The SF 49ers’ Quarterback Battle: Different Journeys for Two Men

One was an undrafted free agent that played in NFL Europe.

The other was a highly touted NCAA quarterback that was the number one overall pick in the NFL Draft.

Shaun Hill and Alex Smith now vie for the job of the San Francisco 49ers’ starting quarterback position but their journeys to this 2009 competition have been extremely different.

Both signal callers have had success in the past as San Francisco’s starter but only one can get the nod.

Hill was not highly recruited out of high school and spent his first two years at Hutchinson Community College. He earned honorable mention honors as a freshman and sophomore, garnering attention from the University of Maryland’s football scouts.

Hill served as Maryland’s backup quarterback in his first year there but led the Terrapins to an Atlantic Coast Conference title as a senior in 2001, their first since 1985. They went on to the 2002 Orange Bowl, ultimately losing to the Florida gators Florida routed Maryland 56-23. They finished #10 in the BCS standings, also ending Hill’s Maryland career with 3,158 yards passing and 19 touchdown passes.

Hill was not considered an NFL prospect in 2002 and went undrafted. He signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent, spending the season as a 3rd string backup to Gus Frerotte and Daunte Culpepper.

Hill went on to play for NFL Europe, spending the spring of 2003 with the Amsterdam Admirals, where he led the league in passing yards and tied second for touchdowns passes.

Hill then left Minnesota and signed with San Francisco. He began the 2006 off-season third on the 49ers’ depth chart, behind veteran Trent Dilfer and Smith.

He took zero snaps as Alex Smith took every snap behind center that year.

During his final year in Utah, Smith finished 4th in the 2004 Heisman Trophy voting and was selected as the 2004 MAC Player of the Year. He led the Utes to the 2005 Fiesta Bowl against the University of Pittsburgh, throwing for 328 yards with an impressive 78% completion percentage and four touchdown passes.

Smith then graduated from the University of Utah in just two years with an economics degree and a 3.71 GPA.

The San Francisco 49ers, rookie head coach Mike Nolan and offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy made Alex Smith their franchise quarterback, drafting him number one overall in the 2005 NFL Draft and signing him to a to an expensive six-year, $49.5 million dollar contract.

The young quarterback would have one of the worst rookie seasons in recent memory, throwing one touchdown pass and 11 interceptions as the 49ers stumbled to a 4-12 record. Offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy left to become the Green Bay Packers new head coach, taking his West Coast Offense with him.

After the challenges he faced as a rookie, Smith went into the 2006 season with Super Bowl winning offensive coordinator Norv Turner and the number six overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft, playmaking tight end Vernon Davis from Hill’s alma mater Maryland. Future rushing champion Frank Gore also became the feature running back that year, taking the pressure off Smith when Kevan Barlow was traded to the New York Jets..

Smith’s first three games of the season saw him throw three touchdowns, zero interceptions and 814 yards. After struggling in Kansas City against the Chiefs, he then threw for a career high three touchdowns defeating the cross-town rival Oakland Raiders 34-20.

He went on to lead the San Francisco 49ers to a three game winning streak in November.

Smith would meet Joe Montana for the first time on November 5, 2006, during a game against the Minnesota Vikings where the 49ers wore throwback jerseys from the 1980s which Joe Montana and his teammates wore.

The 49ers ended up winning the game 9-3.

A few weeks later, one of Smith’s career games occurred when the 49ers traveled to Seattle for a Thursday Night Football contest against the Seahawks.

San Francisco trailed the Seahawks 7-3 at the end of the third quarter but Smith performed like the legend in the fourth quarter, leading the 49ers on a long touchdown drive down the field as they took a 10-7 lead.

Smith would strike again, this time evading a sure sack, rolling to the left and completing a bullet pass to Frank Gore for a touchdown that gave the 49ers a 10 point lead.

On the very next drive, Smith put the nail in the coffin leading another touchdown drive, this time rushing for a touchdown on a naked bootleg.

After losing to the Arizona Cardinals the next week, San Francisco’s final game of the 2006 season was against a Denver Broncos team looking to enter the playoff hunt.

Smith and the 49ers upset the Broncos and knocked them out of the playoffs as he threw for 194 yards and a touchdown, leading San Francisco to a come from behind victory for the second time in three weeks.

Smith improved drastically in his second year as a pro throwing as many touchdowns as interceptions. His final states were 16 touchdown passes, 16 interceptions, 2,890 passing yards and a 74.8 quarterback rating.

Not bad for a 22 year old quarterback.

With the relatively successful season in the books, expectations were high in 2007 despite losing Norv Turner as offensive coordinator when he became the San Diego Chargers’ head coach leaving Jim Hostler as the new offensive coordinator.

Hostler’s 2007 offense became a punchline in the NFL but a hit by Seattle Seahawks’ defensive tackle Rocky Bernard started the decline as he drove Alex Smith into the ground, destroying the upstart San Francisco 49ers’ high expectations and injuring his right shoulder in the process.

Then former head coach Mike Nolan tried to rush the injured Smith back onto the field, even calling the quarterback out on his toughness. As expected, Smith re-injured his shoulder because he wasn’t given enough time to heal.

Veteran Trent Dilfer took over as starting quarterback for the struggling 49ers but also suffered a season ending injury. Dilfer’s injury finally gave Shaun Hill the opportunity to prove himself as a starting NFL quarterback.

