State of the Team...Good?

This the NFL, the saying Not For Long was just accelerated for the 49ers this past off season. I watch games from 5 or 6 years ago and most teams are turned over. The diehards among us stick with the team through the good and bad times. This current team has potential and will play fast. The only regret I have is that we should have come away with number 6 during the Harbaugh reign. GO NINERS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My expectations aren't high this season with so much transition between the personnel and coaching. I just hope we see steady progress with the rooks and second year players.

Good? lol.....

Originally posted by susweel:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by susweel:
1 good player and 4 scrubs

fudge even the good player is a question mark coming back from injury

You don't remember all the games they were dominating? Hmm...I don't either lol

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by susweel:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by susweel:
1 good player and 4 scrubs

fudge even the good player is a question mark coming back from injury

I love you man!

Lol

Better than advertised.

No matter what, the team has at least 10 draft picks going into next offseason and some salary cap space based on all the high priced talent that has retired, left or been released.

If all the bonus draft picks (i.e. injured players) Baalke has stocked away come back healthy and the new draft class shows an immediate impact, the Niners should be OK.

I think it all rests on Kaepernick ' s shoulders this year. He makes strides in his game and the Niners have a shot at being decent. He continues to regress, the Niners may be looking elsewhere for a franchise QB.

Originally posted by NCommand:

S/h posted here:

After 24 hours to go through the 5 stages of coping with death, I'm already at the acceptance stage. Why? B/c this is not a surprise to me...or the FO...or anyone inside the organization and fan base. We ALL knew this was a very real probability; so much in fact, the FO had already reworked his deal in good faith and drafted Eli Harold and retained Brooks.

The loss of A.Davis and A.Smith hurt...not just b/c of their talent level but b/c of their timing. They hurt the team badly...their teammates...and coaches. They chose not to be 49ers anymore. Period. But at the end of the day, what matters is who IS here. And Bethea said it best...this is a "family" and "next-man-up." When you look at the roster, we still have the exact same questions we did before Aldon left. In the recent past, we've seen countless other teams get the most out of depleted rosters or position groups. We've seen the same 22 on our team, game in, game out, vanilla...which lead to burnouts. The real shift we're seeing here is the shift in coaching and personnel usage.

Gone are the days of wasted talent sitting on the bench. The entire 53 is going to be used now. We're going to see heavy rotations now along the DL, OLB's, Tartt for an ILB, WR's, RB's, FB's, ST's, etc. We'll see lots of base, DIME and NICKEL packages; lots of packages on offense. The OL incorporating both power and a ZBS now. As to the roster, we still have the same exact questions but with all the drama and recent events, it's over now. Done.

But we have time. We have time to figure out the best combination along the OL. We have time to figure out who's best suited for the TED...Wilhoite or Moody? We have time to develop the ILB depth. Skov is playing well and we haven't even heard much about Wheeler, who may have the most talent/experience of all of them. And of course, Bowman is already looking unstoppable. CB? Obviously, even this early, Brock and Wright have locked down those two outside CB spots and we all know the young talent behind them is hungry and developing quickly. As to OLB? Aldon was a special player and person and everyone is genuinely very worried for him and will continue to support him as part of the 49er family.

So, next-man-up. Brooks has already been a camp MVP and is unstoppable right now. He's been an every down player for us for years and our most clutch defender by far. He didn't work his ass off this off season (diet/conditioning/strength) to come in and split time with Lynch. And now Lynch is close to being 100% healthy now ("Opportunity!"). And the other MVP thus far has been Eli Harold. Whether it's Brooks at the WILL now (he played a lot there last year while Aldon was out 9 games) and Lynch at the SAM, we were going to bring Eli along slowly anyhow...the same exact way we worked Aldon in on pass rushing down packages. If he develops even more quickly and continues his dominance in TC, it could get harder and harder to keep this guy off the field which bodes well for the common 3-man rotation we've used over the years. Lemonier is already a very good ST player and if he also continues his upswing, he could earn some additional relief for these three ala Skuta.

