Preseason Game 1 2017: Thoughts after rewatching the game....

I can always tell which national media talking heads are actually talking out of their asses and which ones have actually been paying attention. Same goes for 49ers fans. Any media person who keeps saying there was sooo little talent on this team last season that it will take a while for this team to improve has not been paying attention.

Our roster practically got overhauled and not just with some average talent. It got overhauled with some seriously improved talent at just about every position. After watching the speed of the players in the 1st preseason game vs the Chiefs, I feel very confident in our talent. Don't think I have seen the combination of speed/talent jump out like that in a 49ers preseason game in a long time. Actually, I don't think I can remember when the last time I saw this many players jump out this early.

All we need to wait for now is for them to be cohesive in the systems.

Originally posted by Joecool:
I can always tell which national media talking heads are actually talking out of their asses and which ones have actually been paying attention. Same goes for 49ers fans. Any media person who keeps saying there was sooo little talent on this team last season that it will take a while for this team to improve has not been paying attention.

Our roster practically got overhauled and not just with some average talent. It got overhauled with some seriously improved talent at just about every position. After watching the speed of the players in the 1st preseason game vs the Chiefs, I feel very confident in our talent. Don't think I have seen the combination of speed/talent jump out like that in a 49ers preseason game in a long time. Actually, I don't think I can remember when the last time I saw this many players jump out this early.

All we need to wait for now is for them to be cohesive in the systems.

Good call.

I can only hope all the teams we play feel we are void of talent.

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by Marvin49:
1) Don't get me wrong. The "it" I'm referring to is something I can't describe really...just an athletic ability that just looks nearly inhuman. I loved what I saw from Solomon he just has some work to do.

2) No, I wasn't against drafting Foster predraft and just about jumped out of my seat when I saw they traded up.

Okay my bad, I can't remember who's draft thread was dead set against drafting him based on off field stuff (didn't think he had leadership skills) and had him far down on their draft board 🤔

I wasn't on the bandwagon for foster at two I'll admit that, but at 31 hell ya lol.

See to me his (Thomas) athletic ability is one of the major things that jumps off the screen... He also seems very polished for a 21 yr old. He's just scratching the surface which is amazing

If both these guys can stay healthy we got some cornerstones on D for years

I also agree OL is gonna be an issue this yr and I'll add DB to that list as well....I hope that's something that is worked on hard next off season.

It was MadDog49er who took Foster off his board.

Edit: whoops saw this was already answered.

Originally posted by Joecool:
I can always tell which national media talking heads are actually talking out of their asses and which ones have actually been paying attention. Same goes for 49ers fans. Any media person who keeps saying there was sooo little talent on this team last season that it will take a while for this team to improve has not been paying attention.

Our roster practically got overhauled and not just with some average talent. It got overhauled with some seriously improved talent at just about every position. After watching the speed of the players in the 1st preseason game vs the Chiefs, I feel very confident in our talent. Don't think I have seen the combination of speed/talent jump out like that in a 49ers preseason game in a long time. Actually, I don't think I can remember when the last time I saw this many players jump out this early.

All we need to wait for now is for them to be cohesive in the systems.

Good post. This team is building a good foundation with seasoned pros and younger players + rookies. Some excellent talent with the younger players (especially on D) still learning more about the game at the NFL level. If this team gets good QB play, it could be better sooner than people think...especially with this coaching staff in place + John Lynch and his staff.

I don't see this being a quick turn around. 3 years is needed most likely. There will be a rude awakening like there is every single year for all the homers.

Originally posted by Joecool:
I can always tell which national media talking heads are actually talking out of their asses and which ones have actually been paying attention. Same goes for 49ers fans. Any media person who keeps saying there was sooo little talent on this team last season that it will take a while for this team to improve has not been paying attention.

Our roster practically got overhauled and not just with some average talent. It got overhauled with some seriously improved talent at just about every position. After watching the speed of the players in the 1st preseason game vs the Chiefs, I feel very confident in our talent. Don't think I have seen the combination of speed/talent jump out like that in a 49ers preseason game in a long time. Actually, I don't think I can remember when the last time I saw this many players jump out this early.

