Top Five Reasons San Francisco 49ers Fans Should be Excited About the Off-Season
After a bad year, everyone needs to look on the bright side.
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While last season was very disappointing for the 49ers, there are many reason’s to believe that things will get better next year. I’m going to give you all 5 reason’s that you should be excited about the team in the off season and towards next season.
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The Offense
Mike Nolan knows how to pick offensive coordinators.Say what you will about his decision making in game, but if there is one thing that Mike Nolan has proved throughout his time with the 49ers is that he knows how to pick offensive coordinators that will get the best out of the players they are given. Aside from Jeff Hostler (who was a last minute replacement after the chargers waited until the last minute to hire Norv Turner) Mike Nolan has had nothing but success in this area. Mike McCarthy and Norv Turner were both leading their teams into their respective championship games, and seeing as how only 4 coaches get there i think it’s amazing that half of them were 49ers offensive coordinators the last 3 years. The hiring of Mike Martz will instantly make everyone on offense a little bit better (if not greatly) and at the very least will make it an interesting season.
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The Quarterback Situation
We all know the woes of the quarterback situation well being 49ers fans and all, but last year gave us a glimmer of hope with the emergence of Shaun Hill. While it is not set in stone whether he will stay or go, my feelings are that he will stay and compete with Alex Smith and 1 other quarterback for the starting job. This will work out in the fans favor, because Alex Smith will be forced to improve or sit on the bench. Shaun Hill showed tremendous heart and poise in his first 2 starts, and i think most 49ers fans would agree they feel comfortable with him behind center. The addition of Mike Martz will also prove to help both quarterbacks, as he has helped many quarterbacks go from obscurity to the summit of greatness. Also of note, as Eli Manning has shown us this year, it takes time for quarterbacks to develop. This is a promising reason not to just dismiss Alex Smith, even though many of us would like to.
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The Draft
By now most of you should know that the 49ers traded their first round pick to the New England Patriots to move back into the first round and get Joe Staley. Many people believe that he proved he was worth such a lofty trade and i agree. Time and time again Mike Nolan and Scott McCloughen have proved that they have what it takes when it comes to evaluating talent through the draft. Say what you will about picking Alex Smith with the first overall pick, in that same draft they got Frank Gore in the 3rd round. Vernon Davis might be a bust? How about drafting perfectly capable players later on in that same draft like Micheal Robinson (4th round) Parys Haralson (5th round) and Delanie Walker (6th round). We all know of the success of Patrick Willis and Joe Staley. Also, the 49ers have the Indianapolis Colt’s first round pick this year (29th overall) and we know how Mike Nolan loves trading up in the first round. If this year is the same, look for the 49ers to be very productive in the draft.
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Free Agency
While the 49ers have been notorious under Mike Nolan for not being able to get a quality number 1 receiver, that can hardly be blamed all on him. The production (or lack thereof) of the quarterback has lot to do with that as well. The addition of Nate Clements (while overpriced) and Michael Lewis helped the defense significantly. There also are rumors that the 49ers might go after Lance Briggs or Bernard Berrian. The 49ers have a significant amount of cap room left (around 20 million) and I expect them to be minor players in this years free agency, adding one or two big names and a few quality players as well.
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Patrick Willis
It was a joy to watch Patrick Willis grow as a player. Towards the end of the year when most rookies are hitting the wall, Patrick Willis was actually getting better. They started unleashing him on the opposing quarterback more, and he responded with hurries, sacks, and turnovers. Also, Mike Singletary appears to be out of the running for the open head coaching positions, which means he will most likely be around to further his teaching of Patrick Willis. Add the return of Manny Lawson and the possible addition of people like Lance Briggs in free agency and you have the recipe for the 49ers defense to have a monster year.
41 Comments
leave some comments guys!
good article
Great article! I’ve been thinking about these as well, yet a lot of other people are so quick to say stuff like “Nolan doesn’t know how to hire an OC” when he get essentially forced with Hostler. Last year was a train wreck, I think this year if they get on track we can be really good. I know people were saying that about last year, but sometimes you need to fail before you can succeed…
Hopefully if the QB situation improves V. Davis will be unleashed as well.
