Week 11 and 12 2017: Thoughts after rewatching the games...

Marvin49 · 2017-12-04T10:43:02-08:00

Yup. Life intervening again making it difficult to post...but I couldn't let Garoppolo have his first start without commenting... 1) Beathard: Its been two weeks so I had to start with CJ. The dude put his heart and soul into it and I have to give him props for constantly getting up after getting pummeled. Dude has earned my respect in spades even if I think some of the hits he takes needlessly and holds the ball too long. Dude is tough as nails and he has a future as this teams backup and who knows what more he can be down the line...but lets get real here. We pretty much already know who the man is now. 2) Garoppolo: I think most here who know me even a little bit would say I'm an optimist. I know many here don't like my points because they see them as way to optimistic. In reality (at least in my opinion) I'm simply not a pessimist and I try as hard as I can to not be too moved one way or the other. IE, I'm typically not given to let Hyperbole sway my opinion one way or the other. Having said that and having Seen Garoppolo play for one game and one drive.... Holy sh*t. Things can change quickly and he could totally bomb from here on out but MAN, I haven't seen a QB in red and gold look that comfortable, look that accurate, or just flat belong there more than Garoppolo since Steve Young. I'm going to be careful and not proclaim him to BE that good as only time will determine that, but RIGHT NOW I'm pretty damn happy with the QB situation on my San Francisco 49ers. The release...oh my god the release. Good and Great QBs elevate the play of the players around them and Garoppolo is doing that. It isn't just Goodwin and Taylor who had career days. Its also the O-Line. That ball is out so fast. If he does hold it, he is SOOOOO much more aware of the pocket around him and when to move than any Niners QB this year or Kap the last several years. I really don't know what else to say. Its night and day. I can't wait to see what becomes of him in this offense down the stretch here and into next year. I've said this earlier in the season when I was speaking about Reuben Foster. Sometimes you watch a guy and you can just see it right away. They have "it" whatever "it" is. I said early on that Reuben had "it" and I didn't see it in Solomon Thomas. I stand by that still. That doesn't mean a guy won't develop into a good or great player, but there are a select few you can see who have "it" when they put on the pads. Garoppolo has "it". 3) Offensive Scheme: Beating a dead horse here, but Jimmy suits Shanahan PERFECTLY. His decision making and accuracy could take this offense to heights we haven't seen in SF for some time...and I really need to slow myself down. Sigh. 4) Trent Taylor: I have to admit, I wasn't big on the pick when it was made but the guy has grown on me every week. He needs to put on some weight, but he is a monster on third down. He is uncoverable on those quick slants. He's 5 foot nothin, 170 ish points and slow....but man he has got some quicks and some hands. Great pick that late in the draft for a guy who might be Garoppolos third down friend for years to come. 5) Marquise Goodwin: He had a career day and I liked what I saw from him, but I'm less certain of his future. He was making plays all over the field so I don't want to take away from that but I'm not sure he is going to play a big roll in the long term future of the team. A guy with his speed with always be valuable to take the top off the defense, but WR IMO is a place where they really need to look at upgrades through Free Agency and the draft. When Garcon comes back, he'll be playing. They'll be looking at signing/drafting another guy who can be a bonafide #1 WR. If Taylor is your 3rd down guy in the slot...where does that leave Goodwin? As good as he played yesterday, I'm far more confident in Taylor on those third down plays. There will always be a role for a guy with his kind of speed, but my guess is that his role will steadily decline as they get more and more talent at the position. 6) RB: I've been saying for a few weeks that Hyde has earned a spot on this team moving forward and I still believe that, but they do need to draft somebody at this position. I'm not a fan of Breida and we really don't know what we have in Joe Williams. I would LOVE to get a guy like Saquon Barkley but that might be way too high to take a RB. Dunno. I like and have always really liked Carlos but he will never be a guy you can depend on with his injury history. Gotta load up there and the Shanahans way of getting late round guys and making them stars might be the answer. That plus the possible enticement of a Saquon might be enough for the 49ers to decline giving Carlos the contract the wants. It would be sad to see him go (and somehow I think he'll end up in Seattle if they don't extend him), but going young with a new guy might be the best path forward. 7) TE: I like Kittle and I like Celek, but they really need some explosion at that position. Kittle and Celek strike me as classic, good TEs but so far they aren't special. Its also entirely possible that I've been hopelessly spoiled by Vernon and Delanie over the years and most teams never get a TE with those types of movement skills. Kittle also ran 4.5 ish at the combine so maybe we just haven't seen it yet, but they could really use a difference making TE again. That would be fantastic in this offense. I haven't looked yet at the TEs in the draft so I'll probably be looking into that pretty soon. 8) Draft: I have to admit...I'm really torn between tanking (and obviously I'd never be a fan of the intentional tank) and winning some games. The acquisition of Garoppolo negates what I wanted them to get that high first round pick on so it would really be all about Saquon or a trade down scenario. Instead though now I'm seeing them win 2 out of the last three games (admittedly against bad teams) and it makes me wonder if it doesn't actually serve them better to show progress through the offseason, get them feeling good about themselves and give them the look of a team on the rise to Free Agents. I am really torn. The reality tho is that they may have just gotten a guy they were hoping to get at the top of round one for a pick at the top of round 2 so what I'm really doing is being greedy in wanting to see them secure a top pick. It'll play out however it plays out but it really is nice to see this team win some games again. 9) Tarik Cohen: So I rarely make a comment about guys on the other team here...but I just had to say this. Chicago needs to find a way to get the ball in that guys hands more. He's a game breaker and its criminal how seldom he toughed the ball yesterday. 10) We're getting there: Just counting down the games here till the most important offseason in recent memories. A few of the right Free Agents and a few good draft picks and the 49ers can be relevant again. I still think they are a year or 2 away from serious contention no matter how good this offseason goes, but they are laying down the foundation...Brick by Brick.

