Other preseason observations

[NinerSickness]

That's my main concern with Barkley. He throws into coverage a lot, and because his WRs are usually a LOT Better than the guys covering them they make the play. He's got a little Brett Favre in him (minus the cannon).

I think there's a chance Barkley could be a total bust. But it would be silly to predict as much, IMO, because as far as QBs go he's an infant. He's going into his true junior season. His body won't even really mature fully for another few years probably.

The talent level with whom Locker played, on the other hand, was so bad it was hard to tell the difference between him playing poorly (which he did quite a bit his senior year) and the other 10 starters playing poorly. He has more natural talent than either Barkley or Luck. He doesn't have Luck's surgeon-like accuracy though...

 

[NinerSickness]

By the way how did Kap get the nickname Optimus Prime? Is that a pathetic attempt to give Calvin Johnson some incentive to come to SF? If so I'm all for it.

 

[ChrisPozz]

By the way how did Kap get the nickname Optimus Prime? Is that a pathetic attempt to give Calvin Johnson some incentive to come to SF? If so I'm all for it.

I'm not sure if Charles Davis, of NFL Network, is the one who started it, but he has been calling Kaepernick Optimus Prime for some time. He has called him "The Transformer" as well. I think he started calling him "The Transformer" before he started calling him Optimus Prime, though.

 

[NinerSickness]

You know why he started calling him the Transformer? Is that from something in college?

I hope he can transform into a good QB.

...or a helicopter. That would be just as good.

 

[ChrisPozz]

You know why he started calling him the Transformer? Is that from something in college?

I hope he can transform into a good QB.

...or a helicopter. That would be just as good.

I don't remember why. The names really took off at the Senior Bowl. That's about all I know.

 

[NinerSickness]

Anyone see the Bears Bills game? The Bills got 9 sacks. I know it's preseason, but how bad is that Bears' O-line? Remember the AFC Championship game? Cutler would take 3 step drops and he had a Packer defenseman in his face by the 2nd step. I haven't seen an o-line that bad since the Niners 5-6 years ago.

What's worse is I don't think Chicago did anything to address the O-line in the offseason...

 

[erckm510]

Anyone see the Bears Bills game? The Bills got 9 sacks. I know it's preseason, but how bad is that Bears' O-line? Remember the AFC Championship game? Cutler would take 3 step drops and he had a Packer defenseman in his face by the 2nd step. I haven't seen an o-line that bad since the Niners 5-6 years ago.

What's worse is I don't think Chicago did anything to address the O-line in the offseason...

They drafted a guy(Costanza? Solder? I forget) and lost Kruetz. They probably should have drafted 3 other OL guys. Martz may have Cutler killed someday.

 

[NinerSickness]

Oh yeah, I forgot they darfted a tackle in round 1. It was Carimi; Costanza went to the Colts. I actually think Carimi will make a great RT...

I don't remember them signing any decent O-linemen in FA. That O-line was attrocious, and one rookie tackle isn't going to fix that.

They also got rid of their best receiving threat in Olsen and picked up a has been who was never that great in the first place in Roy Williams. Cutler is screwed from the get go just like any QB in a Niner uniform will probably be this season (and for the last 6-7 years).

 

[MW49ers5]

Anyone see the Bears Bills game? The Bills got 9 sacks. I know it's preseason, but how bad is that Bears' O-line? Remember the AFC Championship game? Cutler would take 3 step drops and he had a Packer defenseman in his face by the 2nd step. I haven't seen an o-line that bad since the Niners 5-6 years ago.

What's worse is I don't think Chicago did anything to address the O-line in the offseason...

Sick, do you know how many of those were on 1st team?

 

[ChrisPozz]

I don't remember them signing any decent O-linemen in FA.

Their moves that I'm aware of:

Signed Chris Spencer (formerly of the Seahawks) as the whole Olin Kreutz thing came to an end. Roberto Garza has since been moved from RG to C to replace Kreutz. Spencer will back him up. Lance Louis, I believe, is expected to step in at RG.

I am not aware of any other noteworthy signings they've had. They have a number of notable rookie names competing for backup spots on the team: Josh Davis (Clemson), J.C. Brignone (Mississippi State), Alex Linnenkohl (Oregon State), and Ricky Henry (Nebraska).

 

[ChrisPozz]

Sick, do you know how many of those were on 1st team?

Michael C. Wright on ESPN wrote that the Bears 1st team offensive line played the entire first half and gave up four sacks and had one penalty (LT J'Marcus Webb holding on Marcell Dareus, which was declined).

 

[Ray_Dogg]

I would not be shocked at all if Matt Bark busted. He has still done nothing to show me that as an individual player he is a stud. It seems like his team and system do a lot of the work for him.

 

[NinerSickness]

Sick, do you know how many of those were on 1st team?

Not sure. Merriman's 2 sacks were in the first half. Dareus got a sack, and I'm pretty sure he's a starter (he'd better be).

Cutler got sacked 52 times last year. That was the most in the NFL. If memory serves me the Niners gace up something like 55 sacks in 2004 or 2005, and those were some piss poor O-lines. I know Martz throws his QBs to to the wolves if his offense, but that O-line simply gets thrown around. Cutler has no chance this season.

 

[MW49ers5]

Sick, do you know how many of those were on 1st team?

Not sure. Merriman's 2 sacks were in the first half. Dareus got a sack, and I'm pretty sure he's a starter (he'd better be).

Cutler got sacked 52 times last year. That was the most in the NFL. If memory serves me the Niners gace up something like 55 sacks in 2004 or 2005, and those were some piss poor O-lines. I know Martz throws his QBs to the wolves in his offense, but that O-line simply gets thrown around. Cutler has no chance this season.

Makes me feel a little better about our performance. Cutler will be on IR by Thanksgiving if they don't figure that out!

 

[ChrisPozz]

Cutler got sacked 52 times last year. That was the most in the NFL. If memory serves me the Niners gace up something like 55 sacks in 2004 or 2005, and those were some piss poor O-lines. I know Martz throws his QBs to to the wolves if his offense, but that O-line simply gets thrown around. Cutler has no chance this season.

49ers OL sacks

2010 - 44 sacks
2009 - 40 sacks
2008 - 55 sacks -
2007 - 55 sacks -
2006 - 35 sacks -
2005 - 48 sacks -
2004 - 52 sacks -
2003 - 28 sacks -

 

[MW49ers5]

49ers OL sacks

2010 - 44 sacks
2009 - 40 sacks
2008 - 55 sacks -
2007 - 55 sacks -
2006 - 35 sacks -
2005 - 48 sacks -
2004 - 52 sacks -
2003 - 28 sacks -

2008 was JTO's season, had he started every game it would have even higher than 55.

28 sacks in '03 wow! I wonder what those guys are doing today?

 

[MW49ers5]

2003 O'Line starters:

Deese Harris)
Koiser (Heitmann)
Newberry
Stone
Gragg

 

[Arete Tzu]

2003 O'Line starters:

Deese Harris)
Koiser (Heitmann)
Newberry
Stone
Gragg

I miss that line so bad. Our poor QBs have helped increase the sack numbers, but it's feels so long since we have had a respectable line.

 

[Mozart'sGhost]

You know why he started calling him the Transformer? Is that from something in college?

I hope he can transform into a good QB.

...or a helicopter. That would be just as good.

Ha ha. That was funny! I'm gonna rep you.

 

[Mozart'sGhost]

2003 O'Line starters:

Deese Harris)
Koiser (Heitmann)
Newberry
Stone
Gragg

Gragg was a scary dude