:::[Official] San Francisco 49ers 2024 Season Thread [2-2 vs Cardinals 10/07 1:05PST]:::

[red81]

 "I think DeForest will eventually be a Defensive Player of the Year. I think he has the talent to be able to do that. I think his physique – I keep telling him there's nobody like him. He's not normal. His body, his physique, his speed, it's not normal. So when you're not normal you can do not normal things and winning the defensive MVP is not normal for most people. I think he has the capability of doing that." - Seahawk's Michael Bennett



Defo 

 Easiest pick Baalke ever made. Defo and Solly will be one of the best DL tandems for the next decade. 

 

[49ersaaron8]

Michael Bennett such a good player.

Man I like Kirk moves a lot like Percy Harvin. Seems to be a genuinely good kid which is the makeup of the Lynch era so defintely a fit in many ways.

 

[red81]

I read his teammates call him "Baby Beckham." I like that. Dude is electric, and as you noted, he seems to be a high-character young man. He's a perfect fit in Kyle's offense. 

 

[moe200069]

finally took some time to watch video of kirk. how does a 19yo kid have feet like that though? change direction on a dime without losing speed :x filthy


speaking of young bucks, i'm excited to see najee harris from antioch do some dirt for alabama. i remember seeing him at a 24 hour fitness out there last year...kid is built like a statue. hope he flourishes

 

[49ersaaron8]

Local kid from my area watch out for Da'shawn Hand Alabama a model citizen and balls should be a top 10 pick.

And everybody gotta watch a penn state game see how special Saquon Barkley is better skill set than Ezekiel Elliot.

 

[red81]

speaking of young bucks, i'm excited to see najee harris from antioch do some dirt for alabama. i remember seeing him at a 24 hour fitness out there last year...kid is built like a statue. hope he flourishes

I was watching Alabama's spring game, and Najee Harris already looks like a grown man out there. 

Local kid from my area watch out for Da'shawn Hand Alabama a model citizen and balls should be a top 10 pick.
 

 I'll keep an eye out for him.

 And everybody gotta watch a penn state game see how special Saquon Barkley is better skill set than Ezekiel Elliot.

Yup, yup! Barkley is an animal. This RB class could be special with guys like Barkley, Chubb and Guice. I am a huge Derrius Guice fan.

 

[22stylez]

Let Hyde walk. Draft one of these beast RBs

 

[red81]

I think this is Hyde's last season, but I don't expect us to get any of those guys next year. Shanahans typically don't invest early picks in RBs. They believe in the scheme and their ability to find guys later in the draft.

And let's see what Joe Williams can do. 

 

 

[jonwin]

I think this is Hyde's last season, but I don't expect us to get any of those guys next year. Shanahans typically don't invest early picks in RBs. They believe in the scheme and their ability to find guys later in the draft.



And let's see what Joe Williams can do.   

I agree, I think Hyde will ultimately be a "victim" of just not being Shanny's guy and as you mentioned, the "Shanny way" is finding guys in late rounds or even off the street that are fits in the scheme. Saw it all the time back in Denver w/ Red Lobster Senior.

Look at Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman. Freeman was a late round pick. Coleman is somewhat an anomaly being a higher pick (3rd rounder) but still an example of how the Falcons didn't use a high 1st rounder on a RB.

Also due to the current wave of how teams value running backs, just about anyone is expendable. They're like closers in baseball, definitely important to have a stud one but not life or death necessarily trying to hang onto a particular player.

The fact the Steelers are seemingly beating around the bush w/ LeVeon and his extension shows nobody is really "safe" (and yea, part of it is that's just the Steeler way, they find guys to fit their system and don't generally overpay or hang onto guys too long usually but still...)

 

[red81]

Well said, bro.

 

[red81]

If everyone stays healthy, this defense is going to be garnering national attention by the end of the season. Guys like Defo, Solly, Foster, Rashard and others are going to shine in this scheme, one that should facilitate their development and amplify their abilities. I feel confident about that. 
[h1]  [/h1]

[h1]What if the 49ers’ defense is actually good this season?[/h1]
In what should’ve been the slowest football news week on the calendar, Seattle defensive lineman Michael Bennett tickled 49ers fans and opened up some unexplored possibilities for the approaching 2017 NFL season.

While working out with DeForest Buckner, Arik Armstead, Ronald Blair and Eli Harold in Hawaii, Bennett told a local television station Buckner could win defensive player of the year in the future.

“I think he has the talent to be able to do that,” Bennett said. “I keep telling him there’s nobody like him. He’s not normal. His physique, his speed, it’s not normal so when you’re not normal you can do not normal things and winning the defensive MVP is not normal for most people.”

A) Thank you Bennett for tutoring Buckner some tricks of the trade. The 49ers are moons away from the Super Bowl contending Seahawks, so it’s hard to consider them a hated divisional rival anymore. While the Hawaii trip is mostly working out and teaching each other different techniques, undoubtedly Seattle’s scheme will come up. Who knows how much information Bennett divulged, but 49ers coaches and fans hope Buckner and company were inquisitive sponges. Certain offensive lines around the league attack Seattle’s scheme in unique ways. There are tips to be had.

B) The Bennett quote makes me think about this question: What if Buckner — and this entire defense — take an unexpected leap in 2017?

Think about this: Buckner was still able to produce a buzzworthy rookie season despite playing in Jim O’Neil’s flawed scheme, despite a rash of injuries that wiped out NaVorro Bowman, Eric Reid and Armstead, despite playing 1,006 snaps — which other coaches around the league have hinted was reckless. He has serious improvements to make as a run defender, but Buckner has the skill set and size to win on every down in the NFL.

