Are the Niners better of worse than their Super Bowl team after the draft?

Originally posted by dj43:

Good post.

The key is the amount of improvement we see from the young guys, like Greenlaw, Moseley, Mclginchey, etc. If the majority take a step up, it will make up for losses in other areas.

The pivot point is Buckner versus Kinlaw. It is not rocket science to say the Kinlaw will have to have a near ROY performance to replace Buckner. However, he has the package that should allow him to play at something like 75% of Buckner.

I loved Staley, however, it is just folly to think he would come back at anything close to what he was two years ago. Assuming Williams can still play at something close to what he has in the past means he is an upgrade. Though he did not play last season, the time off to allow him to regain his full health should add another year or two to his time in SF. Net - large gain.

Losing Sanders is not as big a deal as some think. Last season he played like the wily veteran he is, however, he did not have the burst he once had. Also, like all veterans as they age, they become more vulnerable to injury. We will never know how much his injuries held him back last season but he clearly was not the player he once was.

Then there is Jimmy. With Williams sealing the left side, along with an upgrade from Person, and more time with Deebo and the rest, I expect a step up.

SUMMARY: Slight overall downgrade going into the season with improvement during the season. It all comes down to injuries but this roster is capable of going back to the SB.

Good post!

The elephant in the room is COVID-19. We may not have a season but if we do it's almost certain that it will be different. Less time to prepare with fewer training camps. Season could be shortened. Very likely no fans in the stands. With all these things to consider it's going to be the team that handles this the best. Who can do the best job preparing with online film sessions and minimal contact.

Originally posted by dj43:
Good post.

The key is the amount of improvement we see from the young guys, like Greenlaw, Moseley, Mclginchey, etc. If the majority take a step up, it will make up for losses in other areas.

The pivot point is Buckner versus Kinlaw. It is not rocket science to say the Kinlaw will have to have a near ROY performance to replace Buckner. However, he has the package that should allow him to play at something like 75% of Buckner.

I loved Staley, however, it is just folly to think he would come back at anything close to what he was two years ago. Assuming Williams can still play at something close to what he has in the past means he is an upgrade. Though he did not play last season, the time off to allow him to regain his full health should add another year or two to his time in SF. Net - large gain.

Losing Sanders is not as big a deal as some think. Last season he played like the wily veteran he is, however, he did not have the burst he once had. Also, like all veterans as they age, they become more vulnerable to injury. We will never know how much his injuries held him back last season but he clearly was not the player he once was.

Then there is Jimmy. With Williams sealing the left side, along with an upgrade from Person, and more time with Deebo and the rest, I expect a step up.

SUMMARY: Slight overall downgrade going into the season with improvement during the season. It all comes down to injuries but this roster is capable of going back to the SB.

Excellent post! I think if the team can stay healthy, on the whole, the team is in a better positioned to make it back to the SB, and win this time.

Hard to say but I still think we're the best team in the NFC.

That said if we wouldn't have drafted Kinlaw I would have definitely said we got worse. Solly, Street and Taylor were not good options to replace Buckner. We're fortunate Lynch realized that as well.

Originally posted by SFrush:

Hard to say but I still think we're the best team in the NFC.

That said if we wouldn't have drafted Kinlaw I would have definitely said we got worse. Solly, Street and Taylor were not good options to replace Buckner. We're fortunate Lynch realized that as well.

But they are excellent rotational pieces. Can't wait to see Kinlaw thrashing people.

I don't know why this topic is so intriguing to me, I guess because there is so many ways to look at it. From a strictly offensive view the main losses are person, sanders and Staley.
Staley was obviously struggling like a warrior but was limited, so to add Trent, we can assume an upgrade in play just due to Staley's injuries. Sanders was good early in games but seemed to fade quickly, and had seemed to have lost burst. The addition of Aiyuk seems to me will be an upgrade after several games. The growth of Deebo, the addition of guys off the IR ,should make overall receivers group stronger.
Who ever replaces person can't do much worst than break even there (no disrespect). Growth of Garapolo with time and experience and Shanahan tutelage.
And if Mckinnon can come back relatively healthy, that will add a crazy dynamic to the scheme.

Originally posted by thl408:

I can't say Kinlaw and Aiyuk will replace Buck and Sanders because they are unproven rookies. So at those two positions, I'd have to go with they got worse. Brunskill replacing Person is an improvement although Brunskill only had limited playing time.

There are many positions on the team that I think should get better through player development. Guys like Warner, Bosa, Deebo, Kittle, Moseley, McGlinch, and Jimmy should naturally progress. Not always a given, but those are the ones that should have an upward trajectory in development so that the net difference is an improved 2020 team.

100% agree. The development of Mosely and Witherspoon will be huge. After this year the secondary looks really thin. We need a corner to step up and standout

Best roster in the NFC no doubt about it. Even my goofball seahawk fan brother thinks so

At this very moment they are worse IMO. I dont think Kinlaw will ever be as good as Buckner let alone as a rookie. Sherman will certainly lose a step and showed signs of that in the playoffs and SB. Same for Aiyuk as a rookie dont see him being what Sanders was. Heck with no offseason his head may be spinning just from learning. Tom Compton? If he is starting at guard we got a problem and will Richburg stay healthy ever again in his career? With all that said, I honestly feel the key to this teams improvement is Jimmy G. He can equalize alot of question marks if he takes another jump.

Ask again in January when injuries are factored in.

Originally posted by hubbyt:
At this very moment they are worse IMO. I dont think Kinlaw will ever be as good as Buckner let alone as a rookie. Sherman will certainly lose a step and showed signs of that in the playoffs and SB. Same for Aiyuk as a rookie dont see him being what Sanders was. Heck with no offseason his head may be spinning just from learning. Tom Compton? If he is starting at guard we got a problem and will Richburg stay healthy ever again in his career? With all that said, I honestly feel the key to this teams improvement is Jimmy G. He can equalize alot of question marks if he takes another jump.

Originally posted by Bellaleo:
Best roster in the NFC no doubt about it. Even my goofball seahawk fan brother thinks so

It'll stay that way for at least the next five years, depending if we re-sign Jimmy G.

Originally posted by hubbyt:

At this very moment they are worse IMO. I dont think Kinlaw will ever be as good as Buckner let alone as a rookie. Sherman will certainly lose a step and showed signs of that in the playoffs and SB. Same for Aiyuk as a rookie dont see him being what Sanders was. Heck with no offseason his head may be spinning just from learning. Tom Compton? If he is starting at guard we got a problem and will Richburg stay healthy ever again in his career? With all that said, I honestly feel the key to this teams improvement is Jimmy G. He can equalize alot of question marks if he takes another jump.

Why wouldn't Jim take a jump up, don't all players get better in year 2?

Originally posted by Jiks:

I'd say slightly worse. The problem is teams like Seattle and LAR stayed the same and AZ got a lot better. So the division got better and we took a step back. Though I like Kinlaw and Aiyuk they are no Defo or Sanders for a few years.

Rams stayed the same? Not hardly. They are lost in the wilderness on D. Who knows what they'll get on O.

Seattle you could argue stayed the same but they are really an 8-8 team if they don't get every break again this year so.

Zona is better. How much remains to be seen. O line is still an issue.

Originally posted by 9ers4eva:

Rams stayed the same? Not hardly. They are lost in the wilderness on D. Who knows what they'll get on O.

Seattle you could argue stayed the same but they are really an 8-8 team if they don't get every break again this year so.

Zona is better. How much remains to be seen. O line is still an issue.

Yup
Cards will have fun dealing with our front 7 next year