Niner News Thread
- Thread starter Chree
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I knew i liked Jerome Bettis for a reason..........
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...nfl-division-predictions/index.html?eref=sihp
NFC West
Seahawks (5-4)
Rams (4-5)
49ers (3-6)
Cardinals (3-6)
The 49ers are in position to make a big run now that Troy Smith is running the offense. Smith has provided the spark the team was missing while Alex Smith was under center. Luckily for the 49ers, they're playing in the weakest division in the NFL and have a feasible path to the playoffs. The Seahawks are weak in plenty of areas, and I'm still concerned about their level of play on the road. They'll be hard-pressed to win at San Francisco in December. I see similarities between the Rams and the Bucs. They're at least a year away, but they're on the right track.
Prediction: 49ers win the division.
oh and fuck the raiders
AFC West
Raiders (5-4)
Chiefs (5-4)
Chargers (4-5)
Broncos (3-6)
The Chargers might be the most exciting team to watch in the final seven weeks. They'll be pushing for the playoffs, Philip Rivers is going for an MVP award and playmakers Antonio Gates, Vincent Jackson and Malcom Floyd return to the offense. Rivers has been sensational under tough circumstances so far -- like Manning -- and now everything's coming together in San Diego. The Raiders and Chiefs are young, talented teams built well through the draft, but they don't quite have the talent to sustain their early success.
Prediction: Chargers win the division.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...nfl-division-predictions/index.html?eref=sihp
NFC West
Seahawks (5-4)
Rams (4-5)
49ers (3-6)
Cardinals (3-6)
The 49ers are in position to make a big run now that Troy Smith is running the offense. Smith has provided the spark the team was missing while Alex Smith was under center. Luckily for the 49ers, they're playing in the weakest division in the NFL and have a feasible path to the playoffs. The Seahawks are weak in plenty of areas, and I'm still concerned about their level of play on the road. They'll be hard-pressed to win at San Francisco in December. I see similarities between the Rams and the Bucs. They're at least a year away, but they're on the right track.
Prediction: 49ers win the division.
oh and fuck the raiders
AFC West
Raiders (5-4)
Chiefs (5-4)
Chargers (4-5)
Broncos (3-6)
The Chargers might be the most exciting team to watch in the final seven weeks. They'll be pushing for the playoffs, Philip Rivers is going for an MVP award and playmakers Antonio Gates, Vincent Jackson and Malcom Floyd return to the offense. Rivers has been sensational under tough circumstances so far -- like Manning -- and now everything's coming together in San Diego. The Raiders and Chiefs are young, talented teams built well through the draft, but they don't quite have the talent to sustain their early success.
Prediction: Chargers win the division.
There was a few plays it was all on him and the DE got by him with ease, they did put their best pass rusher on him for most of the game though. If he goes on the left they will still target him now that he has been exposed. Its all on him to improve fast, especially with Staley out.
Damn I didn't know that
Damn I didn't know that
Looks like Jason Hill was cut to make room for Shane Andrus while Nedney gets healthy. He was picked up by the Jaguars off of waivers.
I thought he had some potential but was never able to reach it with our underachieving passing game. All I know is Ginn has to pick up his game, he hasn't really done much as a receiver and this past week I was getting annoyed at seeing him wave his hands all day as a returner.
I thought he had some potential but was never able to reach it with our underachieving passing game. All I know is Ginn has to pick up his game, he hasn't really done much as a receiver and this past week I was getting annoyed at seeing him wave his hands all day as a returner.
With Staley ailing, 49ers need rookie linemen to grow up fast
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/49ers/..._campaign=Feed:+49ersHotRead+(49ers+Hot+Read)
Whenever right tackle Anthony Davis or left guard Mike Iupati makes a mistake, a ritual plays out along the 49ers sideline. The rookie will seek out offensive line coach Mike Solari to offer a detailed report on what went wrong. The more technical the explanation, the better Solari likes the answer.
Such mistakes are what Solari calls “teaching opportunities.” The more cynical might call them “rookie gaffes.”