Hill went on to win two of his four starts finishing the season with a 101.3 quarterback rating.

Alex Smith would eventually toil in obscurity on the injured list, culminating with him injuring his surgically repaired right shoulder again before the beginning of the season, ending his 2008 campaign before it even started.

With Smith out, Mike Martz officially named gun slinging J.T. O’Sullivan as the 49ers’ starting quarterback. O’Sullivan would commit turnover after turnover in Martz’s complex offense, finally getting demoted by interim head coach Mike Singletary after Mike Nolan was fired on October 21, 2008 leaving Shaun Hill as the starter for the rest of the year.

Hill would lead the San Francisco 49ers to five victories and a 7-9 overall record, good enough for second place in the NFC West. His final stats were solid, throwing for 2046 yards, 13 touchdown passes and a decent 87.5 quarterback rating.

With a 7-3 overall record as the 49ers’ starting quarterback, head coach Mike Singletary named Shaun Hill as San Francisco’s starter entering 2009 training camp.

In a show of faith, the San Francisco 49ers and Alex Smith agreed to a re-structured contract this past off-season, reducing his base salary because he was due to make close to $10 million dollars under the contract he signed as a 20 year old rookie in 2005.

Entering the 2009 season, both quarterbacks now have the proverbial chip on their shoulders and a lot to prove for the once dominant world champion San Francisco 49ers.

The 2009 NFC East: Previews and Predictions

The Super Bowl XLII champion New York Giants didn’t miss a beat last season, capturing another division title with a 12-4 record despite talented wide receiver Plaxico Burress shooting himself in the leg at a New York nightclub. The troubled Burress was released during the offseason.

Super Bowl winning quarterback Eli Manning is getting better with age and the Giants still have Brandon Jacobs, an absolute hammer of a running back in the mold of Super XXV MVP Ottis “O.J.”Anderson.

The Philadelphia Eagles overcame a lot of adversity during 2008 as quarterback Donovan McNabb returned to form after two injury plagued seasons, leading the Eagles to a 9-6-1 record and into the playoffs.

A pre-season favorite to win it all last year, the Dallas disappointed Cowboy fans by not even making the playoffs with their 9-7 record. After the debacle of a season, controversial superstar wide receiver Terrell Owens was shown the door and signed with the Buffalo Bills.

At an even 8-8, the Washington Redskins took last place in one of the league’s strongest divisions.

Rookie head coach Jim Zorn’s West Coast Offense gave the Redskins an offensive identity to match their already tough defense.

The 2009 AFC West Previews and Predictions

At a glorious 8-8, the San Diego Chargers overcame a 3-5 start to take the AFC Division crown from the reeling Denver Broncos. Amazingly, the Chargers managed to reach the AFC Championship game against the eventual Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Denver Broncos became the first team in the modern age to surrender a three-game lead in its division with only three games left to play, relinquishing the division crown to the Chargers when San Diego annihilated them 52-21 in the final game of the year.

As a result, two-time Super Bowl champion head coach Mike Shanahan was fired from Denver while disgruntled Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler was traded to the Chicago Bears after relations with new head coach Josh McDaniels turned sour.

The once proud Oakland Raiders, the only team in NFL history to make it to the Super Bowl in four different decades, continue to be one of the NFL’s most inept teams since losing Super Bowl Super Bowl XXXVII to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, Al Davis and the “Silver and Black” feel they are starting to come together. “Commitment to Excellence” might make a return this year.

The cellar dwelling Kansas City Chiefs posted a dismal 2-14 record in 2008. Head coach Herm Edwards was subsequently fired, replaced by former Arizona Cardinals’ offensive coordinator Todd Haley on February 6, 2009.

The 2009 NFC West: Previews and Predictions

9-7 was enough to take the Arizona Cardinals to a NFC West division crown and they played in one of the most memorable championship games ever at Super Bowl XLIII against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Arizona’s also boasted an impressive 6-0 division record.

The second place San Francisco 49ers were not too far behind, going 7-9 and taking the eventual NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals to the limit on Monday Night Football. After Mike Nolan’s mid-season firing, interim head coach Mike Singletary led the underachieving 2-5 49ers to a 5-4 record, highlighted by victories over the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins.

Mike Holmgren’s swan song season didn’t exactly go as planned in 2008. The 2006 NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks were devastated by injuries to many key players and limped to a 4-12 record, not exactly the legacy Holmgren wanted to leave in his final year of coaching.

The St. Louis Rams’ steady decline since appearing in Super Bowl XXXVI against Bill Belichick’s New England Patriots continues. The Rams won a dismal two games in 2008 and a 2-14 record would usually qualify a team for the first pick overall, but the historic 0-16 Detroit Lions took that honor instead.

Former San Francisco 49er Roger Craig Deserves to Be in the Hall of Fame

Although his final memory to some 49er fans was a costly fumble that enabled the New York Giants to beat the San Francisco 49ers in the 1991 NFC Championship game, “Cat Fish” and his distinctive high-knee running style was no doubt an integral part of the innovative San Francisco offenses during the 1980s.

Craig’s numbers and Super Bowl rings should qualify him to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was the first running back to be elected to the Pro Bowl at both fullback and halfback, the first running back to run and catch for a thousand yards in a season and he also appeared in the playoffs every year of his illustrious career.

