Posted:
#1
Haven't been on here in probably close to a year. Have time during the holidays and thought I'd throw some thoughts out on this group.
I've written about this countless times the past few years around playoff time on this board, but every year when a team props themselves up and gets "hot" during the playoffs that IMO can mostly be attributed to the fact that they got healthy and got key players back. Ravens, Giants, Packers are just some recent examples of teams that have won the SB, not by morphing into a different team, but simply by getting healthy and getting key players back in key positions. Remember the first game of the playoffs last season was the first game Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, and Ed Reed played together. Baltimore also got healthy on the o-line, made major changes there, and were a completely different team there.
San Francisco is shaping up quite nicely to be that team this season. They were terrible earlier in the year - SB hangover, injuries, who knows - but have gotten better month by month. They also had KEY injuries this season and they will have those guys back and healthy for the playoffs. Crabtree coming back (and looking good) is a MASSIVE upgrade to this offense. He's Kap's favorite target and let's Boldin transition to the #2 WR - a roll he is much better suited for. That's another thing I've written about; so many times when key players come back for these teams they don't just boost the team with their own play, but they allow players to go back into roles they are more comfortable with. Manningham has also returned for this team, and while he hasn't done a lot so far, he's still a veteran WR who has a knack for making plays in the playoffs and is a sneaky good #3 option. Suddenly a pass game with Davis, Crabtree, Boldin, and Manningham looks pretty darn good.
SF has also had their best two offensive linemen (arguably two of the Top 10 in the NFL) hobbled this year. Both guys should be healthy for the playoffs. Same story on defense as Aldon Smith is back and over his early season issues. Willis has also missed time this season with injuries and did not look like himself for a couple games when he came back. He's now healthy. SF also has a healthy Justin Smith this season - remember he was injured last year.
This team seems to be under the radar for some reason. Their defense has only given up about 14 PPG since Week 3 and they look very strong. The offense will only get better as Crabtree, Manningham, and the o-linemen get back in the groove. One loss with FB Bruce Miller, tough, but survivable.
This group is about as experienced as they come too and have the best head coach in the game. They won't blink twice at having to run the table on the road in January. Everything seems to be coming together for them.
Looks like they will be a wildcard. The potential GB/CHI/DAL/PHI opponent they will face in round 1 doesn't scare anyone. Three of those teams are trash and can't stop a hay bale. Philly is sneaky good, but very, very young and untested; both players and coaches. Round 2 would offer SEA/NO/CAR. All three teams have beaten SF (though not the healthy version) but all can be beat. The Saints are very soft. SF almost beat them in the dome earlier and may have despite one of the more dubious calls of the year. NO has the stats, but I've watched this team numerous times and they just don't have the x-factor. Carolina is SF lite. Good team, but would you trust them in their first playoff game together being expected to win at home against SF? I wouldn't. They are missing a WR too and who knows what their pass game will look like with Smith hobbled. SEA is obviously excellent, but they are not unbeatable. They've had their moments recently against good defenses and they have quietly really missed Sidney Rice. Harvin coming back may not be a huge boost as he's really never even had meaningful snaps in this offense. The Hawks offense can stall at times and it's certainly a possibility against SF's D. If SF makes it out of the NFC they won't face a tough team in the SB. The AFC is really bad. Broncos appear the best, but just suffered a huge blow losing Miller. That makes an already very questionable defense that much worse. Manning will have to carry the load. Can he be trusted in potentially bad weather against an elite D?
Just some rambles, but I believe SF is a team under the radar that is worth watching and I'll likely fire up a ML rollover with them in the playoffs.
I've written about this countless times the past few years around playoff time on this board, but every year when a team props themselves up and gets "hot" during the playoffs that IMO can mostly be attributed to the fact that they got healthy and got key players back. Ravens, Giants, Packers are just some recent examples of teams that have won the SB, not by morphing into a different team, but simply by getting healthy and getting key players back in key positions. Remember the first game of the playoffs last season was the first game Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, and Ed Reed played together. Baltimore also got healthy on the o-line, made major changes there, and were a completely different team there.
San Francisco is shaping up quite nicely to be that team this season. They were terrible earlier in the year - SB hangover, injuries, who knows - but have gotten better month by month. They also had KEY injuries this season and they will have those guys back and healthy for the playoffs. Crabtree coming back (and looking good) is a MASSIVE upgrade to this offense. He's Kap's favorite target and let's Boldin transition to the #2 WR - a roll he is much better suited for. That's another thing I've written about; so many times when key players come back for these teams they don't just boost the team with their own play, but they allow players to go back into roles they are more comfortable with. Manningham has also returned for this team, and while he hasn't done a lot so far, he's still a veteran WR who has a knack for making plays in the playoffs and is a sneaky good #3 option. Suddenly a pass game with Davis, Crabtree, Boldin, and Manningham looks pretty darn good.
SF has also had their best two offensive linemen (arguably two of the Top 10 in the NFL) hobbled this year. Both guys should be healthy for the playoffs. Same story on defense as Aldon Smith is back and over his early season issues. Willis has also missed time this season with injuries and did not look like himself for a couple games when he came back. He's now healthy. SF also has a healthy Justin Smith this season - remember he was injured last year.
This team seems to be under the radar for some reason. Their defense has only given up about 14 PPG since Week 3 and they look very strong. The offense will only get better as Crabtree, Manningham, and the o-linemen get back in the groove. One loss with FB Bruce Miller, tough, but survivable.
This group is about as experienced as they come too and have the best head coach in the game. They won't blink twice at having to run the table on the road in January. Everything seems to be coming together for them.
Looks like they will be a wildcard. The potential GB/CHI/DAL/PHI opponent they will face in round 1 doesn't scare anyone. Three of those teams are trash and can't stop a hay bale. Philly is sneaky good, but very, very young and untested; both players and coaches. Round 2 would offer SEA/NO/CAR. All three teams have beaten SF (though not the healthy version) but all can be beat. The Saints are very soft. SF almost beat them in the dome earlier and may have despite one of the more dubious calls of the year. NO has the stats, but I've watched this team numerous times and they just don't have the x-factor. Carolina is SF lite. Good team, but would you trust them in their first playoff game together being expected to win at home against SF? I wouldn't. They are missing a WR too and who knows what their pass game will look like with Smith hobbled. SEA is obviously excellent, but they are not unbeatable. They've had their moments recently against good defenses and they have quietly really missed Sidney Rice. Harvin coming back may not be a huge boost as he's really never even had meaningful snaps in this offense. The Hawks offense can stall at times and it's certainly a possibility against SF's D. If SF makes it out of the NFC they won't face a tough team in the SB. The AFC is really bad. Broncos appear the best, but just suffered a huge blow losing Miller. That makes an already very questionable defense that much worse. Manning will have to carry the load. Can he be trusted in potentially bad weather against an elite D?
Just some rambles, but I believe SF is a team under the radar that is worth watching and I'll likely fire up a ML rollover with them in the playoffs.
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