Dissecting the depth chart: Inside Linebackers

By Paul Kadwill

2014 Depth chart

Patrick Willis, Chris Borland, Desmond Bishop
Navorro Bowman*, Michael Wilhoite, Nick Moody, Chase Thomas
*Injured all season

Signed through 2015:  Patrick Willis, Navorro Bowman, Chris Borland, Nick Moody, Chase Thomas.

Free agents:  Michael Wilhoite, Desmond Bishop.



Patrick Willis
6 games (6 started), 29 tackles, 5 assists, 3 passes defended, 1 interception

2014 saw Willis suffer his first significant loss of playing time through injury, as he finally succumbed to a toe injury that had hampered his 2014 campaign and was placed on Injured Reserve after just six games.
For a player who had been selected to every Pro Bowl since coming into the league in 2007 and had only missed six games in his career up until this season, finishing 2014 so early came as a surprise to the player and the fanbase alike.
Willis had, in fact, been playing through the injury all year but took medical advice from the team and opted for surgery in order to eradicate the niggling issue.  This should ensure that in terms of this injury at least, Willis will be able to come back in 2015 and play as hard as he always has.
During his six games, Patrick played at his usual high level even with the injury, which is a credit to the his efforts.
With the onslaught of injuries that the team suffered from during 2014, it was perhaps best that his season was shut down early as it became more apparent that a return to the playoffs was looking far less likely.

(Bleacher Report, 2015)

Navorro Bowman
0 games started.

After the horrifying injury that Navorro Bowman sustained during the 2013 playoffs, it was known very early on that the other member of the best linebacking tandem in the league would not be present on the field for much, if not all of 2014.  Bowmans rehabilitation went well for the most part, but it did stall towards the end as fans waited with baited breath to hear when #53 would return to a depleted defense.  He was activated off of the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list early on in December, but was placed on IR less than a week later, without ever suiting up.
He should be at full health by the time that the 2015 training camp begins.



Chris Borland
14 games (8 started), 84 tackles, 23 assists, 1 sack, 2 interceptions, 5 passes defended, 1 fumble recovery.

(CBS Sacremento, 2015)

Drafted in the third round of the 2014 NFL draft, Chris Borland came to the 49ers as a player who had been noted for having a knack for finding the ball, but perhaps was a little too slow and undersized to make a huge impact in the NFL.  How wrong those experts were!
During the fourteen games that he appeared in, Borland racked up the most tackles of any player on the 49ers roster and proved to have superb run stopping abilities as well as coverage skills.  With both Patrick Willis and Navorro Bowman being lost for the season, it was a much needed surprise to find a rookie stepping up and playing at the same level as his two Pro-Bowl calibre teammates.
An ankle injury against the Seattle Seahawks in week 15 put an end to his sparkling rookie season and any hopes of securing the Defensive Rookie of the Year award, but silverware aside, 2014 had already been a rookie year for the ages from the former Wisconsin Badger.
With the departure of Vic Fangio and the majority of the defensive staff from the 49ers, sources from within the organisation have revealed that the team will most likely be switching from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3 defense.  This means that we will be seeing Willis, Bowman and Borland on the field at the same time during the 2015 season.  This decision to alter the fundamental layout of the defense was in no small part due to Borland.
With a 21.3% run-stop percentage, the best of ANY inside linebacker with 200+ run snaps since PFF began tracking this statistic in 2007, alongside his other talents, its not hard to see why he has forced management to consider and adopt a different scheme.  Quite simply, he must be on the field next season.




Michael Wilhoite
16 games (16 starts), 67 tackles, 20 assists, 2 interceptions, 6 passes defended, 1 forced fumble.

(Daily Republic, 2015)

After appearing in every game of 2013, Wilhoite was the obvious choice to step up into the starting role vacated by the injured Navorro Bowman.  He was the only inside linebacker to play in all 16 games of the 2014 season.
Whilst he may not have been as spectacular as Borland, WIlhoite still posted the third most tackles on the 49ers roster and gave a courageous effort all season to step into the All-Pro shoes of the injured Navorro Bowman.  The defense did not miss a beat even though Wilhoite had only started two games previous to this season, as the ex-Omaha Nighthawk flashed plenty of ability in covering receivers and a nose for the ball in general.
Wilhoite is an ERFA (Exclusive Rights Free Agent) meaning that the 49ers can offer a veterans minimum contract to him and he only has the choice of signing it or leaving the league.  This is because he only has 2 years of NFL experience.  Therefore, expect to see him back next year.



Nick Moody
16 games (2 starts), 16 tackles, 5 assists.

The 2013 sixth-round draft pick was pressed into a starting role for the final two games of the season, after the injury to Chris Borland occurred.  The majority of his season however, was spent on Special Teams assignments.
The most famous, or rather, infamous, play of his career so far, occurred against the Seattle Seahawks during week 15.  Blitzing from his linebacker position, Moody came upon Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson and unleashed a hard, but entirely legal hit as he brought the QB down for a sack.  However, the officials flagged Moody for a roughing-the-passer penalty, which ultimately led to a Seattle touchdown instead of forcing them to take a field goal attempt.  The ‘Hawks went on to win the game 17-7, with Moodys controversially flagged hit being pivotal in the hugely important game.
Moody will be under a certain amount of pressure in training camp from guys like Chase Thomas and any other linebackers that are drafted or signed this year, for one of the backup roles on the 2015 roster.  At the moment, he will be pencilled in to be one of the main backups at the linebacker position.



Chase Thomas
5 games (0 starts), 3 tackles.

Since he came into the NFL as an undrafted free agent for the New Orleans Saints in 2013, Chase Thomas has graced the practice squads of several teams before he landed with the 49ers.
Thomas spent the first 9 games on the practice squad before being promoted during week 10 to provide cover for the ailing 49ers linebacker group.
Being utilised solely on special teams, Thomas accumulated three tackles in the five games that he featured in, as well as a sole return attempt for 8 yards.
The former Stanford Cardinal standout found himself at the centre of a small controversy late on in the season, as the coaching staff and front office battled to control the depth chart when Borland went onto the IR.  After being successful under Coach Harbaugh at Stanford, Thomas was the natural choice to be promoted to the backup linebacker position that had been created when the existing backup, Nick Moody, was called upon to start.  Trent Baalke and the front office had other plans however, overruling Harbaugh and instead signing veteran linebacker Desmond Bishop to backup the position on gameday.
Thomas will no doubt compete with Nick Moody for a primary backup role for the 2015 season.



