Here’s my other Super Bowl XLVI observation: The Niners would have beaten the Patriots more easily than the Giants did.
Here’s why: First, the defense would have held Brady and the Pats’ offense to fewer than 17 points. They’re better than the Giants defense. They would have shut down BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead, the Patriots running backs, with no more than six players. Then, the Niners could double team both Wes Welker and Aaron Hernandez and leave Brady out of options.
On the other side of the ball, the Niners O-line would have protected Alex Smith much more effectively than the Giantso O-line protected Manning, but the Niners’ unit is better and Smith can actually run. The only thing the Patriots defense had going for it last night was an occasional pass rush. The Niners would have neutralized outside linebacker Rob Ninkovich easily.
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You should rename this: “Twisting the Knife: Why the Niners would have beaten the Patriots in the Super Bowl more easily than the Giants did”
I personally think that the 49er Empire needs to move on,
This “Coulda Woulda Shoulda” is boring to talk about now. I’m more excited about the Process of Up Grading what the 49ers already have in FA & the Draft. To me that’s a Hell of alot more interesting. I look forward to the next couple of months.
LOL with pain! i sat and watched the game and had this feeling of constant anger! i know still in the anger phase and i have not recovered from the lost. However as a football fan i truly believe Niners could have beaten the Patriots and won the trophy! oh well not our destiny to win this year.
Oh, and I didn’t really enjoy the game. It was a battle of two relatively mediocre teams being mediocre, IMO.
All the “consolation” posts about “at least SF lost to the SB champs” didn’t help… at all. SF would’ve dominated the Patriots. :’(
Mediocre? Wow. smh
You used the same kind of reasoning to describe why the Niners would beat the Giants and seeing how well that prediction worked out I’ll remain skeptical that the 49ers would have so easily beaten the Patriots.
I agree. I think the Niners D is better overall but they still have a major problem scoring points. I don’t think the Niners O-Line is that much better than the Giants. And Alex Smith aint even close to Eli Manning. Can you picture Alex Smith going 30-40 in that game? That’s what it took just to score 21 points against the Pats…remember? Like most defenses, the Pats would have keyed on stopping Gore and said “beat us Mr. Smith”. Could they have won? Yes but I think the Pats would have had a better chance against the Niners than they did against the Giants, strictly because of Alex vs. Eli.
On 49ers defense I agree, with Gronk injured, the Partiots were supremely vulnerable, and I think the 49ers defense would have played a bit better than the Giants. On offense, the Patriots weakness is in their LBs and DBs coverage. But they still prevented the big passing plays. IMHO, without the Giants receivers problems, the Patriots would have stuffed the 49ers offense. It would have come down to turnovers, field position and FGs.
Well I agree Alex Smith can not throw like that. But I say its has something to do with WRs that niners don’t have. Well I think Gore would of had a better ground game then Giants did. Plus like it was said Alex Smith can run. Well I would say special teams was what hurt them against the Giants. So it is likely it would Blow that game. I say even with that the odds of them winning would be about 75 percent.
The 49ers play three phases of the game. They were the best team, but the ball bounced the Giants way against the Niners and Pats. I think Gore would’ve been the MVP and the back seven would have controlled Brady. What sticks in my mind is when Brian Billick was asked what he would have done if he were coaching during the 49er-Giant game he said that he would have had his most sure handed man back there, Ed Reed. As I stated in yesterday’s blog, Williams handed our destiny to the Giants.
I’ve spent two weeks moping on the Niners loss and now I’m finally out of it. For the first week after the loss, I was ranting at the coaches for their decision not to calm down Williams after he dived to catch a punt right at the foot of a Giant’s player. Punt catching and returning is tough and one needs a quick-witted returner with experience. I don’t blame the coaches for keeping Williams in the game because there was no other returners with experience , but I still think it was a coaching error not to advise Williams to focus on ball security and take no chances and not try to make something happen on a wet field. Williams was asked specifically about this point and he said he received no such instruction on the sidelines.
This is the NFL — there is no gimme. Niners defense would definitely have put more pressure on Brady. But the Pats D played much better than I’d expected. Bellichick had his D ready to play, patchwork DB’s and all. He moved Wilfork around across from Chris Snee and their below-average run defense had a decent game.
The Giants played Niners’-style balanced, field-poisiton game. With the current Niners receivers and lack of a competent short-yardage back to help Gore, I have no reason to believe that the Niners offense would have done better than the Pats’ O. The Giants clearly were the more talented team, but the Pats were within a couple of feet away of a Gronkowski Hail-Mary catch to win it all.
The only lesson is the one we already know — that teams with a stable system in place (continuity in scheme, and in key players and coaches), sufficient talent pool of players who touch the ball, a solid D, and sufficient depth at all positions, will get a shot at making a run every season. Sometimes a team is lucky, like the Pats this season, and get an easy schedule.
Until proven otherwise, I will continue to have faith in the HarBaalke team to put the Niners in a position to make a run every season for the next decade.
Rational thought in this blog doesn’t happen very often, and it’s always a pleasure to read such thoughts. Thanks.
woulda coulda shoulda
Any given Sunday. . .
No use crying over spilled milk as the saying goes. But you’re right Grant. I think Brady would have been out before halftime if he had faced the defense of the Niners. Oh well. They have that chance next season. : )
I agree — Tom Brady would have had his hands full.
I couldn’t watch the Super Bowl without imagining how Justin Smith, Aldon Smith, Patrick Willis, Navarro Bowman, Ray McDonald and the rest of the gang would have been manhandling Brady. Next year, I hope!
