2014: Thoughts on the upcoming season...

Originally posted by lamontb:

Originally posted by threelittlebirds:
As a Free Agent wishlist... would anyone love to see the 49ers bring in Hester on a 1-yr deal as a return specialist and cut LMJ?

not really I think he's more than lost a step and brings nothing else to the team.

Well, his PR and KR averages this last season were both higher than his career averages. Maybe that stat is misleading because I personally didn't watch enough Bears games to notice if he lost a step. I just heard that he moved back to fulltime return duties without pretending to be a WR anymore and had a very good year.

KR: Hester had 27.6 YPR on 52 returns, longest of 80, 0 TDs, 43-- 20+ yard returns, 5-- 40+ yard returns, and 4 fumbles.
LMJ had 26.8 YPR on 12 returns, longest of 41, 0 TDs, 11 20+ yard returns, 1 40+ yard return, and 0 fumbles

PR: Hester had 14.2 YPR on 18 returns, longest of 81T, 1 TD, 4-- 20+, 2 --40+, 11 fair catches and 1 fumble
LMJ had 10.9 YPR on 23 returns, longest of 40, 0 TD, 2--20+, 1--40+, 12 fair catches and 2 fumbles

Originally posted by Geeked:
No, James is cheaper and things may change this off season regarding James' involvement.

I guess I forgot to say it.. but on my wish list I was assuming he would sign for a little more than the vet minimum while chasing a championship. Those 1 year deals worth just over a mil that happen when guys get old and start wanting a ring... but that is more than LMJ still. It'd just be nice to have that kind of added dimension if possible. Just a wish list for me... I wont be devastated if they stick with LMJ

Originally posted by Marvin49:

Originally posted by thl408:
About the upcoming draft.

Many have said, and I agree, that this team is built with the Oline and Dline (front 7) as its foundation. The RBs and DBs are the beneficiaries of this. Meaning the RBs and DBs should be plug and play while the team continues to keep the Oline and Dline strong. If anyone subscribes to this thinking like I do, then I question the use of high draft picks on need positions such as WR and SS. Not because I don't think there is a definite need to fill them in order to continue success into the 14-15 season, but because once it is time to extend these guys (Reid, soon to be rookie CB/SS/WR with a high pick) the cap allotment may shift from Oline/Dline to WRs/CBs/DBs, which doesn't jive with how the team philosophy.

There is a lot of cap being spent on Oline and defensive front 7 right now. I am very fine with this. I fear that spending high picks on the 'ancillary' parts will cause a shift in cap allotment that will see the Oline/Dline suffer as WRs and DBs are extended. I may be thinking 3 years into the future, which may be out of the scope of this thread. Just wanted to see what others thought.

I kinda view it differently.

I don't view using high draft picks on those positions as moving the focus.

It seems to me they have been spending all their money in those spots and then letting a "skill position" player walk and replacing him with much cheaper free agents. They let Goldson walk and drafted Reid. They let Walker walk and drafted McDonald. So far they haven't let any of their o-linemen or front 7 players walk and have extended them all very early.

The draft isn't just a way to get star players...its also a way to CHEAPLY replace vets who you can't afford to pay.

Agree on the bolded, and again, I may be looking too far down the road as theses decisions don't have to be made this offseason. What happens when Reid wants a nice extension when it's time for one? Do they let Reid walk because he isn't a part of the front 7, which is the foundation of the defense? It's not this black and white, and I understand the FO needs to choose wisely, as it did with Goldson, but what if Reid continues a nice upward trend in development and forces his way onto the 'core' of this team? Being a high draft pick along with having Pro Bowl berths will justify that player being paid well. If the 49ers use a high pick on a CB or SS, that player may fall into the same boat as Reid. High picks that become good players, but the position they play isn't a part of the 'foundation' of how this team (salary cap) is built.

This goes back to how you stated that the 49ers have not let anyone significant walk that is from the Oline/D front 7. So the 49ers want to keep those guys here to build around, I'm fine with that. Does that mean the ancillary parts will continue to be acquired using high draft picks, but let go when it's time to pay up?

Great post Marvin49! So pumped for next season! Go 49ers!

we will win the super bowl next year, and kap will be the mvp

Originally posted by iluvdemniners:
we will win the super bowl next year, and kap will be the mvp

Let me guess, Crab in the corner of the endzone for the win?

I know we are hoping for a good draft but honestly how many of those draft picks will make a huge contribution to get this team over the hump of the Seahawks, the saints, or even the packers. Eric Reid was the only pick who had a meaningful season from the draft class. Do you really think that those six picks in the first 3 rounds will all start or play meaningful minutes. One for sure maybe two but I doubt any more than two players. The team we have now is pretty much all we have going forward. This draft is for the 2017 team and beyond. If the 49ers can't get better in house now then they will always be looking up to Seattle. Unless kap can learn how to quarterback.

