Niner News Thread

TRAJIK1 · Feb 16, 2009

Questions abound with Hill-Smith quarterback battle in San Francisco
By Jeff Dickinson | Monday, February 16, 2009 | Comments( 1 )
San Francisco 49ers
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As the NFL offseason progresses and the draft approaches, the talk around the San Francisco 49ers centers on the most high-profile position on the team – quarterback.

The 49ers obviously have numerous holes to fill as they prepare for the 2009 season. You don’t finish 7-9 and miss the playoffs unless there are areas of the team that need to be improved.

And while Shaun Hill played pretty well after taking over the team from J.T. O’Sullivan last season, there is talk that 2005 No. 1 pick Alex Smith is going to be battling Hill for the starting job come summer. Yes, this is the same Smith who was benched and basically headed out of San Francisco and possibly the league before his shoulder injury sidelined him for the season last year.

Why are the 49ers even interested in bringing Smith back next season? Why is Smith interested in trying to resurrect his career in San Francisco instead of looking for a fresh start somewhere else?

Here are some of the questions surrounding San Francisco’s quarterback situation and their corresponding answers:

· Why aren’t the 49ers sold on Hill as their starting quarterback? – Hill was an undrafted free agent out of Maryland in 2002 for a reason. He wasn’t highly recruited enough to even get a sniff from a major football school and ended up playing two years of junior college ball. Hill didn’t even take a snap for the first three years of his NFL career, something that highly touted quarterbacks don’t have to endure. Through the first seven years of Hill’s NFL career, he has only passed for 2,547 yards and has thrown just 18 touchdowns. Hill is the starter for the 49ers on paper, but Smith will get every opportunity to beat him out during the preseason.

· Why are the 49ers even considering giving Smith another shot? – Because Smith finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2004, his senior season at Utah. Because he finished his collegiate career with the Utes with 47 touchdown passes and only eight interceptions. Because Smith is an ex-No. 1 pick and San Francisco brass would love to be vindicated for the selection. And because Smith has already been a bust once, so there’s not really much to lose for the 49ers this time around.

· Why is Smith interested in trying to revive his career in San Francisco? – After a quarterback goes from the top of the rookie draft heap to the bottom of the bench, he is probably ready for a change of scenery. Smith had every opportunity to establish himself as the next Joe Montana with the 49ers. In his rookie season, he struggled as most young quarterbacks do. But he showed flashes of brilliance in 2006 by throwing 16 touchdown passes. The wheels came off in 2007, though, as Smith battled injuries and only threw two touchdowns. Smith has something to prove in San Francisco, and he knows he has a decent situation in battling the journeyman Hill for the starting job. If Smith wins back the starting job next season, it will be a feel-good story all over the league. If he falls flat on his face again, it will be old news.

TRAJIK1 · Feb 16, 2009

Alex Smith is marrying Elizabeth Barry this Saturday, she's my cousin's step sister!

also an ex Raiderette. She's in the middle, the love of my life Kristi on the right lol

Chree · Feb 16, 2009

TRAJIK1 said:

The 1 on the left looks like a dude lol

TRAJIK1 · Feb 16, 2009

Who will be next season's Cards?

The Arizona Cardinals fell just short of claiming the ultimate prize on the sport's biggest stage. Their playoff run, however, provided hope to the scores of players who reside on the rosters of historically moribund franchises. If the Cardinals, with their pathetic body of work over the past 60 years, can make it to, and almost win, the Super Bowl, why can't some of the other downtrodden franchises?

I know the league preaches parity and is currently designed in such a way that players on every team feel they can win a championship. That doesn't mean deep down in the recesses of their subconscious they actually believe it. Players in cities like Detroit, Cleveland and Buffalo may think they have what it takes to go on a deep playoff run. The problem is, based on recent historical precedent, that run seems altogether unlikely. In fact, those players would probably admit they would be thrilled just to make the playoffs.

That is where Arizona comes in. They won their first division title and hosted their first playoff game in forever. But then a funny thing happened. They beat Atlanta and truly started to believe. The wins over both Carolina and Philadelphia sent shockwaves through the players on teams previously considered afterthoughts. Suddenly players on the perennial also-rans realize they might indeed have a legitimate opportunity. If the Cardinals can do it, maybe they can, too. If studs like Adrian Wilson, Darnell Dockett and Karlos Dansby can finally get their due, maybe other elite players on poor teams can finally get some respect by playing a string of nationally televised playoff games.

