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We still stacked. We were a play away from winning it all last year. I expect 12-5 again, may or may not be 1 seed but hopefully are
WE staaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaacked
Gentlemen,
We were busy in Free Agency. We focused on Defensive veterans and will draft Offense. Makes sense Kyle should be expected to coach them up.
We focused alot on Dline and this yearly upsets fans. 49ers recipe for success is strong Dline. We stop the run and focus on 2nd down & 8+. In NFL the opponent does run play 9/10 in that scenario.
Big point here: strong Dline ensures our Offense isn't playing from behind and its rested. Our Dline is the key to our success. And it dominates NFC regular season & playoffs.
Last edited by FrostKing; 03-21-2024 at 06:46 AM.
We still stacked. We were a play away from winning it all last year. I expect 12-5 again, may or may not be 1 seed but hopefully are
WE staaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaacked
Think injuries will be their downfall this season, but hopefully they can get lucky on that front. This is prolly their last shot with this core.
Seems the FO had a strong Draft class so talent is being replenished but our team is steadily becoming top heavy and some of these guys are injury prone.
Lions victory + Love injury likes means we will have to Win the NFC this time around on the Road. That's fair.
Reports are this is our best Secondary under Kyle and some former players are saying even better than any in the 2000s. Overall thrilled we are still in this position with all this talent approaching halfway thru the Decade.
“The day it actually got done, the 49ers were trading him to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was already en route there. And then all the sudden Brandon Aiyuk happened to show up early to the facility that day. Went downstairs trying to meet with Kyle Shanahan, Kyle Shanahan was trying to get in touch with the front office, but they couldn’t take his call because they were trying to get the trade done to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“So Shanahan actaully ran all the way upstairs, said, ‘hold this, let’s put a hold on these trade talks right now. Pittsburgh we’ll call you right back.” They went down and talked to Aiyuk for about two hours and said, ‘look you have until the end of practice, we’re either trading you to Pittsburgh today or you can take the deal that’s been on the table, it’s up to you, but you have until the end of practice.’
“He [Aiyuk] says, ‘this is where I want to be.’ Brandon Aiyuk remains a 49er.”
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- San Francisco 49ers guard Aaron Banks was minutes into an early training camp interview session when he was asked about a costly mistake by the offensive line late in Super Bowl LVIII.
Tension lingered in the air for about five seconds before Banks mumbled a response.
"Sore subject," Banks said.
A few more seconds went by before Banks arrived at a non-answer, choosing to pass on responding and scanning the room for any other question.
Here he was, 169 days after the 49ers' overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, and it appeared it was still too soon to relive the latest in the Niners' expanding list of difficult postseason defeats.
Such is the cloud that looms over all things 49ers as they prepare to open the 2024 season Monday night against the New York Jets (8:15 ET, ESPN/ABC/ESPN+) and take another shot at winning the franchise's sixth Lombardi Trophy.
Losing on the biggest stage leads to concerns about a Super Bowl hangover. The pain of climbing the postseason mountain again cuts deeper because of the four misses in the past five seasons.
It's the blown fourth-quarter Super Bowl leads to the Chiefs in Las Vegas this past February, as well as in Miami after the 2019 season. It's a dropped interception in the NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams in January 2022. It's quarterback Brock Purdy's devastating right elbow injury early in the NFC Championship Game in January 2023 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The toll of those disappointments -- mentally, physically and financially -- weigh heavily on these 49ers.
Mentally, there's no one way to process the emotions and move past so many close calls, and the physical cost of repeated deep postseason journeys is every bit as daunting. The extra mileage from 12 postseason games over the past five years has led to changes in offseason workout schedules, surgeries to repair lingering injuries and newfangled ways to recover.
Financially, the Niners' continued commitment to keep their best players with big-money contracts means there's a reckoning coming soon -- starting with Purdy's expected extension -- that could make this the final opportunity for their nucleus to break through and win it all.
Training camp offered some potentially ominous signs the Super Bowl window could be closing. Wideout Brandon Aiyuk and offensive tackle Trent Williams did not practice until they were given bigger contracts, and San Francisco canceled joint practices with the New Orleans Saints because it had too many injuries to get through those sessions. At their worst, the Niners had 23 players not participating in practice, mostly because of injury.
"The whole goal is to get to the season and be ready to play football," coach Kyle Shanahan said. "The offseason, though, especially this year, how short it's been, I think it's a mental break just as much as anything. ... We know what we put into this. We know how long it goes and not just with your body but the mind I think more than anything."
All of which makes summoning the energy to go through it all again -- in hopes that this time will be different -- a formidable task for a team that must thread the needle between preserving itself for the postseason while playing well enough to get there.