Desmond Bishop
2 games (0 starts), 2 tackles.

As mentioned before, Bishop was signed late on in the season to be a backup linebacker for the 49ers, as well as having a role on special teams once ST stud Kassim Osgood was sent onto the IR.
Both of Bishops tackles came in his first game for the 49ers, a week 16 matchup with the San Diego Chargers.
Desmond Bishop will probably not feature in the future plans of the 49ers, after being released at the end of the 2014 season when his contract expired.


Looking ahead

Overall, the San Francisco 49ers are in an admirable position when it comes to inside linebackers.  Patrick Willis and Navorro Bowman are perennial Pro Bowlers, whilst Chris Borland seems destined to join them if he continues to play at the elite level seen from him in 2014.  Very few teams around the league have such a wealth of starting talent at this position.
Being an ERFA, it is highly likely that the 49ers will resign Michael Wilhoite as a primary backup.  Thus, we shall probably see Moody and Thomas as the two main players who will be battling for the other backup roles at the inside linebacker position, unless the team finds another gem in the draft (possible) or spends money on a veteran (unlikely).



Photograph references

"Bowman_Willis", Bleacher Report, viewed 23 January 2015, <http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1678714-san-francisco-49ers-why-patrick-willis-and-navorro-bowman-are-a-special-tandem >

"Borland", CBS Sacremento, viewed 23 January 2015, <http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2014/11/26/seahawks-head-coach-carroll-praises-49ers-rookies/ >

"Wilhoite", Daily Republic, viewed 23 January 2015, <http://www.dailyrepublic.com/media-post/photo-niners-7/attachment/michael-wilhoite-larry-fitzgerald/ >

Tomsula a sentimental hire, but staff hires key to his success

There is a lot to like about the 49ers' decision to hire Jim Tomsula as head coach.

By now we all know the narrative of a guy that worked his way from up from nothing, coaching at tiny schools, sleeping in his car and honing his craft in NFL Europe before impressing enough as a position coach with San Francisco to become the 19th  head coach of one of the league's most storied franchises.

That's why I and many to give him a pass despite his clear lack of experience as a head coach. This is a guy that you want to root for and therefore it was fine that a clearly nervous Tomsula floundered his way through his introductory press conference. If anything it furthered the narrative, Tomsula is your typical blue-collar man that has worked tirelessly to reach this point, why wouldn't he be nervous at this point?

The 49ers are not out 'to win the press conference' in the now infamous words of CEO Jed York, although general manager Trent Baalke did a pretty damn good job of doing so as Tomsula struggled and York did little to improve a public image that has deteriorated since the dreadful Thanksgiving loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

But Tomsula's performance in the press conference has done little to pacify the many, many doubters he has. Those in attendance expressed their bewilderment at the strange atmosphere in the room, and the Niners now face a challenge to lift the air of negativity.

It is a task that may prove tough do given the staff that have been let go as a result of Tomusla's appointment. Defensive co-ordinator Vic Fangio is now looking for work along with secondary coach Ed Donatell, while offensive line coach Mike Solari seems poised to link up with former San Francisco offensive co-ordinator Greg Roman at the Buffalo Bills.

How the Niners replace those key assistants will be pivotal to how the team is perceived going into the 2015 season. Their interest in Jason Tarver as defensive co-ordinator is hardly likely to inspire after he struggled to put together a competitive defense across the bay in Oakland.

Still, the 49er defense has the personnel to succeed regardless of who takes up the co-ordinator role. Instead it is on offense where the Niners need a strong hire.

Mike Shanahan is thought to be in the running for an offensive co-ordinator role he last held 20 years ago when the Niners last won the Super Bowl, and former Cleveland Browns head coach Rob Chudzinski is viewed as a front-runner for the position.

It is not surprising to see Chudzinski - who works a special assistant for the Indianapolis Colts - regarded as a favourite given that he worked with Niners' running back Frank Gore during his time as offensive co-ordinator at the University of Miami.

Baalke has declared the 49ers' intention to run the ball in 2015, words that will have been music to the ears of fans frustrated by the inconsistent play-calling of this past season. Bringing Chudzinski in would seem to be a good way of keeping Gore, their best exponent of the run game, around for at least one more season.

Chudzinski also has experience working with dual-threat quarterbacks having done so with Cam Newton in Carolina, and is also seen as something of a magician with tight ends. All those traits should appeal to the 49ers following their struggles on offense in 2014, however, they will have to wait until the Colts are out of the playoffs to talk to Chudzinski.

It is fair to assume that the 49ers' staff will quickly begin to take shape in the coming weeks. Chudzinski may not be the guy on offense but if player and management favourite Tomsula is to be successful going forward, then the Niners need to employ staff on both sides of the ball to ensure his promotion to the top job results in success.

Dissecting the depth chart: Quarterbacks

By Paul Kadwill

This is the first installment of a new series which will look at a different position each week as we lead up to the 2015 NFL draft.  We will analyse the performance of each player and look ahead to the new season with an eye on who will still be on the roster and where any gaps are that will need to be filled.

This week the spotlight falls upon the quarterback position.


Quarterbacks

2014 depth chart: C. Kaepernick, B. Gabbert, J. Johnson, M. Bethel-Thompson/K.Faulkner

Signed through 2015: Colin Kaepernick


2014 Starter:  Colin Kaepernick
60.5% passing completion (289/478), 3369 yards, 19 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 51 sacks, NFL  rating:  86.4

(Ninerfans.com)

The 2014 NFL season was the second full season as a starting quarterback for Colin Kaepernick.
After initially shocking the NFL with raw speed and athleticism in his first seasons with the 49ers, defenses around the league gradually began catching up with the unique talents of Colin during 2012 and particulalry in 2013.  The 2014 season was going to be an important one to gauge the development of Kaepernick as a bona fide, NFL-equipped starting quarterback.
Working within an offense that prioritised a smash-mouth style running game, the quarterback position was called upon less to carry the team, which suited Kaepernick as he took time to adjust to the pros.  Coming out of college he drew criticism from the media about his lack of ‘classic’ quarterback ability: reading defenses, scanning the field, dropping back and passing in the pocket.  After a full 2013 season under center, 2014 was expected to be the year where we saw Kaepernick mature into the all-round quarterback that the front office had envisioned when they traded up in the second round of the 2011 draft to capture him.