It starts with changing the culture that surrounds the organization. This is not easy. Players who get drafted by Pittsburgh and New England expect to win. There is an inner-confidence permeating throughout the building. Players who get selected by Cleveland and Detroit, well, they aren't exactly sure what to expect. Though the inner-belief might be there for their own personal skills, the same cannot be said for team success.

Franchises mired in mediocrity should take a page from Arizona's playbook and realize the need to take any momentum they have during a season or a span of seasons and run with it. The men that make up the rosters of perennially bad teams are not losers. They are typically superb players who won championships in high school and college. But when they get to an average franchise they start to look at themselves as being a part of an average team, no matter how hard they might try to feel otherwise.

That is why what the Arizona Cardinals did is so special. It is one thing for a storied franchise like the New York Giants to go on an unexpected wild Super Bowl run. It is quite another when it is a franchise like Arizona. The Cardinals may not have won it all, but their success could have a profound impact on the NFL the next couple of years as hope once again springs eternal.

Here are three teams I think could become next season's version of the Arizona Cardinals, and why:
Houston Texans

The Texans were a somewhat trendy pick by a lot of pundits to make their first postseason appearance in 2008. The combination of a poor start, tough schedule, injury to their starting quarterback, weather complications and a porous defense proved way too much to overcome for a group that finished 8-8 for the second consecutive year.

Residing in the AFC South makes it extremely difficult for the Texans to be next year's Cardinals. But if Houston can somehow navigate its divisional gauntlet and find its way into the postseason, it has enough firepower to go on an Arizona-like run. The Texans have an outstanding group of young skill players who could make their offense lethal for years to come. Quarterback Matt Schaub proved down the stretch why Houston gave him that huge contract. Steve Slaton was a not-so-hidden gem in the third round. Owen Daniels is a stud at tight end. The receiving corps is led by Andre Johnson, arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL depending upon who you talk to, and yes, I am aware of Larry Fitzgerald. The offensive line is not dominant but it is at least as good as Arizona's.

The problem is the defensive side of the ball. Mario Williams and DeMeco Ryans are young studs and would become next year's version of Dockett and Dansby should Houston go on an extended run. But those two can't do it by themselves, so head coach Gary Kubiak has made changes to his defensive staff in an effort to get his defense up to speed.
Buffalo Bills

The Bills feel as if they blew a golden opportunity to win the AFC East by faltering after a 5-1 start in a season in which New England was without Tom Brady. They are absolutely right, they did miss out on a unique chance, and the Miami Dolphins were all too happy to slide in and wrest the division away from the perennial division champion Patriots.

But all is not lost for a Bills organization that has compiled a good group of talented young players. Marshawn Lynch looks to be one of the best all-around backs in the league. He and Fred Jackson were successful running behind the offensive line once right guard Brad Butler was back in the fold after injury. The Bills have a No. 1 receiver in Lee Evans and a quarterback (Trent Edwards) who appeared to be on the rise before he got injured and worked through a bit of a sophomore slump.

Defensively, the Bills were able to make strides in some areas and Marcus Stroud was a big reason for that. The loss of Aaron Schobel and his consistent pass rush, however, proved fatal. The Bills need improved roster depth to overcome these types of injuries.
beating the aforementioned Cardinals on a Monday nighter in t

San Francisco 49ers

The most likely team to make a Cardinal-like impact in the NFC next season ironically resides in the Cards' division, the NFC West. The San Francisco 49ers finished the 2008 season on a high note under then interim coach Mike Singletary and were one yard away from he desert.

Though they clearly lack an elite receiver, the Niners flourished under the leadership of Singletary and the quarterbacking of Shaun Hill down the stretch. Hill showed his mettle in some adverse conditions and won the respect of the offensive line for his gutsy playmaking late in games. Frank Gore is a horse when healthy and new offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye will likely ride him as much as possible.

San Francisco made their biggest strides under Singletary on the defensive side of the ball. Patrick Willis may lay claim to being the best inside linebacker in the NFL and Justin Smith brought his motor with him when he signed the big free-agent deal from Cincinnati. If San Francisco can get a consistent pass rusher, its defense could be dominant.

