Handful of 49ers have Super Bowl experience

Posted By on January 26, 2020

MIAMI — They’re too young.

They’re inexperienced.

They’re terrific, but they’ve been terrific for only six months.

No matter how many games the 49ers have won, or how thoroughly they overpower their opponents, skeptics keep coming back to the 49ers’ youth and inexperience. As if those things inevitably will doom their season. As if the 49ers are Cinderella, and their magical mystery carriage will transform into a pumpkin at midnight, or just before the Super Bowl. And they’ll be left wearing ashes.

As if George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Raheem Mostert, Kyle Juszczyk, Nick Bosa, DeForest Buckner, Arik Armstead, Dee Ford, Fred Warner, Kwon Alexander, Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt all will trip and fall on their faces during the Super Bowl because they’ve never been there.

The 49ers were 4-12 a year ago, one of the worst teams in the NFL. They did not build gradually to this moment, they exploded onto this moment, and it’s fair to wonder if they’re ready for it. But a few coaches and players on the 49ers have been to the Super Bowl before. Call these men the elder statesmen. They can tell the rest of the players and coaches exactly what to expect during the biggest week of their careers.

Here is the collective Super Bowl wisdom the 49ers’ wise men have to offer:

This article has 95 Comments

  2. I think moment gets too big for Mahomes. It’s all leading up to this…

    •No playoff 0 INT’s
    •0 playoff games outside of arrowhead
    •Our defense is really good
    •Chiefs offense came out flat against worse teams
    •Andy Reid doesn’t win the big games

    Chiefs also just lack leadership on both sides of the ball. Kelce has a big voice but a TE can’t be your main leader. Mahomes leads by example but is still only 24. When he struggles who pushes them over the hump. Eric Berry would have helped them this year, instead of Sorenson yikes!

    1. Mahomes is mobile but I’m not worried about him enough as a runner to spy on him imo. He runs to pass and that’s my biggest fear with his mobility. If we play zone he shouldn’t get a ton of great looks to run so if our big bodies make him pay for any fakes and give our guys an easy hit then we should take it.

      As far as doing our normal rush we have to try and squeeze the pocket around him and need to try and keep him in the pocket, he’s most dangerous when he scrambles and hits guys down the field with huge gainers. Can’t let him get outside and get him those big play opportunities. KEEP HIM CONTAINED as best they can!!!!!

      Of course that’s easier said than done…hopefully our DL plays their best game of the season and Nick has another Carolina like game in him. Wouldn’t mind if Dee had himself a great revenge game too(just don’t line up offsides)….GOOD Jimmy better show up and throw 16/20 2tds, no int OR drops and 30 plus runs to eat the clock. ..9ers should win by 7.

  3. They should also listen to Brent Jones. He stressed the need to take advantage of every opportunity. Every snap counts. Inches matter.
    .
    He also talked about when he played. Those Niners expected everyone to do their job, and their mindset was to be champions. He said they were not hungry for a win, they were starved for a win, and played accordingly.
    .
    I hope KS replays what Jed York said in the locker room, about becoming champions, just before they play in the Super Bowl. Prophetic words, spoken from the heart.
    .
    I believe it was Bill Walsh who said- ‘Since we have come this far, we might as well go ALL THE WAY.’

  4. The 49ers rightfully jettisoned players with despicable personal history related to violence against women and children. Chiefs got rid of Kareem Hunt but they still have Frank Clark and Tyreek Hill. I hope the recordings related to their issues are a major media focus this week. These guys are bad people.

    1. Agreed. Many yesterday forgot that Kobe Bryant was a rapist who offered one of the most appalling apologies to date.
      That 19 year old girl was someone’s daughter.

      Truly tragic that 8 other people including his daughter lost their lives. My sincere condolences to their families.

      As a parent I can relate to wanting to give our children amazing experiences. How heart wrenching it is to think the parent of the other family who was traveling with the Bryant’s made a choice that cost their child it’s life. The news should stop talking about Kobe Bryant and start talking about the families left behind to deal with this accident.

      1. Man, don’t go there. My post has nothing whatsoever to do with Kobe. Clark beat up his girlfriend and Hill plead guilty to beating up his pregnant girlfriend. Leave Kobe out of this.

        1. Doesn’t change the fact that something happened in that Colorado hotel room.

          It’s a slippery slope, but when remembering a person you can’t ignore their flaws and missteps.

          And what he was accused of was equally as awful as what Hill and Clark have.

          Thankfully the 49ers have proven that you can win with class and have come a long way from the Baalke/Harb era of having more than a few guys on their team with off the field issues (knock on wood).

