A Fond Look Back
by Erik Klackner
09.02.05 – The 2005 preseason for the San Francisco 49ers is now in the books, and with it comes the proverbial ‘retrospective’ on the subject. It was an eventful preseason: new coaches, new players, new defensive system, new (old) offensive system, and most importantly, new attitude. All of this was overshadowed by the loss of OL Thomas Herrion, whose presence clearly continues to resonate through the team. That said, the 49ers showed plenty of mental toughness in fighting through adversity and developing themselves, hopefully toward regular season success. Here are my own observations (in order of ‘priority’) of what went down as we steamroll toward week 1:
Causes for Concern
- Run defense. The 49ers gave up an average of 158.5 yards per game on the ground, and 5.0 yards per carry. Is Anthony Adams capable of locking down the interior of the line, freeing up Derek Smith and Jeff Ulbrich? Can Isaac Sopoaga continue to improve his technique enough to become an everydown player?
- Offensive line. With Jeremy Newberry in at C, the line looked much better. Unfortunately, that was for less than 1 quarter in the final game at San Diego. Predominantly without him, the 49ers allowed 14 sacks in 4 games, which would translate to similar numbers to last season’s fiasco. Will Newberry’s knee last the entire season? He is the anchor of the entire offense.
- Kevan Barlow. He picked up right where he left off last season, which is exactly what Mike Nolan did NOT want to see. 24 carries for 76 yards simply will not cut it if the 49ers have any intention of winning the division, which is the stated goal. Frank Gore did not fare much better, averaging 2.9 yards per carry. The rushing attack desperately needs to pick up.
- Special Teams coverage units. The punt coverage in particular has been atrocious, allowing an average return of 11.7 yards, 5th worst in the NFL. Field position could be a real strength for this team with Andy Lee punting, but the coverage units need to step up in a hurry to take advantage.
- Pass defense. The 49ers surrendered the 2nd most passing yards in the league (246.0 per game), despite posting a very respectable 10 sacks in 4 games. The secondary is certainly improving, but will have to take a quantam leap, especially in week 1 facing a team like St. Louis.
Causes for Optimism
- Turnover Margin. The 49ers posted a +7 ratio in takeways/giveaways, which tied for 1st in the NFL. Turnovers generally tell the story of a game, and if they are able to maintain that type of fundamentally sound play, they could be in for a BIG surprise season.
- The Wide Receivers. What was perceived by virtually everyone, including 49ers fans, as a major weakness appears stronger than we all thought. Brandon Lloyd and Arnaz Battle have cemented themselves as the #1 and #2 WRs. Fred Amey had a magnificent preseason. Rashaun Woods, though limited to one game, showed he can contribute significantly.
- The Quarterbacks. It began as a controversy, but was quickly subsided. Tim Rattay played very well in the preseason, posting an impressive 99.4 QB rating (which would have been over 100 if not for the phantom INT call against the Chargers) and showing command of the offense. Alex Smith, after struggling early, showed what he is capable of, leading the game-winning drive against the Titans and throwing a beautiful rollout TD pass at San Diego. Cody Pickett looked very good, leading a 2-minute drive for a TD, and making plenty of big plays. And Ken Dorsey, though limited in his reps, played solid, completing 12-of-17 passes.
- Defensive pressure. As mentioned previously, the 49ers posted 10 sacks, which ranked in the top half of the league, and is a marked improvement from last season. I cannot imagine anything close to all the exotic blitz packages were employed either, meaning the numbers should only get better as the defense grows.
- The rest of the Special Teams. Joe Nedney has been rejuvenated, missing only 1 field goal (a 53-yarder). Andy Lee has been terrific, averaging 41.7 yards per punt, with 5 punts inside the 20-yard line. The return game has been steady, with Fred Amey and Rasheed Marshall both showing glimpses of potential.
Of course, the biggest cause for optimism has been the attitude infusion provided by Mike Nolan and his staff. The 49ers appear hungry, passionate, and enthusiastic, which is something they lacked last season. It sure seems to me that the bleak forecast predicted by most of the media may not come to fruition. Let’s hope the 49ers are able to build on what clearly has been positive preseason momentum.
* A special thanks has to go to Mr Mayhem and Jason77. Without the clips and game footage they uploaded for all of us to use, I would not have been able to see any of these games. Thanks a million gentlemen.
