Not sure if there was a more talked about team this year then the San Francisco 49ers. If you count the off season chatter, my anecdotal claim in my opinion becomes a cold hard fact. Whether it was the entire off season of QB uncertainty, Nick Bosa's contract (boo, right now.. boo), or the teams super bowl aspirations there was a lot of noise around the men in red and gold.
I think I speak for all of the 49ers fan base when I say my expectations this year were higher then they have ever been. Brock Purdy's dedication to our lord and savior Jesus Christ allowed his UCL tear to heal in an unholy amount of time, CMC with a whole off season to really learn Kyle's offense, a loaded group of WR's, the leagues (I thought) best defense, the list goes on and on. And for the first 5 weeks of the season, it certainly looked like this maybe.. could have.. potentially... possibly.. been, the year.
Yup, they looked unbeatable for the first five weeks of the season. The offense was clicking, Purdy was garnering MVP talks, the defense was flying to the ball, things were great. After the obliteration of Dak Presscot on Sunday Night Football, it looked like there was no stopping the San Francisco 49ers. Well, every dog has its day and a rough Sunday at the "Dog Pound" disrupted this 49ers team to their core and exposed a lot of holes that I don't think even Kyle knew existed.
Since starting 5-0 the 49ers are on a 3-game skid and something seems a bit off. I am not in the locker room, at practice, or even in the press conferences. Despite what some people at "OneTakeMedia" think this is not my job. So I don't have an unfiltered view of the 49ers day in and day out. However I can tell you from a spot I know very well aka my couch, something just seems a bit off with this team. I couldn't say what exactly, but something smells fishy. Maybe I am crazy though, because John Lynch and the front office don't seem to think so as they continue to swing for the fences and grab Young at the deadline to try and help Nick Bosa and this 49ers pass rush. More to come on that later.
Point being, the term "any given Sunday" is truly the only way to describe the ebbs and flows that make up the National Football League. This season has been interesting for the San Francisco 49ers. The first 5 weeks were almost boring, I thought and at one point said. I wanted a bit more drama, well ask and you shall receive because the last 3 have been nothing short of agonizing. This blog is to serve as an honest assessment of where the team is at through 8 games as well as provide what my outlook is on the remaining stretch of games + potential post-season. Let's start with my take on the 49ers offense:
Grade: B-
If this blog only took into account the first 5 weeks of the season they'd have an A+. I would be calling them the greatest show on grass. I would say that outside of CMC, the offense has been just OK. But first, let's give CMC his roses because if (and this is a huge if) the 49ers can find a way to pull their big boy pants up and get a ring with him on the team this will be the greatest trade in franchise history, and maybe the NFL. I mean seriously, the guy is a stud.
The offensive woes the last few weeks I think boil down to 3 big components:
Here is the bottom line up front, if this team can get back to playing even 3/4th as good as they did the first 5 weeks of the season on offense they are legit. They are scary. Trent and Deebo coming back helps, I hope the bye week got Purdy right after the whole head stuff. I need to see more out of the o-line, Kyle needs to make adjustments, and please get Kittle the ball more. The last few games really really weren't great but I don't think the 42 on Dallas was a fluke. This team will need the offense to get back to form if they want to have any real chance of making any noise this year. I think a B- is a fair assessment, a lot of the positives came in the first 5 weeks, very interested to see how we come off the bye against a very stout Jaguars defense.
Grade: C-/D+
I can't believe that I am about to write this. This 49ers defense... the defense, not the offense right now is dog shit. Yup, straight up hot trash. You get emasculated at home give up 30, missing tackles, committing penalties, no discipline no pride. It is inexcusable. Sure, Jamar Chase and Joe Burrow are great but that was such a gutless performance last week. Don't even get me started on the performance in Minnesota, where this defense made Kirk Cousins (RIP to the Achilles) look like vintage Tom Brady.
It's bad man, it is really bad and I am very frustrated by it. Outside of Fred Warner, it at times just looks like some of these dudes aren't even trying? What the hell is up with this defensive line too. Bosa holds out to secure the bag and is just non existent. And I am so fucking sick of the "you don't know football if you don't think he's making an impact". It is stupid, fuck your pro football focus score, get a sack. I could write an entire long form blog about how mad I am with Nick Bosa but I won't. I am really hoping that the addition of Chase Young and hopeful re-emergence of Gregory gets something going here. Because they are too good on paper to be playing this bad.
