silverjay
Nov 09, 2009 Apr 27, 2012 10 229
a fan of
San Francisco 49ers
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Baalke Warms up to Gregg Williams
The Respect Gregg Williams Campaign is a little out of hand, if you ask me.
Rams' Head Coach Reacts to DC's Suspension
Jeff Fisher apparently has no intention of replacing Gregg Williams, the Rams' recently hired and now indefinitely suspended defensive coordinator, who was a key figure in the Saints' bounty program. Among Fisher's statements were (1) that he was unaware of the bounty program and (2) that Williams was unaware that the program was being investigated when he signed with the Rams. Also, ''Never, at any time, as far as I've been with [Williams], has he disrespected this game from the standpoint of you try to hurt somebody on purpose. He has a passion for this game and a passion for playing hard-nosed, aggressive defense." Fisher and Williams worked together in Tennessee.
New Amsterdam Discovers Justin Smith
Worth checking out, if only for the photos. Niner fans will notice at least one factual error, not to mention a misphrasing. What is journalism coming to when the Grey Lady can't get her facts straight?
A View From Afar
I happened to spend weekend one of the NFL season in Cleveland, visiting my mom. Consequently, I missed most of the 49er game, except for the Ted Ginn Show at the end. I hope he settled doubts about his roster spot. But I digress.
As compensation for missing most of the game, I had the opportunity to read the opinion of an impartial sportswriter, Toni Grossi of the Plain Dealer, regarding the 49ers' season prospects. Here was his NFC West projection:
"NFC West
"Predicted order of finish
"1. St. Louis, 9-7
2. Arizona, 9-7
3. Seattle, 7-9
4. San Francisco, 3-13
" Last year the Seahawks became the first team to claim a division title with a sub-.500 record. We think the Rams will be better than that. The Seahawks are going to struggle. The 49ers aren't going anywhere until they replace Alex Smith at quarterback.
. . .
"49ers: Former coaches Mike Nolan and Mike Singletary couldn't win with quarterback Alex Smith. Now Jim Harbaugh will try. Harbaugh left a better quarterback at Stanford in Andrew Luck. If the 49ers play their cards right, there could be a reunion of QB and coach in April."
The same writer, Tony Grossi, had this to say in his "annual fearless forecast":
"• Braylon Edwards will drop off the face of the NFL map in San Francisco. He will complain about not getting the ball and will talk his way out of the 49ers' plans as the franchise angles for position to draft Andrew Luck in 2012.
. . .
"• Jim Harbaugh and Andrew Luck will be reunited in San Francisco when the 49ers make the Stanford quarterback the No. 1 pick in the 2012 draft."
You may recall that Edwards was drafted #3 by Cleveland in 2005. In 2007 at his peak, he accounted for 1289 of the 3787 passing yards achieved by QB Derek Anderson. His production dropped off thereafter and he parted ways with the Browns (along with Anderson) after logging only 4 games in 2009. [Elsewhere I have expressed my low opinion of the "Lose for Luck" strategy.]
Keep in mind that these predictions were made before Week One. Grossi also picked the Browns and the 'Hawks to win their opening games. From my viewpoint after those games, the Browns seem more likely than the 49ers to get the opportunity to draft Luck. But, if you believe the sportswriters, they have confidence in Colt McCoy as the answer to a longstanding question mark at QB. (The last time the Browns won on opening day, Jeff Garcia was behind center.)
Kaepernick Critique
Does Colin Kaepernick look like a West Coast quarterback? National Football Post doubts it, but Coach Harbaugh says, "He’s a football player, first and foremost. That’s what you look for from any player." Will Harbaugh compete with Singletary for most indecipherable football platitudes?
A Chop at Crabtree
For what it's worth (at least it has nothing to do with the Niners' QB situation).
Is it the future yet?
by silverjay on Dec 7, 2010 3:22 PM EST
on Niners Nation
It struck me after reading the reactions to the latest QB switch, that many of the fans who supported the move back to Alex explicitly or implicitly were focused on winning the Division this year. "Alex gives the 49ers a better shot, at winning this thing," was one comment. Looking at it from that point of view, I might agree. (I suppose this is also what Singletary is thinking.) Alex is better prepared to run our offense, an offense that, after all, was designed for him. Alex is more familiar with the players around him and the opponents we will play, etc.
Personally, I consider this season a write-off. Although mathematically and perhaps even feasibly, the 49ers can reach the playoffs with something like 7-9, I believe they will only be embarrassed by a wild-card team in the first round and incur the wrath of fans of a team that achieved 11-5 but had to sit home and watch smell the 49ers stink.
I'm more interested in shaping a team that can be successful in years to come. For this purpose, I believe Troy needs to get some more experience, so we can evaluate his potential going forward. I don't expect or desire to see Alex around next year. Let me be clear (as Obama likes to say): I don't blame Alex for the team's continued failure since he became its #1 pick. Many other players, not to mention coaches, are part of the problem. But to me Alex is emblematic of a past I want to leave behind. Among other things, he is the $multimillion QB that keeps getting pulled for someone else and then reinstated, a la the Browns, Raiders, et al., the hallmark of a failing franchise.
Who do you think should be part of the past, present or future? Well, I was going to make a poll, but it's a two-part question and I can't find a way to do that. So here are the questions, anyhow, after the jump:
Reading Singletary's Mind
by silverjay on Sep 27, 2010 10:18 PM EDT
on Niners Nation
Coach Singletary often appears less than candid in his press conferences. I understand and even respect this. After all, his role is primarily to lead the 49ers, only secondarily (if at all) to keep the press and public informed about his thinking and what goes on in the locker room and team offices. Sometimes these roles can be incompatible. But his reticence leaves us fans to wonder. Was his decision to fire Jimmy Raye (after insisting yesterday that he would be retained) really based solely on his review last night of film of this year's three losses? Did team ownership, the front office, or the players have any influence (albeit it might be dangerous to admit that)? If Mike Johnson will really be as effective as Singletary makes him out, why wasn't he chosen to be coordinator in the first place? Just for the heck of it, a poll follows after the jump.
Are you a Moran fan?
by silverjay on Sep 14, 2010 1:41 AM EDT
on Niners Nation
In Sunday's official Alex Smith thread, there was a lot of discussion about the value of Moran Norris to the 49ers. I suggested a poll and at least one person seemed to like the idea. I don't have a strong opinion myself, but here's what bignerd had to say (I hope he doesn't mind my quoting him):
I see instant improvement with Norris off the field. He dropped a touchdown off a fake lead block, he failed to lead block on a potential touchdown and he failed to gain one yard for 1st down when they handed him the ball on a play that looked like a lead block.
All three plays were apart of the same package/look to take advantage of a defense concentrating on stopping Gore and all three were costly failures.
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