“It’s kind of glaring at times,’’ Solari acknowledged.
Davis provided a few too many “teaching opportunities” against St. Louis last week, committing a holding penalty that negated a touchdown and struggling for much of the day against Rams defensive end Chris Long.
The 49ers expected such periodic lapses when they chose to thrust Davis, who just turned 21, and Iupati, 23, into the starting lineup back in training camp. But the coaches are betting their playoff hopes that the rookies’ good will soon outweigh their bad — which is saying something considering they weigh 654 combined pounds.
The team is trying to help them age prematurely. As the 49ers prepare to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday at Candlestick Park, the rookies will continue to meet with Solari for an extra hour each day after the rest of the linemen have gone home.
It’s a private session, just the three of them. Solari will pop in a game film and quiz the youngsters about what they see on screen. In turn, Iupati and Davis ask questions they might be hesitant to pose while around their more experienced teammates.
“It’s been really helpful,’’ Iupati said Wednesday. “We get some extra time, just going over different protections. We ask a lot of questions.”
Solari said the tutoring sessions help prepare the young players for what he calls “un-scouted looks” – the times when an opponent throws a surprise into their scheme on game day. Such situations used to rattle Davis and Iupati, but the deer-in-headlights look is fading.
Solari said the most encouraging part of the rookies’ lapses is that they can identify and articulate the problem during their sideline conversations. Sometimes, Solari already knows the answer; sometimes he really is counting on the rookies for a diagnosis.
“Each week, they’re learning and growing,’’ he said.
Trivia question of the day
In NFL history, which quarterback has the most career pass attempts without ever making a start? (Answer below)
Quick hits of the day
– Singletary did not announce whether Barry Sims or Adam Snyder would start in place of injured left tackle Joe Staley on Sunday. Sims was the choice last season, delivering seven solid starts after Staley suffered a knee injury against Indianapolis.
Sims said he’s ready if called upon again — even after eight of the 49ers’ nine games on the inactive list this season.
“I knew when I re-signed this year that I wasn’t coming in to be the starter. I was more of an insurance policy for everything,’’ the 12th-year veteran said. “I’ve been in the league a long time. I know what’s up.”
– Singletary clarified his benching of right guard Chilo Rachal to start the Rams game, explaining that it wasn’t a punishment but rather a practical matter. Rachal had an excused absence last Friday and Saturday to attend the birth of his second child. Singletary said that during those practices, the 49ers made crucial updates to their offensive line plan.
Singletary, who has seven kids, said he believes in putting family first but said, “I can’t put the offense in harm’s way by making a decision on emotion. I felt that I did what I had to do in order for our offense to have a chance to win.”
– The 49ers lead the all-time series against the Buccaneers 15-3. Tampa Bay has not won in San Francisco since Oct. 26, 1980.
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/49ers/..._campaign=Feed:+49ersHotRead+(49ers+Hot+Read)
Whenever right tackle Anthony Davis or left guard Mike Iupati makes a mistake, a ritual plays out along the 49ers sideline. The rookie will seek out offensive line coach Mike Solari to offer a detailed report on what went wrong. The more technical the explanation, the better Solari likes the answer.
Such mistakes are what Solari calls “teaching opportunities.” The more cynical might call them “rookie gaffes.”
“It’s kind of glaring at times,’’ Solari acknowledged.
Davis provided a few too many “teaching opportunities” against St. Louis last week, committing a holding penalty that negated a touchdown and struggling for much of the day against Rams defensive end Chris Long.
The 49ers expected such periodic lapses when they chose to thrust Davis, who just turned 21, and Iupati, 23, into the starting lineup back in training camp. But the coaches are betting their playoff hopes that the rookies’ good will soon outweigh their bad — which is saying something considering they weigh 654 combined pounds.
The team is trying to help them age prematurely. As the 49ers prepare to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday at Candlestick Park, the rookies will continue to meet with Solari for an extra hour each day after the rest of the linemen have gone home.
It’s a private session, just the three of them. Solari will pop in a game film and quiz the youngsters about what they see on screen. In turn, Iupati and Davis ask questions they might be hesitant to pose while around their more experienced teammates.
