Week 17 - 2014: Thoughts after rewatching the game... | Page 3

Marvin49 · 2014-12-29T10:04:00-08:00

OK, last one of these for awhile. 1) Kap: Played well. Made some nice throws, but clear the plan was to run the ball. ALOT. Stepped up nicely on throw to Boldin for long TD. Nice throw for TD that was called back and nice lob on TD to Miller. My favorite throw though was actually the 3rd down throw to Brandon Lloyd late in the game. Just high enough to get over defender and drop in to Lloyd. He also made some plays with his legs. I dunno, just seems a weight was lifted after the Raider loss. Perhaps the pressure of making a playoff run? Perhaps he finally just let go? That when his press conference attitude changed as well. He just seems much more loose and free to play the game over the past few weeks. He's had his best and 3rd best rushing performances in just these past two weeks. Passing number haven't been stellar, but the game plan here over the past three games has been HEAVY run. This isn't to say "he's all better, no need for concern". Just sayin he's rebounded a bit here at the end and I look forward to seeing what he can do with a new coach and OC. 2) Frank: PLEASE don't let this be the last game in Red and Gold for Frank. I think Hyde needs to get a lot more carries next year and Hunter will be coming back, but Frank has proved over the last two weeks that he's still got something left. I'd just love to see him finish his career in SF and never wear another Jersey. 3) Anthony Davis: Jeez, 49ers run game is just SOOOOO much better when he plays. Jonathan Martin I think is done in SF. I read this AM that Frank Averaged 8.3 yards per carry yesterday behind Davis. His time out of the lineup this season is one the most under told stories of the year. Yeah...Kap has been sacked a lot, but it's Davis in the RUN GAME that has so sorely been missed. 4) Cowboy: I really hope he reconsiders and doesn't retire, but I'm not counting on it. Right now if looks like they'll have 2 new starting DEs next year than the ones who started the last several years. Justin is a hige presence both on and off the field and if he really does retire today, he'll be sorely missed. 5) Tank: He looked pretty good yesterday. Saw him get some pressure and a sack and saw him diagnose a screen very well. That's very important moving forward because he's probably going to be counted on in a big way next year. I think he'll end up being a better pass rusher than Justin or McDonald ever were, but the pass rush isn't what made those guys so good. It was run D and eating up blockers to let those LBs run free. We'll just have to see. 6) Culliver: I've seen him play most of the year and I still don't really know if he's a guy they should resign moving forward. He played well yesterday, but I'm not sure if that a position they should be looking to improve or if they should give Cully that job. It might really depend on what he wants contract wise. 7) Aldon/Lynch: So I was really looking forward to seeing those guys on the field together, but so far I'm a bit underwhelmed. Lynch has played well, but Aldon seems to have disappeared. Early on it seemed he was playing really well and was opening things up for other players, but lately it just kinda seems like his hearts not in it. Hopefully, he'll stay clean this offseason and get a fresh start next year. 8) Draft: Sucks that I's still December and I'm looking at College Players already. This is what I did when the Niners sucked for a decade. My only hope is that its a reload and not a rebuild. 9) Next years team: One thing is for sure. For better or worse, the 2015 San Francisco 49ers will likely look very different from the 2014 version. Just with players coming back from injury and the number of players who will not have their contracts renewed, it'll be a very different team. Has the window closed for a Championship? Maybe, maybe not...but it really depends on what happens this offseason from both a personal perspective and the new coach. That finally leads me to... 10) Harbaugh/Baalke/York: The In Vogue thing to do right now seems to be referring to Jed York as a petulant child or some other crack on his age and bank account. As the story goes, he's a bad owner now because he's parting with possibly the second best coach in 49ers history because they just didn't get along. How stupid does he have to be? Now I read the message online from Jims son where of course his dad is an angel in all matter and all of the problems are clearly the crowd at Levis and the Front Office. But of course they are. What else is he going to say. I want to be careful here because I don't want this to come off as disrespect to Harbaugh. I love the guy and want him to stay. SOMETHING happened though. SOMETHING. Jed isn't an idiot. Neither is Baalke. They are being fitted for their clown shoes at the moment by the media, but don't you think some thought went into this? Don't you think that those guys knew EXACTLY what fan reaction would be to this? I HAVE to believe that they took this particular course of action because they didn't think they had another option. Be it that they thought Harbaughs shtick had run its course, or that he had lost the locker room or whatever...it seems clear to me that York/Baalke had become convinced that they could go no further as a team with Jim still at the helm. We can rip that decision up and down and try and make any sense of it, but that to me is the bottom line. This isn't about money. This isn't about hurt feelings. To me, this is about York and Baalke genuinely thinking it was in the teams best interest to move on. Time will tell if they are right or wrong.

Dec 29, 2014 at 8:38 PM

#31

Luckycharms
Veteran
Posts: 950

Originally posted by Jcool:
Originally posted by thl408:
Of all the reports we have read this season, one thing I didn't see was the players quitting on the team. Whether their motivation was 'win it for Gore', 'win it for Justin', or 'win it for coach', I thought the players played hard yesterday in a meaningless game.

