Last Year:
The Bay area is known for its illustrious bridges for traveling back and forth, but the San Francisco 49ers appear to have busted their connection to their successful past. Dennis Erickson?s first season encompassed a 1-7 record on the road, quarterback and running back controversies, and a baby of franchise-size proportions but they were a playoff team. This year the competition at critical offensive position remains, but the big names have dispersed. Gone are Jeff Garcia, Terrell Owens and Garrison Hearst, so how is this team expected to compete? I guess now it?s time to find out what Erickson is truly capable of.
What we Learned from Last Year:
Fact or fiction: Terrell Owens is a team cancer.
Fact. The reason he corrodes team chemistry is because he sets the bar very high for himself, as well as others. Unfortunately he fails to understand that it is very difficult for one franchise, as good as the 49ers were throughout most of his time there, to consistently win. As soon as a couple of losses pile up, T.O. starts laying blame, pointing fingers and asking the media for explanations. When spirits are up, Owens is an excellent supplement, when the mood decays he?s usually the one leading the scorn.
That was the story told at Candlestick Park last year.
The Niners started with a bang spanking the hapless Chicago Bears 49-7 setting up what was supposed to be a changing of the guards meeting in week 2 against the St. Louis Rams. The rivals clashed and surprisingly San Francisco had a chance at a makeable winning field goal if it weren?t for a blunder from a certain Cedric Wilson.
After that, the wheels came off and the Pandora?s Box that is Terrell Owens was opened.
Missing one extra point and one field goal in the first two weeks, place kicker Jeff Chandler was replaced with Owen Pochman. The new kicker did all that was asked of him against Cleveland the following week, but the team still suffered a discouraging defeat. Self-esteem would decrease even more after a 35-7 pounding by the Minnesota Vikings, and from there the 49ers never recovered.
The following four weeks the team accumulated a 2-2 record but the second kicker of the year came to the forefront of attention when Pochman missed two field goals in a loss at Arizona, summing a four-week span making only 4 of 11 field goals (only one attempt was more than 50 yards). Talk about getting kicked when you?re already down (no pun intended).
Then came Jeff Garcia?s injury, hampering him from playing the next three weeks where unknown Tim Rattay stepped in to win two out of three and cause a quarterback controversy.
As Owens blabbed about jetting out of town and fans deliberated as to where Jeff Garcia and Garrison Hearst may land in the off-season, it was clear that team focus dissipated, and the interest was shifted to next season.
I guess they saw it coming, but are they ready for all the new changes?
What Has Changed?:
Who?s next in the long lineup of San Francisco quarterbacking greats? Is it Tim Rattay, Ken Dorsey, or Cody Pickett?
Rattay is the incumbent, simply because of his accomplishments in the three weeks that Jeff Garcia was absent last year, but it?s hard to be optimistic about a player who?s warmed benches for his career. Ken Dorsey is a true sleeper in this offense given the leadership and poise he demonstrated in college. Rattay will start, but after he does less than impress, Dorsey should see some light.
At runningback, it took Kevan Barlow three years to arrive on the scene but he?s finally here to stay. He carried the ball only about 20 more times than Garrison Hearst last year but managed over 200 yards more. He?s the main course of the offense, and his explosive styles will have to carry scoring load.
With the departure of Terrell Owens and Tai Streets, the four players who started week one last season at quarterback, runningback, and both wide receiver spots are no longer with the team. Not to mention tight-end Jed Weaver, along with Derrick Deese and Ron Stone off of the O-line. The new look at the aesthetical positions is Tim Rattay, Kevan Barlow, Brandon Lloyd, and Cedric Wilson.
On top of those on field changes, the coaching staff said goodbye to both of its offensive and defensive coordinators, Jim Mora and Greg Knapp, who departed to Atlanta. Dennis Erickson inherited the two fled coordinators when he was hired so now his very own handpicked instructors are part of the staff. The West-Coast days are done in San Francisco and a completely remodeled team is set to hit the field.
