Rosters: EA Roster Update with adjustments
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9 Minute Quarters
Sliders: Heelfans with adjustments
9 Minute Quarters
I will be keeping both this franchise and my Bengals franchise because I realized if I only do one I tend to get bored but 2 will keep me entertained as I can go back and forth between the two. II picked the 49ers as they are my favorite team and I realized that I just had to do them as my franchise also, it was a debate between them and the Dolphins and I just went with my team and decided to do the 49ers.
2007 Review
The 2007 season for the 49ers had to have been one of the worst disappointments we have seen in a while, not only for the fact that the team didn't succeed when everybody was high on them but they played flat out awful. Alex Smith was thought to finally flourish, but yet he went straight down with an injury last season after struggling quite a bit. But yet he has had so many different coordinators how can you blame him for not finally relaxing with one? But those are questions people don't look at as they want results right away and due to that in the off-season Shaun Hill was resigned to a 3-year extension after going 2-0 as a starter last season.
But before that the 49ers made some good offseason moves going into 07 with the 8-year 80 million dollar signing of CB Nate Clements. The drafting of Defensive ROTY LB Patrick Willis. Frank Gore coming off a monster season. Right what could possibly go wrong for the 49ers? The thing was everything, rising LB Manny Lawson went down for the season. Frank Gore was injured for roughly half the season ands touched the ball over 60 times less then he previously had. QB controversy left and right. The 49ers just had too many questions to answer and to boot they wound up with the 29th in the draft due to trading away their 1st round pick to New England for Joe Staley. It was not good as the 49ers went 5-11 finishing 3rd in the division just above the horrid Rams.
But before that the 49ers made some good offseason moves going into 07 with the 8-year 80 million dollar signing of CB Nate Clements. The drafting of Defensive ROTY LB Patrick Willis. Frank Gore coming off a monster season. Right what could possibly go wrong for the 49ers? The thing was everything, rising LB Manny Lawson went down for the season. Frank Gore was injured for roughly half the season ands touched the ball over 60 times less then he previously had. QB controversy left and right. The 49ers just had too many questions to answer and to boot they wound up with the 29th in the draft due to trading away their 1st round pick to New England for Joe Staley. It was not good as the 49ers went 5-11 finishing 3rd in the division just above the horrid Rams.
2008 Preview
Was it a smart move?
Now the 49ers made more Free Agent splashes as they signed DE Justin Smith to a big contract. The 49ers hired Mike Martz as their offensive coordinator to hopefully bring a spark to this offense, now everybody has their opinons on this. Either he can make this offense restore itself and use his weapons wisely as he has pure talent at his disposal or it will fail miserable and the franchise will be set back another couple of years. The 49ers added WR Isaac Bruce because a veteran WR that knows Martz and his system just aswell as anybody possibly could was very smart. Bruce may be past his prime but can still produce. They also added the very talented Bryant Johnson the former WR from the Cardinals. Johnson never was able to shine due to Boldin and Fitzgerald shining so brightly. Allen Rossum was brought in to help with returns and depth. Martz brought over QB J.T. O'Sullivan over from Detroit. The 49ers lost DE Marques Douglas to the Bucs due to FA and he could have helped this team a lot if he had stayed but the team is set with Justin Smith. Larry Allen and Bryant Young probably their best lineman on both sides of the ball both retired and now that fills a void. G Justin Smiley signed with Miami and that really hurt the 49ers. Niners cut WR Darrell Jackson after trading a 4th rounder for him and regret the trade after doing nothing for them. Now the 49ers can really only improve...hopefully.
Expected Finish: 6-10(4th in NFC West)
Key Acquisitions
WR Isaac Bruce (Stl)
RB DeShaun Foster (Car)
WR Bryant Johnson (Ari)
QB J.T. O’Sullivan (Det)
KR Allen Rossum (Pit)
DE Justin Smith (Cin)
LB Dontarrious Thomas (Min)
Key Losses
G Larry Allen (retired)
QB Trent Dilfer (retired)
DE Marques Douglas (TB)
WR Bryan Gilmore
OT Kwame Harris (Oak)
RB Maurice Hicks (Min)
WR Darrell Jackson (Den)
G Justin Smiley (Mia)
LB Derek Smith (SD)
DT Bryant Young (retired)
2008 - San Francisco 49ers Draft
Rd Sel # Player Position School
1 29 Kentwan Balmer DE North Carolina
2 39 Chilo Rachal G USC
3 75 Reggie Smith DB Oklahoma
4 107 Cody Wallace C Texas A&M
6 174 Josh Morgan WR Virginia Tech
7 214 Larry Grant OLB Ohio State
The Quarterbacks
This is probably the biggest question on any football fans mind this season on who will start for the 49ers? Nobody seems to know. People want Alex Smith to prosper as a former No.1 overall draft pick but that might not happen. Shaun Hill looked very good in the 2 games he played but yet has very little experience and it seems he is never able to practice well. Now that Mike Martz brought over J.T. O'Sullivan it seems now we have a 3-way race. It seems O'Sullivan surprised a lot of people with smart pin point accuracy and delivering the ball on time during training camp.