All we need to wait for now is for them to be cohesive in the systems.

Everyone just looked fast because Bowman is SoSlow now.

Originally posted by Dajanksta:
I don't see this being a quick turn around. 3 years is needed most likely. There will be a rude awakening like there is every single year for all the homers.

I think the Niners will sneak up on some teams this year and will be one of the trendy picks for a turnaround next year.

Originally posted by Marvin49:

Originally posted by Dajanksta:
I don't see this being a quick turn around. 3 years is needed most likely. There will be a rude awakening like there is every single year for all the homers.

I think the Niners will sneak up on some teams this year and will be one of the trendy picks for a turnaround next year.

I think it could end up like Pete's first year with Seattle. IF the rest of the NFC west bombs out we could sneak into the playoffs at 7-9, lol but not go anywhere but have laid some groundwork for a championship run starting the next year or year after.

Originally posted by mayo49:
Good post, Smoke, your pretty much spot on. Hopefully, CJ keeps progressing and takes that #2 from Barkley.

Originally posted by Willisfn4life:

Originally posted by titan:
We look like a young NFL football team. I haven't seen competency like this since Harbaugh left. I know we are in a rebuilding stage, but I'm excited to watch the games again.

Marvin was spot on. It was damn near tearful to see shades of our past on the field again offensively. A couple things that are important here. As you hit on Titan, this is a young team. They will make a ton of mistakes because of that. Kyle seems to be up to the challenge to put in the legwork to teach and correct those errors. The biggest take away from me Friday night is despite the constant penalties, the team played hard with great energy from start to finish and that's why they won.

Unfortunately you might be able to get by with a win and have all those penalties in preseason but it won't fly in the regular season. Now's the time to get a handle on those things. Aside from that, again I love how hard the whole team played. The change in culture is a little more obvious than in the last couple of years. I feel like for the first time in a while this team's future is in good hands.

Agreed.
There was a lot of talk about KC's #1s smoking our 1s but those guys have been in Reids system for a long time and even going vanilla are miles ahead of us right now.
It showed when the 2s and 3s got in, that the talent is there to compete and bodes well for the future.

We may have growing pains till the roster is made in Shanalynch's image, but there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel.

Yes, there absolutely is a light at the end of the tunnel. If we continue to have these types of drafts (with some luck and shrewd moves) that light is an especially bright one, too.

I think I might know what you mean by Solomon lacking that IT factor...i feel as if, and this may be completely unwarranted, Thomas predetermines everything pre snap. I'll try to articulate what I mean..

I think Thomas is breaking down his assignment into steps, al beit well calculated steps. First, when the ball is snapped, I need to beat my man. The best way to beat my man is going to be an inside swim move. Then, once my man is beat, I am going to locate the ball and chase it down. This works because he's so damn good at both beating his man, and at locating and chasing down ball carriers. However, his moves still seem premeditated.

Where as, someone with the IT factor, just looks so fluid. They are going with the flow, taking what the the offense gives them. Rather than separate beat my man and locate the ball, it's I'm going to Persue the ball and in the process that requires beating my man. I'm not going to use an inside swim move then locate the ball, I'm going to use an outside arm swipe cus i see the ball is trying to get to the edge.


I guess I'm trying to say it seems as if, while uber successful, Thomas has to think too hard (although very quickly) about what he's doing, where as to others such as maybe foster, it seems to come nore naturally.

No idea if I'm making sense, or if this is a valid observation completely devoid of bias lol

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by mayo49:

Good post, Smoke, your pretty much spot on. Hopefully, CJ keeps progressing and takes that #2 from Barkley.

Agreed, good job Smoke!

Thanks for the love guys! It was kinda fun when you find a functional way to write as you go cause it was driving me crazy when i switched tabs the video would stop lol.