So … What if Seattle’s scheme is a much better fit for his skill set? What if Bowman and Reuben Foster are clobbering people in the middle of the field? What if Elvis Dumervil reignites his career as dependable LEO? What if Solomon Thomas uses those violent hands to disrupt the flow of an opposing offenses? What if Jimmie Ward wraps a blanket around the entire field at box safety and Eric Reid becomes a turnover machine closer to the action? What if Rashard Robinson is that No. 1 cornerback John Lynch said he was on KNBR?

My apologies for getting you irrationally enthusiastic about a unit that still has holes, but there is a distinct possibility this San Francisco defense holds its own come December. The above paragraph is not gibberish. Those are all talented players, and in a new scheme, could be molded together to form a brick wall. And if this defense finishes in the top half of the league, contributes to wins, sends a player or two to the Pro Bowl and Foster or Thomas are up to win rookie of the year — the 49ers could be playing meaningful football games in November and December.

I know this seems like crazy talk, but Bennett started this conversation. Kyle Shanahan has worked with much less on offense before — the 2011 ******** starred a Rex Grossman/Roy Helu/Jabar Gaffney trio. They still moved the football. Shanahan’s offense won’t be routinely hitting second half walls like you saw with Chip Kelly and Colin Kaepernick. And if you give the 37-year-old head coach a defense who can keep the game close this soon in Year 1, watch out.

Much of this scenario depends on first-year defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. It’s unrealistic to expect him to call flawless games from that side of the football, but there is a reason Shanahan hired this guy. Saleh’s creative. He’s a willing teacher in the classroom. And he’ll immediately win over the fan base if the 49ers stop the run. San Francisco finished with the third-worst run defense in NFL history last season (165.9 yards allowed per game).

Saleh might be able to deliver on that wish, because quarterbacks are going to attack the secondary. Luckily for Saleh, he’ll avoid Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Matt Ryan like O’Neil couldn’t in 2016. On the schedule this time around: Cam Newton, Andrew Luck, Kirk Cousins, Dak Prescott, Carson Wentz, Eli Manning, Marcus Mariota and of course Russell Wilson. But getting Jared Goff and the aging Carson Palmer twice is a nice reprieve.

I’ve maintained the 49ers are going to have bumps and bruises in the secondary, potentially some serious ones. Lynch and Shanahan are a Robinson injury away from having Dontae Johnson and Keith Reaser start at cornerback. That probably would end up being a debacle. Ward could slide down from deep safety back to cornerback, but then your entire plan will have gone awry. Part of the reason Lynch didn’t take a safety early in the draft is because the team felt Ward could develop into a reliable back-end stopper. Now you’re playing musical chairs in the secondary, the whole reason Seattle’s defensive scheme works in the first place.

The more likely result are both highs and lows in Year 1. An outstanding game-winning forced fumble from Foster and then a mental error that costs the 49ers a win. Ward blows a coverage one week and comes up with a key interception the next. The run defense shuts down Carolina and Seattle to start the year and are then gashed by Arizona and Los Angeles.

Shanahan and Lynch can live with that. And everyone recognizes this isn’t Jim Harbaugh ready to walk in and a guide a team to a 13-3 record.

But the more we look and talk about this defense, there’s a chance for them to play well together in 2017.

 

[22stylez]

Well one thing is for sure. They can't do no worse than last year

 

[red81]

That was the worst coordinated defense I've ever seen. Ever. 

The scheme Saleh brings is simple as can be. Guys are going to be thinking less and flying around the field more, especially the DL and LBs.

 

[ii flash ii]

Whats the word on Foster? Is he being redshirted this year?

 

[red81]

Kyle said he should be 100% cleared and ready to go day 1 of training camp.

 

[ii flash ii]

Kyle said he should be 100% cleared and ready to go day 1 of training camp.

Him and Bo

 

[jonwin]

That was the worst coordinated defense I've ever seen. Ever. 

View media item 2217197



The scheme Saleh brings is simple as can be. Guys are going to be thinking less and flying around the field more, especially the DL and LBs.

stupid O'Neil.

In my opinion, our players we had/have last year on defense were too talented to be as awful as we were.

I could have accepted our defense being mediocre/average but being the worst just didn't sit well with me with who we had.

All just stupid scheme/formations as you pointed out many times last season Red.

What was some of the shenanigans we saw last year?

- Reid lining up as DE?
- DeFo playing safety/linebacker on some plays?

 

[red81]

When guessing is a tenet of a defense, it's never going to turn out well. 

 Just glad that bum is gone.

 

[chris82790]

That gap integrity meme gets me every time

 

[red81]

Let's ******* get it

 

[moe200069]

Let's ******* get it

yezzziiirrr!

also glad there hasn't been any news regarding navorro this off season...been nervous that imma wake up to reports of him being moved/waived

 

[red81]

First preseason game is exactly one month from tomorrow. 

 Almost time to sound the drums of war. 

 

 

[heatseeker23]

Pre season kind of a buzz kill tho as the game goes on and the 3rd and 4th string players start getting sent in

Plus the fact that you can tell neither team really cares if they win or lose the game

 

[red81]

Preseason is definitely too long, but it's a sign that the real season is close and a chance to see guys like Matt Breida, CJ Beathard, Pita T, DJ Jones, Cole Hikutini, Trent Taylor, Kittle, etc.

 

[heatseeker23]

A chance to see who is gonna be overhyped when matched against backups and wind up on the practice squad or cut [emoji]128514[/emoji]