Great article- I like the positive outlooks!
thank you all for the positive feedback for my first article. I really appreciate it. If you guys use stumbleupon, give it a thumbs up (or thumbs down if you don’t like it)!
Looking back I think VD was a stretch at #6 overall. Especially after watching the NYG win a SB without Shockey. That pick should have been a replacement for BY. But we have him, he can be a monster in Martz offense.
I agree completely with you. Mike Nolan gets bad critisism, but I truly believe that he is a sound coach. Granted, he has made some questionable calls during his tenure, however, I think he has proven himself worthy of another year. I am excited about our offense! We have all the tools. We just have to put them to use and unleash V. Davis.
i’m reserving my judgment about V. Davis until i see him in Martz’s offsense, i’m very excited about that because he will surely be used to stretch the field more
I agree with Steve, unleash the VD Beast. We practically have 3 capable receivers when Davis is in there. Why waste his talent on just blocking? Some say that he will not get the ball with Martz as OC but I beg to differ. Martz Madness never had a TE like Davis and I believe he’ll definitely use his more than Hostler. 9rs 11-5 in 08!!
Good points. Good story…… Looking forward to the draft and free-agent pick-ups!!
i think it’s jim hostler, you had jeff on reason #1.
i dont think VD is a bust, shaun hill was able to get him the ball. hill was also able to get jackson the ball, something smith and dilfer couldnt do.
hill might not have a strong arm, but he makes up for it with accuracy and quick passes. and i agree with your smith vs hill competition in that it will improve both QBs.
i also agree that nolan and scot draft very well. i still like VD and i still think he can be really good, he has all the physical tools, now he needs to learn the playbook and develop chemistry with the QB. i know with martz’ style, he will use vernon in a myriad of ways.
overall, the 9ers have talent, now it’s time to put it together. this years draft is deep with WR so i wouldnt pick doucet or hardy or manningham like most mocks have us doing. instead id go for oline or dline. the defense is there, the offense has talent, lets hope these guys can learn martz’ system.
why did i put JEFF!?!??! my bad people
nice article! your make good points. I just hope Vernon,Alex, and Frank can stay healthy for the whole year and be better than last season. Im still debating on the pass rusher and the offesive line position because the quarterback portection was awful. If you cannot protect you cannot pass. Thats the bottom line!
I stopped reading after your first point.
hahaha ghost of bill walsh, thanks for the comment anyways! In fact thank you all for your encouraging comments, I believe i might write some more articles in the future now. I could see you not being excited about the offense. I added a digg to this so digg away folks (if you like it, if not then tell your friends you don’t like it!)
I like the positive spin in your article. it’s the way I feel about the niners too. Just put the pieces together and beef up the o-line. I predict an 8 and 8 season with Hill at the helm.
thanks Jim! glad you feel the same way I do, good to know that theres other fans out there like me who aren’t just looking at the downside
I appreciate the article. Few points.
1) Offense: The facts you mention are true about our coordinators leading their respective teams to the playoffs. I’m not so sure I was pleased with the Niners having McCarthy as OC. Granted it was Alex’s first year..under McCarthy, I believe our offense was ranked near the bottom in numerous offensive categories. The ONLY year where our offense has been decent & improving is under Norv.
2) I like your point about the Draft particularly about trading up. I never thought about this before, and I actually think there might be a decent chance we do try to improve our position given that the staff was involved in the Senior Bowl.
Closing thoughts: I’m really looking forward to seeing how Martz will improve this offense. After last season, this offense can ONLY move up, and I’m hoping his experience and creativity breaths some much needed life into our stagnant offense.
Very positive and upbeat article. For someone who doesn’t cover the 49ers on a regular basis, impressive. Reading it gives me hope this year as a 49ers fan and I believe that this will be the first time in Nolan’s tenure they will have a true shot at making the playoffs.
the #1 reason we should be excited about the off-season is that we dont play any games
Obviously a make/break year no more bending! Hogram will be availble in 2009 Martz has the “go for the Kill” mentality. I think Smith will win the starting job beacuase of mobility. Pass rush is a MUST!!!! As a Niner fan who saw the catch in person, drove around for 3 months with Candlestick turf on my dashboard, has watched all five superbowls on the same TV- in the same room and has an SF brand I say shame on all the doubters and those of you who suggest that everyone cancell thier season tickects and boycott the games PLEASE do us REAL Niner fans a favor… go join the Raider nation!