They said Peyton was the greatest before the Saints shut them up. They said Brady was the greatest only to throw another interception and take a boneheaded safety. Nothing but cricket talk now.
Except no one said they were the greatest.
That had to the worst team to ever win the SB. Not the best at anything, not dominating in anything, just made the plays at the most oppurtune times. Which is basically all you HAVE to do.
That made it that much harder to watch. :(
I can’t wait until next year. Go Niners.
Dominating defense, more weapons on offense and another year of soaking in Harbaugh’s system.
A couple bad breaks against the Giants — missed interceptions, fumble-killing early ref whistle, mistakes on return game. I’m convinced Niners would be celebrating a well-earned Super Bowl win if even one of those goes the Niners’ way.
So tough to get to that position, so all the more heartbreaking this year. But barring injuries to key players, Niners will be back and more determined and confident than ever.
So true TobyNiner.
If the Niners can learn anything from all of this, it’s that you need at least three great wide receivers to flourish. The Niners had none. Get some for 2012 and you have a chance to go to New Orleans in February, 2013.
Somewhat irresponsible to condemn the 9ers entire receiving core, the o line, or even the running game for that matter, when you’ve never seen them operate with anybody consistently but the current q.b. There is nothing about the 9ers offense or the trigger man behind it to suggest changing the receiving core by addition or subtraction would produce any more or less than the current core.
Dumb post. Check what the TEs could do when Roman featured them.
Morgan was emerging before he got hurt, but that’s about it with the WRs. Crabtree had a good month or so, but he’s merely a functional route runner with one signature move (a stutter step) at this level. The opposition doesn’t even double-cover him. No more than a #2 or #3 (slot) guy. The rest of the unit is replaceable.
Mum is the word for you. Ignorance is bliss. Truth still remains that a receiver can’t throw the ball to himself. You can’t place condemnation on a three time winner for best receiver and one of the best the college game has seen, when you’ve only seen him operate with one q.b.
Manningham will be available.
So what? Manningham is a one trick pony. He runs the deep route. You are telling me that bringing in a receiver like Manningham to a QB who’s least favorite route is throwing the deep route, is going to solve our offensive issues?
We need a big bodied possession receiver who can occasionally take the top off of a defense. Bowe is the best option. Unfortunately a top FA wide receiver will not come here to play with Alex UNLESS we grossly overpay.
Are you saying he would not be an upgrade over what we have, i.e. Williams, Ginn, Hastings,Swain? He will be the most affordable and I think with his skill set he would fit our offensive scheme. I do not expect the Chiefs to allow Bowe to depart. Nor do I think Jackson leaves the Chargers.
Razor,
TG is as fast as Manningham. Maybe even faster. I saw maybe 4 deep balls thrown Ginns way ALL SEASON. What makes you think we are going to change that if we brought in Manningham? BTW, Manningham’s hands are very suspect. He drops a lot.
Agree baf. Manningham&cheese would make no sense whatsoever on this team.
His hands did not look suspect to me when he had to come down with the ball to give his team a winning chance against the Giants in the Super Bowl.
That throw Mr. Manning made to Manningham looked an awful lot like the throws Smith made to VD down the sidelines.
We can draft that type of receiver. The most realistic option – and a good one – is Mohamed Sanu from Rutgers. He’ll most likely be available late in the 1st round and should turn into a solid pro.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1664646
@Bay. Its probably wishful thinking to believe a top tier free agent receiver would subject himself to the lowest passing team over a number of years as well as a career below 200 yard per game q.b. Unless you’re paying that guy racks on top of racks of money. Best bet is to resign Morgan, Ginn, and look towards the draft for a compliment to what you already have…
Sanu will not turn into a “solid pro.” Not even close.
@jesse
What makes you so sure. None of us know for sure, but based on his past performance and physical tool set, the odds are in his favor that he does.
I would rather have a healthy Braylon back than Manningham. At least he knows the playbook! The more I think about a free agent Wr, the less I’m liking the idea. The only FA wr’s that ever went to another team and had success that I can think of is JR, TO, CC, RM! Welker wasn’t anything til he became a patriot! Those are four of the greatest wr’s of all time tho. The chances of having success with a FA, I think odds are against us. I say resign BE and draft Fleener and pick a Braylon look alike somewhere in the draft for insurance. The chances that BE has another injury plagued season is slim. Won’t break the bank!
You can only whine about AS being on the team, huh Bay?
@ bayareafanatic. Why wouldn’t a top flight receiver want to play for us? Because of Smith??? I think thats BS. All receivers want to play for team that WIN, which we can do. One game away from the SB = players wanna come here. Harbaugh = players wanna come here. I think we have a great shot at signing Bowe or V Jackson, and yes we will need to pay them well, but if we re-sign Alex, Dashon, Carlos, Josh Morgan, and maybe Ginn, we would still be able to easily afford Bowe or Jackson under the cap. It really depends on what we spend on those guys, not our QB play, because any of the top receivers are gonna wanna WIN A SB!!!!
That’s your opinion. Top WR’s want the ball. They want production. They sign deals with incentives. It’s not by accident that Braylen Edwards turned sour when he realized he would not come close to reaching his incentives.
Look back a few articles. Grant wrote the same opinion. He said he did not think a top flight FA wide receiver would come here to play with Smith. You gonna hate on him for having an opinion too?
Noah,
All top wide receivers want to get paid, first and foremost. A top wide receiver will go where the most money is. After money, then it’s about more money. Veterans that have been paid well throughout their careers, think about championship rings.