It can be talked about for hours if Alex Smith can every perform well but we will have to wait and see what this season has to offer. There are too many questions and the pre-season should decide who starts. Maybe Shaun Hill doesn't get enough credit or does he really deserve any. He had 5 TDs and only 1 INT throughout his career so you be the judge. Someone has to step up.
The Running Backs
We Will see plenty of Gore this season.
Frank Gore is everything you can want in a back. Gore is expected to just shine in this Martz offense. Martz knows how to utilize his RB, just look at Marshall Faulk. Gore is great and should be great this year. Last year was just terrible and not his fault. He still managed to be a good overall back with injuries and offensive problems. Even though the playbook is big and difficult and Gore has a form of dyslexia he can still run that football.
The 49ers signed DeShaun Foster to hopefully give Gore breathers here and there and be able to depend on Foster in certain situations. Foster comes with injury problems but he shouldn't have to worry if he doesn't play full time.
The 49ers also have Michael Robinson for any other needs they may have and Thomas Clayton who led the team in rushing last pre-season should be signed on the team after sitting on the practice squad all season. This corps has no questions at all.
The Wide Receivers???
You cannot sit there and tell anybody who is the best WR on the team for the 49ers and you cannot say Vernon Davis. There is no clear cut No.1 WR on this team. Now sure the team would like Isaac Bruce to be their No.1 WR but he may not have enough to do so.
Arnaz Battle was injured during training camp and that hurt them but he may actually be the best out of anyone. Bryant Johnson should get a lot of reps and may start as he seems to have some of the most talent.
The 49ers are very high on Jason Hill in hopes somebody he can be an elite go-to WR for them but that has yet to happen as he needs to still be taught and get the reps. But seemingly the person who had the best training camp was the 6th round draft pick rookie out of VT Josh Morgan. It seems Morgan possessed all the skills you need to be a playmaker in the league at WR.
Ashley Lelie seems to want to be a top WR in this league but it doesn't help if you have speed and don't know how to use it. Lelie only caught 10 balls last season but seems in training camp to have really stepped it up, but is there any room for him on the team. The team has 6 WR but what can they do with 6 WR if they need to step up?.
Tight End
Some people blame Vernon Davis for being sort of a bust after bewing drafted in the 1st round in 05, but yet he was top 10 in the league for TE in receptions and yards. Davis still was in the top 10 for someone who had probably the most inconsistent play at QB ever. Davis has some of the most raw talent in anybody and is probably the most athletic TE in the league. He is ridiculously fast and told other teams they need to put their fastest DB on him. And he's right LB can just not cover him if he is able to run the right routes and on time with them. Davis is poised for a breakout season, like really break out. He should make people into believers.
Billy Bajema backs up Davis and is serviceable but not a very good blocking TE.
Don't Step Out of Line
The offensive line was in shatters last year due to injury, now that Justin Smiley and Larry Allen have left the team holes are being filled. Joe Staley started all 16 games as a rookie and now is being moved back to LT his more natural position. RT Jonas Jennings has missed 32 games over the last 3 seasons. David Baas never lived up to his potential yet and C Eric Heitmann can keep this line aboard ship.
How will he perform?
Now people questioned the signing of Justin Smith who is more of a 4-3 guy then 3-4. Now the 49ers may use him as a hybrid DE/LB but Smith may not have the ability to do that much. He is more of a pure pass rusher. Smith is a good player but has to live up to expectations for this scheme and apply pressure. Isaac Sopoaga finally started to make relevant plays on a consistent basis last year. Aubrayo Franklin is not the ideal NT and the defense may not work best until Kentawn Balmer is put in either at the DE or DT position.
The Big Hitters
The linebacking core seems to be the heart of the defense. Led by defensive maniac MLB Patrick Willis the linebackers are in full force this year. OLB Manny Lawson is too athletic for his own good and should be amazing to watch alongside Willis. The team signed Takeo Spikes who many teams thought to be past his prime but the 49ers added depth with him and should plug him in here and there if he doesn't start. Larry Grant was drafted to also be serviceable at the MLB spot.
Just A Beast!
Jeff Ulbrich is still with the team and can fill in for any injuries or tiring. Tully Banta-Cain probably won't be a full-time starter as his game lacks spice as anything else but a blitzer. Parys Haralson may get a few starts in if he performs well in pre-season and shows he can be an OLB and spy on the QB. He can blitz but just needs to get there faster to apply pressure.
The Secondary
Nate Clements is a top-notch cover man and can be a shut down corner if he is on his A-game. Walt Harris is getting up their in age but can still cover you. Not a great tackler but it's hard to throw on him. Shawntae Spencer can be a good starter especially when Harris is towards the end of his career but needs to stop giving too much cushion to WR.
Michael Lewis really stepped up his game to his former 04 Pro Bowl form. Many people thought he was over his best days but he is much closer to that form then you realize and is a huge part of the defense.
Reggie Smith was drafted and convereted from Safety to CB in hopes to eventually replace Walt Harris and be a solid CB for years to come.
Reggie Smith was drafted and convereted from Safety to CB in hopes to eventually replace Walt Harris and be a solid CB for years to come.
Mark Roman is OK at best. He lacks plenty of things especially awareness but seems to keep starting. He may be on his way out but Keith Lewis isn't that much better.
Dashon Goldson may seem some playing time as the 49ers are kind of high on his playmaking abilities.
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