SF.till.Death
Wow, I think your all living in some sort of pipe dream if you think Hills the answer, granted he had more success at the end of the season but Chris Weinke could’ve done that. We need a real challenge for Alex, someone that’s proven. I agree with most of your other points, however I don’t think (scratch that) I know Hill’s not the answer. I think anybody would be foolish to think otherwise, there’s a reason this guy has been in the league six years and isn’t even a 2nd stringer. Wake up people!!
Good article. But, why would we trade up? There are big time recievers avaialable and we can fill all of our other needs by staying where we are in the draft.
Sorry. I meant to say there are NO big time recievers available.
how can you say that Vernon Davis might be a bust when he seriously hurt his leg his rookie year and has done a awsome job in both blocking and most of the time recieving when he gets the ball thrown to him. I am always excited about the 49ers in and out of season. I am proud to be a 49er faithful fanatic.
Yup Shawn Hill the answer probably not. I do feel he should have a shot at starting job but I doubt if he will win the job. For all the people who think the defense needs lots of help – they are on the field the majority of the time. Offense needs to get some first downs and some scores and then I think you will see the defense do fine. The team seams to have lots of talent its time for Nolan and Smith to show what they are made of. I personally would draft OL and DL then recievers. You control the line you control the game and thats on both sides of the ball.
thanks to everyone again! Vernon Davis is one of my favorite players and i sure like watching him play, but he hasn’t proven he can be worthy of such a high draft pick yet (although i beleive he would have and more if he had a better QB situation)
I’m a veteran Niner fan, and I take the long view. Last season, we zigged when we should have zagged. The departure of Norv Turner pretty much doomed the season. Now we are back on course. As fans, we should begin each new season with optimism. That is the receipe I used to survive the 60’s, when the Niners really weren’t a very good team. I appreciate your positive attitude. Of course, we are still very thin on talent, and multiple key injuries could wreck the train.
Our offense was about as bad as you can imagine. Our defense was somewhat better. We had 6 new starters on defense. We have Lawson, Moore, Oliver, and Cohen coming back on defense. I\\\’m surprised so many people think our attention in the draft should be on defense.
Well said! Keep the Faith and hold our heads high. Our defense is only going to be exponentially better in the next three seasons. An addition of an athlete such as Lance Briggs would bring Veteran leadership and immediate impact, but don’t be surprised to see them bank on the draft. I can be nothing but excited for what is to come.
thats the spirit butters!
Nice to see some positive talk about the Niners. Although you bring up many positives in a world a skeptics and nay-sayers, I do have to say I was bummed to see the negativity towards Alex Smith.
If we all just calm down a bit, we could realize that he hasn’t even been given a chance.
Let us judge him when he gets two consecutive years with the same offensive coordinator (or hell…just a second full season with an above average offensive line where he isn’t getting driven into the ground every play. The guy is tough.)
He showed us his upside in the second half of the 2006 season (one of the ten best qb’s in the NFL in the last half of that year) and a proven offensive will only help him get back to that.
I wasn’t trying to be negative on him, i simply said he would be forced to perform well or sit on the bench. I also cited Eli Manning as a reason not to be overtly harsh on the QB. Also, Terry Bradshaw took years to develop and he won 4 super bowls!
i agree 1st2win5
So true and if we can get some of the players you listed they will be a very succesful team this upcoming season.
Some really good/optimistic points. Really think the 9ers will do better than 8-8 next season?
smimi, i sure hope so. If they don’t win the NFC West I will be really upset, they SHOULD win it and win 8 or more games next year.
I think it’s all a bunch of bull – the Rams will be the ELITE team in the NFC West next year.
I wasnt going to comment but I just had to. Bengalfan must not have watched football at all this season to think the rams are going to be elite in even 3 years let alone next season. Good article though and good luck with all that!
what do you think now that the draft is over?