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Top 10 moves of the offseason
The Niners have made many moves this season. All for the good. The past 3 seasons, any "Niner movement" meant the cutting of a seasoned veteran or overpaid athlete. Movement this season had a positive tone. Signing, resigning, drafting, meeting, talking, restructuring were words Niner fans got to hear time and time again. Words that are like super glue on paper, gluing the team together rather than tearing it apart. So how do we seperate it all? How do we determine what move will be the biggest move toward a successful season? Which moves were impact moves, and which moves were just shuffling of bodies?? Nobody can agree on this, but my attempt to do so will be covered in this article. Yes, there are rankings. Yes, these are "My Top 10 moves" of the season. This is not a list to try and agree on, but a reference of key moves that will shape the 2002 season:
10. Sean Moran- The Niners acquired the Defensive Lineman from the St. Louis Rams via free agency. Moran adds at minimum, depth on the defensive line. But some reports have this guy going as far as pushing for first man off the bench in a line rotation or possibly even a "passing down" regular. Regardless, this allows the Niners a chance to deviate from past schemes and be a little more creative. Bryant Young at Defensive End and Andre Carter used in some sort of Linebacker position on certain plays would never be heard of 1 year ago. The flexibility is now there to be a little goofy with our lineup.
9. Ron Stone- The Niners got what many are calling a steal with the signing of Offensive Lineman Ron Stone. Stone comes from the New York Giants via free agency and is penciled in as the starter.....make that heir apparent...for the old man Ray Brown. Stone will be playing Right Tackle, with Dave Fiore taking over the hole left by Ray Brown. Stone is a 2 Time Pro Bowler who adds a serious upgrade to a team that was looking very thin along the line during the offseason. Things were so bad, many mock drafts had the Niners taking Levi Jones in the first round! Stone made this situation die quickly and will be a welcome addition for Mr. Beasley, Mr. Hearst, and Mr. Garcia.
8. Cut loose and let free- The Niners were finally able to shed a couple of players off the roster that were becoming loose wheels on this momentum bus. Many will agree that the salary cap space and roster spot that Greg Clark was consuming were not warranted. A great blocking Tight End, the man was never capable of playing a full season, catching more surgeries and massages than receptions. With the emergence of Eric Johnson, and capable backups in Justin Swift and Ben Steele, the move was a no brainer. Some may disagree that Lance Schulters was a "loose wheel", with the man playing with a dislocated shoulder for half the season. But in today's sports world, it's hard to not think that he was doing so to up his value. He had spoken openly about desires to move East, and his hold out last season can not be ignored. The team has developed a "togetherness" persona, and Lance was not fitting well with that.
7. Offensive line re-signs- The resigning of Jeremy Newberry and Matt Willig were much needed, and accomplished. Like mentioned above, the Niners looked dangerously thin at the Offensive Line position, and the re-signing of 2 guys who played such a huge role in the resurgance of Garrison Hearst and the arrival of Kevan Barlow. Combined with Ron Stone, the Niners went from a Bread and Butter offensive line to a 3 course meal line.
6. From hell to heaven- The Niners have officially recovered from what was coined "salary cap hell". The team went from having to shave up to 15 million dollars in pay roll just 3 years ago.......to a team that stands 5.3 million UNDER the cap as of May 1st, 2002. The team lost so many Pro Bowl players, starters, veterans, and key contributors over the past 3 years, and now are a team capable of bringing back players whose contracts are up.
5. Punch 1 re-signs- Garrison Hearst is back for 6 more years. Bias speaking, this will ensure the Niners solid running game will be around for years to come. Personal agenda has Hearst playing out the contract. The next effect this has is the tutoring that Barlow can get from Hearst. This may slow up Barlow's development for a few years, we may even lose him due to frustration from not starting. Things may be different 5 years from now, but for now, Hearst brings veteranship and leadership that Barlow can't buy, trade, or steal. Something a young team needs right now.
4. Safety valves are secured- The signing of Tony Parrish became increasingly important when talks with Lance Schulter's and his agent crossed into "ridiculous" range. Schulters was regarded as probably the top safety available in free agency, but many assumed Parrish would resign with Chicago. The 49ers got the better end of this deal. We lose nothing with the switching of safeties except for a few years of experience in the defense and the veteran leadership. Yes, these are huge. But we have 10 other men capable of stepping up and being leaders, and there's nothing to say Parrish can't step in and be a leader. The 'experience' will come. What we don't have is a safety playing for the love of money alone. Zach Bronson also re-signed for 4 years, solidifying a defensive backfield that makes most receivers shiver. We also no longer have Schulters in the press room, challenging the best team in the league, the Rams, to go over the middle and tear us apart.
3. Punch 2 re-signs- Some may be surprised, if they know me, that I have the re-signing of Fred Beasley better than the signing of Hearst. Check the Green Bay Packers playoff game against the Niners if you need an answer why. Our running game could be this this and this if we used Hearst, if we used Barlow, if we used Lewis. But it wouldn't be squat without Beasley. The man can simply block. He finds the holes and lays linebackers, sometimes even lineman, on their asses like nobody's business. The running game dies, ceases to exist, without Beasley blocking. The emergence of Hearst, Johnson, and Barlow may be factors in Beasley's stats, but what the man best you can't find in the stat book. You can find it by the number of times guys on defense end up on their butts or fail to get a finger on our running backs.
2. Owens vs. Mooch vs. Garcia- Yes, America got to see the ugliest coach/player-groom/bride picture in Sports Illustrated with Mike Ditka and Ricky Williams. This past season, America got to hear San Francisco's 2 love birds, Mooch and Owens feud over something both were trying to work toward in their own way.....wins. Things got verbal, and personal, tempers flew, bashing was done, and this offseason looked headed toward divorce. Owens wanted in Houston and Mooch thought Owens was "devoid of any deep thought". The 2 boys sucked up egos and talked things out in April. The result? Both feel that the past is the past, bi-gones are bi-gones, and the coach who once favored Dick Jauron was referred to as "Mooch" once again. Shortly there after, Jeff Garcia stepped up, saying he wanted to talk to Owens now. To "get to know his #1 receiver better". Garcia also won the beep contest in mini camp, almost proclaiming it his duty to win. This had leadership written all over it, making this offense much more stable.
1. The draft- Yes, the draft. Where I think the Niners made themselves a threat to get deep into the playofs. The Mike Rumph drafting had "bring on the Rams" written all over it. They got the guy that they feel can come in and shut down the 3rd, even 2nd receiver. In the 2 losses to the Rams last year, only 1 receiver really seemed to light up the Niners. 2 receivers were usually contained, but were weak against their 3rd. That should be resolved. The rest of the draft?? Depth, depth, depth. The Niners made themselves a team, for the first time in a real long time, that can withstand an injury or 2 to their defense. Knock on wood and pray heavens no, but it's a long, rough season. But the Niners have the depth to withstand the bumps and bruises. THe drop off from 1st string to 2nd string is nowhere near as far as last year. Not so much the talent, but the convenience of having such depth will be what propells this team. Keeping fresh, talented bodies on the field will make the 49ers a fresher, faster team when it counts in the 4th quarter.
So there you have it. Top 10 highlights of the off-season. Like I said before, don't look at this as a point of argument, but a reference of the great things our team has done to move closer to a championship season. While some teams are drafting for the future or making retarded moves (Levi Jones the 10th pick???), the Niners are showing committment to excellence and being #1.....both on and off the field.
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