That means that a receiver looking forward to a big free agant check like Jackson, Manningham, Vincent Jackson will come to the Niners for enough cash. Having a chance to win a championship is icing on the cake for these three. The money is 1st. If the Niners want a top guy, they have to pay big because that top guys agent will let them know their numbers won’t be prolific with Alex Smoth and this system.
The arguments about players just “wanting to get paid” is getting a little stale. If you’ve been in the league for a while and haven’t tasted winning, the prospect of going to a contender for less money does carry some weight. Especially if you’re a player who’s already had a sizeable payday. Just look at Nnamdi signing with the Eagles in the offseason. Supposedly the 49ers offered more money but he’d tasted losing enough that he thought it would be better to go win because he’d already had a big payday from the Raiders. Of course, his plan backfired on him, and this won’t hold true for all players, but the possibility is there.
I guess we’ll just have to wait and see “who” will or won’t play here. How can comments be so absolute? It’s better to build through the draft. I’ll wait and see what TB and JH can pull off. This team will continue to arrow up and the offense will get better with the arrival of WR’s that get open more than 2-3 times a game.
Braylon had the same problem with the Browns and Jets. He already had a bad attitude before coming to the team. Nice thought Bay. Really. And VD would have slaughtered the Patriot secondary. Heck, I think Crabtree could have had a good game against that secondary.
On the attitude yes. But Braylon has put up numbers. Harbaugh convinced him to come here and convinced him that the offense would succeed under Alex. He did the Jedi mind trick on him.
Crabs had a very decent year for the amount of times Smith either didn’t see him or flat out missed him when he was wide open. Truth is, everyone is judging Crabs from his last game. Crabs is not a burner, and the last game he played on a very slick field. It affected Nicks and Manningham as well. The only receiver that wasn’t effected that day was Cruz.
Dumb post. Braylon was SF’s 3rd FA option, after retreads Burress & Ochocinco. He’s a bust, & a meek one who didn’t need no mind trick.
Braylon was more frustrated with his injury and not being able to play at a high level. That is when his tude got in the way…
I agree with your analysis on Manningham Bay.
yea I wish I could pick the right numbers to win the lotto.
I’m not sure. I think NY has the Patriots number in a way the 49ers dont. I doubt NY would have beat GB if the OC son hadn’t died that week. The way GB played was no coincidence.
I really dont think Brady has any worries over SF..and thier D isnt intimidated by Alex Smith like they are of E. Manning.
But as I said on another board ANY of the last six teams could say they were/are as good as NY…the matchups worked for NY this year.
Well,at least 3-4 …
Crabtree has always had the problem of getting open and catching the ball since he came into the NFL. Everybody knows that. There have been passes thrown to him THAT I COULD HAVE CAUGHT. He disappears from the game too much. And saying that Harbaugh convinced Edwards to come to this team is bogus. The Vikings were the only other team that I recall wanting his service.
When you put it that way..it makes you think the 49ers WILL improve on 13-3. Harbaugh to patch holes..why not?
Not true. Alex Smiths accuracy issues were more glaring prior to this season. JH improved them a bit, not enough. People critical of crabtree not getting open before this one game are making it up. Midwest, you can’t sue 1 game where crabs had that issue. That’s why I refuse to believe it was about receivers not getting open. Pull the trigger!!!
Midwest,
As far as Edwards, he needed a team to resurrect his career as well as all these other free agents under 1 year deals. Harbaugh asked them to prove themselves. Edwards thought he’d get the ball more, he didn’t. Watch Edwards next year. He will put up numbers for someone, just like he did for the jets. I guess alex didn’t trust Edwards either??? After the work they put in after practice?? Alex threw wildly and inaccurate to Braylon. Braylon was clearly frustrated about that and began to speak out and express that frustration openly. That’s whY he was shown the door. Braylon was pursued and persuaded, that’s what to with free agents. He didn’t call the Niners, the Niners called him.
MidWestNiner,
Smith has been in the league for seven seasons, and people commend his improvement after many up and down seasons. He minimized the turnovers this year and the team got to the playoffs. Why is it that you don’t mention that Michael Crabtree has improved every year in the league? His catches have improved every year, 48-55-72. His yardage has improved every year, 625-741-874. Last time I checked, he was learning a new offense and adjusting to a new coaching staff as well. Seems to me that his arrow is pointing up.
“There have been passes thrown to him THAT I COULD HAVE CAUGHT.” I’m sure…
Because playoffs matter over all else.
I harped on VD more than once this regular season. He dropped a few sure TD’s, and at times seemed to lost in his mind. Not really paying attention. I am sure you have a long journal of posts where I bashed VD during the season.
I was a lot better on MC this regular season. He was making plays (Seattle) that mattered when we needed him most.
But, then come playoff time, and MC vanished. VD showed up big, as did AS. 5TD’s thrown for AS. 1 TD run. 0 Int. 4TD passes by VD. Pretty good by anybody’s standards.
MC in the playoffs: 1TD, several drops (at least one on 3rd down) and only 1 stinking catch in the NFC Title game! That blows!
This team is now going to be judged by what they do in the playoffs from here on out. They are expected to be there next year. So, I don’t care at all who throws for x yards, or xTD catches or x run TD’s or any of that malarkey. Win the regular season games to get to the playoffs. Nothing in-between matters.
I want them (everybody) to be on come playoff time. You make the winning catch/throw/run in the playoffs, that covers up all the crappy drops/throws/runs a player had thruout the year. I could care less if you throw for 6TD’s a game in the regular season. I don’t care if he does not throw for any TD’s. You have to win playoff games now. That is all that matters.