The secondary additionally is not good man. Chavarious Ward as a number one corner spells trouble. Dude just holds and holds and holds. Also, where the hell has Hufanga been? Gibson is playing his age it is a mess. And it doesn't help that Steve Wilks plays this soft ass zone with our secondary. Add that with 0 pass rush and it spells disaster for the 49ers. I don't actually think that this secondary unit is totally horrible but the lack of pass rush brings all of our sins to light. I personally don't think that the 49ers have had a great secondary since the Harbaugh defense days. If you look at Kyle's time here the defense has been anchored on a strong front 7 and we are now seeing what happens when those guys don't do their job.
How much of all of this heartache and frustration is coaching? I don't know, I don't want to make Steve Wilks the scape goat. However, he has been... not great at times. The 0 blitz before half of the Minnesota game was an all time goofball move. Look, Saleh and Demeco Ryans are big big shoes to fill. Wilks isn't a rah rah guy, never has been. I don't think him being in the booth is an issue but it is god damn frustrating to watch as a fan. I hope there was a fire lit in this units ass during the bye week because if the defense keeps playing like this, Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles will put this team on Xvideos, and we may be rooting for Chris Paul and the Golden State Warriors sooner rather then later.
Grade: C
I would like to go back and delete my Jake Moody blog. Can someone go check country clubs in the suburbs of Chicago to see what kind of shape Robbie Gould is in? Just kidding but not really. I think in the blog I wrote about the size of Jake Moody's balls or something like that, they sure shriveled up in that Cleveland game. I hope that he gets another chance to prove he was worth the pick. Luckily, when you have been as bad as we have the last 3 weeks there won't be opportunities to win games with a field goal. So for now Jake is safe. Wishnowsky, I like him. No complaints nothing really negative to say about the punting game.
Grade: N/A
I have been a critic of Kyle Shanahan. I said 30 minutes after the super bowl I didn't want to just give him an extension because I was so sick to my stomach with that hack job of a 4th quarter coaching. And the Niners ran out and gave him an extension. People who root for my demise always ask me who I would rather have as a coach. I am man enough to say I don't have an answer. But I also will tell them right back that Kyle at times pisses me off like no other.
Honestly man, I hope he used this bye week to get his mind right. He has been straight up outcoached these last few weeks. It has been bad man and until he turns it around I will be his loudest critic. However, I do respect the fact that this is a roster with a lot of talent, and we are 5-3 at the midway point opposed to below .500 compared to years past. So out of respect for Kyle, I left his grade as N/A, but this is my grievance. I want him to know that right now generally, I am not thrilled and not having fun. I would appreciate it if at any point he decided to start winning again. Please Kyle, seriously.
Look, this is a good football team. However, I watch Philadelphia and I think the drop off in the NFC outside of Philadelphia is extreme. Could the 49ers beat them? Sure, any given Sunday! However, that missed kick by Moody really really may come back to bite us in the ass (assuming Philly holds down top seed in the NFC with 2-3 losses). If the 49ers were to make it to the playoffs, the road likely will run through Philadelphia and not Santa Clara. And the idea of beating that team, in January, at home seems like a far fetched tale at this point.
And in fact, let's pump the brakes, the 49ers need to handle business with this division first. Mr Cialis, Pete Carroll, is an ageless asshole who just won't seem to leave the me hell alone. Let's take this week by week, game by game. I am going to withhold any serious predictions, but I do think the 49ers right the ship. There is a lot of football left to be played so strap in faithful. I am hoping for another playoff run but if the wheels fell off I couldn't say that I would be totally surprised? The outlook is lukewarm, I need some bounce I need something to reinvigorate me. A win against Jacksonville could be just what the doctor ordered.
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Great blog! I like the line: 'So out of respect for Kyle, I left his grade as N/A, but this is my grievance. I want him to know that right now generally, I am not thrilled and not having fun.'
BANG BANG NINER GANG !