Whilst several areas of his game statistically improved, such as throwing for more yardage and having a better completion percentage, it was abundantly clear throughout 2014 that #7 was not ready to be labelled a complete quarterback just yet.  Kapernick threw less touchdowns, had more interceptions and succumbed to a career-high 51 sacks during the season.
His ability to make the necessary progressions through receivers was improved over 2013 but far from perfect.  He would often become fixed upon one receiver and completely miss a wide open colleague.
There was a conscious decision, whether from the head coach, offensive coordinator or Colin himself, to rely less upon Kaepernicks improvised runs during 2014 and even the planned quarterback runs were used less.  This, matched with his struggles to find open receivers and a chronic injury problem throughout the entire offensive line, lead to the alarmingly high number of sacks that Kaepernick endured.  The offensive line issues were also partly to blame for his passing issues, as Kaepernick often had less that two seconds to scan the field and make a decision, before he was confronted by defensive players.
Oddly, the team decided to somewhat move away from its natural offensive prowess that was, and still is, its running game.  This meant more opportunities for Colin to throw passes, but perhaps it was not the best situation for a quarterback who is at his best when the opposition are unbalanced and generally expecting the run.  With many games seeing a marked reduction in the number and effectiveness of carries, Colin was under more pressure to produce than he had ever been.
Put simply:  I believe he was asked to ‘run before he could walk’.  Although he had made improvements coming into 2014, he was not at a point where he could take over being the main focus of the offense, and I believe the coaching staff made a huge error continuing to stick with the belief that he was ready for the full responsibility.
The good news is however, that he still has all of the talents that lead to him being highly coveted coming into the league, he is still young (27 years old) and the issues he is having can be coached and improved upon.
It will be very interesting to see how Kaepernick progresses during this offseason, as he comes under the tutelage of Kurt Warner.  There is also speculation that his 11-week training program with Warner, which started this weekend (9th January), also includes stints with Steve Young.  The famous 49er southpaw may well be the best suited NFL legend to lend his experience to Kaepernick, as both have similar traits and have had to deal with similar issues during their early professional careers.




2014 2nd-string Quarterback:  Blaine Gabbert
42.9% passing completion (3/7), 38 yards, 1 touchdown, 0 interceptions, 0 sacks, NFL  rating:  100.0

(Jacksonville.com)

Traded in March 2014 to San Francisco for a 6th round pick, Gabbert served as backup to Colin Kaepernick for the entire season.  The ex-Jaguar came into the game against Denver during week 7, completing three passes which included one for a touchdown. His brief cameo in that game was his only experience during the regular season.  Before that, Gabbert had posted underwhelming statistics whilst appearing in all four preseason games:  46.8% passing completion, 186 yards (4 yards per completion), 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions and a 54.0 NFL rating.
Whilst his acquisition was met with some resistance by the fanbase, probably because of Gabberts lack of success at Jacksonville, it was perhaps a little harsh on a player who is still trying to find his way in the league.  For such a low draft pick that San Francisco gave his former team, it was always worth taking a risk with Gabbert who entered the league as a top 10 pick in the same 2011 draft as Colin Kaepernick.
Gabbert is now an unrestricted free agent and is likely to test the waters to see if anyone in the league is keen on having him as a starting quarterback.  Chances are though, that he will remain a backup until he has proven himself on the field.  So, with a year of experience within the 49ers organisation, it would not surprise me if the team made a move to re-sign him as a backup, albeit at a much more reduced salary in alignment with what other backups in the league command.



2014 3rd-string and beyond:

Josh Johnson:

(SFgate.com)

The 6-foot-3 native Californian once again spent time on the 49ers roster during 2014.  After beginning his pro career with Tampa Bay, Johnsons first stint with San Francisco came in 2012 as he hooked up with his former college head coach, Jim Harbaugh.  After spending the entire offseason with the team, Josh was a victim during the final roster cuts of August 2012.  After spending time with the Browns and Bengals, he was signed once again by the 49ers in May 2014.  During the regular season Johnson was one of several players who were continually cut and resigned as the front office juggled the 53-man roster to meet the teams needs.
Obviously with such a long association with Jim Harbaugh, who has since departed the team, there probably is little chance of Johnson being brought back in by the 49ers for the 2015 season.  However, with a similar build and skill-set to Colin Kaepernick, Johnson always seemed to be a good fit for the team, so he may just squeeze onto the roster for training camp and preseason, in an attempt to make the team as the primary backup quarterback.  Again though, with very little footage of him in the red and gold, its virtually impossible to pass any kind of judgement on his play or ability.


McLeod Bethel-Thompson:

Another bay area native, McLeod Bethel-Thompson spent another period of time with the 49ers during 2014.  Originally joining the side in 2011 where he was expected to land the third-string QB role, Thompson was cut and then spent time with several other clubs.
During the 2013 season Bethel-Thompson was assigned onto the practice squad of the Minnesota Vikings.  On October the 9th, San Francisco claimed him off of waivers and signed him onto the 53 man squad, where he spent several weeks.  Then, in late November the player was cut and signed onto the 49ers practice squad, where he remained for the rest of the season.  After signing a reserves/future contract, McLeod was back on the training ground throughout the offseason, until succumbing to the roster cuts towards the start of the 2014 season.  Only ever seen as a ‘camp arm’, it is doubtful that Bethel-Thompson will be back again this year, unless its in a similar, minor role.