Chree · Feb 16, 2009

lol thats a old ass article

Chree · Feb 17, 2009

If Alex Smith and the 49ers agree to a new contract, he will compete with Shaun Hill for the starting quarterback job, coach Mike Singletary told reporters tonight after the team's first "state of the franchise" address in San Mateo.

Also, Singletary said he has not ruled out the possibility of the team acquiring quarterback Michael Vick, who is serving a prison sentence on federal dog-fighting charges.

"I'm not going to say I'm open or closed," Singletary said of the possibility of the 49ers acquiring Vick. "I'd say it has to be something Scot (McCloughan) and I talk about and feel good about one way or the other. But we have not talked about it at this point in great detail. We're trying to focus on what we have.

"I think right now we really need to look at the two guys we have," Singletary added. "If everything works out with Alex and he's back, we need to look at that and go as far as we can go with that. The whole Michael Vick thing, we have to sit down and talk about that. But for right now, we have enough on our plates."

When asked about the team's possibly going after Vick, team president Jed York said, "That's up to Scot and Mike."

He added that the possibility is probably remote.

"We'd talk about it," York said. "If they felt it was right for the team, and convince me and my parents . . . it's up to them to show that somebody who's had issues in the past can be a part of this team. But that's not something we've discussed, and I doubt that would happen."

Singletary said he is focusing on a possible QB competition matching Hill against Smith. He said the competition will not be a drawn-out affair. He said it will also be different than a year ago because Hill and Smith will be on equal footing. Singletary said there was only one QB who knew the system a year ago, and that was J.T. O'Sullivan.

When asked about adding a third quarterback to the mix, Singletary said, "We're certainly hopeful to do that. I think that would make sense for us to develop a younger guy in the draft or in free agency, but there doesn't seem to be a whole lot out there right now."

One possibility is free agent Jeff Garcia, who has been told he will not return to the Buccaneers next season. But Singletary said the question is how much of an improvement Garcia would be over Hill.

"You're always interested in a guy who can win football games and Garcia is that kind of guy," Singletary said. "But I think the most important thing is to look at what makes sense for us. When I look at Shaun Hill, I think he did a great job last year. I'm not sure how much better we get by bring a Jeff Garcia in and adding to the mix when you have a guy like Shaun Hill."

Might the 49ers select a quarterback with the No. 10 overall pick? It does not seem too likely.

"That's something we'd have to talk long and hard about, actually," Singletary said.

So who wins a quarterback competition between Hill and Smith?

Smith is seen as a player, when healthy, who has better physical skills. But Hill has appeared to show a better feel for that game. But because Hill can't show everything he has during the course of a routine practice, is he at a disadvantage in an open competition?

"That's a very fair question," Singletary said. "I think the most important thing, there are intangibles that we'll see going into it. We'll measure it in such a way that it will be fair. There's not an exact science to it. We'll pick the right guy."

TRAJIK1 · Feb 17, 2009

http://www.49ers.com/videocenter/videocenter.php

STATE OF THE FRANCHISE VIDEO

Chree · Feb 17, 2009

What do yalls Offseason mocks look like? Rich, Fatal, Trajik, Pollo loc and Cain?

Heres mine

49ers restructure Alex Smith. Cut Mark Roman, cut Jonas Jennings, allow Bryant Johnson, Damane Duckett, Sean Ryan, JTO, Roderick Green, Jamie Martin, Deshaun Foster to leave

Battle stays on team specifically for his blocking (Teams best blocking WR, a poor mans hines ward)

Resign Billy Bajema, Takeo Spikes, Donald Strickland, Alan Rossum.

Sign in FA

RB: Fred Taylor/Deuce Mcallister - Both of these backs would be a great combo with gore. Althought i do like Thomas Clayton, i think he should be 3rd back behind them. Deuce would be a GREAT 3rd down back, something the Niners desperately need.

FB: Leonard Weaver - Great FB, a beast, kind of like Delanie Walker, can return kicks, run the ball, catch out the backfield, block. and is young.

WR: TJ Houshmanzadeh - I think lining up with Bruce would provide him some great tutelage, and Josh Morgan/Jason Hill can continue to learn from both of these guys,

T: Stacey Andrews - Yes hes coming back from injury, but he could be a mid range priced option. and if he doesnt pan out, we can draft a T

DE/OLB: Julius Peppers - No need to say anything here, we already know what he is.

