Expecting vast improvement from 49ers isn’t far-fetched

By Dan Davis  |   Thursday, June 12, 2008  |  Comments( 11 )

San Francisco 49ers
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans!
The NFL has become such a league of parity that one cannot rule out the possibility of the San Francisco 49ers winning the NFC West, rolling through the playoffs, and pulling off a Super Bowl victory this season. While that's obviously not too likely, the defending champion New York Giants are evidence a team can go from down in the dumps to on top of the mountain in a short period of time. Just a year previous, the Giants were a mere 8-8 and, while talented, hardly expected to go on a Super Bowl run (primarily considering the questions concerning Eli Manning’s ability to put it all together) this past season. Now, although their record was obviously better than the Niners’ 5-11 last year, there are some remarkable similarities between the two teams.

Example A: Quaterbacking lacking.

Entering last year, his fourth as a pro, critics abounded about Manning's inability to live up to the pedigree of being a former No. 1 overall pick. Take a look at his stats going into the '07 campaign: 8,049 yards, 54 touchdowns, 44 interceptions, 52.9 completion percentage in 41 career games.

Fairly mediocre, eh?

For the 49ers' Alex Smith, the No. 1 overall draft choice one year after Manning, the statistics read like this: 4,679 yards, 19 TDs, 31 INTs, 54.4 completion percentage in 32 career games.

OK, so Manning’s stats dust Smith pretty handily. But keep in mind that Smith hasn't had Manning's weapons, nor has Smith's 49ers possessed an above-average defense. He’s working with a lot less. then. During the offseason the 49ers added more targets at the wide receiver position, all of whom could be viable weapons. Isaac Bruce, though aged, is the exact type of veteran presence the 49ers' offense needs. And Bryant Johnson can bring an explosiveness to the game that the Niners have been lacking for a while. With new coordinator Mike Martz, a duo of talented running backs and a gifted tight end in Vernon Davis, not to mention Bruce tutoring Johnson, Arnaz Battle, and Shaun Hill, San Francisco's 'O' could really begin to flourish.

Example B: Socrates would be proud.

The Giants were mired in mediocrity prior to last season. They replaced both coordinators as a result, installing a smash-mouth running game on offense and a more aggressive defensive scheme. Though the Niners kept defensive coordinator Greg Manusky, the insertion of Martz into the coaching staff is sure to bring a bang. It’s a transition, new hat versus old hat. Martz brings in a fresh ideology, which is a pass-first game plan that would make Vince Lombardi run away from daylight. Martz has Bruce, whom he’s familiar with, and the offensive guru also possesses a bright, talented QB to work with. The question is: What can Martz get out of Smith?

Example C: Dominating lines dominate the times.

As overlooked as the big uglies often are, particularly offensive linemen and defensive tackles, there probably isn't a more important aspect to a team. Building your roster from the inside out has become a necessity rather than an oddity, and the Giants struggled for years thanks to subpar line play. Of course, they had stellar defensive ends in Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora, but they couldn’t find an answer for the interior D-line, and their O-line was injury riddled and often weak. Last year, though, they seemed to hit on all cylinders. They got much better production from their offensive front, while Fred Robbins and Barry Coefield (an unknown) provided a solid interior and ate up blockers for their pass-rush specialists to do the damage defensively.

Similarly, head coach Mike Nolan has sought to do just that during his last several years. Nolan added Joe Staley to the offensive line during the '07 draft, and he bolstered the O-line again this year by drafting potential starter Chilo Rachal. Young pickups like those should ignite a down-and-out offense, at least eventually.

On the defensive side of the ball, Nolan & Co. landed elite pass rusher Justin Smith, a former Cincinnati Bengals end, in free agency. Smith is a complete player and should really amp up the play of the defensive live. Couple that with the drafting of rookie tackle Kentwan Balmer, a versatile and athletic defender who could player either inside or out, and Nolan has the makings of a very solid line to free up space for his dynamic linebackers to do damage.

Expecting the 49ers of 2008 to mimic the Giants of 2007 would obviously be foolish. However, with teamwide improvement and a little luck, San Francisco could represent a weak NFC West in the playoffs next January.
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans! (11)

About Dan Davis

I'm a 23 year professional camel trainer, well exercised in the disciplines of pass rushing and mass texting. I'm an avid fan NAIA Men's Lacrosse, and I regularly paratroop on the weekend. Any questions feel free to ask.
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report