          1. When her own friends called her a liar because she was bragging about his junk size the next day, it shows the only thing that went on in that hotel room was a girl got what she wanted.
            He’s a cheater on his wife, it was up to her and him to work that out.
            Absolutely classless to bring up this case when he was never convicted of it ,And right after his death is a testament to your character.
            Straight up!
            Smh

            1. There seems to be a movement in the media and society now that needs attention brought to it.
              When an athlete dies, their actions are forgotten. Look at the Aaron Hernandez situation as evidence. It’s a sad situation but by your reasoning Hernandez wasn’t convicted of a crime due to abatement.
              It wasn’t until the state Supreme Court reinstated the conviction that justice was served for Lloyd’s family.
              You’re naive if you think money doesn’t buy privilege.

              1. Hernandez was guilty and convicted.
                Bryant was not.
                It’s funny that you say money buys privilege. That is certainly true in most cases.
                But what happened to oh I don’t know innocent until proven guilty?

                You can’t sit there and really say there hasn’t been a lot of women who cry rape, pointing at a famous person.

                Your comment has no basis on the chiefs players today, and none on Hernandez.
                Difference is those three were convicted by a court or admitted their crime.

                His type of stuff has been going on and on, on his site for years. With ex 49ers being accused and committing crimes.
                And every time there’s the few who jump the gun, refuse to wait for evidence and want to convict someone simply for being accused.

                I guess some see the justice system in a different light.

              2. Shame on you.

                Again this coming from someone who always found fault in kobe….

                You can focus on the bad….i rather focus on the fact he was good dad….

                That is one thing you can’t deny him…..

              3. The duke lacrosse players were accused and never received an apology from those in the media.
                Their parents did settle a civil suit with the victim .
                Kobe in his apology acknowledged he did wrong. Then he followed it up with a civil settlement. Michael Jackson was never convicted of being a child molester. He does get the benefit of innocent until proven guilty. He paid a civil suit. He didn’t offer an apology for his actions stating he was wrong.
                I cannot speak about Kobe as a dad. None of us can. We aren’t privy to his interactions when the cameras aren’t there.
                There are two things I can say about Kobe. He was one of the greatest to play the game. He was also by his own admittance a rapist. The Law dictates as much. He didn’t need the conviction. His apology admitted it. Point blank. The fact that the victim didn’t want to testify defines more than half of rapes in this country.
                But by the standard of the law, in Kobe Bryant’s apology, is the definition of rape whether you like it or not.
                The argument isn’t whether he did it or not. He admitted it. So he doesn’t apply to innocent until convicted.

              4. @Matt – Ok – The guy is dead and you want to rehash a case where the so called victim was paid millions of dollars to forget……

                we should also talk about how the founding founders had slaves……We celebrate some of them on the money and buildings we use today…….

                Those founding fathers also raped colored girls…..Don’t be hypocrite and make sure you bring it up when talking about the history of country when telling your kids…….

              5. Oneniner, why would you presume that Matt does not do so? And why would we not want people to learn the actual complexity and contradictions that underlie historical figures as much as contemporary ones? This example of slave owners in or history (and among the framers of the country) is a particularly salient one to me, as my step-children are biracial with African-american ancestry. More importantly, they can trace their ancestry back to slaves held in Virginia, and I can trace mine back to Virginian land owners who held slaves. My oldest son (now and adult) and I have talked about and continue to talk about such things, and what it means for us to be family now.

              6. Matt already convinced us all that he focuses on are the negatives when it comes to a tragedy.

                I even tried to soften him up with “Kobe was a good dad”…..

                he is so high on his horse he forgets “Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones”….

                Good for you teaching the kids the truth……You are a good man…

                and welcome back…..

              10. @ oneniner. You are right and I respect and appreciate a point a view that was different from mine.
                We learn from each other through communication and sometimes disagreement. In this case I was out of line and I appreciate you helping me see it.

      2. I am no Kobe fan……and I was part of the group who didn’t feel sorry for him when he was charged with rape.

        All I know is that the 19 year old girl got PAID……..and Kobe has never been charged with a crime since then…….

        He was no Harvey Weinstein or Bill Cosby…….

        1. I agree. There have been many cases of women who cry rape, but after she entices the man, just to get a big payout. Kobe could have had his pick of very willing women. She should have never, ever, gone to his hotel room. I do not know the exact truth, or the whole story, but I think it is entirely possible that Kobe thought it was consensual, and she set him up. Yes, there are too many rapes, but it is also a 2 way street. Look at the Duke Lacrosse team.
          .
          Look at his life afterwards. Kobe was an exemplary citizen, with no problems. He was a doting father, and a good husband. Being accused of rape, did not mean he was found guilty of rape. In America, he is innocent until proven guilty.
          .
          jmho

            1. You equating Kobe and what Clark and Hill did is revealing to your character. Hill broke his own child’s arm.

          2. Try reading his apology. He admits he didn’t know she didn’t want to continue int he acts then loom up the medical report.
            No sympathy to be had.