Kory Faulkner:

The former Southern Illinois Saluki was signed as an undrafted free agent after the completion of the 2014 draft.  At 6’ 4” and 227lb, Faulkner was another ‘Kaepernick-esque’ athlete that the team hoped to mold into a useful player, probably via the practice squad.  After receiving some praise from Greg Roman and Jim Harbaugh during training camp, Faulkner was cut on July 29th 2014.




Looking ahead 

So, the 49ers only currently have Colin Kaepernick under contract for this year.  What are their options now?
Aside from the obvious need of at least two more passers for the depth chart, momentum is gaining throughout media and fan circiles that the team should sign a backup quarterback that can at least put some pressure on Kaepernick to perform at a higher level.  Although he has shown a great level of commitment to his offseason training programs, it is fairly likely that Colin has suffered in his professional development by being assigned as a starter so early in his career and with nobody to challenge him.  Put more succinctly:  Has he rested on his laurels?
The season-long Blaine Gabbert gamble has yet to be seen to have been a failure or a hit, but does the front office believe that Blaine can be the man to solidify the backup position and to provide healthy competition for Colin?  If not, Gabbert won’t be back.
Nothing suggests either, that Josh Johnson is the man to grab the #2 spot and push Kaepernick, especially with the departure of his biggest fan:  Jim Harbaugh.
So this leaves two options:  Acquiring a suitable veteran backup quarterback in free agency/via a trade, or picking one up in the draft.

If the 49ers go down the draft route, I would imagine that they would have to pick a quarterback in the upper half  of the rounds if he is to be talented enough to fulfill the teams needs. What may be more likely however, is that the team will go down the route of having a veteran fill in as the backup and then to draft a guy in the lower rounds who can sit as #3QB, perhaps even on the practice squad, with the intent of training him up to be the long-term solution.
I can’t foresee the team picking up a veteran who has a legitimate shot at starting, when they have invested so much time and money in Kaepernick, even if doing so may actually propel Colin into the upper echelons where many believe he belongs.

The quarterback position is definitely one of the most intriguing sections of the roster this year.  It will be interesting to see what the front office and the new head coach Jim Tomsula will do over the coming months.



Photograph references

Colin Kaepernick vs Dallas, Ninerfans.com, viewed 15 January 2015 <http://ninerfans.com/video-49ers-jim-harbaugh-compares-colin-kaepernick-to-superman/ >

Blaine Gabbert, Jacksonville.com, viewed 15 January 2015, <http://jacksonville.com/sports/football/jaguars/2014-08-08/story/former-jaguars-quarterback-blaine-gabbert-has-rough-start >

Josh Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle, viewed 15 January 2015, <http://www.sfgate.com/49ers/slideshow/49ers-rout-Texans-40-13-92540.php >

A Requiem For a Season and a Coach: Harbaugh bids farewell with win over Cards

Few would have predicted back at the start of the 2014 season that the campaign would end with Craig Dahl interception to seal victory in the last game of Jim Harbaugh's tenure with the San Francisco 49ers.

But that proved to be the unexpected end to a strange and disappointing, with back-up safety Dahl's pick ensuring a Gatorade bath for the 49ers head coach at the end of an emotionally charged day for players, staff and fans.

It is not the Gatorade bath that Harbaugh will have envisaged or wanted at the beginning of the year. The Niners went into the season in 'Super Bowl or bust' mode but never looked like contenders at any point as they struggled to put together consistent performances.

San Francisco's struggles were set against a backdrop of speculation surrounding Harbaugh's perspective departure, which was finally confirmed shortly after the 20-17 success over the Arizona Cardinals that sealed an 8-8 finish for the Niners.

Harbaugh leaves the 49ers with a fitting total of 49 wins (including post-season) and never experienced a losing season in his time in the Bay. He is now seemingly set to take over at his alma-mater, the University of Michigan, leaving fans and observers alike to wonder how the front office could not reconcile whatever differences they had with a coach as successful as Harbaugh.

The divorce between the Niners and Harbaugh has been described as 'mutual', yet from an outsiders perspective it appears as if this parting was anything but amicable.

However, it is difficult to decipher what issue the 49ers had with Harbaugh. In a press conference on Monday, CEO Jed York stressed that he and Harbaugh came to a "mutual decision" following "philosophical discussions" between the pair.

Meanwhile, Baalke insisted that his relationship with Harbaugh had been "misrepresented" by the media. Yet, with a large number of players coming out in support of their former head coach, it is clear that there was a break down in relations between Harbaugh and someone in the front office and not key members of the locker room as had been reported at certain points in the season.

We will probably never learn the real reason why Harbaugh and the Niners opted to part company after just one bad season. York spoke at the press conference about everybody in the organisation being held accountable for the failure to win a Super Bowl, but it seems Harbaugh is the only person that has paid for that disappointment.

If Harbaugh's departure is just a result of San Francisco's inability to make the postseason, then the move to allow him to walk looks to be an incredibly short-sighted one.

Even with the raft of injuries suffered by the 49ers this season, they still avoided a losing season and ,barring a few second-half collapses, could be playing post-season football. That appears to be being overlooked by a 49er hierarchy that has offered no real explanation as to why he was let go.

Confusion reigns. Now the 49ers have to move on and make sure they get the next hire right and make the most of the obvious talent present on the roster.

The end of the line: 49er tight ends in 2014

By Paul Kadwill


The San Francisco 49ers have been amongst the teams at the forefront of a revolution in the tight end (TE) position witnessed in the NFL over recent seasons.  As the NFL moves further and further towards being a pass-first league, the humble tight end is becoming ever-more valuable in modern offenses.
High profile athletes now rack up impressive yardage and touchdown totals that are on par with many of the top wide receivers in the league.

The 49ers helped to pioneer this trend with the addition of Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker to their side over the past several seasons.  Davis has broken team records for touchdowns and yards gained by a tight end, whilst at the same time providing excellent blocking abilities which have helped him become an athlete who can play every down of a football game.
With Delanie Walker, the 49ers had arguably the best #2 tight end in the league and a highly acclaimed ‘swiss army knife’ who lined up across the line of scrimmage and even in the backfield.  Walker left for the Tennessee Titans in 2013 and the 49ers tight end depth chart has never been the same since, even if many of his duties have been ably picked up by fullback Bruce Miller.




