What a difference a year makes
by Vini Chopra – 49ersNews.com

08.05.06—As I sat watching the 49ers prepare for the 2006 NFL Season during the first week of training camp, a very cliched but appropriate phrase popped up almost instantaneously. “What a difference a year makes!” I say this after enduring last year’s training camps, where I was subjected, or perhaps ‘tortured’ is a more appropriate word, to a team that clearly needed to be refined. Most of my complaints centered around the offense because Mike McCarthy was doing the same ‘dinking and dunking’ that was getting old in the NFL. But after an off-season that can be called progressive to say the least, the 49ers are looking like a much more exciting and firey team if training camp is any indication of what is to come (and usually it is).

I could go on about the string of positives that the team managed to follow leading up to Training Camp 2006. I would of course highlight the hiring of Norv Turner, a man who mentored Troy Aikman and figured significantly into the success of the Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl victories, as our offense coordinator. The drafting of Vernon Davis and Manny Lawson had fans excited, as both provided athletic freaks that could act as much needed playmakers on offense and defense. And there were many other beneficial moves that the front office made (Larry Allen, Antonio Bryant). But all of these are moot right now. What matters is how those players come together and become a team that treads on the same path of glory that the older 49er teams followed. So far, the excitement of the off-season moves and great draft are all paying off on the field.

For starters, when one watches the offense at any one of the public practices, there is an immediate difference in the operation of the offense. Last year Mike McCarthy ran many cautious plays, including several dump offs to the running backs, shorter routes for the WR, and virtually no “factor” passes to the TEs. That is the complete opposite of this year. Now, the TEs do not just practice hitch routes, but actually go through a progression of short routes to deep routes. The WRs also look to have much more room to run, as the passing plays are designed to showcase multiple receivers all doing different things and working different areas and progressions of the field. This is a good thing and has not been seen from the passing game in quite some time here in San Francisco.

Defensively, Nolan’s astute coaching has paved the way for a somewhat inexperienced group. While there are many unproven players such as: Mike Adams, Manny Lawson, and Parys Haralson who figure to have prominent and key roles on defense, Nolan and his staff has all of these players working hard and practicing fast. Guys like Bryant Young, Derek Smith, and Jeff Ulbrich demonstrate their experience, and look to be complemented by hungry players. That is a change from last year as well.

So after witnessing this team for the past week, I really can’t say how many games that we’ll win. We have so much inexperience but yet so much potential, that I could see our record being poor. However, one thing is clear, this team will play much differently than a year ago. And for the fans, that’s a good thing because it will likely bring some excitement back to 49er football. Don’t get me wrong. This is still a work in progress. We could still use help, and Nolan and McCloughan will continue to bring in that help through the next few years. But the 49ers of the last week do not look anything like the 49ers of 2005 or any other lacklustre season. They look like they’re on a plan and are striving to improve. Expect some fight out of this team if the positive vibe from training camp continues into the season.