Is our Roster better right now than it was a year ago at this time?

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by 60sFan:

Is our Roster better right now than it was a year ago at this time?

Is this a trick question?

LOL. I know, right!?!

I don't think so...

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by 60sFan:

Is our Roster better right now than it was a year ago at this time?

Is this a trick question?

LOL. I know, right!?!

I don't think so...

Originally posted by TexasNiner:
Losing Whitner for Bethea should be an upgrade, but until we see him in action, that has to basically be considered a lateral move. He has positives and negatives comparably as a defender, plus he's older. But he's a pro's pro, and should fit this offense very well.

I agree. I'm excited to see what Greg Roman can do with Bethea. I think he will thrive in an H-Back role. He will be the best two-way player since Charles Woodson at Michigan.

Just kidding, I know what you meant.

Originally posted by VPofCarnage:
Phil Dawson is a year older. Not a huge difference, but it's something.

True, and you never know what could happen. Akers was lights-out his first year in San Francisco, and then was easily one of the worst kickers in the league the following year. Fingers crossed though!

Originally posted by susweel:
Its actually worse because no Bowman right now, and Justin is older, also no proven Center, and our CBs are worse.

Hit the nail on the head right there.

Nobody is talking about this.... Justin Smith was unimpressive in 2013. He look very average. He was not the dominate powerhouse that split double teams and threw 300lb lineman around like rag dolls like back in 2011-2012. It is reasonable to assume that he will decline further in 2014.

We may be deep at DL, but we are deep with average talent. Tank Carradine is the only guy with the potential to be a difference maker.... and he hasn't played a down yet.

With Bowman on the sideline and Aldon facing league discipline, our front 7 is looking very ordinary. Finger's crossed that Lemonier, Tank, and Borland can pick up the slack.

Originally posted by NCommand:
Thanks brother and nice post yourself. I think everyone's level of concern regarding the defense is understandable but let's take into a few factors here:

1. Bowman's injury, Willis and Brooks at 30 years old and Aldon potentially missing some time. To counter and play a positive Devil's Advocate here, Brooks has very low tread on his tires and has gotten better every single year (last year was his best and he was the best OLB by far in the playoffs). He's also 100% attendance at workouts with the team. He's a professional. Aldon isn't going to miss any time b/c he didn't violate any NFL policies (drugs); alcoholism was already addressed privately. Looking at his case, it's highly unlikely he gets charged with anything at this juncture minus some support counseling, etc. He'll still have legal matters to settle out of court though but otherwise, I doubt anything comes from it. Even if he was charged with a misdemeanor, at most, he'd be suspended for 2-4 games at most and we were 5-0 without him LAST year and the depth behind him is another year more experienced and with more quality depth. Not worried. Willis is a concern. He's been nicked up for the past 3+ years now and has missed some time. Yet when he did, who filled in for him admirably? Wilhoite...the same guy who's expected to start for Bowmanbut now, he'll have two very good ILB's to push him, provide incredible depth and boast up our ST coverage units (Borland and Skov).

2. Don't worry about the youth and lack of experience with the CB's. The truth is Culliver and Brock have been with us for years and have played both CB's positions, in the nickle and dime. They know this defense like the back of their hands. The same can be said for Cox. Only Ward/Bethea will have to learn like Stevie Johnson over on the offense but Ward is only going to play 60% of the snaps and slowly work into the full defense including the FS position. And is anyone really worried about Bethea's ability to learn quickly. Reid should be even better this year and is already a leader back there.

3. One element that is a bit of an unknown that could have profound effects in getting off the field on 3rd downs and generating a lot more 3-and-outs and TO's is the scheme that Fangio can now run vs. what he had to do with the "old" regime in Brown, Rogers, Whitner & Goldson/Reid. With the old regime, we could only play one way d/t the poor coverage ability of Goldson and the inability of the smaller/weaker CB's in Rogers and Brown. Whitner was a known liability in coverage esp. in the RZ. But NOW, Fangio has specialists in press coverage (Cook and Johnson), both Brock and Culliver can play press and are very physical and aggressive at the LOS, Reid can play anywhere and has tremendous range (single-high S), the entire unit can play off-coverage schemes still with their experience in our defense and we have playmakers all over the field who now contest balls and generate TO's (Brock, Culliver, Reid and Bethea...Ward now too). And look at the depth. You have a 4.2 lightning fast slot CB who's been developed for a year in Morris, Acker and Reaser seem in the same mold as Brock and Culliver (and Cox) and like all three, just need time to develop/heal up. And you're right...Wright, Johnson and Cox are all going to PUSH Culliver at the #2 CB position teh entire off season and the entire year. The "losers" will only make our nickle and dime defense that much better. B/c of the youth, speed, aggression, ball skills, IQ in our defensive scheme and depth, Fangio can call ANY style of defense he wants now. For encouragement, rewatch the NFCCG. That was one game where Fangio didn't sit back and play conservative off-coverage the whole game and he dialed up a lot of pressure on RW who aside from a couple bombs, did absolutely nothing against us. Now, imagine what he can do with THIS personnel...