Vernon Davis has been described as the most athletically gifted player at in position in the NFL.  Possessing elite speed and superhuman levels of strength, Davis has worked hard since entering the league to improve his pass catching and blocking techniques, making him into the prototype new-era tight end that more teams are now coveting.
However, 2014 has seen a dramatic drop in the performance of the star TE.
So far in the thirteen games that he has started during the 2014 season, number eighty-five has gained only 236 yards receiving which calculates out to just over 18  yards per game.  Alongside this low yardage output Davis has just two touchdowns, both of which came in week one of the season, although he did have a 63 yard touchdown nullified against the Chargers in week 16 due to a chop-block penalty at the line of scrimmage.  In 2013, he had a record-breaking thirteen regular season touchdowns as well as 850 receiving yards.

The percentage of passes that Davis has caught compared to those thrown his way has dropped by over 6% between this year and last, which is another significant reduction.  As is the fact that the YAC (yards after the catch) figures for Davis have more than halved in twelve months.  Averaging 4.8YAC per catch in 2013, this year Davis is only achieving 2.1YAC.
He has been on the field for over 88% of the snaps this year, but has been targeted less than four times a game.  Whether this is due to a change in the offensive scheme, offensive line issues that lead to less time for Kaepernick to find his target, or a loss of confidence in Davis as a receiver, it is hard to tell, but the facts show that he is being thrown to a lot less this year than last, so not all of his performance issues can be attributed to him alone.

(Washington Post, 2014)

Sadly, its not just in the receiving game where Vernon Davis is struggling.  Usually a strong point, the blocking performance of the tight end has taken a nose dive too.  Davis has compiled a run-block Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade of -9.9 in 2014.  In contrast, through the first 13 starts of the 2013 campaign his run block grade was +5.0.  Quite a drop.
After sitting out games due to back problems, it would not surprise me to find out at the end of the season that Davis has been hindered, possibly quite heavily, by health issues throughout the season.  How else can you explain such a difference in receiving and blocking performances between last year and this?  I certainly would not believe that it has been performed on purpose by a disgruntled player who is upset at not receiving a contract extension, as Davis has too much integrity and love for his colleagues to do such a thing.
Could it be a coaching issue that has created this dramatic decline?  Eric Mangini was promoted to Tight Ends Coach for this season, which has coincided with the dropoff in performances.  Are the two facts related in anyway?  Its impossible to know, but there are certain factions of the fanbase who are decidedly upset with the ex-Browns head coach being given a coaching role this year.


Behind Vernon Davis on the depth chart, a series of adverse events and underperformance have blighted the 49er tight ends during 2014.
Vance McDonald was chosen in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft out of Rice University.  With freakish size, speed and a natural catching ability, it was hoped, nee expected that McDonald would progress into Vernon Davis 2.0.
After a decidedly average first season, McDonald put in a couple of outstanding performances during the 2014 preseason and hopes were high that he would continue this progression into the regular season.  But apart from making strides in his blocking duties, McDonald struggled to perform this year, only gaining thirty yards on two receptions in eight games.  His season was cut short when he was placed on Injured Reserve (IR) on December the 9th with a back injury.

(Gamedayr, 2014)

The teams third tight end for most of the season had been Derrick Carrier.  The undrafted free agent had shown flashes of big-catch ability during the preseason but was used sparingly once the regular season started, mainly due to the reduced requirement of a third tight end in the 49ers offensive scheme.  In week 12 Carrier sustained a foot injury and as a result of this, was placed on IR on the day before Thanksgiving.  With Carrier on IR and McDonald nursing a back injury which eventually caused him to have his season cut short, the 49ers called up Garrett Celek from the Physically-Unable-to-Perform (PUP) list and Asante Cleveland from the practice squad to bolster the depth chart.

Garrett Celek was originally the third choice tight end for the 49ers but was placed on the PUP list before even the first preseason game had been played after becoming injured in the offseason workout program.  The brother of Eagles tight end Brent Celek, Garrett would see playing time in just three games before being placed on IR himself, suffering from an ankle injury that he picked up in the week 15 loss to Seattle.




So, with one game left to play in the 2014 season, the 49ers have just two healthy tight ends:  Vernon Davis and fifth choice Asante Cleveland.  For a team that not so long ago had two TEs that gave opposing defenses headaches, the fall in production from the position is staggering to say the least.

With Davis signed through to the end of next season and McDonald still on his rookie contract, chances are that the top of the positional depth chart will not be changing for next season.
This is of course, unless the front office decides that it makes more fiscal sense to cut ties with Davis, either via trading him or releasing him,  to save some of the $7,000,000+ of cap hit that he will generate if still on the roster for the start of the 2015 season, albeit with a $2million amount of dead money.  For such an elite player who has produced mightily for the team in the recent past (2014 aside), I cannot see the 49ers cutting ties with him, but funnier things have happened.
McDonald will get another chance to prove himself next year, but I would not be surprised if the 49ers looked at tight ends in the upper half of the draft in April next year, as if McDonald fails again and the team do not retain Vernon Davis for whatever reason, the 49ers will have no tight ends on the roster that can give their opposition trouble, unless Carrier or Celek make the large step up into being of #1 TE calibre.

The tight end position and depth chart is certainly one of the areas of the 49ers that will be intriguing to watch throughout the coming months.




Photograph references

Vernon Davis, Washington Post, viewed 20 December 2014, < http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=http://img.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_908w/2010-2019/Wires/Images/2014-11-09/AP/49ers_Saints_Football-08163.jpg&w=1484 >


Vernon Davis Vance McDonald, Gamedayr, viewed 20 December 2014, < http://gamedayrcom.c.presscdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/vernon-davis-vance-mcdonald.jpg >

This week in 49ers history: Week 17, 2010

By Paul Kadwill

Four years ago this week, San Francisco locked horns with divisional rival the Arizona Cardinals to complete their regular season schedule.  This of course, is also correct for the current 2014 season.