He was the Marshall Faulk of his era.

The San Francisco 49ers drafted the versatile Craig in 1983 out of Nebraska where he held the Cornhuskers’ record for longest run from scrimmage, a 94 yard scamper against the Florida State Seminoles in 1981.

During his extremely productive rookie campaign, Craig scored 12 all-purpose touchdowns as the 49ers reached the 1984 NFC Championship game against the Washington Redskins.

A year later in Super Bowl XIX at Stanford Stadium, Craig caught seven passes for 77 yards, added 58 yards on the ground and became the first player in Super Bowl history to score three touchdowns as the 15-1 San Francisco 49ers dominated the highly publicized Dan Marino and his 14-2 Miami Dolphins, 38–16.

The following season, Roger Craig re-wrote pro football’s record books becoming the first player in NFL history to rush and receive for 1,000 yards in the same season. He led the NFL with 92 catches for 1,016 yards and added an impressive 1,050 yards on 214 carries, scoring a team high 15 touchdowns in the process.

In 1988, Craig was named the Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year. Craig took the stumbling 49ers’ offense on his shoulders as he ran for a career high 1,502 yards and caught 76 passes for 534 yards.

He went on to assist the inconsistent 10-6 49ers to a Super Bowl berth by amassing 262 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns in their two playoff games against the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears.

In the 49ers’ 20-16 last minute victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII at Joe Robbie Stadium, he caught eight passes for 101 yards and added 71 yards rushing. On the final drive, Craig made clutch play after clutch play, culminating with Joe Montana’s touchdown pass to John Taylor with :34 seconds in the game.

San Francisco advanced to the Super Bowl for the second year in a row the following season, aided by Craig’s 1,527 rushing and receiving yards along with his 240 combined yards and two touchdowns in their two dominating playoff victories over the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams.

Craig caught five passes for 34 yards, rushed for 69 yards and scored a touchdown as the 14-2 San Francisco 49ers annihilated John Elway and the Denver Broncos 55-10 in Super Bowl XXIV at the Louisiana Superdome.

The San Francisco 49ers went 14–2 in 1990 during their quest to become the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls but in the 1991 NFC Championship Game as San Francisco tried to hold on to a slim 13-12 lead, Craig put the ball on the ground late in the fourth quarter and Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor alertly fell on the fooball.

We all know the New York Giants won the game 15–13 on a last second Matt Bahr field goal, eventually winning Super Bowl XXV as Buffalo Bills’ kicker Scott Norwood missed a 47-yard field goal wide right preserving the 20-19 victory in Tampa.

Some fans didn’t forgive Craig for the mistake despite all his accolades and accomplishments he earned as a member of the world champion San Francisco 49ers.

In 1992, Craig moved down I-5 South and left for the Los Angeles Raiders with long time 49er hero Ronnie Lott via Plan B Free Agency. He spent his final year in the NFL playing for the Minnesota Vikings in 1993.

In a move of touching symbolism, Craig would retire a 49er in 1994, signing a one day contract during the off-season before Steve Young and San Francisco went on to a blistering 13-3 season, culminating in a 49-26 victory in Super Bowl XXIX over the San Diego Chargers.

Since then, Craig has waited patiently to hear his name called as a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee.

Craig was finally selected as one of the 25 semi-finalists considered for the Hall of Fame in 2009 since being eligible in 1999. It’s a shame that such a key figure of the San Francisco 49ers in the 1980s continues to be overlooked by the voters.

For everything he has done for the San Francisco 49ers, Roger Craig deserves to have his No. 33 retired and a spot in Canton alongside Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott, Fred Dean, Steve Young, and Bill Walsh.

They couldn’t have done it without him.

 

San Francisco 49ers in the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame

1969 DT Leo Nomellini (1950-1963)

1969 FB Joe Perry (1948-1960, 1963)

1970 HB Hugh McElhenny (1952-1960)

1971 QB Y.A. Tittle (1951-1960)

1985 RB O.J. Simpson (1978-1979)

1987 FB John Henry Johnson (1954-1956)

1990 OT Bob St. Clair (1953-1963)

1993 Head Coach Bill Walsh (1979-1988)

1994 CB Jimmy Johnson (1961-1976)

2000 QB Joe Montana (1979-1992)

2000 CB/FS Ronnie Lott (1981-1990)

2000 LB Dave Wilcox (1964-1974)

2005 QB Steve Young (1987-1999)

2008 DE Fred Dean (1981-1985)

Controversy and Regret: A Look at Bill Romanowski

“Romo” may have had a reputation as a dirty player but he simply had an unbridled passion for the game of football and a fear of failure that bothered him relentlessly. Even in practice, this beast was full speed ahead.

Bill Romanowski was one of the most intense and controversial players in the league during his time. Infamous incidents included spitting in former 49er J.J. Stokes face during a Monday Night Game against the Denver Broncos and a fight with former Oakland Raider teammate Marcus Williams, that led to a serious injury. However, Romanowski is one of the more misunderstood players of our generation.

Romanowski simply wanted to be the best he can be. Even as a young player, he emulated the likes of Herschel Walker, who once said that his mind is a general while his body is an army. Those words would forever be etched in Romanowski’s soul.

