The Official Thread of the 2009 San Francisco 49ers

**jawill** · 08-03-2009, 02:01 PM

Since Sarge and I almost hijacked the 500M/600M thread I'll start this one.

2009 is a big year for the niners, they need a new stadium and have stunk for years plus had bad ownership since Eddie D left town.

Lets hope they can become relevant this year. I will be watching to see improved play, the record may not change, but they need to stop getting embarrassed buy the top half of the NFL.

**jawill** · 08-03-2009, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by p59teitel

Alex Smith had to be the most brain-dead No. 1 ever. Anyone not legally blind could see he was an Urban Meyer system creation who simply did not have the arm strength to succeed in the NFL. The 49ers would have been better served trading out of that pick.

Vernon Davis was a reach at No. 6 too - I saw him against BC when he was at Maryland, and he looked like an exceptional athlete but not so great a football player (in Ben Watson we have one of those on the Patriots, so I know the type). You guys need some better talent evaluators.

First Alex Smith's arm strength was never the problem. Fact is the niners coaching staff (Nolan) mistreated him. Meyer was very specific about Smith when he told the NFL the guy needs to have everything mastered in his head to function well. Smith is not like Farve, he is cerebral (too a fault); but once he knows the system he can react quickly and make plays.
So what does Nolan do? He starts him his rookie year on one of the worst teams in NFL history. That 2005 team had no talent. I saw them play the Redskins that year and every play Smith was running for his life. Also that 2005 draft was horrible and the niners tried as hard as they could to trade out. No one wanted the number 1 pick because they all knew there wasn't a worthy pick there. And look at the crud picked after him. The entire top ten has underachieved.

Second point:
Vernon Davis is not a natural pass catcher. Everyone knows this, but what does Martz do last year. Send him on deep vertical routes with poor results(duh). Also a local beat writer charted every play that year and Davis was only target on 45-50 attempts all year. He spent most of his time staying in to block because of the weak line and 7 step drops. He should return to 2007 form where he actually put up decent numbers (52 catches/509yds/4TDs) for one of the worst OC's in history (Hostler).
This is his defining year if he catches over 60 balls for 700+ yards and 5 tds he is worth the pick. Also remember he is the best blocking tight end in the game.

I agree the 49ers have made some poor picks in recent history, but I don't put either of these two in that category. Especially Smith, they really didn't have any other choice (and yes I think Rodgers would have sucked on the niners also).

**p59teitel** · 08-03-2009, 02:36 PM

Smith doesn't throw the mid-range or deep out with authority, and that's an important throw for teams that want to stretch the field not just vertically but also sideline to sideline. And for me, that's a throw a No. 1 overall simply has to be able to make.

I'll concede not many QBs are good at it, even in the NFL. Brady and Peyton can make it with ease, Brady more on arm strength and Manning more on timing and accuracy. Matt Ryan did it at BC with below-average talent at WR, which is why I knew he'd make it in the pros even as half the ESPN vidiots howled about him being a high pick. Roethlisberger can do it - as we saw on the winning TD in the Super Bowl. McNabb has a cannon and can throw that pass too. Delhomme used to be able to. I haven't seen enough of Rogers to know about him.

**fvbounty** · 08-03-2009, 02:43 PM

I hope Crabtree doesn't hold out to long and miss to much of practice time....I only live right across the bay from the Stick about 7 miles, and your right they need a new stadium....Go Niners!

**BigRedNole** · 08-03-2009, 03:20 PM

OK, they may beat out the St Louis Rams. They may beat out the Seahwaks. I don't think the 49ers could beat the Cardinals, even if Leinart is somehow playing. I only see them being 8-8 at best and they will need to be 11-5 to have a chance. They won't get the wildcard spot. I just don't see them being in the top 6 in the NFC.

**fvbounty** · 08-03-2009, 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by BigRedNole

OK, they may beat out the St Louis Rams. They may beat out the Seahwaks. I don't think the 49ers could beat the Cardinals, even if Leinart is somehow playing. I only see them being 8-8 at best and they will need to be 11-5 to have a chance. They won't get the wildcard spot. I just don't see them being in the top 6 in the NFC.

I still don't know why the ever got rig of Garcia, his still a better QB than anyone they have! I guess they can thank TO for that!

**jawill** · 08-03-2009, 03:45 PM

Originally Posted by BigRedNole

OK, they may beat out the St Louis Rams. They may beat out the Seahwaks. I don't think the 49ers could beat the Cardinals, even if Leinart is somehow playing. I only see them being 8-8 at best and they will need to be 11-5 to have a chance. They won't get the wildcard spot. I just don't see them being in the top 6 in the NFC.

I disagree, the Cardinals are not a great team. They had a great run. I see 11 wins max from them, but I also could see 7. Division winner again may be 9-7. I think the 49ers could win 10, but don't expect it. I think the Seahawks are in some trouble because of Hasselback's back and new coaching change. Rams are by far the worst team in the division until they prove otherwise.

All I want is improved play against good teams. They have been pathetic against top 15 teams. They need to stay competative in those games and not just by the score. The actual play on the field must look good.

**War Eagle** · 08-03-2009, 03:50 PM

I love Mike Singletary, but that's about all I have to say about the 49ers.

Da Bears!!!