The connection between present day and 2010 go further too, as the earlier game was the first (and only) game that saw Jim Tomsula in charge of the 49ers, in the capacity of interim head coach.  This year finds Tomsula on top of the shortlist to replace current coach Jim Harbaugh if/when he leaves at the end of the season.

So, what shape were the 2010 team in, how did they fare during the season, and how did Tomsula get on with being the 49er head honcho?

The 2009 San Francisco side finished the season with an 0.500 record, under the supervision of Mike Singletary who was in his first full season as a head coach.  There was a lot of hope that the side could consolidate this position and post their first winning season since 2002.  The team even retained the same offensive coordinator for the first time in years, which was expected to help quarterback Alex Smith who had seen a new offense in every season of his NFL career.  

Sadly, the offensive coordinator in question was Jimmy Raye.  The ageing playcaller was firmly rooted in outdated offensive schemes which were too simplistic and struggled to make an impact against modern-day defenses.  His playbook was also heavily skewed towards running the ball, so with that in mind the 49ers picked up the services of free-agent veteran running back Brian Westbrook.  It was hoped that Westbrook could compliment starting running back Frank Gore to become a potent one-two punch out of the backfield.

The team also tried to address the problematic return-game by trading a fifth round draft pick to acquire the services of WR/returner Tedd Ginn Jr, who had breakneck speed but had not justified his first-round pick status since being chosen by the Miami Dolphins in the 2007 draft.

The 2010 draft was a mixed result, with some major additions being chosen alongside some players who would end up being classed as failures.  The offensive line was given a huge boost with monster tackle Anthony Davis and gigantuan guard Mike Iupati being added.  The steal of the draft occurred in the third round however, when the 49ers were able to pick up linebacker Navorro Bowman from Penn State University.  In between the first round linemen and the third round linebacker, was USC safety Taylor Mays who was picked in round two.  Mays would be a total bust for San Francisco and ended up being traded to Cincinnati.

After a hopeful NFL draft and a solid 2009, the 49ers kept up the momentum in the preseason, winning all four of the games and headed into the regular season full of confidence.

Then reality hit, and it hit hard.

The 49ers lost their first five games of the season. 

It was the first time the team had started 0-5 since 1979. After a week three loss to the Chiefs, OC Jimmy Raye was sent packing and was replaced by QB coach Mike Johnson.  After the 0-5 start, the next ten games were shared equally between wins and losses, meaning the team went into the final week with a miserable 5-10 record.  The final straw for Mike Singletary came in the week 16 loss to the St. Louis Rams and he was subsequently fired.

For the sole remaining game of 2010, defensive line coach Jim Tomsula was chosen as interim head coach.  A passionate and dedicated football man, Coach Tomsula was loved and respected not just by his linemen, but by the rest of the players and coaching staff, so he was a popular choice for the temporary role.

(Liz Hafalia, SF Chronicle)

In his sole game in charge, Tomsula and his 49ers team would round off the 2010 season with a home game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Going into this game, the Cardinals owned an identical 5-10 record to the 49ers, and had experienced an horrific seven-game losing streak during the middle of the season.  However, in the week before facing their divisional rivals, the Cardinals had rallied back to beat the Dallas Cowboys in the dying moments of the fourth quarter, so were looking to use that win to propel them past San Francisco.

The game

The first two possessions for both sides were flaccid and resulted in punts.  On the their third possession since receiving the ball to start the game, Arizona started on their own twenty yard line.  The first play resulted in a five yard penalty on Arizona for a false start, making it 1st and 15.  On the next play, Rookie Cardinals quarterback John Skelton dropped back and looked for a deep pass, only to be met by Justin Smith at full speed.  The 49er defensive end levelled Skelton for a nine-yard loss and a sack. This pushed Arizona onto the back foot, facing a 2nd and 24 from their own six.  After a short gain on the ground and an incomplete pass, the Cardinals punted the ball once again.

A poor Arizona punt meant that the home side took over on the Cardinals thirty-seven yard line.  Wasting no time, the 49ers dialled up a deep pass attempt and Alex Smith was able to find newly-signed speedster Ted Ginn Jr for a touchdown on the first play of the drive.  The 49ers were up 7-0.

 

With his third sack of the first quarter occurring on the first play of the next drive, it was clear that John Skelton would be having a bad day at the office.  His next pass was stopped for a loss and a third-down effort fell incomplete and the Cardinals were again lining up to punt the ball away.

Undeterred by a first-down sack, Alex Smith found multiple receivers on the next 49er drive, moving his team into the opposing half.  The 49er running game was continuing to struggle without star player Frank Gore, who had fractured his hip in a week 12 encounter against the Cardinals and was out for the season.  Arizona were able to halt the drive before the endzone but 49ers kicker Jeff Reed made the thirty-nine yard field goal to give his side a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter.

After another Cardinals punt the 49ers were again in possession of the ball, however a precise kick by Arizona punter Ben Graham had pinned the home side back on their own six yard line.  Sensing an opportunity, the visitors asserted themselves and held San Francisco to less than ten yards, forcing them to punt as well.  In an odd repeat of the short punt by Arizona earlier in the game, this time the 49ers were only able to propel the ball to their own thirty-seven yard line and John Skelton with the rest of the Arizona offense came trotting onto the field.  They picked up a quick-fire 17 yards on a couple of effective rushes and an eight yard completion by Skelton, leaving them just twenty yards from paydirt.

Trying to stem the Arizona flow, Justin Smith bullrushed past his blocker on 2nd down and sacked the quarterback.  The force of the impact jarred the ball loose and a chance to foil the attack was presented.  Sadly the ball bobbled out of bounds and so the Cardinals retained possession.

Larry Fitzgerald then caught his second pass of the game, moving his side ten yards closer to the endzone.  On the next play he caught his third and scored the first points of the game for Arizona.  After the extra point it was now 10-7 in the 49ers favour, with over seven minutes left in the half.

The next drives for both sides came up empty and so the 49ers went into halftime with a slender lead over their rivals.

San Francisco received the ball to start off the second half, with Ted Ginn Jr picking up twenty-four yards on the return.