Just know anything Deion Sanders says is complete BS.

I'm a doorman at a hotel in Orlando and Dion is staying with us for the next few days for the under armor all American game. If I catch him for a second I think I'll ask him who his source is and see what kind of answer I get. I doubt he'll give me a direct answer but I can ask if it's a player or a front office exec.

Second thing I think depending on the coach we hire we will have a good chance of convincing Justin smith to stay 1 more year. Think about it, Super Bowl 50 in Levi stadium, he has 1 more year on his contract. Maybe we can arrange something like Brett favre did late in his career where he pretty much skipped all OTA's and half training camp. I'd be willing to let justin skip those if it meant we could keep him 1 more year.

Dec 29, 2014 at 9:37 PM

#32

GoatRock
Veteran
Posts: 48

My take aways were.

On a couple of his runs I did not recognize Gore. He seemed to have another gear that we have only seem in the last two games.
Kap is so much better in space it's not funny. Wilson is only so so in the pocket, its just the way these guys are.
The Dline is far worse without Ray McDonald. He will not be easy to replace
Patton wasn't ready this year.

Dec 29, 2014 at 9:57 PM

#33

Sanfran_chrisco
Veteran
Posts: 33,902

Originally posted by thl408:
Of all the reports we have read this season, one thing I didn't see was the players quitting on the team. Whether their motivation was 'win it for Gore', 'win it for Justin', or 'win it for coach', I thought the players played hard yesterday in a meaningless game.

one last coaches film breakdown for the Cards game thl?

Dec 30, 2014 at 12:31 AM

#34

kujon11
Veteran
Posts: 6,065

Originally posted by GoatRock:
My take aways were.

On a couple of his runs I did not recognize Gore. He seemed to have another gear that we have only seem in the last two games.
Kap is so much better in space it's not funny. Wilson is only so so in the pocket, its just the way these guys are.
The Dline is far worse without Ray McDonald. He will not be easy to replace
Patton wasn't ready this year.

that's partially true. ever since we weren't going to make the playoffs, fangio has rotated in jerrod-eddie, tank and even purcell with far greater frequency

Dec 30, 2014 at 5:19 AM

#35

MadMark
Veteran
Posts: 60

Marvin have you been contacted, via your agent, for the HC position for the 49ers?

On a more serious note, thank you for all your work and analysis! I have been a long time lurker here at the zone and I always take the time to read your posts. Yes, I even look forward to them!

Again thank you! (And a few others) for a great season!

PS
Is it to impertinent to ask for a non-game analysis of the coaching staff that we come to hire?

[ Edited by MadMark on Dec 30, 2014 at 10:40 AM ]

Dec 30, 2014 at 7:10 AM

#36

mkeniner
Veteran
Posts: 106

I don't know what all speculation is out there, but my guess on Harbaugh's departure is that last offseason during contract extension negotiations he demanded full control over personnel and wouldn't sign a contract that didn't provide him that. Then things broke down from there. That's my guess. Thoughts?

Dec 30, 2014 at 7:16 AM

#37

SJniner7
Veteran
Posts: 5,749

Kap has no touch and accuracy, pffttt... I call BS. Not even the greatest QBs throw it perfect every time, and Kap has definitely shown that he has touch and accuracy.

I really hope they can figure out a way to bring Frank back.

Dec 30, 2014 at 9:49 AM

#38

OneMoreRing
Veteran
Posts: 248

Good insight. Disagree with you about Culliver though. He played at a pro bowl level this year. One of the most physical and competitive corners playing today. If you can contain his bonehead tendencies, he is a freakin rock star on the field and just hitting his peak.

As far as Kaep goes, I really think he has been enmeshed emotionally with Harbaugh and everything that has gone on with the coach's job security. Once the season was effectively over, the pressure was off to win for coach, etc, and he relaxed. Bodes well for the future.

Dec 30, 2014 at 10:29 AM

#39

Marvin49
Hall of Fame
Posts: 16,506

After listening to Jed these past few days I realy think this is a case of Jed possibly trying to say something he can't really say...

IE, He wants to come right out and say he wasn't very happy with the disciplinary issues under Harbaughs tenure, didn't like the way things were handled with those players, and he felt that players drafted by Baalke weren't improving as they should so didn't think those players were getting the coaching they should...and in particular at the QB position.

The problem is Jed can't just come right out and say that and throw Jim under the bus...so instead he has to talk around the issue and take his lumps in the media.

I say all this without supporting or attacking those positions...just saying it seems to me that's what he's saying even though he can't just come out and say it.

The teacher line was a dead giveaway.

I have to say though...when you look at the performance of the offense, take into account the way the offense functions (presnap reads, little postsnap reading, no hot reads, very often one receiver in the pattern) it is easy to see why York might think that coaching the QB would be a big issue and I can see the system as being a part of the issue.

Dec 30, 2014 at 10:36 AM

#40

thl408
Moderator
Posts: 33,298

Originally posted by defenderDX:

Originally posted by thl408:
Of all the reports we have read this season, one thing I didn't see was the players quitting on the team. Whether their motivation was 'win it for Gore', 'win it for Justin', or 'win it for coach', I thought the players played hard yesterday in a meaningless game.

one last coaches film breakdown for the Cards game thl?

