fair...and I agree. In fact, I was VERY encouraged by the INSIDE lanes Kilgore was helping to open up (a weakness of Goodwin). James was hitting this off-C runs for big gains and that is very encouraging. And then Looney came in at C and my GOD, that man is huge and he had no issues with snapping, pounding guys, etc. I initially liked Looney b/c he seemed nasty and would fit in well at C. But Kilgore played very well too. James seems more decisive in returns and running in this game. He still needs quite a few more carries before he can truly let his athleticism shine and show that "explosiveness" that Hunter already possesses. But he seemed to make some strides which is encouraging. I want Hunter hitting those off-tackle runs to compliment Gore inside and use James more in the passing game. That to me, would be ideal. Hunter can also run inside very well.

Couldn't agree more NC! Good post.

Originally posted by Pillbusta:
Gore was out. Everything gets more explosive when he is in

This. I was thinking about this after I wrote my post. Gore brings this kind of energy between the tackles. But we need it in more places.

Last year our staff frankly did a sh*tty job getting the ball in his hands in the open field. No reason to expect that will change. And realistically at this point in his career he wont play the snaps or show the vertical speed to be our red zone reducer.

But yes Gore is the one skill we have that has the kind of creativity I am talking about.

With regard to the other poster, I think someone also pointed out that we're not really talking about first string.

I hope this has already been posted, but everyone should keep in mind that the Broncos kept most of their defensive 1's in for almost the entire first half. So a lot of that backup offensive line work that didn't look that good was against starters.

Originally posted by GNielsen:
I hope this has already been posted, but everyone should keep in mind that the Broncos kept most of their defensive 1's in for almost the entire first half. So a lot of that backup offensive line work that didn't look that good was against starters.

Good to point that out. The line was still pretty bad in the 2nd half too though. The tackles looked awful. Kind of brought down the rest of the line from what I could tell. The interior didn't look too bad. I'll have to watch the game again.

Originally posted by SofaKing:

Originally posted by GNielsen:
I hope this has already been posted, but everyone should keep in mind that the Broncos kept most of their defensive 1's in for almost the entire first half. So a lot of that backup offensive line work that didn't look that good was against starters.

Good to point that out. The line was still pretty bad in the 2nd half too though. The tackles looked awful. Kind of brought down the rest of the line from what I could tell. The interior didn't look too bad. I'll have to watch the game again.

Good points. Doesn't it take a little longer for the O-line to "gel" and get in synch with assignments than for rushing D-linemen?

Originally posted by 1biggi:
Good points. Doesn't it take a little longer for the O-line to "gel" and get in synch with assignments than for rushing D-linemen?

Yup. It definitely takes longer for an O-line to gel. Keep in mind that 2nd unit has only been playing together for about 2 weeks now.

The 49ers Webzone

Originally posted by vrabbit:
not just the fact that Colt McCoy sucks, but the fact that Tolzien also didn't perform too well. I've just never been a fan of McCoy in the NFL (I've rooted for him though) and I'm very concerned about him as a #2 to the point I was kind of expecting Tolzien to outplay him or at least make it interesting.

That battle is definitely interesting after last night, but not in a good way

FWIW I did think Tolzien outplayed McCoy

I agree. Both were crap. That begs the question, why did we cut Josh Johnson over Tolzien in the first place again ?? I really want to see what BJ Daniels has got. Also, I am in favour of switching our back-ups to mobile QBs as well. If we still had Josh Johnson and if BJ can show up, it could have been quite an interesting QB corps.

Originally posted by blm7754:

Originally posted by Mr.Mcgibblets:
I would say backup OT.. but in games that matter, I suspect Boone would kick out if need be. So... I say backup QB.

Moving Boone out to OT would disrupt the consistency all along the OL. Maybe if there was a major injury to Staley or Davis we would probably move Boone out to OT during the week. But in a game, it would probably be a guy off the bench. Probably Adam Snyder since he is the only OL we have that is good enough to make the team that has any experience at OT.

I was really hoping we would draft an OT in the mid-rounds or find a decent FA. Instead, we brought back Snyder... who is only decent as a guard. But still, even he would be better than the scrubs I saw on the field last night.

This is from the Bob McKittrick days of OL coaching. It is why the Niners draft veratile OL players. You need the best 5 OL starting with a focus on the OT or book ends.

The Niners absolutely would kick Boone out to OT if one went down to injury. They have several folks who can play guard to replace Boone.

Would you rather have

LT- Boone
LG Iupati
C- Goodwin
RG- Kilgore/Snyder or Looney
RT- Davis

or
LT Snyder- Wiggins
LG Iupati
C Goodwin
RG Boone
RT Davis

We have depth at Center and having Snyder is huge, he is our best Tackle and Guard back up. I still think Looney will be OK, and Killgore might be able to fill a guard spot in a pinch.

Originally posted by GNielsen:
I hope this has already been posted, but everyone should keep in mind that the Broncos kept most of their defensive 1's in for almost the entire first half. So a lot of that backup offensive line work that didn't look that good was against starters.

Yeah i noticed, but that was good for our backups. They need to go against high level competition.

Originally posted by Rascal:

Originally posted by vrabbit:
not just the fact that Colt McCoy sucks, but the fact that Tolzien also didn't perform too well. I've just never been a fan of McCoy in the NFL (I've rooted for him though) and I'm very concerned about him as a #2 to the point I was kind of expecting Tolzien to outplay him or at least make it interesting.

That battle is definitely interesting after last night, but not in a good way

FWIW I did think Tolzien outplayed McCoy

I agree. Both were crap. That begs the question, why did we cut Josh Johnson over Tolzien in the first place again ?? I really want to see what BJ Daniels has got. Also, I am in favour of switching our back-ups to mobile QBs as well. If we still had Josh Johnson and if BJ can show up, it could have been quite an interesting QB corps.

Josh Johnson was brought in to compete for the number 2 job/starter, not the 3rd qb who never dresses. But I agree, I wish we wouldn't have cut him.