Brian Westbrook picked up fourteen yards on a 3rd and 8 catch, taking the team to their own 41 yard line.  The first down play was again an intended pass to Westbrook, but it fell incomplete to make it 2nd and 10.  Then, with Alex Smith dropping back after the snap, tight end Vernon Davis ran a blistering ‘go’ route, easily outrunning his defender and hauled in Smiths pass, taking it all the way for a 59 yard touchdown.  Reeds extra point was good and the 49ers were now 17-7 to the good.

Hoping to retaliate straight away, Arizona found more frustration within their drive as Skelton continued to struggle with passing plays.  After more incompletions, the ball was punted away again.  

With two fouls on the Cardinals defense to start off the drive, the 49ers now began from their own 32 yard line.  Anthony Dixon picked up 8 rushing yards straight away, followed by a huge 30 yard rush by his  teammate Brian Westbrook.  The Cardinals were on the ropes and giving up yardage easily for the first time in the game.  Following another Dixon rumble and a 20 yard completion to Vernon Davis, the 49ers were just 6 yards away from scoring.  Barely 4 minutes since Davis lit up the scoreboard with a 59 yard touchdown, Brian Westbrook now added another score by running in from 6 yards out. The extra point made it 24-7 and there was still a quarter and a half left to play.

(dalje.com)

Things went from bad to worse for Arizona, when on their next possession John Skelton was intercepted by linebacker Ahmad Brooks, who returned it 32 yards before being tackled just 8 yards shy from scoring.  Two plays later Westbrook scored again from the ground and the 49ers now led 31-7.

After enduring such a torrid time behind center, John Skelton was benched in favour of 2nd-string quarterback Richard Bartel.  The visiting side were then finally able to string together a few plays and by the time that the 3rd quarter was drawing to a close, the Cardinals were just a yard away from the 49er endzone on 1st and goal.  An incomplete pass to Larry Fitzgerald was followed by a loss of 2 yards on a rushing attempt by running back tim Hightower, which made it 3rd and 3.  A quick pass attempt was thwarted which set up a 4th down for Arizona.  With nothing to lose and the fourth quarter now underway, the visitors went for it.  On 4th and 3, Bartel lobbed a quick pass up to Larry Fitzgerald, but the elite receiver was tightly covered by Tarrell Brown, meaning the Cardinals had failed to capitalise on the opportunity to score.  The 49ers took over from their own 3.

The latest 49er drive ended in a punt, as did the next possession for each team, so with a little over 7 minutes left in the game and the season, the Cardinals had the ball on their own 7 yard line.

With little point in rushing, the Cardinals sent out 3 and sometimes 4 receiver formations, trying desperately to restore at least some pride in their team before the season was over.  Finding more success than they had seen all game against a resurgent 49er defense, Bartel and his colleagues were able to chip away the yards and move the ball down to the San Francisco 43 yard line, but not before Justin Smith had collected his third sack of the game.  

Throwing a short pass to receiver Andre Roberts, Bartel instead found the arms of opposing cornerback Tarell Brown.  Showcasing his speed, Brown raced away down the sideline and crossed the goal line emphatically for a 62 yard touchdown, sealing the final nail into the Cardinals 2010 coffin.  Reed was automatic with the extra point and the score was now 38-7 to the hosts.

More desperate passing attempts were made in the final four minutes by the Cardinals, who were again able to get within a few yards of the endzone.  But with under a minute left, Ahmad Brooks sacked the Cardinals quarterback, which was the sixth time an Arizona quarterback had been sacked in the game.  That loss made it 4th and goal from the 11 yard line, where another failed pass to Larry Fitzgerald gave the ball back to San Francisco.  Alex Smith kneeled to end the game in a decisive 38-7 victory over the Cardinals, as well as an impressive and well earned debut win for interim head coach Jim Tomsula.

Every facet of the 49ers team had been instrumental in the victory.  Alex Smith had thrown for 279 yards and a pair of touchdowns.  Brian Westbrook had a brace of scores as well as 79 rushing yards, the defense had demolished the Cardinals with 6 sacks, 2 interceptions including one returned for a touchdown, and the special teams units had outperformed their opponents too.

It was a complete victory on all accounts, as the 49ers were able to put their divisional rivals to the sword, causing the Cardinals to finish the season in last place of the NFC West, with the 49ers one place ahead of them in third.

The 49ers ownership pulled off somewhat of a coup during the offseason, signing highly acclaimed college head coach Jim Harbaugh to a 5 year, $25million contract to become the new head coach.  This was despite the fact that Harbaugh was also offered more rewarding contracts to coach elsewhere in the NFL and in the college game.  Of course, we all know how the rest of the Harbaugh era has panned out…

I would just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for taking the time to read my articles every week this season.  I do hope that you have enjoyed them.

I’d also like to thank Nicholas McGee for heading up the 49er Faithful UK blogsite, and of course Mike Palmer for doing such an astounding job of creating and maintaining this wonderful group!

Happy New Year!

Photograph references

Jim Tomsula, Liz Hafalia: San Francisco Chronicle, viewed 24 December 2014 <http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/07/53/07/2011599/9/920x920.jpg >

Tomsula greets Westbrook, dalje.com, viewed 24 December 2014 <http://dalje.com/slike/slike_3/r1/g2011/m01/ox281254837411419783.jpg >

This week in 49ers history: Week 16, 1983

By Paul Kadwill


In the year that saw the release of the third installment of the original Star Wars trilogy in cinemas around the world, perhaps from a 49ers perspective the year should be known as the “Return of the Genii”.
After a lacklustre 1982 season that was cut short by player strikes, there was a very real threat that Bill Walsh would walk away from the team that he had coached to Super Bowl glory in 1981.  Added to his potential loss was the fact that many of his coaching staff were being successfully headhunted for top jobs in the college and professional games.  Even with the return of the majority of the championship side, any future success with Walsh and co at the helm was hanging by a thread once the 1982 season was over.