**jawill** · 08-03-2009, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by p59teitel

Smith doesn't throw the mid-range or deep out with authority, and that's an important throw for teams that want to stretch the field not just vertically but also sideline to sideline. And for me, that's a throw a No. 1 overall simply has to be able to make.

I'll concede not many QBs are good at it, even in the NFL. Brady and Peyton can make it with ease, Brady more on arm strength and Manning more on timing and accuracy. Matt Ryan did it at BC with below-average talent at WR, which is why I knew he'd make it in the pros even as half the ESPN vidiots howled about him being a high pick. Roethlisberger can do it - as we saw on the winning TD in the Super Bowl. McNabb has a cannon and can throw that pass too. Delhomme used to be able to. I haven't seen enough of Rogers to know about him.

Smith rarely throws anything with authority, but its not arm strength. His brain takes too long to process information (which is worse). I don't think he has a cannon but thats not what you need. Its about timing just like with Manning.
Smith can make all the throws and NFL teams knew that at the draft. In fact consensus was he had a better arm than Rodgers coming out.

My bottom line with Smith is he was the best of a buch of poor options available in 2005. He was handled as badly as possible initially. Showed growth and potential with Turner in 2006. Ruined by injury the last two years. So no one really knows what they have with him. My hope is they start Hill and/if when they need Smith he can come of the bench and shows he should keep the job.
Hill is the limited quaterback, not Smith.

I expect many people will be pleasantly surprised at how well Smith plays this preseason.

**fvbounty** · 08-03-2009, 04:06 PM

I will be one of those people! We can always hope....

**sarge1976** · 08-03-2009, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by fvbounty

I hope Crabtree doesn't hold out to long and miss to much of practice time....I only live right across the bay from the Stick about 7 miles, and your right they need a new stadium....Go Niners!

I hope Crabtree doesnt hold out either,1-he's a great WR 2- I already bought his new Niners jersey a week ago!

**jawill** · 08-03-2009, 10:55 PM

I think Crabtree will come in when most if not all the other top 10 guys sign.
He has to realize he has no leverage. The fans are against his holdout, his agents argument is weak, and mostly the team doesn't need him.
The WR corp is deep this year, he might have only been the fourth receiver this year anyway.
It will be interesting to see what happens with Tyson Jackson. They have the same agent.

**sarge1976** · 08-04-2009, 02:41 PM

There is a preseason game on the NFL network on 8/14 not sure what time but it's the Niners vs. Denver, I usually try to watch all of the Niners preseason games, sometimes they are on so late I have to DVR them but I cannot wait! I love Football season and the holidays.

**sarge1976** · 08-04-2009, 05:09 PM

As long as the Niners do better than last year I can live with it,they should really start Hill. They could of had a decent chance at a wildcard spot if he would of played at the beginng of the season.

**fvbounty** · 08-04-2009, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by sarge1976

There is a preseason game on the NFL network on 8/14 not sure what time but it's the Niners vs. Denver, I usually try to watch all of the Niners preseason games, sometimes they are on so late I have to DVR them but I cannot wait! I love Football season and the holidays.

Best time of the year baseball playoffs and football season, for me it couldn't get any better!

**jawill** · 08-04-2009, 11:57 PM

Originally Posted by sarge1976

There is a preseason game on the NFL network on 8/14 not sure what time but it's the Niners vs. Denver, I usually try to watch all of the Niners preseason games, sometimes they are on so late I have to DVR them but I cannot wait! I love Football season and the holidays.

This year all preseason games will be shown on NFL network in HD!
Of course all games won't be live but just set your DVR and you get all four. I'll see more Niner games this year than I have in 5 years.

**mytime** · 08-05-2009, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by jawill

This year all preseason games will be shown on NFL network in HD!
Of course all games won't be live but just set your DVR and you get all four. I'll see more Niner games this year than I have in 5 years.

No NFL network thru charter

. I live in Lambs err I mean Rams country so I see maybe 2 niners games a yr. We are due for a turnaround.

**jawill** · 08-06-2009, 08:08 AM

Originally Posted by mytime

No NFL network thru charter

. I live in Lambs err I mean Rams country so I see maybe 2 niners games a yr. We are due for a turnaround.

Looks like your avatar is running that company. You should dump them and get dish. The are offering free NFL ticket with the premier plan (60/month for five months). You could probably get them to add in superfan if you made it a dealbreaker.

**jawill** · 08-08-2009, 12:18 AM

Brandon Jones out 2 months with a fractured shoulder. Looks like someone upstairs likes Crabtree. This won't help with his negotiations but will give him a better chance of seeing the field once he reports.

This talk of sitting out all season is nonsense for many reasons.
1) If he actually sat out he is not eligible to work out for any teams until a week before the draft because his rights would still belong to the 49ers.
2) He would be drafted even lower than this year for multiple reasons (strong 2010 class, signability issues, not having played football for over a year)
3) He can't afford it. Besides the salary he would never be able to get back; endorsement deals would be breached and cancelled.

I think this advisor/cousin is spouting off and was given no authority to say anything or he was told to say this to float the idea out and see if the 49ers would flinch. Its the only way. If Crabtree or Parker (agent) say this they paint themselves in a corner and really look like bad guys. By having the cousin say, they can deny it and still make a deal without losing face.

I predict he is in camp by next Friday and will play in the 2nd or 3rd preseason game.

Lastly, it is highly unlikely he is going to be a big impact player this year even if was in on time. We are in much better shape than every other team still waiting to sign their picks.