Love the post, NCommand. Keep on putting out those positive waves and you just might have me convinced by training camp...

Cheers!

Originally posted by ModestoNiner33:
Center could end up being a major upgrade, there's a reason why Goodwin is unsigned.

Goodwin would always snap his head before the snap, thus telegraphing the snap.

Originally posted by 49erHend:
Goodwin would always snap his head before the snap, thus telegraphing the snap.

true

Originally posted by nw9erfan:

Originally posted by NCommand:
Thanks brother and nice post yourself. I think everyone's level of concern regarding the defense is understandable but let's take into a few factors here:

1. Bowman's injury, Willis and Brooks at 30 years old and Aldon potentially missing some time. To counter and play a positive Devil's Advocate here, Brooks has very low tread on his tires and has gotten better every single year (last year was his best and he was the best OLB by far in the playoffs). He's also 100% attendance at workouts with the team. He's a professional. Aldon isn't going to miss any time b/c he didn't violate any NFL policies (drugs); alcoholism was already addressed privately. Looking at his case, it's highly unlikely he gets charged with anything at this juncture minus some support counseling, etc. He'll still have legal matters to settle out of court though but otherwise, I doubt anything comes from it. Even if he was charged with a misdemeanor, at most, he'd be suspended for 2-4 games at most and we were 5-0 without him LAST year and the depth behind him is another year more experienced and with more quality depth. Not worried. Willis is a concern. He's been nicked up for the past 3+ years now and has missed some time. Yet when he did, who filled in for him admirably? Wilhoite...the same guy who's expected to start for Bowmanbut now, he'll have two very good ILB's to push him, provide incredible depth and boast up our ST coverage units (Borland and Skov).

2. Don't worry about the youth and lack of experience with the CB's. The truth is Culliver and Brock have been with us for years and have played both CB's positions, in the nickle and dime. They know this defense like the back of their hands. The same can be said for Cox. Only Ward/Bethea will have to learn like Stevie Johnson over on the offense but Ward is only going to play 60% of the snaps and slowly work into the full defense including the FS position. And is anyone really worried about Bethea's ability to learn quickly. Reid should be even better this year and is already a leader back there.

3. One element that is a bit of an unknown that could have profound effects in getting off the field on 3rd downs and generating a lot more 3-and-outs and TO's is the scheme that Fangio can now run vs. what he had to do with the "old" regime in Brown, Rogers, Whitner & Goldson/Reid. With the old regime, we could only play one way d/t the poor coverage ability of Goldson and the inability of the smaller/weaker CB's in Rogers and Brown. Whitner was a known liability in coverage esp. in the RZ. But NOW, Fangio has specialists in press coverage (Cook and Johnson), both Brock and Culliver can play press and are very physical and aggressive at the LOS, Reid can play anywhere and has tremendous range (single-high S), the entire unit can play off-coverage schemes still with their experience in our defense and we have playmakers all over the field who now contest balls and generate TO's (Brock, Culliver, Reid and Bethea...Ward now too). And look at the depth. You have a 4.2 lightning fast slot CB who's been developed for a year in Morris, Acker and Reaser seem in the same mold as Brock and Culliver (and Cox) and like all three, just need time to develop/heal up. And you're right...Wright, Johnson and Cox are all going to PUSH Culliver at the #2 CB position teh entire off season and the entire year. The "losers" will only make our nickle and dime defense that much better. B/c of the youth, speed, aggression, ball skills, IQ in our defensive scheme and depth, Fangio can call ANY style of defense he wants now. For encouragement, rewatch the NFCCG. That was one game where Fangio didn't sit back and play conservative off-coverage the whole game and he dialed up a lot of pressure on RW who aside from a couple bombs, did absolutely nothing against us. Now, imagine what he can do with THIS personnel...

Love the post, NCommand. Keep on putting out those positive waves and you just might have me convinced by training camp...

Cheers!

You bet, my friend (PS: I'm originally from Seattle).

It sounds like what Johnson said, Donatell is working with him a lot on press coverage techniques and in the film room. That isn't something we've ever heard here. This ties into the flexibility and coverage schemes I highlighted previously. This means Culliver and Brock will continue to play press and off coverage. In the interim, Johnson is going to refine his skill set and work in off-coverage schemes as well so that he can push Culliver. But the emphasis will be on utilizing the skill sets of our starting CB's now in press and that's exciting. Brock, Culliver, Johnson playing tough, physical press, Ward and Bethea, Reid flying all around the field, etc. Good times ahead!

Originally posted by Young2Rice4TD:

This.

If we can play without Willis or Aldon then we can play without Bowman.

That remains to be seen. Bowman has proven he can handle the load and elevate the guy next to him when Willis is out, but Willis hasn't had the opportunity to prove he can do the same with Bowman out. With good D-Line play, we can mask any deficiencies the guy next to Willis has. That guy (be it Borland or somebody else) probably will not make the game changing plays that Bowman does (Patrick Willis doesn't even make those signature plays very often - never really has), but good line play will make it so that guy isn't a liability.