So, why “Return of the Genii?”  Well, shortly after the 1983 Senior Bowl was completed, Walsh announced his intention to return as the head coach.  Alongside him was newly promoted defensive coordinator George Seifert, who had previously been coaching the defensive backs but had accepted the promotion when existing defensive coordinator Chuck Studley left for the Houston Oilers.
Promoting Seifert was an astute move by Walsh.  The former Kezar Stadium usher would prove to be the perfect defensive accompaniment to the offensive mastermind of Bill Walsh.  Both would be the cornerstones of future Super Bowl glories throughout the current decade and into the next.

After securing the coaching staff, Walsh turned his attention to the draft whereby he had one major gap in his depth chart to fill:  Running back.
Before the first round had even started the 49ers sealed a trade for Rams running back Wendell Tyler, who was deemed surplus to requirements in Los Angeles.  Then, with their second-round pick the 49ers selected Nebraska alum Roger Craig.  Whilst the acquisition of Tyler would provide an underwhelming return, Craig would of course go onto have an illustrious career.

The 49ers performed at a much higher level in 1983 when compared to the previous season.  Facing the Dallas Cowboys in the regular season finale, San Francisco had a 9-6 record and were looking to wrap up the NFC West and progress ahead into the playoffs.

Coming into Candlestick Park, Dallas had an impressive 12-3 record and were hoping for a big win as well as revenge against the team that had destroyed their Super Bowl chances when both teams last met in the bay area, during in the 1981 NFC Championship game.  Coached by living legend Tom Landry, the Cowboys were led by exemplary running back Tony Dorsett and quarterback Danny White, who helped their side score the second highest number of points in the NFL during 1982.



The game

Starting with possession of the ball, Joe Montana and the 49ers settled quickly and effortlessly into a rhythm.  Running the cerebral offensive scheme of Bill Walsh, the team quickly rattled down the field with both phases of the offense, the rush and the pass, working well against a Cowboys defense that had struggled all year.  From six yards out Joe Montana found rookie back Roger Craig, who caught the short pass and went in for a quick score.  7-0 to the 49ers.

(Associated Press, 2014)

After the first Dallas offensive possession was stonewalled deep in their own half, it was apparent that the home side had come into the game with far more motivation than their visitors.  Just to further emphasise this, following the ensuing Cowboy punt, 49er return man Dana McLemore picked up the ball at around the halfway line and returned the ball straight back to where it came from and beyond, penetrating the Dallas endzone for a fifty-six yard punt return for a touchdown.  Barely had the game started and the 49ers had a two-touchdown lead.

The visitors had slightly more success on their next drive, with Danny White hitting various receivers.  However, the drive faded and Dallas were forced to come away with just three points from a forty-seven yard field goal.

The scoring spree to start the game was not finished yet.  Before the first quarter finished, Montana hit Freddie Solomon in stride and the elusive receiver was able to take it all the way to the house for a huge seventy-seven yard touchdown.  Entering the second quarter, the 49ers led 21-3 and a blowout appeared to be on the cards.

The beleaguered Cowboys defense managed to stem the tide in the second quarter, stopping the home side from scoring further.  Meanwhile, with Tony Dorsett being shut down by a dominant 49er defensive line, quarterback Danny White took it upon himself to lead the visitors, finishing off a good drive by running in to score from a yard out.  As halftime arrived, the score was 21-10 in favour of San Francisco.



The 49ers reasserted themselves as the second half began by picking off Danny White in the third quarter.  White would end the game with three interceptions to his name.  Taking over following the take-away, Joe Montana orchestrated another drive that propelled the home side into the opposing red zone.  From 18 yards out, he found tight end Russ Francis for the first points after halftime, making it 28-10 in San Franciscos favour.

Both teams had done sterling jobs of halting each others running games and with an 18-point lead to erode, the Cowboys virtually discarded their ground attack to try to claw themselves back into the game.  Moving the ball steadily, Dallas found themselves thirteen yards from paydirt where receiver Tony Hill linked up with his quarterback to score.  28-17 to the 49ers, with the majority of the fourth quarter still to play.

The next home possession was thwarted and the 49ers were forced to punt the ball away. Sensing a slight opening back into contention for the win, Dallas again went on the attack through the air.  Disaster would strike however, as Danny Whites pass was picked off by 49er cornerback Eric Wright, who scythed through the dumbstruck Cowboys offense to return the pick for a 48-yard touchdown.  This all but extinguished any hopes that Dallas had of winning the game, with the score now 35-17 to San Francisco.

There was still time for the 49ers to stick the blade in further though, as another effective drive was rewarded with a 16-yard touchdown catch for Roger Craig, the second aerial touchdown of the game for the rookie running back.  With their once-mighty foe finally succumbing, the game ended with an historic 42-17 win for the 49ers.

The win capped off a successful season for the 49ers, who topped the NFC West with a 10-6 record.

During the Cowboys game, Joe Montana threw for 223 yards and four touchdowns.  Two of those touchdown passes were of course to Roger Craig.  The Nebraska rookie finished the game with 97 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns, which completed a successful first year in professional league for Craig.  He finished 1983 with eight rushing touchdowns and 725 yards on the ground, as well as another four receiving touchdowns and a very useful 427 yards through the air.


After squeezing past the Detroit Lions in the divisional round of the 1983 playoffs by a score of 24-23, San Francisco went onto the NFC Championship game to face the strongest side in the conference:  The Washington Redskins.
In a remarkable game, the 49ers went behind by 21 points by the time the fourth quarter started, only to rally back to draw level with the Redskins at 21-21.  Hearts were broken in the bay area when two inexplicable penalties were called against the 49ers in the dying minutes of the game, which allowed Washington to not only drive downfield and score the go-ahead field goal, but also to whittle away the clock to less than a minute to go before Montana and company could get back onto the field.  They were unable to answer the Redskins and thus, the 49ers season ended in a distraught and unjust fashion.

With the 1983 injustice firmly lodged in their memories, San Francisco would return in 1984 with one of the most dominant seasons ever witnessed, capping it off with the demolition of a talented Miami Dolphins side in Super Bowl 19.

Photograph reference:

Roger Craig celebrates against Dallas, Associated Press, viewed 19 December 2014 <http://www.csnbayarea.com/49ers/candlestick-park-levis-stadium#slide-6>