BigP, agreed…with JH and staff, give the offense a full offseason together then add a WR from the draft, all arrows are definitely up!!
he did make some snatch em grab em catches early on for sure
Hofer,
Looking forward to it. It will be a long offseason, but at the end of the day that’s just more opportunity to get better.
What better way to fuel a team than not respecting them in some way. Just ask the Saints how well that worked.
Bay:
Agree with you on Manningham, disagree about recievers coming here. Alex can make that throw. He did to VD.
If the Niners make a good offer a lot of wide receivers will come here. They want money and they want to win. I think the offense will open up if there are reliable playmakers on the outside.
To be clear; I don’t think Alex is elite. Right now it is in the mid-range of NFL starting QB’s. I hope/think would a full off season he can improve as a QB.
Manningham isn’t even fast, check his 40 numbers. He’s not a true #1 WR in my opinion. A good CB can keep him in check. Im not sold on him being this ‘big play’ guy when Gilbride system utilizes the ‘run and shoot’ principles of his Houston Oilers days, and is designed to get guys open deep. Asking him to come here and run the full route tree the WCO requires and asking him to get off press coverage I dont think would work. He’s in a good system that allows for flexibility in routes, which helps him. He’s not the guy that this offense needs.
Manningham would be a third or forth option on the 49ers. He’s maxed.
football players have a very small window to earn. they will follow the money they have to the next play could be their last
Amen
Grant,
We only held the Giants to 20 points and the Saints to 32 points. How do you figure we would hold NE to under 17 pts. which has a much better offense than the Giants and about same as the Saints? Seems like you are dreaming.
It does not matter, you can say that every year with this team could of beaten that time, the Giants are better then us, their defense is not as good as our defense but their offense is much better then ours. Eli has the supporting cast and has the trigger, we don’t. AS may throw a ball but when it comes down to having balls he is lacking in that department. We can only hope he grows a couple with a better supporting cast.
After reading all of the pro Alex Smith comments I have come to the conclusion that he will lead us to the promised land in 2012.
You mean all 6 of them. I have a dream.
Glad NY won, but its still hurts. It’s going to be tough going next year.
NFC West Non-Divisional Schedules
San Francisco
Home: Buffalo, Miami, Chicago, Detroit, N.Y. Giants
Road: Minnesota, NY Jets, New England, Green Bay, New Orleans
Arizona
Home: Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo, Miami, Philadelphia.
Road: Green Bay, Minnesota, New England, NY Jets, Atlanta.
Seattle
Home: Green Bay, Minnesota, New England, NY Jets, Dallas.
Road: Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo, Miami, Carolina.
St. Louis
Home: Green Bay, Minnesota, New England, NY Jets, Washington.
Road: Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo, Miami, Tampa Bay.
None of the other NFC West teams play New Orleans or the NY Giants, and the the NFC West is poised to become the real Black and Blue division.
2012 will a season long slugfest. The 49ers could significantly improve at several positions and still finish 11-5 or 10-6. To win the Super Bowl they will need to get healthy at the right time and peak later in the season.
The 49ers will try to retain their defensive stars and draft a receiver or two, but they will also need overall better depth and another power running back to spell Gore to successfully deal with the 2012 schedule.
Would not want it any other way. Go Niners!
hard pressed to be 9-7, but i said that this year and got 14-4, yet this coming year niners will not be surprising anyone…..and at this moment don’t even know what team will be fielded….will brooks be here or goldson or rogers(still not really enamored with rogers depends on culliver) or grant, gore may really falter next year, the defensive line really doesn’t have depth, many unsigned FA(what 18-19), so really can’t prognosticate until well into the summer….team may be completely different looking….
and the OL, even though some think played better the second half of season, still had issues issues for instance the play many bemoan and believe was an AS key to losing the game the – DW wheel route…. anthony davis let a defender come free without even trying to re-engage and the defender was closing very fast (within 2yds on AS) flushing AS just as DW came even with the slipped defender not allowing AS the opportunity to square his shoulders by which time two other giant defenders were forcing AS on a dead run to the left negating any real opportunity to pass to DW…also believe DS was to get the ball early on the LOS but the defender (90) jumped up high to prevent that possibility….and at that point the DW option was defended well….
niners had a real chance to make it this year, and to say someone can’t pull the trigger as ‘the’ reason for no SB appearance chose to neglect other more major reasons the team didn’t make it….
“…also believe DS was to get the ball early…”
Awesome! So, I was the secret weapon of JH and the Niners offense in the title game then.
Will get a clearer picture of the 2012 season after free agency and the draft.
Also important… how much of the coaching staff will be poached by other teams? So far we have dodged a few bullets.
My main point was the tough schedule, the improved NFC West and how it will be significantly harder to win next season despite any personnel improvements.
Lots of questions… Can we hang on to Rogers and Goldson? Knowing we are facing high powered passing teams in 2012, I’m thinking the 49ers will throw money at keeping DBs intact. Will guys like Dobbs step up and provide depth in the front 7 or will they draft some more 3-4 D linemen?
There are some certainties. The 49ers have to replace Chilo. Period. And the Niners need better wide receivers. And the Niners will need depth, depth and depth to survive this brutal schedule.
Niners don’t deserve to be in Super Bowl, 1 -13 in third down conversions, 4 and out in the 4th quarter and then we have KW, the biggest putz in 49er history.
I agree, Grant, but such is football…
At least the Superbowl should stop the nonsense of Brady being anywhere near Montana.