            1. Exactly. She consented, then in the middle, she decided not to continue.
              ,
              Did he force her to start? No. If she did not want to have sex, she never should have gone to his room.

              1. So going to someones room, as a concierge of the hotel, after showing him the grounds, is now consent for sex?

                K scumbag.

                And even if she was OK with the idea at first, if she wanted to stop and tried to, thats a wrap. You end it there and just deal with the awkwardness.

              6. I read it, and am now more informed. She wore underpants that had another man’s semen and pubic hair, when she went in for the examination, signifying multiple sexual partners.
                .
                Kobe apologized, though admitting no guilt.
                .
                She had psychotic problems, but 2.5 mil is helping her recover.

              7. I got news for you, GEEP–when Sebby gets on his soap-box, this IS the Jerry Springer show–pretty entertaining, too!

              8. Did he force her to start? No. If she did not want to have sex, she never should have gone to his room.

                The above is an example of 1950’s thinking. What is disturbing is that many today still abide by such a deplorable rationalization. Consent is not monolithic. It is varied and mutable, a reality recognized by law in all U.S. jurisdictions.

                Having said that, the Kobe case is particularly problematic. The complaining witness refused to testify well after discovery was complete (meaning both sides had seen the other side’s cards). Prosecutorial discretion allows a prosecutor to go forward with or dismiss a case based on whether or not the case is winnable. Sexual battery cases are sometimes winnable even absent cooperative testimony from the complaining witness. Given the evidence on which the media has reported (and presuming no other damning evidence that was held back from the media), the case in question does not appear winnable without the cooperative testimony of the complaining witness. In other words, the prosecutor did not have a winning hand absent the complaining witness’s cooperation.

                Now, some of you will respond with “she was paid hush money,” and you may well be right. But the fact of a settlement in favor of the plaintiff the civil lawsuit is not evidence of guilt. From a risk management perspective, it is often more desirable to settle lawsuits that a defendant might possibly (but not necessarily probably) win just to avoid the expenses of trial and the possibility that a loss could have further implications (from very large jury awards to impact on other cases). Add in ongoing negative publicity for a public figure, and the reasons to settle even absent culpability provable by a preponderance of the evidence are manifold. Or put more colloquially, civil suits can be a cr@p shoot, and it is best to mitigate the amount of cr@p one may have to deal with by settling for whatever amount of cr@p one determines to be tolerable.

                However, even given the above, my analysis (as an admitted arm chair analyst in this instance) is that the young woman in question performed a cost-benefit analysis and decided not to face the humiliation and dehumanization of her recent sexual history being brought into court (unwashed panties with DNA evidence from a previous sexual encounter with a different person contaminated the physical exam from an evidentiary point of view, which in turn raised a legitimate issue as to source of injury, causing the Colorado rape shield law not to apply with respect to recent past sexual activity), instead opting for the sure thing of a cash settlement and a scripted apology.

              11. Thank you JPN, for giving a dissertation. The whole settlement issue is a legal and ethical nightmare.
                .
                To summarize what you so aptly detailed,- Many times, it is better to get rid of the headache.
                .
                To quibble, it was not testimony, it was evidence that she willingly submitted, with those surprising results.
                .
                I did not think of the angle, that the marks may have come from another individual, thus being exculpatory, or leading to doubt.
                .
                Yes, it is 1950’s to think that a young woman should not be going to an empty hotel room with a man, late at night, after consuming alcohol. In fact, it is just common sense.
                .
                No matter what, it is not the time to besmirch his name. People are hurting, because he was well beloved. I have listened to many touching tributes. Kobe will be sorely missed.

        2. oneniner, says all founding fathers raped colored girls!! what a broad, generalization…. an accusation that that has little to no fact…but includes basically everyone who had a hand in starting this country!!!
          Your an effing clown dude!! in the next post you vindicate Kobe for his transgressions ( even though there is actually SOME evidence there, even though IMO kobe probably didnt really rape that girl)

          Your talking about rumor and speculation from 300 years ago!!!!!!!!! i didnt know you were there, in the rooms of thousands of ” founding fathers” during these crimes!!!

          The fact is, it probably occurred on a few occasions……and there were probably many more consensual encounters……but what ever fits your ” i hate america, im an anti-america american” narrative

        3. JPN001, your wisdom has always been a great asset to his blog, IMO, so I think I can speak for most of us in saying ….. it’s good to have you back, old friend.

