49ers Fancast #20: Narrow Defeat in Indy
Discussing the close loss in Indinapolis and previewing the game vs. Tennessee. Teaching 49ers fans how to grow a pair. Call the voicemail line at 206-666-2826 or email 49ersfancast@gmail.com
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November 6th, 2009 at 8:49 am
Hey Jim,
Just a quick note to say keep up the good work. Love the show and your enthusiasm and optimism has got me fired up for the remainder of the season.
I too am am very confident of our chances going forward. Alex Smith has came out and shown that he is of a calibre which should be developed – and he should continue to be given the opportunity to progress as a player. I was initially behind the Hill move having seen his performances last year, but am more than happy to have dug out the No. 11 jersey now.
I think your comment in this weeks show that ‘we have a foundation from which to build’ is truly important. Why on earth should we get rid of Raye at a time when the team is coming on leaps and bounds (OK we might not have won the last 2, but we are showing signs of massive improvement). Why have yet another OC when we have already seen the damage that it can cause. It is so important to keep some continuity over the next few seasons.
The team is littered with some considerable talent and skill…Smith, Davis, Crabtree, Gore, Willis etc etc and we have a nice number of younger emerging players who will learn under Singletary the way the others have.
That said, and I know you were positive about Sims and Snyder last week, if we do not heavily build the trenches this coming off season, I feel that there will be more ‘moral victories’ ahead. Quite a few talented Offensive Lineman passed us by in last years draft and they appear to be doing well for their respective teams e.g Loadholt, Vollmer. That must be a focus for next year. Otherwise, I don’t think that there are all too many holes to fill. The D is great and we have players all over the field who can make plays now.
I am looking forward to tuning in on Sunday to the Titans game – they will probably look to rely on Young’s scrambling ability and Willis should soon sniff that out. If we can keep their run game in check then we should be looking good.
Anyway, keep up the good work,
Cheers
Chris (in Glasgow, Scotland)
November 6th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Good shot, Jim. You are right. “Bill Walsh fostered a culture of winning that lasted for more than 20 years,” but also fostered a fan base full of “I want it all right now” impatience.
The example is right in front of us — the Defense. Greg Manusky warned, when he took over, that the Defense would look vanilla at first, but would get more sophisticated and effective the next year, and the next, as he developed them more and more. When the Colt offense came to the line and saw 11 49ers standing up, that was a fine example of sophistication and preparation that might not have been possible last year.
I look forward to the Offense developing in a similar fashion next year into a unit that is increasingly capable of sophisticated adjustments. Jimmy Raye is far more experienced than Greg Manusky was. Like white-haired old Tom Moore, the Colts’ OC. No one wisecracks that the game has passed him by.
Thank you for that observation of Alex Smith’s cutting short his dropback immediately when he saw Crabtree break free, and stepping up to throw off his front foot. Bravo, Mike Johnson and Alex and the “explosive” (Frank Gore’s description) Crabtree!