The fear of failure propelled Romanowski and the teams he was on to four Super Bowl titles, five Super Bowl appearances with the 49ers, Broncos, and Raiders and an undying quest to keep his body in the best shape possible. After a fruitful career in professional football, Romanowski retired due to the many injuries he sustained during his tenure in the NFL.

Romanowski started his NFL career as a third round draft choice of the San Francisco 49ers. During his time as a 49er, he won two Super Bowls with the likes of Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott, Roger Craig, and many other 49er greats. His rookie season ended with a thrilling 20-16 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII. Following his rookie season, the 49ers were back in the big game, this time thrashing the Denver Broncos 55-10 at Super Bowl XXIV.

After being traded by the 49ers to the Philadelphia Eagles, Romanowski expressed anger towards the organization for sending him to Philadelphia, a natural reaction to being traded. However, Romanowski would go on to back to back Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998 with John Elway and the Denver Broncos. Romanowski ended his playing career as a member of the Oakland Raiders.

Romanowski’s pure passion of the game of football has carried him to a successful life as a business man. With the same focus he had for the game, his personal goals are strong like his football persona.

The former San Francisco 49ers’ linebacker has done plenty during retirement. From working as an NFL analyst to starting up his own nutrition company, the man simply known as Romo is keeping busy.

Romanowski has also appeared in movies such as “The Longest Yard” and has worked as a football analyst but his passion and calling is Nutrition 53.

Nutrition 53 features products such as Neuro 1, a mental performance formula, a dietary supplement protein powder called Lean 1, and a night time formula known as Sleep 1. These supplements have been selling quite well and cannot be found at your local nutritional store but can be found here.

Romanowski has no doubt left his mark on the NFL. Despite the many controversies, Romanowski is not the man many think he is. Bill Romanowski’s legacy should be of unbridled passion for the game of football and not the mistakes he made when he was younger.

 

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Who was the biggest influence in your evolution as a professional football player?

You played on a number of teams, from rookie to veteran status. Is there much difference from one club to another, in terms of going through training camp and the regular season?

After being traded to Philly from San Francisco, you expressed some anger towards the organization as read in your book. Have those sentiments died down throughout the years?
 
Where did you experience the most joy in playing the game of football, and why?

Are you still involved with the game of football in any way? If not, would you like to be? How?

Do you stay in contact with players like Ronnie Lott and others from your Super Bowl teams?

Do you ever think about being a linebackers coach in the NFL?

How did it feel to play with two Hall of Fame quarterbacks in Joe Montana and John Elway?

What do you see in Patrick Wills?

What made you decide to start your own nutrition company?

Are there any new products being released by Nutrition 53?

 

Check out Bill Romanowski’s best selling book, ROMO – My Life on the Edge: Living Dreams and Slaying Dragons, to learn more about the man behind the myth.

Power Running: The 2009 San Francisco 49ers’ Offensive Line

The life of an offensive lineman isn’t glamorous or sexy.

The behemoths are often overlooked and underappreciated, but these front-line trench warriors are the drumline of the band.

When former San Francisco 49ers’ fullback Tom Rathman played, he ran and blocked behind a fleet footed, athletic offensive line that created huge lanes for Roger Craig.

Back in those days, the 49ers’ offensive lineman was known for his quick feet. Athletic ability was favored over size while coordination and technique was preferred over brute strength. Creating movement and confusion on the defensive line was more important than opening a specific hole in the defense.

Zone-blocking schemes were utilized and the cut block, generally used away from the ball carrier on fast flowing defenders, became a staple in this style of running. However, cut blocks are illegal in the open field and are considered “dirty” due to the high risk of serious injury if executed improperly.

Many of the schemes run by these retro 49ers asked the offensive linemen to imagine a “railroad track” parallel to the running backs’ path and to block everything in the way.

Fast forward to 2009.

Rathman is back in San Francisco as running backs coach and comes armed with an explicit knowledge of zone-blocking techniques that the Denver Broncos have popularized around the league in recent years.   

However, the 49ers look like they will be employing a man-blocking scheme for a punishing downhill running attack under offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye and tough minded head coach Mike Singletary.

The heartbeat of the 2009 San Francisco 49ers will be the power run and they aspire to physically impose their will and punish opposing defenses.

In a power run system, blockers are paired with defenders to create running lanes. If the defensive front changes or if the defense stunts or blitzes, the blocking rules may change causing confusion at the line of scrimmage.

If the offensive line succeeds and collapses the opposing defensive line, the assaulting linemen execute drive blocks at the point of attack on the lighter linebackers, eliminating them from the play.

The current group of offensive linemen look like a capable unit with often injured Jonas Jennings as the only notable departure. The rest of the San Francisco offensive line is familiar with each other while newcomer Marvel Smith is an Oakland native, making his transition to the Bay Area a lot easier.

Smith is an upgrade over Jennings and brings some of that Pittsburgh Steelers’ toughness to the line while big bruiser David Baas is a natural fit for a power run style of attack. If former Buckeye Alex Boone keeps his nose clean, he could develop into a starter because he has the size and power to play lineman in the NFL.

Boone had some problems with alcohol in the past, but was an impressive two-time All-Ohio selection, a three year starter at Saint Edward High School and a two time All-Big 10 selection at the Ohio State University.

Don’t be surprised if zone-blocking wrinkles from Rathman’s brain are added to the offensive line’s repertoire because there are some pieces available to run a zone play or two, throwing defenses off balance.