"Just complete honesty, it's brutal," linebacker Fred Warner said. "In order to get to where you want to go, this part right here that we're in, it's got to suck. ... It's got to hurt. If it doesn't, that means you're not doing it hard enough. You're not doing it right."
LESS THAN TWO weeks after they trudged off the field and into the locker room following the loss to the Chiefs in February, 49ers tight end George Kittle, running back Christian McCaffrey, fullback Kyle Juszczyk and their significant others headed to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
For Kittle and Juszczyk, both of whom were around for the Niners' previous Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs, the escape was part of their understanding that the best way to grieve is to be around those who have been through the same thing.
"Sometimes it's like we're laughing, we're laughing, and then you make a quick joke about the Super Bowl and we're like, f---," Juszczyk said. "And then everyone is quiet for a second and you feel those emotions. That's part of the grieving process."
Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir was not around for the first Super Bowl loss to Kansas City, but in his three years in the league, he has been to at least the NFC Championship Game every season and played a prominent role in Super Bowl LVIII.
The fourth-year corner never fathomed the possibility of losing to the Chiefs, which only made it harder. So hard, in fact, Lenoir says he shut himself out from the world and "don't think I even talked to anyone for two weeks."
For others, the only way to move to the future was to revisit the past. That was part of Purdy's process, albeit after escaping the disappointment for a bit to get married.
After arriving for the offseason program in April, Purdy watched the Super Bowl loss multiple times with coach Kyle Shanahan and quarterbacks coach Brian Griese.
Among the plays Purdy would like to have back was a third-down incompletion for receiver Jauan Jennings in the fourth quarter. A better read to an open Aiyuk likely would have resulted in a first down that could have helped the Niners run the clock down and kick a game-winning field goal as time expired.
"Those are the kind of plays that run through my mind when I think about the Super Bowl," Purdy said.
Of course, even as various 49ers make peace with the loss, a reminder is never far away. For a few months after the game, Lenoir felt like he couldn't go anywhere without seeing a Chiefs hat or T-shirt.
"It just kind of hits you in waves," Kittle said. "You get to a point and it's like, this just sucks. And the farther away you get from it, the less you think about it."
.... continued
....
THE WEAR AND tear of an NFL season is different for every player, but it's also not exclusive to them. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw wasn't the only Niner to tear an Achilles during the Super Bowl.
Defensive backs coach Daniel Bullocks was standing on the sideline in the third quarter when safety Ji'Ayir Brown intercepted Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. In the ensuing celebration, Bullocks was jumping up and down celebrating when he felt an odd twinge in his leg. It wasn't until after the game when the adrenaline wore off on the sideline that Bullocks realized something was wrong.
When he tried to head to the locker room, Bullocks couldn't walk. Five days later, he went into surgery to repair a torn Achilles, the same operation from the same surgeon on the same day Greenlaw had his repaired.
The time spent rehabbing in the months that followed allowed Bullocks, who has been on Shanahan's staff since 2017, the chance to survey his own physical and mental toll.
"I evaluate myself and then I evaluate my players," Bullocks said. "And then once I come up with what I need to get better at and what they need to get better at, that's what we're going to focus on moving forward ... and hopefully that gets us a chance to get back to the Super Bowl. Not only get back to the Super Bowl but win it."
For that to happen, the Niners will need to stay healthy. After multiple injury-plagued seasons, they were one of the healthiest teams in the league in 2023, finishing with 34.5 adjusted games lost (which estimates the impact of injuries on teams), the fourth fewest in the NFL. It was the first time in 10 seasons that the 49ers ranked better than 20th in the category.
That type of luck could be hard to repeat. Nobody knows that better than Kittle, who has made a career of playing through various ailments -- like a Grade 3 AC joint sprain and a chipped bone in his right shoulder suffered in the Super Bowl. He also had core muscle surgery on March 1 and couldn't do any sort of significant training until April.
At one point, his weight dropped from the 240 pounds he usually plays at to closer to 214, a weight he estimated he hadn't seen on a scale since 2012, his freshman year at the University of Iowa.
It took Kittle until just before training camp to get his weight back into the 242-245 range, but the altered offseason approach also forced him to slow down and take it easier on his body.
"That process was weird for me, but looking back on it, I think it's going to be really beneficial for me," Kittle said. "It's going to save some wear and tear on my body."
Kittle wasn't the only Niner forced to alter his approach to offseason workouts. Defensive end Nick Bosa normally takes time off after the season before diving back into workouts.
This year, however, Bosa realized the 80 games and 3,708 snaps he has played since entering the league in 2019 required a different offseason regimen that builds in more time to rest.
"As I go on in my career, I understand that you have to build it up at the right times and especially when you're playing 20-game seasons, just building it up slow and peaking at the right time," Bosa said.