“It’s been really helpful,’’ Iupati said Wednesday. “We get some extra time, just going over different protections. We ask a lot of questions.”
Solari said the tutoring sessions help prepare the young players for what he calls “un-scouted looks” – the times when an opponent throws a surprise into their scheme on game day. Such situations used to rattle Davis and Iupati, but the deer-in-headlights look is fading.
Solari said the most encouraging part of the rookies’ lapses is that they can identify and articulate the problem during their sideline conversations. Sometimes, Solari already knows the answer; sometimes he really is counting on the rookies for a diagnosis.
“Each week, they’re learning and growing,’’ he said.
Trivia question of the day
In NFL history, which quarterback has the most career pass attempts without ever making a start? (Answer below)
Quick hits of the day
– Singletary did not announce whether Barry Sims or Adam Snyder would start in place of injured left tackle Joe Staley on Sunday. Sims was the choice last season, delivering seven solid starts after Staley suffered a knee injury against Indianapolis.
Sims said he’s ready if called upon again — even after eight of the 49ers’ nine games on the inactive list this season.
“I knew when I re-signed this year that I wasn’t coming in to be the starter. I was more of an insurance policy for everything,’’ the 12th-year veteran said. “I’ve been in the league a long time. I know what’s up.”
– Singletary clarified his benching of right guard Chilo Rachal to start the Rams game, explaining that it wasn’t a punishment but rather a practical matter. Rachal had an excused absence last Friday and Saturday to attend the birth of his second child. Singletary said that during those practices, the 49ers made crucial updates to their offensive line plan.
Singletary, who has seven kids, said he believes in putting family first but said, “I can’t put the offense in harm’s way by making a decision on emotion. I felt that I did what I had to do in order for our offense to have a chance to win.”
– The 49ers lead the all-time series against the Buccaneers 15-3. Tampa Bay has not won in San Francisco since Oct. 26, 1980.
49ers coordinator Mike Johnson opens up offense, ears
In a franchise first, the 49ers had five players rack up at least 60 receiving yards last week. As it turns out, Mike Johnson was spreading the wealth even before kickoff.
The new offensive coordinator explained today that he seeks input from the rest of his coaching staff when putting together his game plans. Johnson remains the chef, but assistant provides their own ingredient to the 49ers’ offensive stew.
“I’m not going to sit here and say how we did it before was wrong. But I always know that if I ever became a coordinator I wanted to have input from everybody,’’ Johnson said. “A lot of times when you do it that way, you get things you haven’t thought of.”
Running backs coach Tom Rathman, for example, is what Johnson called a “blitz guru.” Rathman played nine seasons as a fullback, winning two Super Bowls and seven NFC West titles, and this his 13th season as an NFL coach. “He’s going to know every blitz that the opposing team is going to do that week,’’ Johnson said.
Johnson said tight ends coach Pete Hoener is a short-yardage specialist. Offensive line coach Mike Solari has his thumb on the pulse of the running game and pass-protections. Receivers coach Jerry Sullivan offers his take on how to decode the secondary. Offensive assistant Jason Michaels is the go-to-guy in the red zone.
“I use those guys in the area where they’re strong. I allow them to bring things to the table that help our offense,’’ Johnson said.
“We have all areas that we work in individually. Then we come together and we put the entire thing together. And I make the final decision over how we want to implement it.”
The notion hardly seems revolutionary, but apparently it’s a breakthrough. Tight end Delanie Walker, a fifth-year veteran, said: “All my life playing football, it’s the first time the offensive coordinator let the other coaches talk.”
Walker, whose previous career high was 66 yards in 2007, now has back-to-back games with at least 80 yards.
“It’s not just one guy up there telling us what to do. There are multiple coaches, and I think that’s a good pretty thing,’’ Walker said. “Mike Johnson, he’s confident. …. He let’s all the coaches talk, give their pointers, and at the end of the day, (Johnson) does the rest.”
In three games under previous offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye, the 49ers averaged 12.7 points and 310.3 yards per game. In six games under Johnson, those numbers are 20.3 and 336.2.