Yes sir. Watching it right now.

Dec 30, 2014 at 10:40 AM

#41

Sanfran_chrisco
Veteran
Posts: 33,902

Originally posted by thl408:
Yes sir. Watching it right now.

awesome!

Dec 30, 2014 at 10:46 AM

#42

oldninerdude
Veteran
Posts: 4,330

Originally posted by Marvin49:
After listening to Jed these past few days I realy think this is a case of Jed possibly trying to say something he can't really say...

IE, He wants to come right out and say he wasn't very happy with the disciplinary issues under Harbaughs tenure, didn't like the way things were handled with those players, and he felt that players drafted by Baalke weren't improving as they should so didn't think those players were getting the coaching they should...and in particular at the QB position.

The problem is Jed can't just come right out and say that and throw Jim under the bus...so instead he has to talk around the issue and take his lumps in the media.

I say all this without supporting or attacking those positions...just saying it seems to me that's what he's saying even though he can't just come out and say it.

The teacher line was a dead giveaway.

I have to say though...when you look at the performance of the offense, take into account the way the offense functions (presnap reads, little postsnap reading, no hot reads, very often one receiver in the pattern) it is easy to see why York might think that coaching the QB would be a big issue and I can see the system as being a part of the issue.

Agreed.

The disciplinary issues were, no doubt, a "philosophical" difference between Jed/Baalke and Harbs, but that alone would not have caused the split.

The real issue had to be the offensive system, and Harbs' unwillingness to adjust it or modify it in any way. When the rest of the league caught on to what that system involved, and points got more and more difficult to score,--and Harbs/Roman still would not adjust, that, along with the other philosophical issues, made it apparent that Harbs had to go.

I enjoyed Harbs, and wish him well. But my focus remains on the Niners and their next move. They need to keep Fangio around for his defense. So I could see him being elevated to HC, if he can guarantee bringing in an innovative WCO oriented OC. (Trestman?)

Dec 30, 2014 at 11:07 AM

#43

Ninefan56
Member
Posts: 5,106

Originally posted by oldninerdude:
Agreed.

The disciplinary issues were, no doubt, a "philosophical" difference between Jed/Baalke and Harbs, but that alone would not have caused the split.

The real issue had to be the offensive system, and Harbs' unwillingness to adjust it or modify it in any way. When the rest of the league caught on to what that system involved, and points got more and more difficult to score,--and Harbs/Roman still would not adjust, that, along with the other philosophical issues, made it apparent that Harbs had to go.

I enjoyed Harbs, and wish him well. But my focus remains on the Niners and their next move. They need to keep Fangio around for his defense. So I could see him being elevated to HC, if he can guarantee bringing in an innovative WCO oriented OC. (Trestman?)

I agree with this statement. I think Harbaugh's loyalty to Roman was the cedar tree that broke the back. I think he would not adjust, and get a new OC and then all of the rest of the philosophical stuff was added on to the point of no return. So now we go in a new direction and we will see if the new coach/OC can get the offensive system to change and manage our players in a system that plays to their strengths, while keeping Fangio and the defense intact. This will be the time for the GM to shine.

Dec 30, 2014 at 11:34 AM

#44

Marvin49
Hall of Fame
Posts: 16,506

Originally posted by Ninefan56:

Originally posted by oldninerdude:
Agreed.

The disciplinary issues were, no doubt, a "philosophical" difference between Jed/Baalke and Harbs, but that alone would not have caused the split.

The real issue had to be the offensive system, and Harbs' unwillingness to adjust it or modify it in any way. When the rest of the league caught on to what that system involved, and points got more and more difficult to score,--and Harbs/Roman still would not adjust, that, along with the other philosophical issues, made it apparent that Harbs had to go.

I enjoyed Harbs, and wish him well. But my focus remains on the Niners and their next move. They need to keep Fangio around for his defense. So I could see him being elevated to HC, if he can guarantee bringing in an innovative WCO oriented OC. (Trestman?)

I agree with this statement. I think Harbaugh's loyalty to Roman was the cedar tree that broke the back. I think he would not adjust, and get a new OC and then all of the rest of the philosophical stuff was added on to the point of no return. So now we go in a new direction and we will see if the new coach/OC can get the offensive system to change and manage our players in a system that plays to their strengths, while keeping Fangio and the defense intact. This will be the time for the GM to shine.

eh.....I think that's a bit too simple.

Was Roman an issue? Sure...but the offense is a system issue and that goes all the way up to Harbaugh. The offense wasn't just Roman...It's Harbaugh baby that Roman was running.

Dec 30, 2014 at 11:39 AM

#45

buck
Veteran
Posts: 13,137

Originally posted by thl408:
Of all the reports we have read this season, one thing I didn't see was the players quitting on the team. Whether their motivation was 'win it for Gore', 'win it for Justin', or 'win it for coach', I thought the players played hard yesterday in a meaningless game.

I still do not think that any game is meaningless. Every game I played in had meaning.