Sorry i forgot to mention thanks for your input Marvin and so many others out there. NC i wanted to focus on the other players you gave me a list of but a lot of the times that action was away from them..nothing occured or it was a wash of a play.

Back up line did solid i thought besides the couple sacks on CJ. One mighta been on CJ. Williams,Magneson,Fusco and Barnes seemed to do a good job.

Lets also not act like our team will be perfect lol.. You will get beat, im just feeling good about this year no matter what happens.

Originally posted by adrianlesnar:
I think I might know what you mean by Solomon lacking that IT factor...i feel as if, and this may be completely unwarranted, Thomas predetermines everything pre snap. I'll try to articulate what I mean..

I think Thomas is breaking down his assignment into steps, al beit well calculated steps. First, when the ball is snapped, I need to beat my man. The best way to beat my man is going to be an inside swim move. Then, once my man is beat, I am going to locate the ball and chase it down. This works because he's so damn good at both beating his man, and at locating and chasing down ball carriers. However, his moves still seem premeditated.

Where as, someone with the IT factor, just looks so fluid. They are going with the flow, taking what the the offense gives them. Rather than separate beat my man and locate the ball, it's I'm going to Persue the ball and in the process that requires beating my man. I'm not going to use an inside swim move then locate the ball, I'm going to use an outside arm swipe cus i see the ball is trying to get to the edge.

I guess I'm trying to say it seems as if, while uber successful, Thomas has to think too hard (although very quickly) about what he's doing, where as to others such as maybe foster, it seems to come nore naturally.

No idea if I'm making sense, or if this is a valid observation completely devoid of bias lol

This is what you want from your pass rushers. It's pass rushing 101. Always with a plan. Pass rushing without a plan is a big reason most of Baalke's pass rushers have sucked. Bad pass rushers get tunnel vision or disregard the cerebral component to the game. Guys like Corey Lemonier and Eli Harold play like they're freestyling and don't have an answer prepared for when the tackle throws a different look at them(ie tackle is over setting, so you go w/ the inside counter).

Good pass rushers always rush with a plan. They're cerebral. They're always moves ahead and setting up their opponent for later down the line. This is one important aspect of what makes Solomon so good.

Originally posted by Heroism:

Originally posted by adrianlesnar:

I think I might know what you mean by Solomon lacking that IT factor...i feel as if, and this may be completely unwarranted, Thomas predetermines everything pre snap. I'll try to articulate what I mean..

I think Thomas is breaking down his assignment into steps, al beit well calculated steps. First, when the ball is snapped, I need to beat my man. The best way to beat my man is going to be an inside swim move. Then, once my man is beat, I am going to locate the ball and chase it down. This works because he's so damn good at both beating his man, and at locating and chasing down ball carriers. However, his moves still seem premeditated.

Where as, someone with the IT factor, just looks so fluid. They are going with the flow, taking what the the offense gives them. Rather than separate beat my man and locate the ball, it's I'm going to Persue the ball and in the process that requires beating my man. I'm not going to use an inside swim move then locate the ball, I'm going to use an outside arm swipe cus i see the ball is trying to get to the edge.

I guess I'm trying to say it seems as if, while uber successful, Thomas has to think too hard (although very quickly) about what he's doing, where as to others such as maybe foster, it seems to come nore naturally.

No idea if I'm making sense, or if this is a valid observation completely devoid of bias lol

This is what you want from your pass rushers. It's ideal. Pass rushing without a plan is the reason most of Baalke's pass rushers have sucked. Terrible rushers get tunnel vision and disregard the cerebral component to the game. Guys like Corey Lemonier and Eli Harold don't have a clue what they were doing once the ball. It's like they wing it once the ball is snapped, and don't anticipate what to do when the ball is the tackle over sets/undersets/jump sets, etc.

Good pass rushers always rush with a plan. They're cerebral. They're always moves ahead and setting up their opponent for later down the line. This is one important aspect of what makes Solomon so good.

Always gotta be one step ahead so you dont have a legitimate chance to get behind and eventually lose.