The 49ers’ recent improvement coincides with Troy Smith taking over at quarterback. Against the Rams on Sunday, Smith threw for 356 yards and a touchdown.
Interestingly, Smith is one of the few people who does not give Johnson any input into the game plan. “I have to show I can do exactly what they want me to do first before I even try to think of (suggesting) anything that would be tailored toward me,’’ Smith said.
But Johnson has figured out how to use Smith all on his own. Against the Rams, for example, Johnson often used a max-protect scheme that helped buy Smith extra time to take a deep shot downfield. That led to a 65-yard completion to Josh Morgan in the first quarter and reminded St. Louis that the 49ers had other players to worry about than running back Frank Gore.
Get used to it, Johnson said. Over the past two games, the 49ers have nine pass plays of at least 25 yards – with zero interceptions.
“The one thing I want to do is encourage daring,’’ Johnson said Thursday. “I want to encourage the stuff that (Smith) has inside.”
In a franchise first, the 49ers had five players rack up at least 60 receiving yards last week. As it turns out, Mike Johnson was spreading the wealth even before kickoff.
The new offensive coordinator explained today that he seeks input from the rest of his coaching staff when putting together his game plans. Johnson remains the chef, but assistant provides their own ingredient to the 49ers’ offensive stew.
“I’m not going to sit here and say how we did it before was wrong. But I always know that if I ever became a coordinator I wanted to have input from everybody,’’ Johnson said. “A lot of times when you do it that way, you get things you haven’t thought of.”
Running backs coach Tom Rathman, for example, is what Johnson called a “blitz guru.” Rathman played nine seasons as a fullback, winning two Super Bowls and seven NFC West titles, and this his 13th season as an NFL coach. “He’s going to know every blitz that the opposing team is going to do that week,’’ Johnson said.
Johnson said tight ends coach Pete Hoener is a short-yardage specialist. Offensive line coach Mike Solari has his thumb on the pulse of the running game and pass-protections. Receivers coach Jerry Sullivan offers his take on how to decode the secondary. Offensive assistant Jason Michaels is the go-to-guy in the red zone.
“I use those guys in the area where they’re strong. I allow them to bring things to the table that help our offense,’’ Johnson said.
“We have all areas that we work in individually. Then we come together and we put the entire thing together. And I make the final decision over how we want to implement it.”
The notion hardly seems revolutionary, but apparently it’s a breakthrough. Tight end Delanie Walker, a fifth-year veteran, said: “All my life playing football, it’s the first time the offensive coordinator let the other coaches talk.”
Walker, whose previous career high was 66 yards in 2007, now has back-to-back games with at least 80 yards.
“It’s not just one guy up there telling us what to do. There are multiple coaches, and I think that’s a good pretty thing,’’ Walker said. “Mike Johnson, he’s confident. …. He let’s all the coaches talk, give their pointers, and at the end of the day, (Johnson) does the rest.”
In three games under previous offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye, the 49ers averaged 12.7 points and 310.3 yards per game. In six games under Johnson, those numbers are 20.3 and 336.2.
The 49ers’ recent improvement coincides with Troy Smith taking over at quarterback. Against the Rams on Sunday, Smith threw for 356 yards and a touchdown.
Interestingly, Smith is one of the few people who does not give Johnson any input into the game plan. “I have to show I can do exactly what they want me to do first before I even try to think of (suggesting) anything that would be tailored toward me,’’ Smith said.
But Johnson has figured out how to use Smith all on his own. Against the Rams, for example, Johnson often used a max-protect scheme that helped buy Smith extra time to take a deep shot downfield. That led to a 65-yard completion to Josh Morgan in the first quarter and reminded St. Louis that the 49ers had other players to worry about than running back Frank Gore.
Get used to it, Johnson said. Over the past two games, the 49ers have nine pass plays of at least 25 yards – with zero interceptions.
“The one thing I want to do is encourage daring,’’ Johnson said Thursday. “I want to encourage the stuff that (Smith) has inside.”