Offensively there will be growing pains, but there?s no question that this is a building year. The 49ers need to find a quarterback by the end of the season. It will likely be Ken Dorsey, who has worked extremely hard to get himself in NFL form. Rattay succeeds the job from Garcia, but he has yet to take anyone?s breath away. Either way, one man will have to take control.
At receiver the Niners will develop Brandon Lloyd, and Rashaun Woods as the future. Cedric Wilson is OK, and Curtis Conway is simply filler, but the first two guys are expected to be vital components next season. With Conway in the lineup, it supplies Rattay with a (dependable) receiver while Woods? development progresses.
On defense, the changes have not been so drastic. Starting cornerback Jason Webster signed with the Atlanta Falcons but Mike Rumph, a former first-round pick, has been groomed to start. The linebackers are the strength of the defense but as a whole the group is not fearsome.
Though the team sacked opposing quarterbacks a fourth-best 42 times, opposing quarterbacks still completed 60.3% of their passes (11th worst). With Julian Peterson, Jamie Winborn, and Andre Carter, the defense does have a lot of speed but taking their sixth-worst 3rd down percentage into account, it?s clear that they don?t manufacture enough stops. Maybe new defensive coordinator Willy Robinson can inspire the defense to do more bending, than breaking.
The San Francisco 49ers have lost a lot of leadership starting on the sidelines, all the way to every critical position on offense. It?s hard to envision the team tasting success this year but the talent is there for seasons to come.
O/U 5.5:
With St. Louis? fracturing front line, this division may be a one-horse race for first, and a three-horse race for last. Arizona and San Fran are rebuilding, while Seattle looks fairly built. If STL is truly over the hill, then the Niners will have a shot at 2nd place. They play: ATL, @NO, @NYJ, @CHI, CAR, @TB, MIA, WAS, BUF, and @NE.
Fantasy Sleeper:
Rookie wide receiver Rashaun Woods played in an NFL-like offense at his college school Oklahoma State and given the paucity at his position on this Niners team, he may get the starting job very early. Whether it?s Tim Rattay or Ken Dorsey, they?ll have to throw the ball somewhere.
The Bay area is known for its illustrious bridges for traveling back and forth, but the San Francisco 49ers appear to have busted their connection to their successful past. Dennis Erickson?s first season encompassed a 1-7 record on the road, quarterback and running back controversies, and a baby of franchise-size proportions but they were a playoff team. This year the competition at critical offensive position remains, but the big names have dispersed. Gone are Jeff Garcia, Terrell Owens and Garrison Hearst, so how is this team expected to compete? I guess now it?s time to find out what Erickson is truly capable of.
What we Learned from Last Year:
Fact or fiction: Terrell Owens is a team cancer.
Fact. The reason he corrodes team chemistry is because he sets the bar very high for himself, as well as others. Unfortunately he fails to understand that it is very difficult for one franchise, as good as the 49ers were throughout most of his time there, to consistently win. As soon as a couple of losses pile up, T.O. starts laying blame, pointing fingers and asking the media for explanations. When spirits are up, Owens is an excellent supplement, when the mood decays he?s usually the one leading the scorn.
That was the story told at Candlestick Park last year.
The Niners started with a bang spanking the hapless Chicago Bears 49-7 setting up what was supposed to be a changing of the guards meeting in week 2 against the St. Louis Rams. The rivals clashed and surprisingly San Francisco had a chance at a makeable winning field goal if it weren?t for a blunder from a certain Cedric Wilson.
After that, the wheels came off and the Pandora?s Box that is Terrell Owens was opened.
Missing one extra point and one field goal in the first two weeks, place kicker Jeff Chandler was replaced with Owen Pochman. The new kicker did all that was asked of him against Cleveland the following week, but the team still suffered a discouraging defeat. Self-esteem would decrease even more after a 35-7 pounding by the Minnesota Vikings, and from there the 49ers never recovered.
The following four weeks the team accumulated a 2-2 record but the second kicker of the year came to the forefront of attention when Pochman missed two field goals in a loss at Arizona, summing a four-week span making only 4 of 11 field goals (only one attempt was more than 50 yards). Talk about getting kicked when you?re already down (no pun intended).
