Updated: Biggest Individual Surprise of the Year

Biggest surprise, as in most important?

With all due respect to AA, Ward, Eman and the reemergence of Spoon, JimmyG's ascendance as a top-5/10 QB in the league has put this franchise in a position to win a 6th ring. No doubt that the defense has paved the way this season, but if Jimmy hadn't developed like he has, I don't think they'd be SERIOUS title contenders. This defense is absolutely strong enough to make it to the SB, but could we win a championship without JimmyG's emergence....I have a hard time seeing that.

So if the question is more about "surprising growth," based on individual previous performance, that's probably AA or maybe Ward. A strong case could be made for Bosa or even Mostert too. But if the question is about "who's surprising growth has the potential to make the biggest impact on this organization," I don't see how it could be anyone other than Garappolo.

All of them including Ward who's not on the list and that's why our record is what it is. All the players listed made a giant leap from the year before. The rookies like Bosa made significant impact with Brunskill and Skule held the fort until our starting tackles made it back. But, to pick one I will go with Armstead. Dude turned into an animal this season.

If I had to pick one it would be Ward. We saw AA starting to produce at the end of last season. Most of us felt Jimmy would become a good QB if he stayed healthy. Jimmy Ward was another story. It was nearly unanimous that we should let him go and to date he has been very good at safety making several solid plays and some TD saving tackles.

I also have to give a shout out to Dre Greenlaw. He wouldn't be my top guy, but he has played very well this year. We are going to have great depth next year with the experience he has gotten.

Biggest surprise for me would be Jimmy Ward. Not only has he stayed healthy so far but he's played at a high level. Armstead gets honorable mention but Ward had been the bigger surprise.

I voted AA but thinking about it, the depth has been the biggest surprise and in particular the two tackles. I can't remember any team having to start two rookie OT's and, biggest surprise of all, they actually weren't that bad! I thought Jimmy would get crucified and the rest of the line would simply be embarrassed. Partly down to Shanahan's play calling I suspect, but with both the starters and the swing tackle out, what could we expect?

They did well, particularly Brunskill.

Originally posted by LifelongNiner:
I also have to give a shout out to Dre Greenlaw. He wouldn't be my top guy, but he has played very well this year. We are going to have great depth next year with the experience he has gotten.

I don't know, Greenlaw has been kinda quiet since taking over for Kwon. I'm not sure if that's kinda good (little-to-no mistakes) or if it's all bad (not enough plays), but he definitely hasn't flashed all that often.

Jimmy Ward. To me he looked lost sometimes playing FS and his inability to stay on the field really put a downer on it. So he is surprising me with his play and being healthy.

Can I change it to Kris Kocurek, John Benton and Joe Woods

It's got to be Daniel Brunskill. AA was playing well at the end of last year, so he wasn't as big of a surprise to me. Brunskill has performed well at both OT spots when called upon and now may also be asked to fill in at C/OG with Richburg going down. Kid's been a revelation.

AA

Tough choices between Bosa, Eman Moseley, and the 2 OT.

Didn't think Bosa this dominate, as soon as 2 games in. No way anyone thought of Moseley as starter caliber CB in place of Witherspoon. Out of both Skule and Brunskill, I think Brunskill most surprising.

I have to say Moseley, because he plays the position that gets no help if he struggles.

The fall of Dante Pettis, this was. It the trajectory we thought his career was gonna take. By the end of last year we thought we had a bond fide WR1 in the making. This has been just terrible what has happen to him. For this was the biggest surprise, he seems to have lost all confidence.

Originally posted by OnTheClock:

Originally posted by CrankDatCrabtree:

Gotta be Witherspoon

Remember last year when we played GB and Aaron picked on Witherspoon all night and made him look like Nnamdi Asomugha on the Eagles.

That game made me lose all Faith in him...but this year...sheesh he look like Nnamdi from the Raiders

It was actually Mabin that got picked on mercilessly in that game. But there were other games where Spoon did get beat lol.

Really?! Hmm what number was he? Maybe it was close to 23....well I had incorrect preconceived notions on him...I was going into this season thinking he was Mabin

Considering that Armstead was a 1st round pick, this is what he should have been. So this shouldn't be a SURPRISE, it's what was expected.

Mostert was on the other hand was undrafted, has been passed around this league, just never got it going with anyone else other than us.

So i don't know how it's not Mostert. I wonder what his numbers would be if he was the primary guy all year.