CB: Daven Holly - We drafted him, and let him loose, and was an instant starter for the browns, 1 player i did not want to see leave. Hes young, and could compete with other recent draftees for Walt Harris spot.

S: Chris Mcalister - Yes hes a CB, but hes a 10 year vet, i believe he would make a great FS and would be cheaper than atogwe.

Draft

1st: Rey Maualaga MLB USC - Would eventually take over for Spikes..
2nd: Eugene Monroe OT Virginia
3rd: Wopamo Osaisai CB Stanford
4th: Ramses Barden WR Cal-Poly-Slo
4th: Nate Longshore QB California

second 4th is comp pick.
im not gonna do past those. what yall think/got?

Roster would be

QB: Shaun Hill, Alex Smith, Nate Longshore
RB: Frank Gore, Deuce Mcallister, Thomas Clayton
FB: Leonard Weaver, Michael Robinson
TE: Vernon Davis, Delanie Walker, Billy Bajema
WR: TJ Houshmanzadeh,Isaac Bruce,Arnaz Battle,Jason Hill, Josh Morgan, Ramses Barden
G: Chilo Rachal, Adam Snyder, David Baas, Tony Wragge
T: Joe Staley, Stacy Adams, Eugene Monroe, Barry Sims
C: Eric Heitmann, Cody Wallace
DT: Aubrayo Franklin, Isaac Sopoaga, Ron Fields
DE: Justin Smith, Julius Peppers, Ray Mcdonald
OLB: Manny Lawson, Parys Haralson, Ahmad Brooks
MLB: Patrick Willis, Takeo Spikes, Rey Maluaga, Jeff Ulbrich
CB: Nate Clements, Walt Harris, Shawntae Spencer, Daven Holly, Donald Strickland, Tarell Brown
FS: Chris Mcalister, Dashon Goldson
SS: Michael Lewis, Reggie Smith
K: Joe Nedney
P: Andy Lee
KR/PR: Alan Rossum/Arnaz Battle/Ramses Barden

Chree · Feb 17, 2009

Uniform Change

The team confirmed today that the 49ers will be changing the uniform for the 2009 season. The new design will be presented at the 49ers Draft Day event on April 25. No further details will be released until then.

MooreBlock530 · Feb 17, 2009

physical with a capital F

Chree · Feb 17, 2009

lol. as a titan fan, what u think of my offseason mock

PyKillaman · Feb 17, 2009

new jersey hope it aint to ugly

MooreBlock530 · Feb 17, 2009

that would be a great offseason for the niners...the nfc west is wide open...cards were a fluke and you dont know what your getting from seattle...

im not sure about Mcalister at FS...i was never impressed by his tackling skills but he did get at CB in his prime...

i think his pay was more reason then decling skills or health of him being cut....

i think he should be a good pickup...at cb

Chree · Feb 17, 2009

Or he could be picked up as a CB, and Walt Harris moved to FS,

BROWN GUERRERO · Feb 17, 2009

Damn I really want to see what the new uniforms will look like. Probably old school with a couple tweaks.

TRAJIK1 · Feb 17, 2009

i wish they would sport the uni's from the '94 season! but with our current helmet

TRAJIK1 · Feb 17, 2009

Chree said:

disagree with a couple of them, here's my copy, paste and edit version:

49ers restructure Alex Smith. Cut Mark Roman, cut Jonas Jennings, cut Zak Keasey, allow Bryant Johnson, Damane Duckett, Sean Ryan, JTO, Roderick Green, Jamie Martin, Deshaun Foster to leave

Battle stays on team specifically for his blocking (Teams best blocking WR, a poor mans hines ward)

Resign Billy Bajema, Takeo Spikes, Donald Strickland, Allen Rossum.

Sign in FA

RB: Clayton would be #2 back, sign LaMont Jordan as the 3rd.

FB: Leonard Weaver - Great FB, a beast, kind of like Delanie Walker, can return kicks, run the ball, catch out the backfield, block. and is young.

WR: TJ Houshmanzadeh - I think lining up with Bruce would provide him some great tutelage, and Josh Morgan/Jason Hill can continue to learn from both of these guys,

T: Stacey Andrews - Yes hes coming back from injury, but he could be a mid range priced option. and if he doesnt pan out, we can draft a T

DE/OLB: Julius Peppers - No need to say anything here, we already know what he is.