And, Manning as MVP of that game is a joke. The Corvette should have gone to the one man without whose play the Giants could not have won that game: Kyle Williams.
Amen brother!!
2012 will be the year that all of you AS haters will have to eat crow! He is taking us to the Super Bowl!!
The real AS haters are the members of the AS man crush fan club, they have their Cult members brain washed hating on anyone who disagrees that AS is the greatest QB in history. He is not even the best QB in the last 6 yrs for the Niners, would take back Shawn Hill in a second.
Neal, slow down there big fella. I realize that Smith is a joke of a quarterback, but wanting to go back to Shawn Hill? Now you are just showing that you are not the sharpest tool in the shed.
If you are not careful we might have to ask a few others to move over and make room for another village idiot.
Opinions are like assholes everyone has one. JH, you say that AS is a joke of a QB, SH was pretty decent with the Niners. He was not pretty but he won games. He was 10 and 6 as a starter, not too shabby. Your not making much sense with that quote, and perhaps you are not the brightest light in the block.
I would agree with the end of that statement.
how would have shaun done this year….
Put your money where your mouth is. If Alex takes us to and WINS the Super Bowl, I will donate $100 to your favorite charity.
Anything less and you donate $100 to MY favorite charity.
You game, slurp-boy?
Who are you talking too? The Niners are 8 to 1 in winning the Super Bowl for next year. I have my doubts, we really need to have a great receiving core, due to AS limitations.
and which superbowl winners lately haven’t had very good receiving corps?????? Don’t hurt yourself now. LOL
I am not arguing with you Neal, just trying to make sure that you know I am right.
Well then I will go back to my opinion quote. JH.
I agree Grant, and I agree that we need to get over lossing to the G-men and start thinking about next year. We got the coach and we got a hell of a team. All we need is a couple of new guys and watch out!
As much as I dislike the Giants, they did beat 4 very good teams, 2 on the road, to earn this Championship. Were those teams better than the Giants? Each one had their chance to prove it on the field.
@ribico
I feel like using a Dennis Green quote about the Giants. The one about the other team is who we thought they were, and we left them off the hook! quote is very appropriate for me right now.
@Calistoga
I agree with you. Your statement is much stronger (about players only following the money) is stronger though if the player is not seeking his 2nd contract. The first contract gets the player into the NFL. If the player is still good enough to play, and is playing well,then he wants a big pay day.
If the player is seeking his 3rd or higher contract, the player cares a lot more about winning and will work for near peanuts to get onto a contender.
Aaaaarrrrrgggghh!!!
I thought i got over the NFC Championship loss quickly, rationalizing it as a tough loss for a great coach/team which is hopefully at the start of a new era of excellence.
but its February, and even in a relatively warm winter back here its fricking cold, the sun is setting at 3:30 (feels like it, anyway) and i’m now surrounded by NYG fans that think they have a great team, that Coughlin is a HOF coach and Eli a HOF qb. Eli played exceptionally well but to me this gets him into the Roethlisberger/Plunkett category, a full notch below the all time greats at best. Coughlin? I wouldnt trade him for Holmgren or Shanahan.
a fricking 9-7 team wins the SB, and we had these guys beat if we make just one more good play in the 4th quarter. this is how close we were to a 6th SB. I also believe we would have beat the Patriots. I thought i was over it, but right now it stings like the NFC Champ. loss to the Falcons and the 2 fake defensive holding calls against the Skins in 83 (we were totally robbed). it stings in a different way – in those cases, refs and/or injuries cost us the game, but in this one, we were the superior team on that day and we just couldnt prove it. and the brass ring in the NFL doesnt come around every day, or easily. Aaaaarrrrrrgggh!
ok, now that i’ve vented, if we draft like we’ve drafted the last 2 years, we not only will get back to the SB, we’re going to get back to it regularly. if we keep plucking 2-3 starters out of every draft for the next couple of years, we’re talking about a new dynasty. Combine? NFL Draft? CANT WAIT!!
Could have, would have, should have. Couldn’t and didn’t. Time to move on already, we didn’t get there so it doesn’t matter what we would have done if we got there. The Giants beat the top seeds in the NFC and the top seed in the AFC, they deserve to be champions. The stone is carved, time to focus on the draft and improving the team.
+1
+ 2
We all know we should’ve been in the Super Bowl..but, the fact remains, we weren’t. Woulda, coulda, shoulda just dwells on it…and there’s nothing to gain from it. Instead, we should be looking to the future…to re-signing as many of our UFA’s as possible, preparing for FA and finally, the draft. Then, once that’s done, the OTA’s, mini-camps, etc. to get ready for training camp. That’s where the rubber meets the road…a full off-season with Coach Harbaugh and his crack staff…to install the full offensive playbook and practice, practice, practice!
Look -Brady isnt Montana..Joe would NEVER have given up a safety-and on th efirst play of the game? are you kidding me?..And Harbaugh isnt Walsh..first the bobble,then the shin muff? Walsh would have seen a man over his head and yanked him. Harbaugh left him in to finish off the team with a killing fumble in overtime.
And since I took that position before..I feel vindicated.
@Stan
Note:
EM also gave up a safety for no good reason to the Falcons. Ended up being the only points in the game for the Falcons.
Also note that had Brady played smart (like AS did this year), he would not have been in a position to give up a safety either. And, had that safety not happened, it is not likely that the Pats would have only needed a FG and not a TD to win the game.
See all. Playing smart football would have won the game for the Patriots. Just throwing it around and winging it lost the game for the Pats this time, and should have lost them the AFC Championship Game as well.