Niners veterans don't hesitate to share tips on how to recover and prepare their bodies for another long run, either. Juszczyk and Kittle are devout believers in stem cell therapy. Juszczyk went to Panama twice this offseason for the multiday therapy sessions. Juszczyk is also adamant about beginning the day with a plunge in the cold tub, usually set to 38 degrees, as well as daily red light therapy and plenty of time spent in the sauna.
Even McCaffrey has tweaked his offseason schedule.
"If you're going to play hard and train hard, you need to recover just as hard," McCaffrey said. "Our guys have the right mindset, and if it means resting a little bit after the season, then that's what it takes, then so be it. It's nice having a lot of veterans who are mature guys who know how to do it, who have been through it because we know what it takes to get our own individual mind, body and soul ready to play."
THE NINERS ARE facing the very real possibility this will be the final chance for this group of players to win a Super Bowl together.
The offseason revealed cracks in San Francisco's salary cap outlook. The Niners are paying Bosa (first in annual average value among defensive ends), McCaffrey (first), Warner (first), Kittle (third), Juszczyk (first), wideouts Aiyuk (tied for fifth) and Deebo Samuel Sr. (14th), Williams (third) and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (tied for 12th) at or near the top of their position groups.
With McCaffrey and Jennings signing offseason extensions, Purdy set for a payday next offseason and the lengthy process of Aiyuk's and Williams' contract negotiations, no summer topic has permeated Niners-land more than how they will divvy up their resources in 2024 and beyond.
The 49ers are unlikely to be able to keep all of their stars given Purdy could receive the biggest raise in NFL history. Greenlaw, Banks, safety Talanoa Hufanga and cornerbacks Lenoir and Charvarius Ward are among the 24 Niners scheduled for unrestricted free agency.
"We're trying to have success right now, first and foremost, but always keep in mind of [looking] out into the future," general manager John Lynch said. "That's what we'll continue to do. That's our charge, that's who we are as an organization. We're going to push each year to compete for championships and do so, I think, in a responsible way, and that's what we try to do."
These Niners are again considered legitimate contenders but -- in addition to the mental and physical anguish -- there are more challenges lurking.
ESPN Analytics gives the 49ers the best chance to win Super Bowl LIX (13.2%, per the Football Power Index) but only three teams have won the Super Bowl the year after losing it, the most recent coming in Super Bowl LI, when the New England Patriots beat the Atlanta Falcons.
On top of that, the 49ers are going to be one of the most-traveled teams, with 24,575 miles (fifth most in the NFL). And for the second straight year, the Niners will have the worst rest differential in the league with 21 fewer days of rest than their opponents. They'll face four teams coming off their byes (the Indianapolis Colts are the only other team that has more than two).
To manage the physical toll, Shanahan expanded the list of players getting "veteran days" during training camp. As many as nine players got the occasional day off or at least reduced reps during team drills.
That begs the question: Is the 49ers' gas tank close to empty even before the season starts?
Shanahan used an August meeting to remind his team what it's supposed to look like at its best.
He showed the defense its first 20 plays from last November's 34-3 win against Jacksonville. He then showed the offense a random assortment of 20 of its best plays from last season.
For the veterans, it was a reminder of what the 49ers can be when rested and ready. For those who are new to the team, it was a blueprint for how to fit in.
"It was impactful," Juszczyk said. "We all kind of got up and we were all fired up leaving that meeting."
Ultimately, these 49ers know their legacy will be determined by what happens in January and February, even if they can't allow themselves to begin contemplating those possibilities until they've traversed the treacherous path back to the postseason -- again.
"You can't go into a year thinking like, damn, I hope we can make that next step," Warner said. "The last thing on our mind is just making it back there. We are trying to put together the best team possible for if and when that moment does come, we got to be the best version of ourselves when we get there."
Last edited by FrostKing; 09-09-2024 at 05:18 PM.
Think we'll be lucky to see CMC play four games this season tbh. He might be cooked.
Last edited by FrostKing; 09-10-2024 at 05:55 AM.
Different uniform, same Bosa feeding
"Crazy stuff can go on, but just our culture, our team, what we stand for and how we all come together and find ways to win and rally around each other, we do it right here," Purdy said. "That's something that I stand on and firmly believe in, and we all do. So I'm very proud of the guys to be able to fight through just all the adversity and stuff that we've been going through in the last however many months. But we're just going to keep pushing."
"We've got great leaders in this locker room. And we got people who follow the leaders," Williams said. "We've got leaders that echo what the coaches are preaching. And so I think that's the reason our locker room is able to stay focused."
Bosa tipped his cap to 49ers owner Jed York while also saying it helps to know that players are going to continue to do their part even when they're not with the team.
"Our ownership really takes care of us," Bosa said. "You have to when you have really good players, and we have really good players at every position. And when guys aren't there, I mean, we have their back. We know that when they get back, they're going to work their butts off. So it doesn't change when they're not here. We're working, and when they come, we're working."
