Talent-wise we're not far from competing

DT: Williams, Dorsey, Purcell--above average depth
DE: Dial, Dorsey, Carradine, Armstead--average to good, above average depth
OLB: Lynch, Brooks, Harold, Lemonier--averge run, below average pass rush
CB: Brock, Acker, Johnson, Reaser, Ward--young and developing into very good group with good depth
S: Reid, Bethea, Ward, Tartt, McCray--above average depth and ability

QB: Kaepernick, Gabbert--below average play this year...anomoly or figured out?
RB: Hyde, Bush, Davis, Gaskins, Hayne--very good starter, poor overall health
FB: Miller--worst game I can recall him playing but an above average FB
TE: Celek, MacDonald, Bell, Anderson--average to below average...will depend on Bell and Anderson developing
WR: Boldin, Smith, Simpson, Ellington, Patton, Smelter--good group, best the team has had in many years

ST: Pinion, Dawson, Nelsen--above average with Dawson

I don't think this breakdown is unrealistic so there is talent on the team but there are serious weaknesses in areas that matter most--QB, OL, OLB

Originally posted by Escobar:
you don't remember teams like '04, '05 then. Those teams had zero talent on them. The only talent they had was an aging BY and an out of place Julian Peterson.

Brandon Lloyd. Eric Johnson. People thought Kevan Barlow was going to be awesome after his 03 season, but then behind the crap line he wasn't. Derek Smith. Tony Parrish.

Originally posted by Jimbutsu:

This is the least talented team since the 2002 expansion Texans.

Bowman was only impressive when teams were double and triple-teaming Patrick Willis.

Patrick Willis is gone. Justin Smith is gone. Ray McDonald is gone. Isaac Sopoaga is gone. Aldon Smith is gone. Carlos Rogers is gone. Chris Culliver is gone. Donte Hitner is gone. Dashon Goldson is gone. Chris Borland is gone.

Offensively, Joe Staley is the only proven lineman, and he's not that good. Vernon turned into a hipster and was so bad he was traded for a 6th round pick or whatever. Anquan Boldin is old and slow. Torrey Smith is a one trick deep threat pony. Think Ashley Lelie. Frank Gore is gone. Carlos Hyde is hurt.

Only Colin Kaepernick is an elite talent, but since he was surrounded by this, he's being benched the same way Steve Young was during the Eagles game in 1994. The difference is, Young had Jerry Rice and Ricky Watters.

You know Bowman is second in the NFL in tackles right? I would agree that he isn't quite as good in coverage, but I'm hoping that will return next year when he may not be thinking about his knee as much. As for the team as a whole, I am hoping for a quick turn around. Maybe I'm fooling myself, but there are some pieces there so here's hoping.

Niner fans overrate their players in good times and underrate then in bad times.

It's become fashionable to trash our own players and GM after fighting tooth and nail defending them to Seahawk fans.

Maybe not just exclusive to Niner fans but still.

We need a legit coaching staff, one or two good drafts and a QB.

This can happen quickly or it can take time. We'll have to see.

We could probably win the national title IF we get the offense rolling. Right now, I'd put us behind OSU and LSU, maybe a couple others.

Delusional fans sipping the koolaid from the organization that we're only a QB away. Stockholm syndrome I swear. There was a group that thought JT would be better than Harbaugh.

Originally posted by niners94:

You probably thought we didn't have talent in 2010 when we went 6-10.

This. They are largely missing some of the same pieces In 2010 nobody thought that Bowman was worth a damn, Ray McDonald wasnt starting, the OL was a huge weak spot with guys like Rachal and Snyder starting, QB was a giant question mark, at receiver they had Crabtree and nobody else, Manny Lawson wasnt getting it done, Brooks was the best pass rusher, Clements the best CB, Goldson the only safety.


I think with Armstead, Ian Williams, Lynch, Acker, Ward, Tartt, Harold theyve got a nice group of talent to develop.


