What does the majority here believe?
I was vocal about routes, blocking scheme and play calling under the previous offense system and OC O line coach, call that negative if you want but it turns out my opinion along with others was correct. Calling out deficiencies is part of being a fan as well.
But I am also now optimistic about the offense, Schotty has more disciplined and accountability for his QB and players. Solari is more old school punch them in the mouth and keep punch versus lets say a more finesse type scheme.
On Defense I think Pete got wrapped up a bit in his own success and feeling of I knew I could do it and was busy showing everyone he did versus continuing his approach of the best play and holding them accountable, that's coaches and players. With the run and amount of games played players had more mileage on them and injuries ramped up a lot do to the equivalent of more seasons played when you include all the playoff games and less rest off season. The turnover should have happened a couple years ago more slowly and we would not have had the dip along with the change in the Offensive scheme.
Water under the bridge now so going forward.
Is the FO out of ideas?
No, just delinquent in the follow thru of it, that's being corrected and our so called defensive stars in some positions have been moved or allowed to move on. We have hungry guys that have been sitting in the wings and in quantities, add a few F.A. we have signed and the competition will rise, it may look different to complement their unique skills, just as the defense did with the smarts and length of Sherm and physicality of Kam along with the brutality of Browner and Speed of Earl. Additionally, Clemens was a WTF did we get him for when we let Jackson go to Detroit and traded Tapp for him. Then we moved Bryant to Leo and we were all hearing he would have been cut under the previous regime and considered a bust at DT. Brought in Brock when Clemons was injured and we were going what, he has nothing left. Then Avril and we were going why do we need him, he just benefitted from Suh presence in Detroit. Oh and then the Bennett thing, he was a system guy in Tampa and guy we let go the first time and a retread.
On and On it has gone, we have had failures to be sure but we have a lot of success, our failures just happen to be guys that have garnered a lot of headlines.
Will the OLine be improved?
Easy answer yes, they will be worked in a position they know and learn it, more basic and using their strengths and not trying to take the Hulk and make him the Flash so to speak.
Will the there be a running game?
Yes, see above, and we will use the skill sets of our guys better, they can catch and we will have a legitimate blocking TE and FB, all that will make a defense honest and have to respect the run game.
Will the pass D be adequate?
Again I say yes, screens and timing routes will help a lot, the running game will help more, defenses will not start out in a sprinters position to get to Wilson.
Will the D Line be able to pressure opposing QBs?
We have three former 1st round picks that we picked up from what many considered a scrap heap, they got healthy and showed something at the end of last season, we have Clark and we will use Mingo and Shaquem, Norton will blitz more and we will be more of a Quinn aggressive defense then the conservative hope they make a mistake deep zone of Bradley or Richards defense.
Will Our new DC be an improvement over Richard?
We were at our best as an aggressive defense, hitters need to hit, aggressive mentality needs to be able to play down hill not on their heals, we will get more turnovers also.
Will our new OC be an improvement over Bevell (not that that wouldn’t be hard)?
Schotty will use a more complicated route system, timing as I stated above and screens not the ones that start with a Bubble, but RB's in the flat and swing routes, pick routes and different levels of the field, I also think he will use the middle more, Bevel never went crossing patterns or seam routes rarely with the TE. Add the improved running game and the whole offense will look rejuvenated. Throw in Motion , yes Motion and shifts to help Russell Identify coverage and blitz's and it will be a lot better, Wilson will need more study time and be asked to carry more of the load as far as audibles and change ups based on what he see's as well.
Where will the team finish in the Division this season?
I expect the first half to have bumps as everyone has to get timing down and comfort levels, we will also see moments of brilliance as well. Cards have talent but a QB transition happening and that's never smooth, add a new Coach and that's bumpier still, 49ers had a run at the end of the season, but now everyone has had a whole off season to look at what they did, They don't have all the pieces yet on offense, I think we can take away their running game and make them one dimensional just with our team as it is. Question is can the rest of the league. I think it will be a dogfight for the Wildcard with the 49ers for second in the division in honest evaluation that is if all the talent the Rams added does not eat each other, focused and clicking out of the gate they could be a very scary team, if what typically happens with a dream team does they will devour each other Percy Harvin style when they hit their first major road block and then it will be trying to keep the wheels on the rest of the season. They may still win the division but it won't be going away and us or the 49ers could steal the top spot by a game easily if they implode.
Do you believe?
I believe in what I have seen to date, that's an attempt to correct the course, I need more information to see if the winds are at our back or if were still waiting to raise the sails so to speak. I think when we see it click it won't be a questionable, its just when and if the players here will rise to the occasion. I think the mediots stories will feed a early push by the players that they can build on. We have the Front office that will use those in a motivating manner, many teams don't have that psychological advantage that Pete uses with his players.
