Originally posted by TheWooLick:
Originally posted by NCommand:
Who have we lost? Goldson? Whitner? Brown? Rogers? Franklin? Goodwin? A physically broken Willis? Returning ACL-CB in Culliver? 28-year old Cox who was cut a couple times by us? J.Smith and his 60% snaps and bad back at 34 years old? 32 year old Gore and his lowest production last year?
Just a tad bit of an over-exaggeration here.
Hell in terms of real loss on-the-field, the biggest loss may have been Borland at 24 years old.
You don't think running behind a line anchored by Jonathan Martin might have affected Gore?
I am hopeful that Hyde can do something but I think it is a lot to ask him to outperform Gore this year.
The defense will be helped by hopefully better luck with health (and suspensions) but the 0-line needs upgrading.
Oh no question. Give credit where credit is due. Gore is still a beast! But Hyde and this new rushing attack is going to be drastically different this year...meaning, Baalke will finally have his "3-headed monster" at RB with Hyde, Hunter and now Bush (run and pass). This also means we'll most likely return to the zone blocking scheme which happens to not only suit Hyde, Hunter and Bush (their experience) but also CK in the Read Option. We have running backs that can pound up inside the tackles AND off tackle (HUGE for us more than you know/realize). Finally, we're getting BACK to our identity and that is a heavy run focus and play action. Therefore, I just don't see any reason not to believe we won't a top rushing team again barring injury...heck, even if we do have an injury.
We now have some damn good coaches that should coach up and hold the personnel accountable and will have the balls to make changes as needed (this is more my hope).
[ Edited by NCommand on Mar 24, 2015 at 6:45 PM ]