The next two drafts are going to be especially critical. They need to find a QB, build up the OL and add another pass rusher. Filling in a few key areas such as center, RT and adding more speed at ILB would make a huge difference

Originally posted by Blindfury:

Delusional fans sipping the koolaid from the organization that we're only a QB away. Stockholm syndrome I swear. There was a group that thought JT would be better than Harbaugh.

In a passing league, that can be what it comes down to. Either you have a QB or youre looking for a QB. When you have a good one, it makes everything easier.

The 49ers have a thrower, not a passer, with limited aptitude for the position and a guy who has no business being a head coach. Correcting those two issues would go a long way to improving this teams outlook.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by niners94:
You probably thought we didn't have talent in 2010 when we went 6-10.

This. They are largely missing some of the same pieces In 2010 nobody thought that Bowman was worth a damn, Ray McDonald wasnt starting, the OL was a huge weak spot with guys like Rachal and Snyder starting, QB was a giant question mark, at receiver they had Crabtree and nobody else, Manny Lawson wasnt getting it done, Brooks was the best pass rusher, Clements the best CB, Goldson the only safety.


I think with Armstead, Ian Williams, Lynch, Acker, Ward, Tartt, Harold theyve got a nice group of talent to develop.


The next two drafts are going to be especially critical. They need to find a QB, build up the OL and add another pass rusher. Filling in a few key areas such as center, RT and adding more speed at ILB would make a huge difference

We can fix the OL this year and add in another pass rusher. Those 2 moves will be key stabilizers. I really don't want to even think about drafting a QB until 2017.

Originally posted by jreff22:

We can fix the OL this year and add in another pass rusher. Those 2 moves will be key stabilizers. I really don't want to even think about drafting a QB until 2017.

I think you need a QB a lot sooner than that considering that it will take some time to develop one. OL can be addressed largely through FA IMO.


Now if there isnt a QB to draft, then by all means don't reach for one but the sooner they have a quality guy to develop, the better although with that you would need a whole new coaching staff.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by jreff22:
We can fix the OL this year and add in another pass rusher. Those 2 moves will be key stabilizers. I really don't want to even think about drafting a QB until 2017.

I think you need a QB a lot sooner than that considering that it will take some time to develop one. OL can be addressed largely through FA IMO.


Now if there isnt a QB to draft, then by all means don't reach for one but the sooner they have a quality guy to develop, the better although with that you would need a whole new coaching staff.

I don't see any reason to not go OL in the draft. We will be in a position to take either Stanley or Tunsil. In a few years when Staley retires they can slide over. Finding a backup C should also be considered. If we are going to dip in the FA marker I would rather find another DE and or OLB.

Goff and Cook dont excite me. I'm just not into drafting QB's or WR's this year lol

While I don't think the 49ers are as bad as they've looked, when you have no QB and a bad coaching staff.........

Originally posted by jreff22:

I don't see any reason to not go OL in the draft. We will be in a position to take either Stanley or Tunsil. In a few years when Staley retires they can slide over. Finding a backup C should also be considered. If we are going to dip in the FA marker I would rather find another DE and or OLB.

Goff and Cook dont excite me. I'm just not into drafting QB's or WR's this year lol

Which is fine, but its up to whoever is making the call on a pick. If they are convinced that a QB is legit and have wide support from team scouts, pull the trigger.

Meanwhile I'd go hard after Mack, throw money to bring him in and now the C spot is not an issue. Draft one of the many second tier tackles
in the 2nd or 3rd, this draft is loaded at T.

Add a guard through FA and I think you see a far improved OL.

Originally posted by JTsBiggestFan:
Niner fans overrate their players in good times and underrate then in bad times.

It's become fashionable to trash our own players and GM after fighting tooth and nail defending them to Seahawk fans.

Maybe not just exclusive to Niner fans but still.

We need a legit coaching staff, one or two good drafts and a QB.

This can happen quickly or it can take time. We'll have to see.

Fans overrate their players at all times. When something goes wrong, they blame the coaches, thinking the players are better than they are. Well, the players are the ones who have to play the game. Not the coaches.

We need a spark and real HC like when Harbaugh came in