49erswebzone.com Commentary

Moving on from Michael Crabtree

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:14:39 PDT

Make no mistake about it, Michael Crabtree's Achilles injury is a gigantic blow to the San Francisco 49ers and their chances to get back to the Super Bowl. The time table for his return was set at about

The Proposed 1983 Trade of Joe Montana

Tue, 21 May 2013 06:56:33 PDT

As part of the run-up to this year's draft, and its aftermath, ESPN has aired several broadcasts of "From Elway to Marino" as part of their "30 for 30" series. This docutisement utilizes many of the methods made familiar by modern masters of the documentary form. Like Errol Morris, it employs

The A.J. Jenkins Saga

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:40:24 PDT

The selection of wide receiver A.J. Jenkins with the 30th pick in the 2012 NFL draft was a surprising one. Jenkins, who was seen as a second or third rounder by draft experts, wasn't expected to be taken on day one. But the 49ers were confident in their pick and general manager Trent Baalke went as

Runners-up for the 49ers' New Stadium Naming Rights

Tue, 14 May 2013 06:57:29 PDT

Among those companies not selected: Microloft. Midway through the negotiation process, irate Seahawk fans stormed the corporation's Washington campuses. Microloft withdrew. Boys-R-Us. Proposed that the lower sections of the stadium consist of gigantic sand boxes with

What to look for in Colin Kaepernick's next contract

Mon, 13 May 2013 17:56:10 PDT

With the recent coming out party by Colin Kaepernick, I want to take a look at the potential for an extension for Kaepernick, which he will be eligible for after the 2013 season ends. It's obvious that the play and style that Kaepernick brings has taken the whole NFL by storm, but is he ready for

Burning 49er Questions for 2013

Thu, 09 May 2013 17:44:10 PDT

Will Colin Kaepernick take a step back in his development? @chans206 "Can Kaep avoid the ("sophomore") 2nd season slump common to young NFL QB's?" Kaepernick was nothing short of amazing last season.

Lombardi Mountain

Tue, 07 May 2013 06:55:06 PDT

Legendary 49er receiver Jerry Rice gained notoriety not only for his Hall-of-Fame-caliber on-field exploits, but for his intensive training as well, particularly the "running of the hill." Nor did he quit his uphill regimen once he reached the assumed pinnacle of his profession; on the contrary, he

Top 5 Fan Favorite 2013 San Francisco 49ers Draft Picks

Fri, 03 May 2013 23:56:18 PDT

We recently ran a poll asking San Francisco 49ers fans to vote for their favorite 2013 49ers draft pick. Between April 25th and 27th, the 49ers selected eleven players in the NFL Draft. That number is large considering that the 49ers, who are coming off of a Super Bowl appearance, already have a

The Tank Has Come Rolling into San Francisco

Fri, 03 May 2013 08:26:53 PDT

Cornellius "Tank" Carradine signed with Illinois out of high school but was forced to attend Butler Community College because of academic issues. He was a star in junior college, recording 10 sacks in his first season in 2009 and leading the nation with 16 in the 2010 campaign. The Butler Grizzlies

All Part of the Plan, Harbaugh's Era Truly Begins

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 21:36:11 PDT

When the Savior arrived—two years (or was it a lifetime?) ago—the plan was in place. And the key component, we knew, would be patience. Oh, sure, amid the euphoria that surrounded the hire, we had crazy visions of immediate greatness. But the plan was in place, and the plan would take

Farewell 49er Draft Crushes

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 07:01:24 PDT

Players the 49ers did not take: Tavon Austin. Imagine this jet-speed jitterbug, among the Niners' possession plodders, receiving Kaepernick passes in tight spaces, end-zone bound. Or he might have returned punts, kickoffs, even run some read-options. Who, then, could have possibly

49ers Draft Walking Wounded

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 07:21:15 PDT

Pundits, perhaps rightly, have lavished praise on 49er personnel honchos and their scouts for the just-completed draft. We love to hype the stars, and, competitive unto obsession, we like to believe our home team can out-draft their NFL counterparts. However, with regard to the 2013 San Francisco

