Ambrose83":1v2s7uez said:
what exactly are you holding your optimistic hat on that they wont suck? aside from fandom.
That ain't hard. Just want to state for the record that I was asked and that's why I'm answering in detail.
They lost some guys, but they still have a lot of talent on the team.
Kap, Boldin, Vernon, Staley, Bowman, Aldon, Reid, Bethea, Boone....all good players still on the roster.
They've added Reggie Bush, Torrey Smith, and Jerome Simpson all for speed on offense. The plan is to move much closer to the offense they ran in 2012 and not the one they've run the last few years. That offense is very similar to what the Seahawks have been running the last few years....Pistol, heavy play action, deep passing, read/option.
Guys they lost? Iupati? Was never going to be resigned and has underperformed the last few years. Team also moving to more of a ZBS so would have been a bit out of place. Drafted Marcus Martin and Brandon Thomas last year in anticipation of losing him.
Gore? That's why they drafted Carlos Hyde, Kendall Hunter, and a host of others over the last few years.
Crabtree? Shadow of himself post Achilles. Just couldn't get open. Smith is an upgrade there.
Willis and Borland? Both hurt but played the same position. Wilhoite quietly played very well last year in 16 games and Bowman is back.
Justin Smith? Not unexpected. They've been drafting to replace him for several years. Time for those guys to perform. Also signed Dockett this year and Dorsey last year.
No more suspension for Aldon. Aaron Lynch looked pretty good last year. Hyde looked good last year. Tank Carradine looked like he was becoming a good pass rusher late last year.
Harbaugh? No Idea what to expect from Tomsula, but peeps who discount him because he had a bad press conference are ludicrous. The players love him. He was a known commodity in the coaching world. I know very little about Chryst and I'm not sure about mangini, but I like all of the position coaches.
So...to answer your question, it ain't all doom and gloom by the bay. A time of change for certain and I dunno if that means 6-10 or 10-6, but peeps who make out like it's a forgone conclusion that the Niners tank this year really know nothing more than name players who aren't there anymore. Those name players became names because they got a shot. Now a new group of players will get that shot. Some will work out, some won't...but it should be fun to watch and see the new breed of 49ers this year.