Where we're going to see the real difference is with Mangini and his scheme. I'm sure he had a lot of plans for Aldon; moving him around, creating mismatches, etc. But again, it's early...he'll have time to adjust the scheme and try out combinations all through TC and during pre season games. This defense is no longer reliant on just one dominant pass rusher. This is a team-oriented pressure defense now. Already we're hearing reports of Mangini dialing up pressure with everyone...Bethea, CB's, inside pass rushers such as Tank and Dockett, moving the OLB's around, etc. While Aldon is a very special piece lost, the scheme may very well compensate for that loss and will certainly, be significantly more flexible. Last year with Aldon, we as a team we're 21st in sacks with only 36...Seattle was 20th with 37. This will still be a defense that will pattern match and throw out exotic coverage schemes. It is now a defense that will provide pre and post-snap confusion for QB's. It's now a defense that will run the exact same play...but have different personnel in different positions that will throw off OC's.

Anyhow, I know several fans have already jumped off the bridge but I caution the rest of the Faithful to hold ground. This team is still not devoid of talent but it WILL require the coaches to tap into that depth/bench and scheme more flexibly.

The silver lining to all of this is that this is a clean slate and a lot of young players will finally get real shots to become starters, others are coming back hungry from injuries and are now poised to not only make the 53 but carve out their roles and finally, and others are playing in their contract years. Adversity can do one of two things to a "family." It either rips it apart (see 2014) or galvanizes it.

Keep faith Faithful.

We only have a few things to sort out before the first game...just like any other team right now. No matter what happens though, I'm thoroughly going to enjoy watching every snap and watching this young team grow and develop into the new generation of 49ers.

If we've survived this offseason...we can survive anything! Great post.

It has been a tough offseason. I aint going ANYWHERE! I am a die Hard 49er fan since 1983 and will be so til i take my last breath. I have hope every year. These youngens better bring it. Harold, M Martin, B Thomas.

Originally posted by 49erChica:
If we've survived this offseason...we can survive anything! Great post.

Thank you. Hope all these opportunities and changes galvanizes this young, yet talented team. It's going to be fun to watch!

Originally posted by SFrush:
My expectations aren't high this season with so much transition between the personnel and coaching. I just hope we see steady progress with the rooks and second year players.

There's something to be said for going into a season with lower expectations. The lows don't feel as low, and the unexpected highs are that much better. Steady progress would be great to see, but just imagine if this group shocks the world and wins in Seattle this year. Not predicting it, but one can hope...

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by blizzuntz:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by blizzuntz:

1.OL
2. ILB
3. CB

Those are mine in order too.

For instance, the Hawks have these three:
1. OL
2. Pass rush/run defense
3. Nickel/S DB's esp. the longer Kam holds out

Oh , I didn't know that 3=2

ILB and CB are set with Bowman + Wilhoite/Moody and CB is set with Brock + Wright. So we're looking for depth and versatility and package players behind them. So 1/2 + 1/2 = 1

Lol

Clever and possibly true , hopefully

Originally posted by blizzuntz:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by blizzuntz:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by blizzuntz:
1.OL
2. ILB
3. CB

Those are mine in order too.

For instance, the Hawks have these three:
1. OL
2. Pass rush/run defense
3. Nickel/S DB's esp. the longer Kam holds out

Oh , I didn't know that 3=2

ILB and CB are set with Bowman + Wilhoite/Moody and CB is set with Brock + Wright. So we're looking for depth and versatility and package players behind them. So 1/2 + 1/2 = 1

Lol

Clever and possibly true , hopefully

Right there with ya!

Originally posted by jreff22:

This is why people keep saying the team will suck. I used to get mad at media stating that the 49ers are a bad team. If I wasn't a fan and didn't know about the depth of roster I would be saying the same thing. So many "unknowns" playing key roles is what it looks like and there is validity in that.
I'm anxious. Anxious for the team to prove itself. We're in for one hell of a season. I hope we come out on top.