Simple 49ers Question

[Wizard Mentor]

Looking at wikipedia, there record was 8-8 or worse from 2003-2010.

Then, all of a sudden they finished 13-3, and now 11-4 this year and
are in the Super Bowl.

I'm happy for them, but how in the heck did that happen?

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

The main outlier is a new coach. Harbaugh knows how to get the best of that team

 

[ABM]

Looking at wikipedia, there record was 8-8 or worse from 2003-2010.

Then, all of a sudden they finished 13-3, and now 11-4 this year and
are in the Super Bowl.

I'm happy for them, but how in the heck did that happen?

c.o.a.c.h.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

c.o.a.c.h.

and Harbaugh was his name-o

 

[3RA1N1AC]

navarro bowman
aldon smith
justin smith beasting
better offense

 

[Sedatedfork]

As much as I hate Harbaugh, you probably have to say it was the coach. They managed to get some serviceable receiver options too. They didn't ask Alex Smith to do too much. Remember when Smith was garbage?

 

[Sedatedfork]

Also -- their offensive line is very good. That's where it all starts.

 

[MARIS61]

Practice, practice, practice.

 

[Hobbesarable]

Looking at wikipedia, there record was 8-8 or worse from 2003-2010.

Then, all of a sudden they finished 13-3, and now 11-4 this year and
are in the Super Bowl.

I'm happy for them, but how in the heck did that happen?

Mike Singletary helped build the defense with players and a philosophy built upon a strong defense. However, he wanted an offense built upon the run. Harbaugh came in, kept the defense pretty much intact and revamped their offensive system. Alex Smith owes his career revitalization last season to Harbaugh.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Mike Singletary helped build the defense with players and a philosophy built upon a strong defense. However, he wanted an offense built upon the run. Harbaugh came in, kept the defense pretty much intact and revamped their offensive system. Alex Smith owes his career revitalization last season to Harbaugh.

Amazing what happens when Smith finally had a guy that had confidence in him, eh?

 

[Hobbesarable]

Amazing what happens when Smith finally had a guy that had confidence in him, eh?

Yeah, that was until halfway through this season when he was replaced by Kaepernick!

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Yeah, that was until halfway through this season when he was replaced by Kaepernick!

Totally the right decision. Kaepernick is way more talented.

Pretty funny though, especially when Harbaugh was comparing Smith to Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady only a year ago.

 

[Hobbesarable]

Totally the right decision. Kaepernick is way more talented.

Pretty funny though, especially when Harbaugh was comparing Smith to Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady only a year ago.

Oh, I agree. I basically LMAO when Harbaugh announced his decision. Alex Smith thinks he has a coach for which he can play with confidence then he's replaced a short time later. LOL!

 

[3RA1N1AC]

bummer for him, and i really thought it might tear the team apart

winning heals all though

 

[huevonkiller]

Colin has a pretty good QBR this post-season, that helps.

 

[Natebishop3]

I feel bad for Alex Smith, but the fact is, he's simply not good enough to win a super bowl. This team has a ton of weapons now, and even more when Manningham and Hunter are healthy. Smith wasn't able to get the most out of the offense, and in a league where guys like RGIII and Russell Wilson have run wild, it was a smart move to hand the reigns to CK. The kid can ball. He's ridiculously fast, but he also has a cannon for an arm. Crazy that he could throw a 97 mph fastball.

 

[drexlersdad]

alex smith could have easily led them to this same spot, almost did last year

but no complaints, CK is the way of the future

 

[Natebishop3]

alex smith could have easily led them to this same spot, almost did last year

but no complaints, CK is the way of the future

Would Smith have gotten them past GB and Atlanta? I'm not so sure. I think they would have finished with a similar record though. I just vaguely remember him not playing very well last year in the NFC championship. He had a good game against NO, but didn't we blow a lot of opportunities against NY? Obviously it was the fumbled punts that everyone will remember...

 

[blazerboy30]

alex smith could have easily led them to this same spot, almost did last year

I disagree. CK gives the offense so many more options and opens things up for Gore and VD. IMO, there is no way an Alex Smith-led 49er team comes back from 17-0 against Atlanta. The offense just didn't have enough firepower with Alex Smith at QB.

 

[drexlersdad]

smith went 12/26 196 yards 2tds 0 ints
rushed for 42 yards on 6 carries/scrambles

could have been better, but thats a very kaepernick looking line

but playoffs are a crapshoot, no way of knowing really... but going 1-13 converting 1st downs didnt help, in fact i think that might be the biggest upgrade of kaepernic, red zone offense, smith had troubles getting that 6, as evidenced by akers breaking the nfl record for field goals that year (maybe he used up all his mojo last year? hes been pretty terrible this year)

and holy fuck manning threw it 58 times that game

 

[drexlersdad]

I disagree. CK gives the offense so many more options and opens things up for Gore and VD. IMO, there is no way an Alex Smith-led 49er team comes back from 17-0 against Atlanta. The offense just didn't have enough firepower with Alex Smith at QB.

its all conjecture, no way of saying they fall behind that much in the first place, just saying alex proved he could lead them nearly as far last year, and aside from a few muffed punts likely would have

obviously CK is a better option, just saying smith had a great chance to do the same thing, he was playing lights out this year

 

[blazerboy30]

its all conjecture, no way of saying they fall behind that much in the first place, just saying alex proved he could lead them nearly as far last year, and aside from a few muffed punts likely would have

obviously CK is a better option, just saying smith had a great chance to do the same thing, he was playing lights out this year

Yep...just guessing at this point. However, as well as Smith was playing, IMO the offense looks much better and harder to defend since CK has taken over. Even when Smith had some good games from a rushing / scrambling standpoint, the defense didn't really change their gameplan to defend it. Now you can see how the defenses have to scheme to account for CK's rushing and so far he's making good decisions when they try to shut him down.

 

[Nate Dogg]

CK is more diverse QB, he scrambles and takes a risk running. I think Smith just stayed too much in the pocket and seemed to rush his plays. CK is confident in himself and makes the best decision at the moment and makes sure he doesn't get sacked in the pocket too much. Alex Smith is not a scrambler type QB in my eyes.

 

[tlongII]

The 49ers are almost as good as the Seahawks. Almost.

 

[Natebishop3]

The 49ers are almost as good as the Seahawks. Almost.

Yeah, too bad they couldn't make it out of the second round.

 

[drexlersdad]

The 49ers are almost as good as the Seahawks. Almost.

 

[Sinobas]

I followed them through the bad years. At the beginning of that run, they were just a shitty team. They were playing likes like Trent Dilfer and JT O'Sullivan at QB. But they got many high draft picks and did very well in the draft.

As they stockpiled more talent, they became more competitive, but lost a lot of close games. Singletary teams were notorious for finding ways to lose close games, so we continued to get good draft picks.

Now the 49ers are IMO, the most talented roster in the league, with a great new coaching stafff that has brought innovations from the college ranks that the rest of the league isn't ready for.

 

[Nate Dogg]

The 49ers are almost as good as the Seahawks. Almost.

All I have to say is.... I couldn't resist.

 

[mgb]

It's the way the league is now. Last year the Giants won the SB, the year before they were 8-8.

 

[tlongII]

42-13