Former Oakland Raiders’ tackle Barry Sims has played in the system, guard Chilo Rachal is the fastest offensive lineman on the roster and center Eric Heitmann is versatile enough to play this style of offense. Standout tackle Joe Staley also has the necessary skills to play in a zone block scheme.

Rounding out the rest of the line, Adam Snyder and Tony Wragge have consistently proven to be valuable backups while the remaining players on the unit are versatile enough to play multiple positions.

The overall success of any football team boils down to their ability to control the line of scrimmage and for the 2009 San Francisco 49ers to compete this year, this offensive line must dominate in the trenches.

TACKLES

No. 74 Joe Staley

Strengths: Excellent technique, speed and smarts for an offensive lineman. Former tight end has the athleticism to play in a zone-blocking scheme. Has Pro Bowl potential and is a solid all around football player.

Weaknesses: Could get a little bit stronger.

Best Fit: Zone Blocking or Power Run

No. 71 Marvel Smith    

Strengths: Oakland native is a big bodied blocker with good athleticism and technique. Earned Pro Bowl honors and two Super Bowl Championships as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Weaknesses: Age.

Best Fit: Power Run

No. 65 Barry Sims  

Strengths: Versatile and proven offensive lineman that knows how to block in a zone scheme.

Weaknesses: Light for an offensive tackle by modern day standards. Inconsistent technique.

Best Fit: Zone Blocking

No. 75 Alex Boone   

Strengths: Has the strength and size to play in the NFL.

Weaknesses: Alcohol

Best Fit: Power Run

No. 77 Jacob Bender     

Strengths: Has good athleticism for a tackle. Is quick off the snap, explosive at the point of attack and moves pretty well around the football field.

Weaknesses: Needs to get stronger and improve overall technique.

Best Fit: Power Run

No. 61 Joe Toledo

Strengths: Physically imposing.

Weaknesses: Injuries have hampered his career.

Best Fit: Power Run

GUARDS

No. 64 David Baas     

Strengths: Has the strength and power necessary to thrive in an offense that features the power run. Plays with good balance and decent technique. The sky’s the limit for this brute.

Weaknesses: Durability has been a concern in the past. Has been slow to develop and his overall game could be stepped up.

Best Fit: Power Run

No. 62 Chilo Rachal

Strengths: Was recently clocked at 4.92 seconds in the 40-yard dash. The versatile lineman has not yet allowed a quarterback sack. Has the potential to become a good player in the NFL.

Weaknesses: Isn’t as strong as he looks.

Best Fit: Power Run or Zone Blocking

No. 68 Adam Snyder    

Strengths: Versatile player that can play guard and tackle positions. Has the necessary size and strength to play in the NFL.

Weaknesses: Needs to get stronger and improve his overall technique.

Best Fit: Zone Blocking

No. 69 Tony Wragge

Strengths: Versatile and strong offensive lineman who is also a good special teams player. One of the strongest players in 49er history. Wragge is one of five players that can do dumbbell presses with 200 pound dumbbells (Larry Allen, Moran Norris, Isaac Sopoaga and Bryant Young are the others).

Weaknesses: Needs to improve on his footwork.

Best Fit: Power Run

CENTERS

No. 65 Eric Heitmann

Strengths: Experienced veteran is a smart and versatile player. Has decent size and can also play guard.

Weaknesses: Functional strength could be improved.

Best Fit: Zone Blocking or Power Run

No. 59 Cody Wallace

Strengths: Versatile and decently athletic for a lineman. The second Texas A&M Aggie to be named a finalist for the Rimington Trophy.

Weaknesses: Needs to get bigger, stronger and improve his overall technique.

Best Fit: Zone Blocking

Physical with an F: A Look at the 2009 San Francisco 49ers’ Defense

Last year at 49er training camp, San Francisco General Manager Scot McCloughan told me the 2008 San Francisco 49ers would be employing a hybrid 3-4 and 4-3 defense. I still have the audio recording and article to prove it.

“A Training Camp Facelift”

http://www.49erswebzone.com/content/commentary/view.php?id=729

Well scratch that idea now.

Hall of Fame Chicago Bear linebacker and San Francisco 49ers’ head coach “Samurai” Mike Singletary wants an actual identity. Physical with an “F,” I believe.

In order for this to be achieved, defensive coordinator Greg Manusky must stress 3-4 defense fundamentals and be creative with his defensive play calling to overcome the 49ers’ lack of a playmaking free safety and solid pass rush.

The 2009 San Francisco 49ers’ defensive personnel fit a 3-4 scheme and they should not deviate from this course.

The roster lacks two very large and athletic defensive tackles like a young Bryant Young or Dana Stubblefield and two somewhat large and very athletic defensive ends such as a Dwight Freeney or Osi Umenyiora to run a 4-3 defense.

These types of players are not salary cap friendly, extremely hard to find and it seems like there’s only one or two outstanding defensive line prospects in each draft.

Differing from the 4-3, the 3-4 defensive lineman is used as a space eater allowing the more athletic linebackers opportunities to get to the football.

Defensive ends in the 3-4 tend to be close to the 300-pound mark like the New England Patriots’ Richard Seymour or Trevor Pryce while nose tackles can weigh an excess of 310 pounds such as Shaun Rogers. The linebackers in the 3-4 scheme are expected to make the big plays.

