Originally posted by RonnieLott:
Yes I totally agree with you in relation to the secondary.
We have basically neglected O Line and the Secondary.
It has been shameful.
This year has been so frustrating simply because we have piled incompetence on top of bad luck. What evidence? All three of our marquee offensive players who held out in the off-season are either on IR, heading to IR or should be on IR.
Anyway. The (should be too early) off-season shopping list:
Coaching:
- Special Teams Coordinator replaced. We should pitch a new reality show to Netflix called The Competent. It would centre on giving a group of every day, hard working people off the street a chance to win the 49ers Special Teams Coordinator job.
- New DC. Any body who 1) can read the momentum of the game 2) is either a great man manager or a brilliant tactician, can be both, but must excel at least one of these. 3) take calculated risks 4) can get a unit playing greater than the sum of its parts and not rely on pro bowlers at their disposal.
- Head Coach/OC. Find a mentor. Someone that doesn't cop Shanahan's rage for telling him his latest idea is bat s**t crazy or that he should look up from his clipboard every now and again.
Personnel (draft/FA/re-sign/trade...I really don't care how):
- Defense:
- A rangy free safety (Brown makes too many mistakes and gets outmuscled too much)?
- Spend some money on the secondary or draft accordingly.
- Re-sign Greenlaw (even if on one leg, his energy is infectious)?
- Find a big space eater on the d-line interior, preferably 2?
- Cut Campbell, Don't extend Ward, Cut Hargrave (depending on his appetite/injury recovery)?
- A DE that is a legit threat opposite Bosa.?
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- Offense:
- A CENTRE who is capable of lifting more than 2 shopping bags at a time into the boot of your car.?
- RT and then for good measure another RT. McKivitz is an OK backup. But we need to tackles this off season because as soon as we fix RT, LT will become a problem.?
- Let Banks walk if he wants big guard money. Someone will be disappointed. Batch was actually pretty good today.?
- There is no cap value in cutting Deebo, if he actually got fit and focused again, I believe he can still be of value to this team, but as the 4th option not the centre piece.?
- Kittle backup (is this really that hard considering I see good/serviceable TEs on just about every roster in the league?)?
- Mix up the WR room and use the rest of the season to really test the 2024 rookies. Surely playing and targeting Cowing and Pearsalll in live action will give you a better insight into future needs for 2025? Nonetheless, a burner and a slot with speed is needed.?
- Remove FB from the playbook and replace it with more 2 RB combos (have we ever seen Mason line up with Deebo or CMC this season in the backfield?)?
- And QB. I'm now out on Purdy. Too many tipped passes, inability to make tough throws requiring any sort of velocity, can't play in bad weather to warrant Tier 1 money. Pop gun arm strength. Red Zone plays are very ordinary. Can he carry the team? Can he play without All Pros in other positions? If someone else signs him then we get a pretty good comp pick....I think there is a reclamation project somewhere out there for the 49ers...if nothing else, Purdy and Jimmy G have shown you don't have to be all world to be successful in this team.?
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In general:?
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- it is obvious we are not just an aging team, but we are a slow team. We have some of the quickest guys going around at LB, TE but no real speed at the burner positions. Must be addressed given we really don't know what we have with Pearsall, Cowing, Aiyuk's injury or Deebo's motivation.?
- you are no longer the smartest man in the room Kyle. Humility and asking for help is not a bad thing.... why is it that every time something goes bad on the field the camera cuts to you with your head in your play calling sheet? Are you limited when you don't have an all-pro roster??
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Anyway, there is more to add...welcome thoughts, would like to see if we can get a consensus view on this board and then see how close to the mark we are over the off-season.?
Considering Kyle has never made a real attempt to develop a replacement for Juice, I wonder what the future of that position is in this offense. I felt we never really used Juice to his potential and as such, in spite of his age, he still has a lot left in the tank. Juice is a great blocker and good pass catcher. If we do continue with the position, I'd like a triple threat- a guy that can catch, block, and run the ball.
As for legit threats opposite Bosa, Floyd and YGM are good enough for now. To get any better, you are basically asking for an investment of a 1st or 2nd round pick. Given what we need, that's kind of irresponsible right now. I'd rather us getting one or two run stuffers at DT, where at least one of whom can add a pass rushing presence. Between the better of the two rookies, Evan Anderson, Collins, and Elliot, we should be far better up the middle and can dictate more up front.
With the safety position, at pick 11, I can't think of a better pick than Starks. He can help in the run and the pass and give us the best of what Hufanga and Jimmie Ward brought to our defense, along with that centerfielder ability.
Actually, Kyle is the smartest man in the room and that's our problem lol. His ideas on special teams and over reliance on skill position players have stifled our potential. I'd like for Kyle to see special teams as a potential plus to the team. If he goes with Tabor and lets him do his thing, that will be a great change. As for the going wrong part, better OL with guys that can carry out their assignments consistently, and the same with players, and things will work beautifully. We are only a year removed from one of the most productive offenses we ever had. If we get better at OL, we can get back there again, even if our skill position guys aren't functioning at 2023 levels.