      4. Kobe is a rapist? Says who, Matt? The fact of the matter is ….. you have no idea whether Kobe is a rapist or not. Last I checked, individuals in this country are presumed innocent, until proven guilty. So, unless you were there, I suggest you get off your high horse, dude, because it’s not a good look for you.

        1. The presumption is a legal standard, not a social/cultural one. The only implication of stating such a claim if it were not true is defamation, and under New York Times v. Sullivan, the standard for liability in defaming a public figure is actual malice (it is mere negligence with a non-public figure). Further, actual malice is a difficult standard to meet.

            1. Thanks, Geep. Houston 9er may disagree, however. He seems to have lumped me in with a bunch of folks he labeled as idiots. ;-)

        2. You’re completely correct. I miss stepped on a topic I am passionate about. I drew conclusions from Kobe Bryant’s apology that are implied, but not stated.
          What happened to these families is a tragedy. My apologies, this is a 49er blog and the comments had no place here.
          I appreciate the accountability and certainly don’t mean to soap box anything.

  6. The narrative that the Atlanta loss is ALL Kyles fault is lame, weak and ignorant.

    Who was the coach of that team? Its HIS job to make sure that his coordinators are running plays that lead to a win, and if HE see’s that the game is getting out of hand he needs to step to his young OC and tell him, call more run plays. HE needs to tell his QB, milk the damn play clock to 0 every single snap.

    Also, 28-3 after half…where did the defense go? Who changed up the defenses game plan and playcalling. Did Kyle run both the offense and defense?

    The Bills lost 4 straight Super Bowls, did anyone throw blame on the coordinators for those loses?

    Does anyone blame Reids DC for his Super Bowl loss or 4 conference championship loses?

    Please, stop this narrative.

    No Kyle did not blink!

  8. Congratulations to the Niners Katie Sowers who becomes the first female to ever coach in a Super Bowl. Kind of surprised the national media has not picked up on that as of yet.

    2. And yet, you clearly choose to NOT point out that there are no transvestites with moles on their left cheek on this coaching staff–pure discrimination!

  9. Nothing could be finer, than to be a 49er,
    .
    In the mooorrrning.
    .
    Less than a week before Glory, and fulfilling their quest.

    1. Haha! And if the 9ers don’t win this game, your going to be all over Shanny like hair on a gorilla!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All the nice things you’ve been recently saying about him will be finito!!!!!!!!!!!!

  10. Between the vets, Niners have an order of magnitude more Super Bowl experience than the Chiefs. If the Niners stay loose but focused and play mistake-free football, they will win. It’s the Niners game and trophy to lose.

  11. The Super Bowl still comes down to the fact which team will execute its plays more often than the other team. If your in the lead at haft time come out and play if the score was still 0-0. Just score more TD’s and let Robbie Gould ride pine.

    As far is Kobe goes, may he rest in peace. My condolences to the families involved.
    As far as the news media , may you rot in Hell!

    2. As far as the news media , may you rot in Hell!

      The media? Ever read the comments on a published media story?? The public consuming the news is a 1000x worse.

  14. I am not convinced that Mahomes is a better QB then JG. The only thing I will give Mahomes is he has a great arm. Once upon a time there was a guy named Marino…

      1. Mahomes’ all-world performance in the last two games were against the 21st and 26th ranked pass defenses. Other than the game against Baltimore, he’s hasn’t thrown for more than 2 TDS against defenses in the top half of the league.

  15. I gave up playing Madden 10 years ago……looks like I will be back playing once they update the 49er roster…..

    looking forward to having 4 of my dlinemen rated in the 90s…..

  16. such a depressing group of ppl….bashing a man who just died and left a family behind!!! i came over here to get away from THAT news story……. This is a perfect example of why im never around on game day……too many “whiner fans” and overall pessimistic ppl on here!
    My issue today is with Grant however….especially after recently reading more detail about the Falcons super bowl debacle….
    KS was not the head coach…..or the DC!!! He wasnt on the field missing tackles or blowing his assignment in pass coverage! He wasnt missing blocks on offense or being taken down by arm tackles……he didnt drop any passes or take any sacks!!!!
    Grants lazy inaccurate analysis – KS chocked!
    actual reporters-detailed description of what went wrong in the critical moment!!