Had Tom Brady been a better game manager, he would have known he was in the endzone and thrown it closer to a WR, or he would not have gone so far back to begin with. Game managing is a big deal and is not something to be laughed off.
A good game manager also does not throw the retarded pass up in the 4th quarter which was intercepted. I called it an Int a full second before the guy actually caught it. If I could see it, TB saw it. He just thought he would go ahead and give his playmakers a chance for the ball.
Where have I heard that before?
@ds94 the problem with players on their 3rd contract is alot of them have to many miles on them and are’nt nearly as effective as they were in their 2nd contract
You are exactly right.
That is why you sign them to short contracts. Also, a well coached and deep team will utilize their special skills more than let their age show itself. And, most players now take good care of their bodies, so they may have a few good years left before they fall under the passage of time.
For example, if a team needs a good pass rusher, it is not taking such a huge risk if it signs an older DE who has been a specialized player his whole career. You don’t put him in situations where he will not help you (1st and 10), but rather in 3rd and long situations.
So, you are taking a risk. But, one has to risk something to get something in return. Agree?
early odds are out in vegas 9ers are 16 to 1 to win the super bowl next yr think i’m going to get 500 and lay it on the 9ers i really like those odds
Grant, still being a fan.
ds9 the risk is in the signing bonus thats the only part of the contract thats guaranteed in the nfl if you part ways with the player the whole bonus comes to the current year and that can be a hell of hit on the salary cap
But I am banking on the notion that the guy is looking for the best team around who can get him a ring by that point. So, he won’t look for the top paying team in this instance (the one I am assuming with the higher signing bonus), but to have the chance to win games. If he is still money crazy, then by all means, don’t sign the guy.
Although it never quite worked out for Tim McDonald when he was here, he came here instead of other teams who could give him more money because the Niners were always contending for the Super Bowl every year. Players like that are the ones who the Niners will be able to attract now after this season. The team can give an incentive rich contract to the guy just to make the numbers look big as well, don’t forget.
I thought the signing bonus worked a little differently.
Say the player has a 5 year contract with a $10million signing bonus. Averaging out to $2 million a year. If the player plays for the team for 3 years, then is cut, he will have gotten 3/5 of his signing bonus which was already paid (so $6 million is subtracted from the original $10 million) leaving $4 million left unpaid. That $4 million is then counted against the cap for the season where the player was let go. Not the original signing bonus of 10 million against the cap for that year.
Except for the final game we all enjoyed a better season than all but one team. The season-long journey is a big part of the fun, and you have to admit this was one of the most enjoyable seasons in a long long time. The year Steve Young beat the Chargers was so lopsided most of the year games were uninteresting by half-time. Just a phenomenal year for fans.
The thing about next year is they won’t win 13 games, but they can win the division and be a better team next year with fewer wins. I’ll be happy with 11 wins and a divisional title. From there it’ll be just one game at a time.
Pats and Niner face each other next year…we’ll have a chance to see Billicheat and Harbaugh clash should be a good game.
It just amazes me how facts are replaced with biased opinions. According to some, the WRs are the second coming, Edwards was treated unfairly, and Smith didn’t improve. I recall people in the past talking about how Crabtree has stone hands and struggles with route running. I also recall the main complaint about the WRs was that they kept dropping passes that as a NFL WR you have to make. And Edwards has been on three teams now. What does that say about him? Bay and 23, don’t blue facts with biased opinions. You can’t call yourself a true fan if you do that. I support the team as a whole. I also support facts, NOT HALF-TRUTHS.
“It just amazes me how facts are replaced with biased opinions.”
I agree.
“Bay and 23, don’t blue facts with biased opinions. ”
(I think you meant glue facts, not blue facts, right?)
Come on now. That is what they do. Have for years. You should know better MidWestNiner
@ds9 your signing bonus math is correct i thought thats what i said. but no ones ever accused me of being clear especially any of my ex players
Neal, he stayed with a team in a city that didn’t want him. Don’t talk about Smith having no balls when he did that. Makes me wonder if you were talking about yourself to say something so stupid as that. As for that trigger, VERNON POST. The trigger works both ways. The QB has to know that if he pulls the trigger that his receiver will catch it. Eli, Tom, Aaron, and Drew have that with more than one option because their targets have earned it.
Midwest. If he went somewhere else, he would not of been the first string QB, plus 5 or 6 million a year, tough decision, he would not get that anywhere else.
So Indy and AZ, Miami, Jacksonville, Seattle…no chance huh?
Give it a rest on KW. He messed up. So what? He did as Harbaugh told him each time. If he had made a big return, there wouldn’t be so much whining going on. You’re blasting a guy picked late in the draft. Pathetic.
+1
KW screwed up royally. As has everybody here in their lives at some point or another. Only difference being that one happened in front of a national audience, and that your own screwups had a lot more real impact on your lives than some football players mistakes.
Look there is a good chance the guy at least stays on this team when training camp opens. If he isn’t, then I am ok with that too.
That is what “In JH I trust” means. It means that you don’t bash the decisions he made that got us from 6-10 to 13-3. I say it. I believe it. Some say it…and don’t believe it. Not my problem if you fall under that category.
Agreed with your first two paragraphs anyway.
But you get so upset Mid West when we talk about AS, where was he drafted.
Manningham is a free agent, what are the odds of the Niners picking him up? He can be the number one receiver instead of being number 3 with the Giants. Giants will resign him most likely.
