First off I've devoted alot of my time to writing...and I don't mean Niner stuff. I like to write fiction. No need to go too deep into that, but between that and politics its taken me away from the 'zone quite a bit.
More reasons to follow...
1) QB: OK, this is probably the biggest reason I've been away. I can't think of a single year of my fandom when I was more excited for a season to start than this season. I didn't expect the Niners to be SB contenders nor did I really think they'd make the playoffs, but I was looking forward to the excitement of seeing the team get built up around their franchise QB and watch the journey. The Journey is the most fun.
The INSTANT Jimmy collapsed prior to contact in KC I knew what it was. Guys don't go down like that unless its an ACL. It was the mother of all gut-punches. To be honest, it freakin broke me.
Don't get me wrong, I've been to several games this year, watched and rewatched every one and have a digital copy of each game to watch at work....you know, like at lunch ...ahem. :D My fandom has and never will waver...
...but my need to comment and express that opinion just VANISHED that Sunday afternoon. I figured I'd wait for the bye, so here I am.
I think Jimmy will be fine. The good part of all of this is that he injured the knee early enough that he could be back to full strength before camp. Additionally, he's a QB and as much as an ACL sucks, I'd take that over and arm or shoulder any day of the week.
CJ? Ya know, I really like the kid, but I feel like I'm watching Alex Smith all over again. Paralysis through Analysis. The dude just holds the ball too long. He's so damn tough and he obviously is willing to put his body on the line to do so, but he is just too slow to process what he sees. Either he holds the ball and gets sacked, or he holds the ball too long and get s sacked and fumbles or he holds it too long and the window on an open receiver closes allowing a defender to close on the ball which creates a tip which in turn creates an INT. Easy throws become contested throws and contested throws become turnovers.
Mullins is much more like Jimmy. I want to be careful as I'm not anointing Nick Mullins as anything, but his play style is MUCH more like Jimmy G than CJ. The O-Line didn't suddenly get better. Mullins has his own issues, but what he does well is make quick decisions and gets the ball out in a hurry. I think Mullins has a future as a backup in SF and who knows, maybe a starter for another team that fires its HC to hire a guy off Niner staff to run their offense.
2) Kittle: Love this guy. Biggest bright spot of the season. I don't remember who it was on this site that said they needed a more athletic TE, but I didn't then and even less now have any idea what they were talking about. Vernon Davis is a mutant. That guy ain't coming back. Kittle is a monster and to be completely honest is a better flat out football player than Vernon ever was. I don't know that there will ever be a physical freak like Vernon again, but right now I'd take Kittle over him. Blocking, Receiving, and freakin attitude. Love that guy. Oh, yeah, and he ain't too shabby an athlete in his own right.
3) RB: Someday I'm gonna learn my lesson on Breida, but I still haven't. I really like the guy, but I still think he's a platoon runner, not an every down back. They still need McKinnon and/or a drafted player at that spot.
4) Pettis: I really don't know with this guy. I know his style is kinda odd and he's kinda unorthodox, but right now I just ain't seeing it. Maybe he needs that offseason. Maybe the knww isn't healthy. I dunno. Right now though he seems outa sorts.
I mean he doesn't even seem elusive, he seems slow, and he doesn't even look like he's trying hard. That last one might just be his style and not an actual effort issue...but something just ain't right.
5) Foster: Another big disappointment this year. Was really looking forward to seeing him in year 2, but the offseason plus nagging injuries really seem to have screwed him up this year. Heres hoping he bounces back. They need him to be the guy it looked like he'd be last year.
6) 1st rounders: Yikes. Armstead (Meh), Ward (Meh), Garnett (Doh), Thomas (SMDH). Really disappointing, Thomas in particular. Armstead is who he is. He'll be an OK player, but never a star. Ward, Decent player, not worth the price. Garnett? Jury still out as the guy can't get on the field...but that in itself is a big issue.
...and Thomas. That one hurts the most. Great Kid. ROUGH Offseason for completely different reasons than Reuben. You gotta pull fo the kid...but man, I just don't see it. I've been saying this since the very first preseason game LAST year. Sometimes you look at a guy and you just KNOW. Reuben is OBVIOUSLY gifted. You can just see it. Solomon? I don't see it. Never have. I though maybe he'd develop and who knows, maybe he still can, but man...just just a guy. It hurts to use the #2 pick of the draft on "just a guy".
McGlinchey? That dude is a player. Now he ain't perfect and he's been beaten a few times, but he's got the makings of a REALLY good player and candidate for the 10 year wall at Niner HQ.
7) Shanahan: I have ZERO problems with Shanahan. None. Zip. Zero. Nada. Another of the reasons I;ve been absent from the 'zone is that I didn't want to be annoyed by scores of people i KNEW would be calling for Shannys head. I haven't been on so you guys will have to tell me if I was right or wrong on this one, but I was pretty sure that there would a fringe of the 'Zone that would be all up in arms over Shanahan and the teams less than expected season.
I will though show some stats tho to make my point....
Shanahan is currently 8-18 as a HC. Garoppolo has started 8 of them and is 6-2.
These are a few HCs after 2 seasons:
Bill Walsh - 6-24 (Montana started 8 of them)
Chuck Noll - 6-22 (Bradshaw started 8 of them)
Jimmy Johnson - 8-24 (Troy Aikman started 26 of them)
Patience...
BTW Credit 95.7 The Game for mentioning these stats a few weeks ago.
8) Sherman: Man, I have to give it up to that guy. I HATED him with a fire of 1000 suns when he was in Seattle early on. That mouth...ugg. RTurkey on the 50. Grrr.
That opinion did soften over time though as I paid more attention to politics and the 49ers really became non-competitive. Now though, he is a huge part of this team in the future, and I don't just mean as a player. His presence in the next few years will be huge. He's not pointing fingers. He's being a leader. So many 'Hawk fans told me he'd be blaming everyone else for his mistakes and that they got sick of him. Maybe they are right and that's the guy we'll see eventually. Maybe he never really was that guy and they wanted to hate on a guy who left.
Or maybe, just maybe, he's grown up a bit and realizes he's in a different stage of his career. Should be interesting to watch in next few years.
9) Team Needs: Pass Rusher, WR, CB, Pass Rusher, WR, Safety, Guard......Pass Rusher? ALot of needs and alot of ways to go in the offseason. Too early to say exactly what they should do...
10) Bosa: ...but I say Nick Bosa. :D
Hopefully won't be 2 months between posts next time.
Have a good second half of the season fellas.
[ Edited by Marvin49 on Nov 13, 2018 at 10:46 AM ]
