For as bad as the 49ers have been under the York's ownership, they have got to have the most talent of a 2-7 team that I have ever seen.
Yes, we all know about the poor coaching decisions, Dennis Erickson was lousy, Nolan was given too much power and finally got the boot this season. The promoting of Jeff Hostler to OC in 2007 was a terrible move, and hiring Mike Martz this off-season was a questionable hire as well.
The free-agent signings have been average at best. Nate Clements was extremely over-paid, 80 million over eight years is way too much money for a corner. Michael Lewis was also a weak signing, he had lost his job at SS in Philadelphia which was an obvious sign off a decline in ability.
The signing off Aubrayo Franklin was all on Mike Nolan. Franklin had played under Nolan with the Ravens and even though he was a backup nose-tackle, Nolan made him out to be a Pro-Bowl caliber defensive tackle.
But despite all that, this team has drafted play-makers on both sides of the ball. Frank Gore is without a doubt one of the premier running-backs in the NFL, Joe Staley started all 16 games last season as a rookie on the offensive line, and Patrick Willis was the defensive rookie of the year last season.
The 49ers who have had a much maligned offensive line this year, have actually drafted well at that position.
In 2005 everyone was hyped up over Alex Smith being the first selection in the draft, but having the first pick also gave them the 33rd overall selection. The 49ers selected C/G David Baas out of Michigan.
Baas is just now starting to get playing time this season but is one of those mean, in-your-face, character guys that head coach Mike Singletary is looking for. The 49ers' second round selection this year was guard Chilo Rachal. Rachal, out of USC, never allowed a single sack while playing for the Trojans.
Last week against the Cardinals he got into the game for the first time this season. He only appeared to play one series, but he was the lead blocker on a toss to Gore, and his block sprung Gore free for a seven to eight yard gain.
Last week, the first game that the 49ers started Shaun Hill and went with an in-your-face, physical approach, they took the division leading Cardinals all the way to the game's final play.
This team isn't very far off from where they need to be to make the playoffs. Granted any chance for playoffs this year was wiped out last week, looking toward next year, they only need a few tweaks.
Draft/Sign a young corner-back to compliment Nate Clements, as Walt Harris has clearly lost a step. Draft/Sign a premiere defensive end. Assuming the Niners receive a high selection in the upcoming draft, they should choose the big-name defensive end.
If none is available, draft offensive line. Preferably another tackle, a solid young right-tackle to either start or sit behind Jonas Jennings until Jennings gets hurt. An offensive line that boasts the likes of Staley-Baas-Heitman-Rachal, and a solid rookie, or free-agent would be one solid offensive group.
As for the quarterback position, most of you know where I stand on that one, let Shaun Hill carry this team. If there is a young quarterback in the draft/free agency or via trade that is out there, then look into it, but for the love of god don't waste the first round selection on another quarterback. The Patriots' Matt Cassel might be a possibility next year, but for now, let Shaun Hill run this team.
The reasons you can let a career third-stringer like Hill quarterback this team are
A) Frank Gore
B) Frank Gore
C) Frank Gore
See this is why the hiring of Mike Martz was (in my opinion) such a terrible move. Martz runs a pass-happy offense and clearly the 49ers' don't have the personnel to run that type of offense. They need to give Frank Gore the ball at least 20 times a game. Each game Gore has had at least 20 carries, the 49ers have either won, or had a chance to win in the fourth quarter.
If Mike Martz can get down with the fact that this is going to be a running football team that pounds the rock over 30 times a game, maybe he could remain as offensive coordinator next season. If he can't, he better get the heck out of San Francisco.
This team should not be 2-7, they have too much talent to have such a terrible record.
They had a nine-point second half lead against Philadelphia. They were a JTO TD away from going into half-time tied against the defending Super-Bowl Champion Giants, only instead JTO threw an interception into a double-coverage. They only lost to the Patriots by nine, and at one point were only down by six in the fourth quarter.
This team is so close. If they continue this style of play under Singletary, and the 49ers ownership group decides to do the right thing and hire him as long-term coach, I see a bright future for the 49ers.
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about 1 month ago
As long as the ref's don't help cowboys win!
about 1 month ago
I absolutely agree about not drafting a quarterback in the first round. But if you do, THINK first. The Niners drafted Alex Smith after watching him look mighty impressive as a SHOTGUN quarterback in College. As soon as he got to San Francisco, they put him under center, something he did NOT excel at for his four years in College. And he didn't excel at it for the Niners, either.
If Nolan had his head on straight, or if the Niners had a halfway intelligent offensive coordinator, Alex Smith might have turned out OK, operating from a shotgun formation. Heck, Peyton Manning runs his offense from the shotgun quite often. Smith was familiar with the formation, was confident and competent from there, and should have either run the team from the shotgun or else should have been some other team's draft pick.
Singletary will make this team a winner. Your other comments are right on. The team is not that far away from being decent, and keeping Singletary should be management's top priority.
from about 1 month ago
yeah i do agree about smith. Thats why when a lot of fans called for his throat, i wanted to wait and see what we had with him because he wasnt in a familiar system and had a new offense to learn every year. We can only wonder what would have been in 07 if norv had stayed instead of bolting to san diego.
about 1 month ago
The 9ers should have established when interviewing Martz that "this is what we have. It's not likely to change much in the next few years so let's work with it." If the guy has done nothing but run "greatest show on turf" style offenses... obviously not a fit for what we "brung". The guy needs to either scheme with the players he has, or take a hike. And whomever we get... let's find someone who took a similar team, with similar personnel, to the places we want to get to. But also factor in what kind of help the guy had personnel wise from ownership. Was he allowed to go after players in free agency and/or the draft? There are many pieces to the puzzle and I just think the 9ers need to think their decisions through.
from about 1 month ago
exactly, martz needs to realize how to best utilize the personnel he has. We are obviously not a team that can just throw the ball 40 times a game and hope to win. If Martz is such a great offensive guru, he should have been able to figure out that this team needs to be centered around gore. Even though he said it would be, so far this season he has failed to do so.
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