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by Marvin49:

Originally posted by thl408:
About the upcoming draft.

Many have said, and I agree, that this team is built with the Oline and Dline (front 7) as its foundation. The RBs and DBs are the beneficiaries of this. Meaning the RBs and DBs should be plug and play while the team continues to keep the Oline and Dline strong. If anyone subscribes to this thinking like I do, then I question the use of high draft picks on need positions such as WR and SS. Not because I don't think there is a definite need to fill them in order to continue success into the 14-15 season, but because once it is time to extend these guys (Reid, soon to be rookie CB/SS/WR with a high pick) the cap allotment may shift from Oline/Dline to WRs/CBs/DBs, which doesn't jive with how the team philosophy.

There is a lot of cap being spent on Oline and defensive front 7 right now. I am very fine with this. I fear that spending high picks on the 'ancillary' parts will cause a shift in cap allotment that will see the Oline/Dline suffer as WRs and DBs are extended. I may be thinking 3 years into the future, which may be out of the scope of this thread. Just wanted to see what others thought.

I kinda view it differently.

I don't view using high draft picks on those positions as moving the focus.

It seems to me they have been spending all their money in those spots and then letting a "skill position" player walk and replacing him with much cheaper free agents. They let Goldson walk and drafted Reid. They let Walker walk and drafted McDonald. So far they haven't let any of their o-linemen or front 7 players walk and have extended them all very early.

The draft isn't just a way to get star players...its also a way to CHEAPLY replace vets who you can't afford to pay.

Agree on the bolded, and again, I may be looking too far down the road as theses decisions don't have to be made this offseason. What happens when Reid wants a nice extension when it's time for one? Do they let Reid walk because he isn't a part of the front 7, which is the foundation of the defense? It's not this black and white, and I understand the FO needs to choose wisely, as it did with Goldson, but what if Reid continues a nice upward trend in development and forces his way onto the 'core' of this team? Being a high draft pick along with having Pro Bowl berths will justify that player being paid well. If the 49ers use a high pick on a CB or SS, that player may fall into the same boat as Reid. High picks that become good players, but the position they play isn't a part of the 'foundation' of how this team (salary cap) is built.

This goes back to how you stated that the 49ers have not let anyone significant walk that is from the Oline/D front 7. So the 49ers want to keep those guys here to build around, I'm fine with that. Does that mean the ancillary parts will continue to be acquired using high draft picks, but let go when it's time to pay up?

Who knows what they do then. A nice part of being a first round pick is the 5 year option, so you can put off that decision for another year.

The Niners won't ALWAYS take those skill position players in the 1st round, but if they see one they like in striking distance i don't see them passing it up. They will always invest picks in the front 7 BTW and extend the ones that work out and let the ones that don't walk. Thats why Carradine was a brilliant move and why I think they'll be looking at Easley this year. I'd expect them to take some linemen in the mid rounds as well whom they can groom.

Marvin you're one of my favorite posters hands down, good take I agree 100%.

A little surprised you didn't mention the new stadium. You've got to be excited about that.

Run Game - It might be time for Gore to step back a little if he wants to win a ring. I really appreciate the guy. He's still a great runner & excellent in pass pro but the good teams know how to neutralize him. Stack the box.

2 solutions to this. 1. the QB beats them with his arm. 2. show them a new RB, Lattimore. Here's hoping Lattimore can get outside the tackles while still being effective through the gut. Force the D to play sideline to sideline. Time to transition.

Originally posted by Marvin49:

Originally posted by thl408:

Originally posted by Marvin49:

Originally posted by thl408:
About the upcoming draft.

Many have said, and I agree, that this team is built with the Oline and Dline (front 7) as its foundation. The RBs and DBs are the beneficiaries of this. Meaning the RBs and DBs should be plug and play while the team continues to keep the Oline and Dline strong. If anyone subscribes to this thinking like I do, then I question the use of high draft picks on need positions such as WR and SS. Not because I don't think there is a definite need to fill them in order to continue success into the 14-15 season, but because once it is time to extend these guys (Reid, soon to be rookie CB/SS/WR with a high pick) the cap allotment may shift from Oline/Dline to WRs/CBs/DBs, which doesn't jive with how the team philosophy.