The 3-4 inside linebacker must be strong in run support because there are only three defensive linemen matched up against five offensive lineman, so it is essential that they stack and shed the efforts of an unblocked lineman in the running game.

A 3-4 defense sldo employs two outside linebackers in a two point stance who appear to be rushing the quarterback.

This creates a disadvantage for the offensive linemen to correctly determine their blocking assignments before the snap, hindering the offense’s execution. There will always be confusion regarding which linebacker(s) is rushing the quarterback at any given time.

These defenders are often called “tweeners,” as they are in between the normal size of defensive ends and linebackers. Players like John Abraham are capable of playing both 4-3 defensive end and 3-4 outside linebacker.

The “elephant” position, used by the George Seifert’s 49er defenses, was a hybrid position using a player that could both play linebacker and defensive end.

Former 49er Charles Haley was the first to be utilized in this fashion and Manny Lawson or Parys Haralson should be capable of doing the same for the 2009 49ers.

The 3-4 does have a glaring weakness. Three defensive linemen cannot reliably collapse the five offensive linemen pocket on the quarterback, so it becomes a struggle to constantly put pressure on the quarterback unless the three linemen are freakishly talented.

Traditionally, the 3-4 has struggled against the pass but the zone blitz was created by Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau as a solution to this problem.

In a normal blitz package, you have five or six defenders rushing the passer. The remaining linebackers and defensive backs often play man coverage which can leave a pass over the top a definitive possibility against the secondary.

Wide receivers in the NFL tend to be taller than defensive backs (Detroit Lion Calvin Johnson comes to mind) and win the one on one battles a majority of the time.

For the zone blitz to work, the athletic linebackers must drop back and cover an assigned zone. Since there are four linebackers, the opposing quarterback does not know which one of the four will be rushing him. Whichever linebacker rushes, the other three shift to fill in the zones.

Sometimes the defense will rush two linebackers on the same side, leaving two defensive tackles and two linebackers attacking three offensive linemen. The two remaining linebackers can quickly shift over to fill in the gaps left by the two who are blitzing.

A 4-3 defense seems best suited to stop the modern day pass happy NFL teams while the 3-4 defense is better geared to stop run based offenses.

The key to success with the 49er defensive unit is mixing up pass rushers and utilizing zone coverages like the zone blitz and Cover 2. This will confuse the quarterback and force the receivers to play a far more physical game than they are accustomed to.

In Cover 2, the key players in the secondary are the safeties because they have to cover lots of ground. The safeties are responsible for all vertical routes and have to keep all offensive players in front of them at all times.

The linebackers and corners cover the short routes, so the safeties are the last line of defense.

The corners cover the flats and their main responsibility is to bump the receiver inside and not let him get to the outside, which would make it much harder for a safety to reach the receiver if he goes vertical.

The corners usually cover the hook, curl and out route while the linebackers cover the hook and curl routes in their respective zones, as well as slant and crossing routes.

If the San Francisco 49ers were to ever run any plays from the “Tampa 2” playbook with any success, a top end safety like Bob Sanders would have to be acquired in the near future to complement shut down cornerback Nate Clements, hard hitting strong safety Michael Lewis and solid 14-year veteran Walt Harris.

A Cover 2 scheme is great to use against teams that don’t have too many speed demons and rely on short to medium routes, such as a team that runs the West Coast Offense. However, every Achilles has his heel.

An effective way to beat Cover 2 is by having two receivers stacked on one side in a pro set formation and have them run a “10 Smash.”

The outside receiver runs a hook or curl to draw the cornerback to his position while the inside receiver runs a corner route right behind the other receiver. The safeties may not have enough time to defend the pass if timed correctly and thrown with pinpoint accuracy.

Each player has a specific area of the field they are responsible for. If they make a mistake in coverage, the entire game plan is jeopardized because it creates a hole in the zone.

This is broken coverage and the 49er secondary would probably fall victim to this because they simply do not have the personnel to run Cover 2 coverage consistently.

In order for this defense to succeed in 2009, they must be strong in bump and run man to man coverage allowing the assigned linebackers free run at the quarterback to keep up with the more established passing attacks in the NFL. It is imperative the three front linemen beat double teams and collapse the pocket inwards.

Will this defense be physical with an “F?” Current personnel dictate this 49er unit will be fast and extremely aggressive. Maybe that’s what the “F” means.

Let’s take a look at what Mike Singletary and Greg Manusky have at their disposal.

 

LINEBACKERS

st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }

No. 52 Patrick Willis

Strengths: Has incredible instincts and is always around the football. Has blazing speed for an inside linebacker. Could potentially be a future Hall of Famer if his production continues.

Weaknesses: Can be overly aggressive and overshoot the play at times.

Best Fit: 3-4 ILB or 4-3 MLB

 

No. 51 Takeo Spikes

Strengths: Veteran linebacker that has good speed and is an excellent tackler.

Weaknesses: Is not as explosive as he was when he was younger.

Best Fit: 3-4 ILB

 

No. 56 Scott McKillop

Strengths: Aggressive defender with solid tackling skills. Could become into a serviceable player in the mode of a Derek Smith.

Weaknesses: Not very flashy and not very fast.