Dec 4, 2017 at 10:50 AM

NinerBuff
The Election Dude
Posts: 21,443

I totally agree about "it". I was watching the game with some cousins, and they were saying his numbers are similar to Beathard's... No. Garapollo throws open his receivers, he looks comfortable and it looks easy!

Dec 4, 2017 at 10:51 AM

leebert81
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Posts: 2,164

I think it's important for them to win. To build the culture of winning moving forward. Good write up as usual.

Dec 4, 2017 at 10:57 AM

pdizo916
Member
Posts: 38,241

Originally posted by leebert81:
I think it's important for them to win. To build the culture of winning moving forward. Good write up as usual.

Dec 4, 2017 at 11:00 AM

ChuckGrimes
Member
Posts: 220

My thoughts..........We are going to win out!!!

Dec 4, 2017 at 11:46 AM

9ersLiferInChicago
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Posts: 11,271

Hey Marv, I could just feel your optimism reading your post. I feel it too

Jimmy G looked SOOOO good running Kyle's scheme!! And just think, the whole play book wasn't even open to him and he was still able to move the ball up and down the field with regularity. It seemed that there were guys wide open all over the place. Kyle's offense is a real weapon in this guys hands. The offense looks TOTALLY different with Jimmy G running it.

Dec 4, 2017 at 11:49 AM

Marvin49
Hall of Fame
Posts: 16,506

Originally posted by 9ersLiferInChicago:
Hey Marv, I could just feel your optimism reading your post. I feel it too Jimmy G looked SOOOO good running Kyle's scheme!! And just think, the whole play book wasn't even open to him and he was still able to move the ball up and down the field with regularity. It seemed that there were guys wide open all over the place. Kyle's offense is a real weapon in this guys hands. The offense looks TOTALLY different with Jimmy G running it.

Couldn't agree more.

I have to consciously reel my optimism in right now because Jimmy looks like everything we thought he could be and is a perfect match for what Kyle wants to do.

