Originally posted by Dsoto87:
We're 4 games closer to snagging Bosa. Only positive I seen.
That's because you're not paying attention. There are a lot of things to like about the team right now. The offense line has been playing pretty darn well in the running game. First Breida, than Mostert, and now Wilson have all looked good running behind those guys. I'm still not sold on Tomlinson, he seems to have at least one drive killing penalty every game, but these guys have been pretty solid. They still struggle in pass protection against teams with good fronts but then a lot of teams do. I wish Garnett could stay healthy enough to compete. I would really like to see what he could bring to the running game. He has a bit of the nasty in him that I think could be an asset.
All of the injuries have resulted in a lot of young guys getting playing time which will help in their development and give the team a clearer indication of where they still need to improve. J. Taylor got in for a bit this last game and flashed a little. Marcell Harris had an up and down game but seems like a guy who isn't afraid to bring it. Have to confess I have sort of soured on Tartt (see what I did there), Ward apparently will never make it through a season without getting hurt and the jury is out on Colbert until next year. Clearly the team is still lacking playmakers on the defensive side of the ball, which is where you need them the most. Hopefully they will find some in the off season through both the draft and free agency. I am ready for them to cut ties with all of guys who have not stepped up this year like Armstead, Marsh and Mitchell. Make room for Taylor and Kent and see what they can do. I am also thinking that Saleh is not the answer there. You hate to start over in your third year with a new defensive philosophy but maybe they can find someone from that same tree who can get more out of the players than Saleh and his staff have been getting. I think that will be one of the most interesting things to watch in the off season.
Offensively I think the team can compete with just about anybody once they get all of their starters healthy. I imagine Garcon is in his last year and who the heck knows what's going on with Goodwin. Bourne is an okay back-up, though I had hoped he might show a little more this year. Pettis sort of reminds me of Gene Washington in the way he runs and of course the number 18. Wouldn't it be nice if he turned out to be even half the player Washington was. I think Trent Taylor really misses Garoppolo. Once Jimmy G gets back I wouldn't be surprised to see his numbers go up again. Kittle is a stud and Shanahan has shown, once again, that he can get pretty good production from almost any back he puts in there who is willing to do the work.
Football is a game of inches and moments. I thought the Seattle game was a great example of that. They were actually competing in that game but had five or six lapses that did them in and turned it into a rout. If they don't turn the ball over, if they play better special teams, which they are certainly capable of, then that game ends up being a lot closer than it was, though they probably still lose. I am guessing Reed is still in the doghouse for that fumbled kick return. I would like to see him get another chance. He really gets upfield in hurry.
This season was lost the minute that Jimmy G went down so how the team ends up record wise doesn't really concern me too much. At this point I think the losses will actually be more beneficial than any wins, especially if Bosa or one of the other edge rushers in this draft are in fact the real deal. As long as the team continues to compete I will be okay with whatever their final record is and will look forward to 2019, which has always been the year that I thought would tell the tale of how the organization is progressing. Go Niners!!