BigP,
Crabtree has improved. However there are times when it seems that he doesn’t make an effort in a game. His attitude is also a problem. I thought he was finally starting to mature until his stupid comment after the NFC Championship. Combined with that, he just hasn’t really progressed that much. That is one of the reasons I want to see the Niners get a couple of WRs this offseason. Crabtree has had a easy ride since he he came to the NFL. I want him to admit when he plays bad, attend training camp, and be more consistent in his route running and catching. He can, but he needs to want to.
Fair enough MWN. I can agree with your statement up until the ‘bad attitude’ comment. Since we have all settled on the fact that if Harbaugh has given Alex his endorsement ‘it’s good enough’, why can’t we do the same for Crabtree that has also received Harbaugh’ endorsement?
It puzzles me that many who say that Crabtree has a ‘bad attitude’ were seriously considering the idea of signing T.O. after B.Edwards was cut.
Sure, Crabtree needs to grow up and mature, but what WR (especially one who led the team in receiving) doesn’t want to play a more prominent role especially in a big game. It’s more the nature of the beast, than a bad attitude in this case.
Didn’t mean to swoop on yours and Big P’ convo. Just wanted to offer my opinion. You could take it or leave it, I’m cool either way.
I never considered TO at all.
The bad attitude part comes from what he said to the press. There was 0 reason for him to say that. Notice KW, Swain, or anybody else said that. MC did the team not an ounce of good by saying what he did.
All of that should have been discussed in team meetings, 1 on 1 with AS or JH, his position coach, etc.
Compared to some things that T.O. used to say about J.Garcia and the Off. Cord, or some nasty statements other NFL receivers have made, I don’t see where Crabtree’ statements were so venomous.
He basically was only saying that he would have liked “more opportunties to make plays.” Big deal! How many RB’ over the years have asked for more carries? Heck, Nolan and Singletary couldn’t get F.Gore to share the ball with anyone.
I can’t fault a player (especially our leading receiver) for wanting the ball.
TO is the Hitler of locker rooms. Sure he can help out (Germany was left with nohing after WW1, and Hitler did build the Germans up to a world power).
But the costs? Not worth it. Not even close. Comparing TO with MC (or anybody for that matter) can only shine heavens lights onto the other person.
I bet JH said something to MC involving some language that I can’t repeat after MC said what he did.
You’re right. The elite players (JR, FG) do say things about wanting the ball more. Note FG did not tell the press that though. Despite being an elite RB, and having a WAY better game than MC.
A player needs to earn the right to go off like that. MC has not earned it. You don’t earn it…you’re going to be bashed. Matters not either way. JH would not accept that behavior from elite or practice squad player. Goes against his whole way of being.
Midwest,
He hasn’t progressed much? I think the more important thing to mention is that he has never regressed during his career. He has gotten better every year, while facing the same challenges everybody else on the team has faced. Bad system, bad coaches, etc. How many players can say that? He has some maturing to do, but the kid is talented and more than capable of being a big time receiver. I look forward to it.
Neal, I see your point about Manningham, but like David Tyree of the Giants previous SB win he made one spectacular catch.
Manninghams numbers were somewhat pedestrian during the season. But the SB gives a platform for almost any player to be a star.
Tyree never was able to duplicate his SB heroics as has been the case with other players who had their brief moment of stardom.
I can’t remember the RB from the Redskins who still has the all-time rushing record for a SB with about 206 yrds.
Also, a great deal of credit should go to Eli for throwing one of the most beautiful passes ever thrown in a SB or any game for that matter.
I still say we go after Marques Colston or Vincent Jackson in the F/A market. There are some nice WR entering the draft that could provide immediate help as well. I personally like Kendall Wright (V.Cruz, type) of Baylor, and Mohamed Sanu (D.Bowe, type) from Rutgers who may be available when our turn comes up.
On a side note; I believe we could have beat the Patriots with our current group of WR’ had we played yesterday. I firmly believe every 49er player knows that as well.
@AES,
Your probably right, Tyree retired after the Super Bowl, he was hurt too much, Marques Colston would be great and a draft pick, I don’t follow college football other then Stanford, so I will take your word for it on those other guy’s.
I get upset when facts get distorted. I have always said any QB would have struggled with what the Niners have done to Smith the past six seasons. I haven’t seen it happen with any other QB. That is the truth and not one based on opinion.
That is the truth, MidWest, and it’s interesting to me that other QBs around the league seem sensitive to it, as well. Heard Eli in an interview the other day, and the first thing he said when asked about his success was that he’s been in the same system his whole career, “…and that was really BIG”. Same for Brady, and Rodgers, and Brees, at least for as long as he’s been in NO.
Nobody knows what’ll happen, of course, but with Alex JUST NOW getting his first chance at a second year in the same system…well, I think the expression is “arrow up”. I’m hoping for some tweaks on the O-line, a couple of additions to the receiving corps (especially a big-body), and I think we might be looking at the same kind of improvement on the Offense as we saw from the team overall this year. A couple more receivers with the kind of talent Vernon’s got, and I think you see Alex dropping in some of those impossible passes to them, too. Remember, he did it with Davis!
The architect of the present NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle once stated that his vision was to have everyone finish 8-8. This way there would be enthusiasm and the games would sell out in stadiums and TV.
That’s why I’m not giving up on Crabtree yet. Believe or not, I want to see him succeed. But to do that, he has to grow up a little. The same thing was said about Davis back then and look at him now. He’s now one of the best TE in the league in all aspects of the game. If Crabtree does the same, I think the sky is the limit for him and this team.
I hear ya, MWN.
Well said MWN.
What do you guys think about the 6’5″ Wideout from Georgia Tech, Stephen Hill!