Then came Jeff Garcia?s injury, hampering him from playing the next three weeks where unknown Tim Rattay stepped in to win two out of three and cause a quarterback controversy.
As Owens blabbed about jetting out of town and fans deliberated as to where Jeff Garcia and Garrison Hearst may land in the off-season, it was clear that team focus dissipated, and the interest was shifted to next season.
I guess they saw it coming, but are they ready for all the new changes?
What Has Changed?:
Who?s next in the long lineup of San Francisco quarterbacking greats? Is it Tim Rattay, Ken Dorsey, or Cody Pickett?
Rattay is the incumbent, simply because of his accomplishments in the three weeks that Jeff Garcia was absent last year, but it?s hard to be optimistic about a player who?s warmed benches for his career. Ken Dorsey is a true sleeper in this offense given the leadership and poise he demonstrated in college. Rattay will start, but after he does less than impress, Dorsey should see some light.
At runningback, it took Kevan Barlow three years to arrive on the scene but he?s finally here to stay. He carried the ball only about 20 more times than Garrison Hearst last year but managed over 200 yards more. He?s the main course of the offense, and his explosive styles will have to carry scoring load.
With the departure of Terrell Owens and Tai Streets, the four players who started week one last season at quarterback, runningback, and both wide receiver spots are no longer with the team. Not to mention tight-end Jed Weaver, along with Derrick Deese and Ron Stone off of the O-line. The new look at the aesthetical positions is Tim Rattay, Kevan Barlow, Brandon Lloyd, and Cedric Wilson.
On top of those on field changes, the coaching staff said goodbye to both of its offensive and defensive coordinators, Jim Mora and Greg Knapp, who departed to Atlanta. Dennis Erickson inherited the two fled coordinators when he was hired so now his very own handpicked instructors are part of the staff. The West-Coast days are done in San Francisco and a completely remodeled team is set to hit the field.
Offensively there will be growing pains, but there?s no question that this is a building year. The 49ers need to find a quarterback by the end of the season. It will likely be Ken Dorsey, who has worked extremely hard to get himself in NFL form. Rattay succeeds the job from Garcia, but he has yet to take anyone?s breath away. Either way, one man will have to take control.
At receiver the Niners will develop Brandon Lloyd, and Rashaun Woods as the future. Cedric Wilson is OK, and Curtis Conway is simply filler, but the first two guys are expected to be vital components next season. With Conway in the lineup, it supplies Rattay with a (dependable) receiver while Woods? development progresses.
On defense, the changes have not been so drastic. Starting cornerback Jason Webster signed with the Atlanta Falcons but Mike Rumph, a former first-round pick, has been groomed to start. The linebackers are the strength of the defense but as a whole the group is not fearsome.
Though the team sacked opposing quarterbacks a fourth-best 42 times, opposing quarterbacks still completed 60.3% of their passes (11th worst). With Julian Peterson, Jamie Winborn, and Andre Carter, the defense does have a lot of speed but taking their sixth-worst 3rd down percentage into account, it?s clear that they don?t manufacture enough stops. Maybe new defensive coordinator Willy Robinson can inspire the defense to do more bending, than breaking.
The San Francisco 49ers have lost a lot of leadership starting on the sidelines, all the way to every critical position on offense. It?s hard to envision the team tasting success this year but the talent is there for seasons to come.
O/U 5.5:
With St. Louis? fracturing front line, this division may be a one-horse race for first, and a three-horse race for last. Arizona and San Fran are rebuilding, while Seattle looks fairly built. If STL is truly over the hill, then the Niners will have a shot at 2nd place. They play: ATL, @NO, @NYJ, @CHI, CAR, @TB, MIA, WAS, BUF, and @NE.
Fantasy Sleeper:
Rookie wide receiver Rashaun Woods played in an NFL-like offense at his college school Oklahoma State and given the paucity at his position on this Niners team, he may get the starting job very early. Whether it?s Tim Rattay or Ken Dorsey, they?ll have to throw the ball somewhere.