The Greatest Show on Grass

Maybe we should have kept Mike Martz.  Orlando Pace was just released from the Rams today, and rumors have it that Holt is next on the chopping block. The way I see it, this is the 49ers chance to merge with the Rams and make it to the playoffs. Neither teams could win the division under normal circumstances, but when they mix together they can take on some teams.

In reality I know that it is highly unlikely that the 49ers bring in either of the two, but thinking about it, it does fit exactly what I’ve been talking about all along. The 49ers like to continue the same strategy that hasn’t worked in the past. We have already signed our aging Hall of Fame lineman (Larry Allen), and that was actually one of the few moves that worked out well for us (at least in the 1^st year of the deal).

Orlando Pace is our best option at Right Tackle next year, because we aren’t going after any starters it seems. Even if we used our 10^th overall pick on a Right Tackle, it’s unlikely that we would get the same production that we could get out of Pace this year, even Staley took a year before he became a solid starter.

This move would also allow us to keep Jonas Jennings, and they could trade off injuries. Of course I am joking when I say that, but with both of them on the team and Snyder playing 3^rd string, I’d feel a lot safer at Right Tackle than I have in a long while. It would still not be one of the strengths of our team, but the move would also make it not so much of a glaring weakness.

Signing Holt is the other move that would make some sense for the 49ers, but in reality would have made the most if we kept Martz. I would feel much better about the year if we had kept Martz and made both of these signings, hell we even tried to go after Warner this offseason. Can you imagine our team taking Michael Phelps’s place as the Greatest Show on Grass?

Realistically it’s probably unlikely we could even afford all three players, but if we could I would be very excited for this 49ers season. It would also give our young guys time to learn as backups, which I think is what our team has really needed, our young guys are expected to start too early in their career.  

I could only imagine Warner, Holt, Bruce, Pace, and Marshall Faulk (played by Frank Gore) all back on the field for one more season together. All this, of course, with Martz leading the crowd offseason. It would have been a beautiful thing… but hell, I’d take 3/5 (No Martz and Warner).

49ers, more of the same.

This is just another update on how I feel this 49ers offseason is going. I will start it with a quote from the best 49ers writer in the Bay Area, Matt Maiocco. 

Evans becomes the sixth player the 49ers have added since the opening of the free-agent signing period on Thursday night. They re-signed linebacker Takeo Spikes and return specialist Allen Rossum, in addition to adding receiver Brandon Jones (Titans), fullback Moran Norris (Lions) and quarterback Damon Huard (Chiefs) to their roster. 

At this point in the offseason it really seems to me that Nolan should not have been fired. The 49ers have seemed to do everything they could to continue with the plan that hasn't worked sinnce Nolan was hired. The only difference is the names, but the types of players seem to be similar (and some of them are the same names, like Moran Norris). 

This is not to say that I think all of the 49ers signings have been bad ones, but it just looks like we are not trying to change anything. If the 49ers somehow make the playoffs this coming season, I will feel like it was done completely with Nolan's players (like Gruden winning with Dungy's guys). 

I've already gone over how Brandon Jones is more of the same in my previous blog, but I don't feel like the signing of Huard and Evans is similar. The Huard signing is similar to the signing of Trent Dilfer a few years ago, except now it is not for being a teacher, but more for the purpose of taking up a roster spot for a young Quarterback. If Hill, Smith, and Huard all make the opening day roster I will be very unimpressed by this organization. 

Evans is just another rotating lineman for us to have, which is another revolving door position for this team. We never try to spend big or get any very good players, instread the 49ers seem to be okay with having a lot of average players, but at least they can be well rested. This signing  seems almost like a signing between Franklin and Banta Cain. 

The real issue I have with this team is it doesn't seem like the 49ers understand that they need some stand out plaayers. Right now they are a bunch of average players (Besides Staley, Gore, and Willis) at best. We cannot win without better talent all around. 

My opinion may change after the draft, but last year we took Balmer, and the year before Staley. We don't really get guys who can come in and play well right off the bat. Willis fell into our lap, but outside of him I can't remember a rookie to come in and make an impact for our team. Gore did well as a duo with Barlow, but it took him a year until he really become effective as well. 

*EDIT*

I want to make it clear that I do not think Nolan should still be head coach. My gripe is that we still are building with the same idea. I guess that's what I should have expected when they kept Scott McCloughan

49ers Offseason so far 3-2-2009

Last week the 49ers made their first two Free Agent signings. FB Moran Norris was the first, and he was signed to a 3 year 5 million dollar deal. I won’t go into Norris here, because he played for the 49ers from 2006 until 2007 when he was cut from the three year 3 million dollar contract he had signed the previous season. 

The Brandon Jones signing to me, seems to be much of the same from the 49ers the last few years. Since Terrell Owens left, we have been about bringing in as many 2 or 3 receivers as we can. Each of these seems to have potential that we hope to tap, but it just never seems to work out. 

Examples of this would be Ashley Lelie, Bryant Johnson, Isaac Bruce, Antonio Bryant, and I can’t think of any more off the top of my head. So, that makes five (counting Jones) #2/3 receivers picked up as Free Agents in 4 years. We seem to try every type of player, whether it’s a deep threat (Lelie), Possession receiver (Bryant, Johnson), or a crafty veteran (Bruce).

I think we have tried this formula long enough to know that we cannot just fill our offense with mediocre receivers and expect to have a good offense. The 49ers offense could barely succeed last year (21st in total yardage). 

Frank Gore cannot succeed without either a solid Quarterback (Warner) or a big time receiver (Houzmanzada). The offensive line has room for upgrades as well, but I just cannot see a way for this team to be a real threat unless they become something more than “Frank Gore and company.” 

Brandon Jones and Moran Norris do not change the fact that we have a flat offense. 

I will talk about the defense when they start signing defensive free agents.