They are several pieces away though. There will of course come some times when Jimmy struggles. Its normal and happens to all QBs. If I am going to be even keel then and say its just one game, I have to say it now as well....even though I WANT to proclaim him the next 49ers superstar. :D

Dec 4, 2017 at 12:18 PM

Buchy
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Posts: 2,842

Good to see your thread back.

I totally agree with your view on Jimmy G, trying hard not to crown him already and it's hard. Dude looked like Brady in the pocket and Rodgers on the move.

I think we let Hyde go, he's too inconsistent. I also think Braida will shine when we get an oline that can effectively block an outside ZBS run scheme.

I think a few more wins will help us massively in FA, if We don't get the 2nd pick then I can't see us being offered a fortune in draft capital for a trade. It then becomes about if we take what we can, but I don't think it's a great draft class so I'm game for taking Barkley.

Dec 4, 2017 at 12:19 PM

Giedi
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Posts: 34,497

Originally posted by pdizo916:
Originally posted by leebert81:
I think it's important for them to win. To build the culture of winning moving forward. Good write up as usual.

+1

Dec 4, 2017 at 12:30 PM

Bay2Bay9erAllday
Veteran
Posts: 11,799

Originally posted by pdizo916:
Originally posted by leebert81:
I think it's important for them to win. To build the culture of winning moving forward. Good write up as usual.

+1

Dec 4, 2017 at 12:45 PM

#10

Evilgenius
Veteran
Posts: 1,266

Goodwin has a long future with this team. Guy improved insane amounts in just one offseason. He went from deep threat to guy running almost every route there is. Buffalo horribly developed and misused this guy.

Dec 4, 2017 at 12:51 PM

#11

dj43
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Posts: 38,369

Originally posted by Evilgenius:
Goodwin has a long future with this team. Guy improved insane amounts in just one offseason. He went from deep threat to guy running almost every route there is. Buffalo horribly developed and misused this guy.

Helps to have a former WR as HC.

Dec 4, 2017 at 12:56 PM

#12

dj43
Moderator
Posts: 38,369

Good stuff, Marv, even if you need to stop and breath...

I'm good with Hyde going forward. He appears to have changed his running style a bit to stay healthier. I lay that to better coaching (sorry Tom Rathman).

Winning (showing progress) is important. There are so few truly outstanding prospects at the top of the draft so if you aren't #1 or #2, you won't get any bank-busting trade deals. Picking 4-6 will still yield a quality player if not a trade down for 2 or 3 extra picks.

Dec 4, 2017 at 12:57 PM

#13

Marvin49
Hall of Fame
Posts: 16,506

Originally posted by Evilgenius:
Goodwin has a long future with this team. Guy improved insane amounts in just one offseason. He went from deep threat to guy running almost every route there is. Buffalo horribly developed and misused this guy.

I get that he's improved....but is he a #1? Is he a #2?

My comment isn't "this guy sucks". The point is that WR will a a focal point for improvement so if they bring in another guy, who do you think losses snaps? Garcon? Taylor?

I doubt it.

Dec 4, 2017 at 12:57 PM

#14

LondonNiner
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Posts: 216

As someone who reads this forum daily, but rarely posts (40 posts in 5 years +

) , I always look forward to these weekly thoughts. Great read as always.

Regarding the TE position, the big cliche is that rookie TEs are infamously slow developers due to the complexity of the position, so I feel its hard to really evalute what you are getting from a player like Kittle after 12 games. That being said of the 8 Tight ends taken before him his production (28 receptions 291 yards 1 TD) is better than any TE not taken in the first round, and his production isnt far off OJ Howard (19th overall 21 receptions, 328 yards, 4 TDs) & David Njoku (29th overall 28 reception 332 yards 4 TDs). Evan Engram is the only rookie TE that really blows him out of the water in terms of production and none of those 3 guys are half as good as a blocker as Kittle.

Given time and a proper QB (finally!) I really feel Kittle could turn out to be an absolute monster and that matchup nightmare we all want from the TE position.