"I'm like, damn, everybody is, like, laser focused, everybody flying around," Williams said. "It's like, not a lot of joking going on. We've got a lot of new players in a locker room that's already playing at San Francisco (level), you know, what we expect around here.
"I looked at all the young guys and the draft, and I'm just like, damn. Obviously, we had a good roster last year. I didn't know that they could improve it, but in my opinion, we improved, and those guys are playing their butts off."
Really? Certaintly he will steadily suffer more minor injuries moving forward.
But based on that article I copy pasted yesterday, it just seems like long view keep everyone healthy and fresh mindset. To the extreme.
We should feel confident going into other teams homes this Playoff run, if it ensures we have all our pieces on the field. Division le is the only must, right? Then some H2H matchups to help locker room morale like...I won't mention them right now.
Impressive 2 additions in the trenches
3rd Round pick: Puni OG
Trade with Texans: Collins DT
I would love to see what this 49ers team could do with an elite QB. They might never lose a game
Apparently they knew he wasn't playing as far back as Friday. That doesn't sound good at all.
.
Last edited by FrostKing; 09-13-2024 at 02:34 AM.
Jordan Mason is a beast. Troy Aikman re-iterated a couple times during the game that he looked like a prime Marshawn Lynch out there running the ball, and he seems to be able to catch and run, too. He can hold the line, along with Taylor and a sprinkling of guys like Deebo and Juszczyk carrying the ball, and the Niners will be fine for half a season and preserve the golden boy for the stretch run. It seems like a savvy Shanahan plan.
The Niners will also be getting Pearsall back fairly soon, it's interesting to see how Shanny will use him. He's kind of skinny to play tailback but people have comped him to Cooper Kupp which would be a huge boon for the Niners. I could easily see one or both of Deebo or CMC getting traded if/when the Niners pay Purdy. They might be wise to use Deebo more often in the run game and play guys like Pearsall, Aiyuk, and Jennings in his place in the receiving game -- even Kittle and Juszczyk have been effective there -- they sure have enough of "those" guys.
IR seems a for sure now. If the injury doesn't show improvement, there is possibility of Season Ending.
Officially placed on IR. I'd bet he doesn't play this season.
IR seems a for sure now. If the injury doesn't show improvement, there is possibility of Season Ending.
Difficult to envision him not even suiting up in a game. But yah it's nearing 50/50 chance this will derail his season and likely Playoff run.
Season so early in the process, 49ers have depth options. Even former players in this system.
Luckily they have cap space and picks to go out and acquire someone if need be.
Great performance by the Vikings... yet again at home versus SF49. Niners haven't won @ Minnesota since 1992. I remember the SB season we dropped the final game there.
Blocked punt. 99 yard pass TD. We failed at the 1 yard line.
Team is rusty. Players that sat training camp have been underwhelming. Bottomline we left without any serious injuries. That will be the theme much of this long season
Purdy has been okay but as S.Young stated this week, he needs to step up a level right now like Warner has. Secondary had a very poor showing and Dline is figuring things out.
Only significant red flag I've seen is that when Ayiuk struggles, the rest of the WR core don't get much separation on their routes. Especially Deebo. Forcing. Purdy to throw into very tight windows
Last edited by FrostKing; 09-20-2024 at 05:45 AM.
Hargrave out for the season. This is 2020 all over again tbh.
Well. ALOT to unpack here and discuss. Some of it is League wide problems - injuries [2nd Pro Bowler goes down?] and offseason Holdouts starting slow/sluggish.
Another season with a brand new DC and yet again the unit starts the season slow. Special Teams with a consecutive poor showing. This is a poor reflection on Kyle. I get it because of the Super Bowl we were forced to find a new DC really late in the process. The Special Teams coach is in his 3rd season. Kyle needs to crack the whip on both.
Front Office decisions - the Oline is improved (Trent will round into shape) and yet still a weak link. Underperformed against an under manned Rams Dline. Ayuik will also improve but at the moment the FO decisions in terms of recent FA's and resigning our own guys; so/so results. I understand that's typically the outcome with big FA signings. We have acquired Defensive Line with every capital possible - drafted, signed & traded; and yet it's arguably weaker than 5 years ago.
Overall it definitely seems like a typical yearly contender that is going thru the motions of a long season. I feel bad for NFL season ticket holders or folks that travel to watch their team. For numerous reasons the NFL today is just like every other sport - save yourself til atleast mid-season.
I still think we will be fine. That's assuming Christian returns to his normal self by seasons end. No panic until we haven't won our own Division but even then - it's just 1 extra home game. So much has gone wrong so far in terms of the play on the field and coaching; that even if half returns to the mean we will be a Playoff team. And no one in the NFC wants to face us.
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