Best Fit: 3-4 ILB

 

No. 99 Manny Lawson

Strengths: The former collegiate defensive end has incredible speed and athleticism for a linebacker. Could potentially be an All-Pro if his development continues. Plays like former 49er Julian Peterson.

Weaknesses: Durability is a concern and also needs to work on taking better angles at the ball carrier.

Best Fit: 3-4 OLB or 4-3 DE

 

No. 98 Parys Haralson

Strengths: Extremely hard worker that shows a great burst at the point of attack. Recorded a career high 8 sacks last year.

Weaknesses: Not considered to be fast for his position.

Best Fit: 3-4 OLB

 

No. 53 Jeff Ulbrich

Strengths: Solid veteran still has a place on this team. Sure tackler with a good mind for the game.

Weaknesses: Relatively slow for a linebacker.

Best Fit: 3-4 ILB

 

SECONDARY

No. 22 Nate Clements

Strengths: Shutdown corner that can eliminate the opposing team’s best receiver. Has excellent size, speed and does not have a problem making tackles.

Weaknesses: Sometimes takes bad angles on deep plays.

Best Fit: Man Coverage or Zone Coverage

 

No. 27 Walt Harris

Strengths: Experienced cornerback whose career was revived in San Francisco. Good in man coverage and is capable of bumping receivers at the line.

Weaknesses: Age. Younger, faster receivers can burn Harris on longer routes in man coverage.

Best Fit: Man Coverage

 

No. 36 Shawntae Spencer

Strengths: Steady veteran serves as key defensive back in team’s nickel and dime packages. Has developed into a steady playmaker in the 49ers’ defensive backfield.

Weaknesses: Durability is his biggest concern.

Best Fit: Man Coverage

 

No. 32 Michael Lewis

Strengths: Known around the league as the ideal strong safety because of his physical approach, size and strength along with his wide range. Hits hard and makes tackles consistently.

Weaknesses: Takes awkward angles at times.

Best Fit: Man Coverage or Zone Coverage

 

No. 26 Mark Roman

Strengths: Smart, consistent veteran who started 27 games at safety for the 49ers.

Weaknesses: Hasn’t had a turnover in AGES!

Best Fit: Man Coverage

 

No. 41 Jimmy Williams

Strengths: Excellent speed and size for his position. Has all the tools to succeed and could develop into something special if he gets his act together.

Weaknesses: Spent the entire 2008 season out of football.

Best Fit: Man Coverage

 

No. 31 Reggie Smith

Strengths: Former All-American second-team selection as an all-purpose defensive back by The NFL Draft Report, adding honorable mention from Sports Illustrated. Good speed and size for a defensive back.

Weaknesses: Still a little bit on the raw side. Needs to learn coverages better.

Best Fit: Man Coverage

 

No. 38 Dashon Goldson

Strengths: Developing safety that earned valuable experience on defense as a rookie and is also a standout on special teams.

Weaknesses: Like with most defensive backs, his angles of approach could be improved. Isn’t exceptionally fast.

Best Fit: Man Coverage

 

No. 25 Tarell Brown

Strengths: A natural playmaker. Extremely alert and quick cornerback that has good hands. Capable special teams player.

Weaknesses: Needs to rely on his ability and training rather than his catch up speed to get back into position.

Best Fit: Man Coverage

 

No. 28 Curtis Taylor

Strengths: Displays excellent burst of speed. Moves well laterally, aggressive, and physically beats down opponents. Covers a large amount of area on the field playing with a large degree of suddenness.

Weaknesses: Taylor’s football abilities do not match his reputation. He is more athlete than football player.

Best Fit: Man Coverage

 

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

No. 94 Justin Smith

Strengths: Versatile lineman that lined up at defensive end and defensive tackle in Mike Nolan’s version of the defense last year. Has an always running motor and has great strength for his size.

Weaknesses: A bit undersized at 285 lbs to play defensive end in a 3-4 scheme.

Best Fit: 3-4 DE

 

No. 90 Isaac Sopoaga

Strengths: Has the ideal size and athleticism to play in a 3-4 defense. Considered to be one of the strongest players in the NFL. Has the tools to play at the professional level for a long time.

Weaknesses: Durability.

Best Fit: 3-4 NT

 

No. 96 Kentwan Balmer

Strengths: 2008 first round draft pick is a space eater with excellent strength and foot work. Has the size and physical tools to succeed and in the NFL.

Weaknesses: Needs to shed blocks better. Seems to be out of position on potential tackle opportunities.

Best Fit: 3-4 DE or 3-4 NT

 

No. 91 Ray McDonald

Strengths: Versatile, instinctive lineman that saw extensive action on the 49er defensive line rotation as a rookie. Shows excellent quickness off the ball.

Weaknesses: A little bit on the smallish side at 290 lbs to be a 3-4 DE.

Best Fit: 3-4 DE

 

No. 92 Aubrayo Franklin   

Strengths: Large, active lineman with good technique and balance.

Weaknesses: Needs to learn how to beat double teams better.

Best Fit: 3-4 NT

 

No. 95 Ricky Jean-Francois

Strengths: Explosive and flashes dominance. Plays with good pad level, fires off the snap with a solid first step, then explodes through the gaps up the field.

Weaknesses: Easily knocked off balance by the first block and easily handled at the point of attack by opponents. Generally a one move lineman who must beat blockers off the snap.