    The falcons were running the ball for 1-2 yards a pop! so you run the ball 3 times for 5 yards and punt every possession….only taking 2 min. off the clock??!!! this only works if the D is doing their job!!!!! but they werent!!

    so KS called some passes…..they got into fg range…..and they lost a yard running the ball, then MR got sacked and the next play was holding or whatever…..and just like that…..there out of fg range!!!

    the fact that they needed that fg is evidence enough that the D chocked……and just calling run after run wasnt gonna work!!!!!! THEY NEEDED POINTS!!!!!!
    The D blew it
    The offensive players blew it
    but grants lazy @$$ puts it all on shany!!

  17. Reposting here as I originally posted in a thread I didn’t mean to:

    Jack mentioned looking to the Chargers for ways to slow down Mahomes. Over on NN, there is a really good post about what the Chargers did to slow down Mahomes. First was the recognition that Mahomes is most effective with passes over the middle, so the Chargers took away the middle by playing variations of Cover 3, some with 4 layers of defense instead of the usual 3.

    https://www.ninersnation.com/2020/1/27/21081595/how-other-teams-can-inform-the-49ers-on-slowing-the-chiefs-offense

  18. “It’s overrated,” Sherman said. “Before I won a Super Bowl, we didn’t have any experience and we won 43-8. It doesn’t make a difference. It’s a football game. If we were going to play under different rules and there was an 80-yard field, then it would be something to have Super Bowl experience. But if the field is the same, if the end zones are the same, if the field goal posts are in the same spots, then it’s the same game.”

    And it is.

    https://youtu.be/iE9CEAzLPKg

  19. I have never really thought of Jimmy G as a great deep ball thrower. I think he has improved, but I would not rate him as one of the best. But, depending upon what you define as “deep”, Jimmy G could be considered the #1 QB in completing the “deep” ball. According to the link below, Jimmy G has the highest deep pass completion percentage in the NFL at 55.6%. “Deep” is defined as a pass that travels for 20 yards or more in the air.

    https://www.playerprofiler.com/nfl/jimmy-garoppolo/

  20. Did any of us, the real Faithful, think that having Richard Sherman walk into Miami and lead this team to a SB was possible?
    Just watching him on opening night lead the boys into media night is so surreal.

    1. 6 years ago, Sherm was the reason why the Niners could not make it to the Super Bowl. This season, he’s one of the reason the Niners are in the Super Bowl!

      On a related note, Dee Ford’s penalty was a primary reason for the Chiefs not making it to the Super Bowl last February. I’m hoping that Ford will again be the reason this February that the Chiefs will not win the Super Bowl.

    2. I actually did.
      Sounds like something a homer would say, but the season Jimmy won those last 5 games, and the fight they showed last season without him and a talented D-line, when they drafted Bosa and picked up Ford I saw 12-4 11-5 right off the bat.
      I said the defense would carry this team the first half until the offense started really clicking.
      The talent and coaching have been there, a few more pieces and the system being known was the test this season.
      After the late throw vs Seattle last game of the year in 17 I had the feeling this team was going to go the distance in a short span.
      They had that swagger even when losing close games.
      The road trip and stretch this year with GB, Bal, and NO cemented my faith this team was going this year.
      Pretty amazing winning those games with all those injuries.
      Yes they were close, but last year they were losing those games.
      I just can’t see KC beating this team.
      Others have said it, and I believe it.
      SF will have to lose this game in order for a KC win.

  21. Brent Jones- ‘Dee Ford’s scouting report is HUGE. He knows their weaknesses ….and tendencies. He practiced against Mahomes all last season.’
    .
    I agree.

  22. Donte Whitner- ‘I think they are going to have to play more man to man. They are going to man them up, jam them at the line of scrimmage, and rely on the front 4 to get home.’
    .
    They need to mix up the coverages, and rely on their rush.’
    .
    ‘I think they are going to win by 3 TDs.’
    .
    I am changing my mind, and kinda agree.

  23. Jams at the LOS. Man under zone. Guys like Hill can get open on crossing routes, and QB can scramble against man. Occasional blitzes if the front four aren’t t getting home.
    Arik and Buck interior rushes clogging throwing lanes to middle of field. Serious edge setting discipline.
    Offensive and Defensive seperate game plans for 1st half and second half ( a la BB).

    4. Thanks folks. Interesting that there hasn’t been more talk about the 49ers having more players that can share their previous experience playing in SB’s than KC, including at key positions in QB, LT, CB and WR. Could be a real bonus in getting the team prepared.

  25. Grant… I have to say I’m kind of disappointed with the frequency of content during this superbowl week. Let’s get it cracking already!

  26. Sorry if this is old news;
    “The San Francisco 49ers running back grew up surfing in his hometown of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, but he told ESPN on Monday that his new three-year, $8.7 million contract”

    I hope they still manage to keep Breida……

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