Reviewing the 2013 NFL Draft: The 49ers hit another home run

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 17:04:24 PDT

If there's one constant in the NFL and it's hierarchy it's that the good organizations understand how to attack the draft. They understand what they want their football team to look like and what players will fit that system. Year in and year out, these teams seem to select players that are good

10 Things NFL Reps Won't Say During Post-Draft Interviews

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 06:56:18 PDT

1. We totally biffed this year's draft. 2. We didn't get any player we really wanted. 3. Where can I get some more of those nachos? 4. We made few trades because, in the heat of the moment, we froze. 5. We made a lot of trades to cover the

A way too early prediction of the 49er's 2013 record

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 16:54:10 PDT

The draft hasn't happened yet. There are still mini camps to be held. We have to get through a full preseason. Injuries can still happen. Even with all of that, don't tell me you haven't gone though the 49er's schedule week by week and predicted how the team will finish! I did too, and I decided to

Breaking Down the 49ers 2013 Schedule

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 23:22:37 PDT

Well, the cat is out of the bag and it looks like only two of my prognostications rang true: The 49ers will follow their trip to London with a bye week (some real crystal ball foresight there on my part)The 49ers have five primetime games, the maximum allowed at the onset of the

Forecasting the 49ers 2013 Schedule: Five Predictions

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:30:22 PDT

On the precipice of the NFL schedule-release soiree, I figured it would be a good time to take a look at the 49ers' 2013 opponents and make some predictions about how things might shake out. 2013 Opponents

49ers and Traditional NFL Draft Strategies

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 06:49:15 PDT

Creative destruction, or what one 49ers webzone fan has called the "slash-and-burn" method of roster construction predominates in today's NFL. Given this current environment, how might the 49ers best work the draft? Let's look at some traditional strategies, and see which may or may not remain

49er's 7 Round Mock Draft

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 13:37:37 PDT

The 49ers find themselves in quite an enviable position as the 2013 NFL draft approaches. With 13 picks and an already loaded roster, the team is primed to gain the depth is needs and also be able to take some chances on players who may need a year or two to develop. Here's my take on a 7 round

Upon Further Review: The First 32, a 2013 Mock Draft

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 16:48:37 PDT

After the 49ers' signing of Nnamdi Asomugha, it is almost certain that the 49ers are done with free-agency...and that the complexion of the 49ers most immediate needs had changed somewhat (in our opinion, at least). Given what we know, it's time for AJ and Diego to put their heads

Cracks in the Foundation of the 49er's Defense

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 08:29:50 PDT

In today's salary cap era, it's extremely difficult, if not impossible, to keep a unit together. Eventually, you have to start making hard decisions on free agents. Eventually your players get old. Eventually you start having to pay players on the other side of the ball. Eventually you have to move

Personnel and Personalities

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 11:28:53 PDT

With the voluminous information available via the internet, many fans today know almost as much about a potential 49er's measurables as do some NFL personnel departments. The scads of mock-draft info available during roster-replenishment season, not just from beat writers and national experts, but

Why the Asomugha signing makes sense for everyone involved

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:26:58 PDT

Over two and a half years after the original "Nnamdi Watch" the sequel has generated much better results. The San Francisco 49ers have reportedly signed cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha to a 1 year deal worth 1.35 million dollars. He can supposedly more than double that total if he reaches certain

49ers to Unveil New Derringer Offense

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 07:04:11 PDT

While defensive coordinators around the league busily bone up on stopping the 49ers' version of the pistol offense, particularly the read option, the Niners themselves, in a small-but-subtle way, have developed a counter move, a new formation tentatively named "the derringer."

The Montana vs. Brady Debate

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 11:33:06 PDT

It's one of the greatest arguments in all of sports. Who is the greatest of all time? In the NFL, the argument is probably most associated with quarterbacks. But it's hard to make a judgment on who is the best ever given the different era's the players have suited up in. How can we compare Otto