Best Fit: 3-4 DE

Super Bowl XXIII Memories: The Day I Became a Fan for Life

The 1980’s were a time of decadence, and a period marked by a socio-economic boom in the San Francisco Bay Area, but it was an even better time for football. It was a decade of dominance for San Francisco’s home team that boasted a revolutionary offense and a stout defense.

In 1982 (1981 NFL season), 1985 (1984 NFL season), and 1989 (1988 NFL season), the pride of the City raised the Super Bowl’s Lombardi Trophy high above their shoulders in absolute victory. As a result, the San Francisco 49ers were crowned the NFL’s “Team of the Eighties” and they did it in dramatic fashion. I was seven years old and just learning the game, but I knew this was a do or die situation.

On January 22nd, 1989 at Joe Robbie Stadium with 3:10 left on the game clock, the 49ers were losing to the Cincinnati Bengals 16-13 and stood at their own 8 yard line. 49er fans across the nation sat in anxiety but quarterback Joe Montana stood stoic and unemotional.

He had earned the moniker of “Joe Cool” because of his almost cold blooded approach to the game. There was no obstacle too big and no football field too long for Joe Montana and the 49er team he quarterbacked for two Super Bowl victories earlier in the decade. He was the epitome of the field general, a man who always stayed cool under pressure no matter what the circumstances.

“Coolness” was a quality that was much admired in quarterbacks and Joe Montana was the epitome of the term. He was simply a man with unbelievable nerves of steel.    

“This is crap,” offensive lineman Harris Barton exclaimed with displeasure on the final drive. “What are we doing?”        

“Hey H, check it out,” Montana asked Barton calmly. “There’s John Candy in the end zone.”

“It is John Candy,” Barton responded. “Well, look at that!”

The offensive unit was ready to go, broke the huddle, and got under the center. Montana had the entire length of the football field to go for the winning touchdown, but this was nothing new to him as he had brought the 49ers back from the brink of defeat numerous times. Ninety-two yards? No problem for Joe.

Montana quickly went to work by hitting running back Roger Craig with an eight yard pass over the middle. Then a seven yard pass to tight end John Frank set up a first and 10 at the 23 yard line. The offense ran back up to the line of scrimmage in a hurry then Montana threw a strike at the right sideline to Jerry Rice for seven more yards. After a one yard run by Craig, the two minute warning ominously marked the 49ers’ presence at their own 30 yard line.

After the two minute mark the 49ers faced a 3rd-and-2 and Montana handed the ball off tackle to Craig for four yards and kept the chains moving. San Francisco immediately called a timeout, stopping the game clock at 1:54.

On 1st-and-10, Montana’s magic was at work when he hit Rice for a huge 17 yard gain on the left sideline. The alert receiver quickly ran out of bounds, stopping the clock at 1:49.

In a similar play that kicked off the drive, Montana would hit Craig over the middle again, this time for 13 precious yards placing the marching 49ers in Bengal territory. The Cincinnati 48 yard line was where they landed for the invasion.

Bill Walsh’s West Coast Offense was rolling on all cylinders thanks to Joe Montana’s absolute precision. Halfway through the drive, Montana made a timeout signal but Bill Walsh waved him off. Montana made the time out signal again, this time with more urgency. Joe Montana was hyperventilating.

On 1st-and-10, Montana threw his first incompletion then things started to turn sour for the 49ers’ momentum. On the very next play, an illegal man downfield penalty on Randy Cross backed the offense up 10 yards to the Cincinnati 45 yard line.

Then the “Magic Man” performed under pressure once again.

Montana took a 5 step drop and with perfect accuracy hit Jerry Rice over the middle. “Flash 80” caught the ball in stride at the 34 yard line and wasn’t caught until the 18 yard line. This was no doubt the play that clinched the Super Bowl MVP award to Jerry Rice. It was also his Super Bowl record eleventh catch.

The Niner offensive unit quickly ran back to the line of scrimmage with even more urgency, snapped the ball, and Montana immediately hit “Cat Fish” over the middle once again for eight more yards.

Then the 49ers burned their second timeout.

Eighty-four yards later with 39 seconds left in the game, Montana and the 49ers found themselves in Cincinnati territory, eight short yards from the game winning score. For the last 10 plays, the 49ers assaulted down the field like the United States Marine Corps.

Bill Walsh called the play “20 Half Back Curl X Up” and Montana went back to pass. He scanned the field and quickly saw wide receiver John Taylor beat his coverage as he ran to the back of the end zone. Montana threw a strike and Taylor caught the football in full stride and leaped in the air as high as he could. With his only grab of the game, John Taylor caught the game winning touchdown pass from Joe Montana with :34 on the clock.

Bill Walsh always stressed to all his players that they were an extension of each other. They proved it on that gut wrenching drive.

San Francisco exploded with honking horns and revelers in the street as the victory was sealed. The 49ers vanquished the Bengals and won Super Bowl XXIII, 20-16.

My heart was forever won over.

 

« Previous Page

NFL Sport Channel Latest

• Just How Far Would You Go?
• Sorry Rex, But It Isn’t Happening
• Super Bowl Predictions: Five Stat-Free Reasons Why the Eagles Will Reach The Super Bowl
• Seahawks Attempt to Turn Corner With Heavy Pursuit of Pete Carroll
• Bill Cowher Unlikely to Coach in 2010