Tom Gamble, former Assistant GM

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by TheWooLick:
They were outscored by 150 points last year. They made a few additions and a positive coaching change but I think they will need upgrades at more than three positions.

Those were infants out there...college kids. Their very first NFL snaps underneath some extreme circumstances.

Let's give them a fair shake and see how they do this year.

Either way, not one fan is complaining about the OL, it's depth, versatility and talent. Same for the DL even without our top 5 NT. no issues with the talent or depth in the secondary, plus Bowman and some potential in Ray-Ray, Harold, Tank and Blair. We got to keep all 5 RBs. TE's remain a strength and all 4 RBs are excellent receivers and Hyde has legitimate top 5 talent.

We still need to evaluate the veteran WR group (late arriving) and QB.

Nobody is expecting a playoff run this early but you can see the foundation being built.

I don't see all the holes you're seeing. I do see a lot of natural question marks but also a lot of promise too.

I'd even go so far as saying we're ahead of schedule on this rebuild which I did not expect ending the 2015 season.

Originally posted by TheHYDE49er:

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by itlynstalyn:

Again, look at the marquee franchises right now. They don't seem to be going through the "natural ebb-flow of the NFL" that you're referring to.

The Giants have gone 7-9, 6-10 and 6-10 in consecutive seasons in one of the weakest divisions in football after winning a SB in 2011.


If we are talking teams like Pittsburgh, New England and Green Bay, having marquee, top of the NFL QBs goes a long way towards keeping you in contention, year in and year out.


If the 49ers had a QB like Brady, Rodgers or Big Ben that would go a long way towards improving their "ebb and flow." This team hasnt had consistent high level QB play in well over a decade.


That certainly isnt their only issue but having that top QB makes up for quite a few deficiencies.

And they probably also don't have a FO that gets involved in coaching and schemes. Kap was doing just fine running that read option and relying more on his legs than his arm. But of course once he got that big contract, the FO wanted to make sure they keep the investment and made sure JH turned him into a pocket passer. Which failed, just like it did when Skins tried that with RG3, however, Panthers have let Cam be Cam, and same with RW.

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by captveg:
IMO, when looking at the 2012 draft, one can't say "If only Baalke had picked the very best players that all 31 other teams hit on" because that's simply unrealistic. Rather, what if he would have picked just the draft average? That seems a more reasonable question, and one that would take more research. Let's ask what the team would potentially be if instead of the 0% after 4 seasons that SF has from the 2012, they hit on the average % of the 2012 draft. Anyone know what that % is? I know it's a historically poor draft, but anyone have the actual # of guys still on rosters in 2016 and guys starting in 2016?

Yeah, it's 3. If you can get three starters from any draft, you're above the NFL average. We got none in 2012 but in 2013 we got Eric Reid, Cornellius Carradine, Vance McDonald, Quinton Patton & Quinton Dial and made up for it.

Those fans thinking 2012 is the reason we're rebuilding today are lost.

Originally posted by Heroism:
Go look at the two drafts he administered.

Originally posted by lamontb:
Gamble was horrendous in Philly.

Originally posted by pdizo916:

When he gets promoted in January, how confident are you guys about Gamble's abilities as a GM?

Originally posted by Young2Rice:

He's another internal yes man hire.

Hopefully can run drafts and get better FA.

The best plan is get an outsider to gut the team.

Originally posted by pdizo916:

Originally posted by Young2Rice:
He's another internal yes man hire.

Hopefully can run drafts and get better FA.

The best plan is get an outsider to gut the team.

The team is already gutted. The team needs additions.

Originally posted by lamontb:
Gamble was horrendous in Philly.

Gamble was a pawn in a power struggle between head coach Chip Kelly and Roseman — a struggle that could force Kelly to leave the Eagles. Shortly after Kelly was hired as head coach in 2013, Kelly brought Gamble aboard. The two go back to when Kelly was the head coach at New Hampshire and Gamble was an East Coast scout. With similar goals, desires and work ethic, they hit it off immediately, and remained close on the West Coast when Kelly became head coach at Oregon and Gamble became the 49ers' director of personnel.

Roseman wasn't supportive of Gamble's hiring. Roseman didn't think another talent evaluator was needed, especially a guy with more experience — not to mention a guy with close ties to the head coach.

During the season, Kelly joined Gamble on scouting trips and the alliance created tension in the front office. Some speculated that Kelly — a popular head coach with a massive contract — and Gamble would team to force out Roseman, and Gamble would be elevated to general manager.

But in a Philly Game of Thrones, it didn't play out that way.

Kelly and Roseman's relationship has had its ups and downs. According to a person with knowledge of the situation who requested anonymity, the two "didn't get along, but had a sitdown (last) summer." Now, according to the same person Kelly "tolerates'' Roseman.

Two years into the Kelly regime — after a first-round exit from the playoffs in 2013 and missing the postseason in 2014 — with Kelly at his weakest, Roseman got his way. Gamble was fired, and Kelly lost his lone ally in a front office, which obviously is ruled by Roseman, whose power now appears unthreatened.

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