There is a lot of cap being spent on Oline and defensive front 7 right now. I am very fine with this. I fear that spending high picks on the 'ancillary' parts will cause a shift in cap allotment that will see the Oline/Dline suffer as WRs and DBs are extended. I may be thinking 3 years into the future, which may be out of the scope of this thread. Just wanted to see what others thought.

I kinda view it differently.

I don't view using high draft picks on those positions as moving the focus.

It seems to me they have been spending all their money in those spots and then letting a "skill position" player walk and replacing him with much cheaper free agents. They let Goldson walk and drafted Reid. They let Walker walk and drafted McDonald. So far they haven't let any of their o-linemen or front 7 players walk and have extended them all very early.

The draft isn't just a way to get star players...its also a way to CHEAPLY replace vets who you can't afford to pay.

Agree on the bolded, and again, I may be looking too far down the road as theses decisions don't have to be made this offseason. What happens when Reid wants a nice extension when it's time for one? Do they let Reid walk because he isn't a part of the front 7, which is the foundation of the defense? It's not this black and white, and I understand the FO needs to choose wisely, as it did with Goldson, but what if Reid continues a nice upward trend in development and forces his way onto the 'core' of this team? Being a high draft pick along with having Pro Bowl berths will justify that player being paid well. If the 49ers use a high pick on a CB or SS, that player may fall into the same boat as Reid. High picks that become good players, but the position they play isn't a part of the 'foundation' of how this team (salary cap) is built.

This goes back to how you stated that the 49ers have not let anyone significant walk that is from the Oline/D front 7. So the 49ers want to keep those guys here to build around, I'm fine with that. Does that mean the ancillary parts will continue to be acquired using high draft picks, but let go when it's time to pay up?

Who knows what they do then. A nice part of being a first round pick is the 5 year option, so you can put off that decision for another year.

The Niners won't ALWAYS take those skill position players in the 1st round, but if they see one they like in striking distance i don't see them passing it up. They will always invest picks in the front 7 BTW and extend the ones that work out and let the ones that don't walk. Thats why Carradine was a brilliant move and why I think they'll be looking at Easley this year. I'd expect them to take some linemen in the mid rounds as well whom they can groom.

I may have steered this conversation too far into the future. I just wanted to raise a concern I personally had that as the 49ers use high draft picks to fill immediate needs (FS in 2013, perhaps SS/CB/WR in 2014), and they hit on those pick(s), the way the 49er's salary cap is structured may change. I like that the 49ers have most of their money invested in Oline/front 7 as I agree that is the way you build a long lasting, successful team in the cap era.

To take this back to your original points, I wanted to touch on 5) Frank. This team needs a RB that can go between the tackles and hit the edges, and it has to be the same RB. It can't be Gore between the tackles, and Hunter around the edges. Good defenses will clue into Gore's shortcomings. If the defense isn't threatened at the edges, it makes their job defending the run much easier. I really hope Lattimore is that guy, and I hope the 49ers inject some quickness into the Oline, whether that's just at the Center position or at C and OG by focusing on getting Iupati and Boone to play at a lighter weight. Attacking the edges doesn't necessarily mean toss sweeps, but consistently hitting some off tackle plays will be sufficient in keeping run defenses honest.

Thanks for a great year Marvin. Kap put the team on his back in the Championship game, how many quarterbacks can do that. I agree with your assessment of Patton, there are a number of players, Tank, Patton, McDonald, Morris, Lemonier, Lattimore, that could explode in 2014.

Great post Marvin. Very optimistic about 2014 and beyond, perhaps even more so after March 11th when the FA stories for us and sea play out.

With everything that could still be sticking with me from the NFCCG, i'm hung on not playing more press on Sea WR (esp on 3rd down). Would love to see tighter coverage, esp on the edges to get that jam to break rhythm and give 99 and 55 an extra step.

Can't wait to see this team playing in our brand new stadium.

Regarding Kaepernick, I'm very optimistic about his growth this season because last offseason it appeared he probably was feeling his oats after the performance he had in 2012. This season, he felt the criticism big time and I think this spring and summer he will take it to the next level. The CK we saw late in the year, at the minimum I believe we will see early in the season and will continue to get better from there on. He will be focusing on improving the mental elements of the game much more than he did last year.

Winning the NFC West will be the biggest key to getting back to the super bowl. With the demise of Baltimore, it appears the super bowl is there for the taking for the NFC team for at least the next two seasons or so.

I've said it many times before, when this team plays to its potential it's frightening how good they are. Offensively, the peak of the Kaepernick era was more impressive than anything I've seen in the Wilson era. Wilson manages games better, but never had monster games like K.

Also, I think people are going to see more beasting from Patrick Willis now that he's back to being the undisputed center of our LB corps.