CB: Daven Holly - We drafted him, and let him loose, and was an instant starter for the browns, 1 player i did not want to see leave. Hes young, and could compete with other recent draftees for Walt Harris spot.

S: Pick up Asomugha, and move Harris to FS, if not pick up Rodney Harrison for 2 years and keep Harris at CB

Draft

1st: Rey Maualaga MLB USC - Would eventually take over for Spikes..
2nd: Eugene Monroe OT Virginia
3rd: Wopamo Osaisai CB Stanford
4th: Ramses Barden WR Cal-Poly-Slo
4th: Nate Longshore QB California

second 4th is comp pick.
im not gonna do past those. what yall think/got?

Roster would be

QB: Shaun Hill, Alex Smith, Nate Longshore
RB: Frank Gore, ,Thomas Clayton, LaMont Jordan
FB: Leonard Weaver, Michael Robinson
TE: Vernon Davis, Delanie Walker, Billy Bajema
WR: TJ Houshmanzadeh,Isaac Bruce,Arnaz Battle,Jason Hill, Josh Morgan, Dominique Ziegler
G: Chilo Rachal, Adam Snyder, David Baas, Tony Wragge
T: Joe Staley, Stacy Adams, Eugene Monroe, Barry Sims
C: Eric Heitmann, Cody Wallace
DT: Aubrayo Franklin, Isaac Sopoaga, Ron Fields
DE: Justin Smith, Julius Peppers, Ray Mcdonald
OLB: Manny Lawson, Parys Haralson, Ahmad Brooks
MLB: Patrick Willis, Takeo Spikes, Rey Maluaga, Jeff Ulbrich
CB: Nate Clements, Walt Harris, Shawntae Spencer, Daven Holly, Donald Strickland, Tarell Brown
FS: Rodney Harrison, Dashon Goldson
SS: Michael Lewis, Reggie Smith
K: Joe Nedney
P: Andy Lee
KR/PR: Alan Rossum/Arnaz Battle/Ramses Barden

Chree · Feb 17, 2009

Eh i dont like Jordan, and Harrison is a SS, i wouldnt want him as a FS

Chree · Feb 17, 2009

The 49ers emphatically closed the door on any possibility imprisoned quarterback Michael Vick will suit up for the club in 2009 or beyond.

Coach Mike Singletary did not express interest in acquiring Vick during a question-and-answer session with reporters following a state-of-the-franchise event Monday in San Mateo. But Singletary created plenty of intrigue when he also did not rule out Vick as an option.

But, now, the 49ers are ruling it out.

"The 49ers are not interested in Michael Vick," said a team spokesman Tuesday evening.

Team insiders have said for several weeks that 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan does not consider Vick a viable option for the team's future. McCloughan has not spoken publicly about Vick, and he does not plan to speak about any player under contract with another team. Vick remains under contract with the Atlanta Falcons.

McCloughan is likely being extra-cautious after the 49ers forfeited a fifth-round draft pick last year after the NFL ruled the club was guilty of tampering with Bears linebacker Lance Briggs.

Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said last week he is actively seeking to trade Vick, who is expected to be released on July 20 after serving a prison term on federal dog-fighting charges. It is not known when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will lift an indefinite suspension and clear Vick to return to the playing field.

Niners president Jed York also addressed the Vick issue on Monday, saying any such football decision would rest with McCloughan and Singletary. York added he did not believe the club would acquire Vick.

"It's up to them to show that somebody who's had issues in the past can be a part of this team. But that's not something we've discussed, and I doubt that would happen," York said Monday.

On Dec. 10, 2007, Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison. He is currently serving his term in Leavenworth, Kansas.

* * *

The 49ers become at least the fourth NFL team to publicly express no interest in acquiring Vick:

--Tampa Bay general manager Mark Dominik said of Vick, "No, I don't see that in our future."

--Detroit coach Jim Schwartz said, "We want to keep an open mind toward just about anybody, but when you talk about Pacman (Jones) or maybe Michael Vick, I don't think we're in a position as a team that we can go in those directions."

--A Jets spokesman said, "The Jets have no interest in Michael Vick."

YUNG $PIDER · Feb 18, 2009

can't wait to see the new uniforms

Niner News Thread

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