And no. I despise Owens. He is and will always be a cancer.
DS, I don’t see where Crabtree responding to a reporters question by saying he would have liked more opportunities to make plays can be considered as ‘going off’?
Excuse me for repeating it; but i’ve heard far more vicious statements over the years from players than this.
AES,
It’s not going off, the kid wants to make plays and knows he is capable.
@AES
Did anybody else sound remotely like him?
Did anybody who did so little this post-season sound like that?
And it does not matter what other players have said on the Niners old teams or other teams. Those teams are not this team. I don’t/can’t compare them like that.
Like what other players DS, Swain? We are talking about a player who in my opinion earned the right as the teams leading receiver to ask for more opportunities. I’m still struggling with how that statement can be contrued as offensive or out of line.
Also, bear in mind that he didn’t solicit anyone for his remarks, he was being asked by a reporter. I do agree with your view that it should have been kept in-house. This is the only fault I find in all this.
Go figure?
Specifics AES?
Well, to start, you really are not quoting exactly what he said. He said to just give the playmakers a chance to make plays. When asked even if you are covered, MC said “Yes.”
Did you actually see the interview? Not asking to start something. But rather to see if you saw how he said things that is simply not conveyed reading a transcript.
What a player says is 50%. How a player says it is the other 50%.
Neither FG, AS or VD said or sounded like MC. When they spoke it was a lot more about “we failed”.
When MC spoke, it was more about not getting chances. And of course only 1 person is responsible for that. AS. It was not about “we failed”. It came off a lot more like AS failed. He didn’t say AS specifically, but it was implied and Dwight Clark and his partner on CSN I believe, discussed that for a bit.
When the leaders on the offense (FG, MC) talk “We.” and they had really good games, then you hear MC who had a horrible game make negative comments about the guy who gets him the ball, that is bad. MC didn’t say “We failed” nearly enough. Considering his bad play, a lot of “I failed” would have been appropiate.
You’re right about FG before this year. But after that Philly game, FG was being interviewed and you could tell that FG really believed in the coach/team (he always loved AS and fully supported him) in a manner he never has before. He had a different look in his eye than he has ever had. I cold tell, this Philly game was the most important win in his life. You must have noticed a change in FG with the media since.
Let’s see Crabtree make it to his training camp.
@Andrew
MC arriving and fully participating in camp is an absolute “must” for me.
Sorry Grant, you just sound like a homer here. No one can say how the niners would do against the Pats, its all just conjecture now.
We lost to the Giants, on to next year.
Sorry – but this is a very poor attempt at journalism, definitely not one of your better works.
To me, maturity is a big step to his progression. He hasn’t regressed, but he hasn’t progressed much either. Harbaugh helped him with the team concept. Now he has to help him with development concept in terms of maturity. When that happens, I think he will finally break out with a 1,000 yards receiving year.
When does Free Agency actually begin? I’m not sure on exact dates
i heard march 18 or so
Cant wait till then. I just want to see what the coaching staff thinks about the receiving core. All us say we need some WR’s but the coaches may think differently. I hope they address the need though
Adam: Free Agency starts at 4:00 Pm March 13.
guess if i was a GM i would be days late and a few million dollars short and walking the pavement
DS, you said earlier you’re not interested about what happened in the past. Why bring up what F.Gore said last year or the different look in his eye?
Crabtree only had about 5 passes thrown his way against NY. Not all were thrown perfectly, but he is not citing Alex for that. He was saying he would have liked more chances. How he said it, and what his countenance appeared to be has little bearing in the final anaysis. A playmaker wants the opportunity to make plays. Whether his comment was aimed at Alex or the offensive cord, I still don’t see the damage in his comments.
I’m sure we can go around in circles on this, so I’ll leave it here with this.
Because you brought up FG’s past demanding of the ball, and because I brought up FG’s interview and because that Philly game really sealed the players belief in the coaching staff. Why does that matter? Because this has been the most “team” oriented team all season, and in any of our recollections. And that MC steps outside those bounds means more than if this were the Raiders dysfunctional locker room who don’t know what team means.
Ditto to you Jack with your computer. Except I’m not on a computer.
@Grant
Please delete the filth in Jacks post above. And if he weren’t able to post here again, few would be upset.
Thank you Grant.
DS,
I would be upset. Who are you to say who can or can’t post here. Some wish you didn’t post here day and night, 24-7.
Adam 707, Free Agency begins middle of next month. Until then we get to read about how Alex Smith is going to lead us to the Super Bowel.
was that a freudian …..like toilet bowl or like a bowel movement on the way to the or …..
I dont see how money is a problem for this year. If i remember correctly we were around 20 million under cap last year. So assuming we pay both Rogers and Goldson top dollar and give Smith 8-10 mil/year we should still have enough for a top WR FA.
if really wanted to keep any of these FA should have used this past year cap windfall to structure a contract that was paid upfront…since this windfall is not carried forward….i had made this point earlier in the season… weren’t some of those FA making only around million or two million dollars a year….
BE contract was like that and he gives it away to his charity so he actually didn’t make any money last year…..correct?
crabtree works as hard as any of the 9ers. his problem is’nt his work ethic its that he is extremely fragile. anyone who has suffered feet problems knows they will pop up at any time and they are totally debilitating.
@adam money is an issue because we have 6 unrestricted fa who we want to sign and that will eat up most if not all of our cap room
I can see this is going to be a long offseason. Sigh…
we would have lost..
0-13 on 3rd down…alex smith would not have beaten brady…
never