NFL
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Veteran QB Alex Smith announces retirement
Veteran quarterback Alex Smith, who made a remarkable comeback from an injury that nearly cost him his right leg, announced Monday on Instagram that he is retiring from football.
Alex Smith retires. After a tough start starting for some really bad 49ers teams he developed into a solid starting QB under Jim Harbaugh before being supplanted by Colin Kaepernick. Came back from that horrific leg injury, probably the best move after Washington passed him over
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@canefan You can make arguments for all 3. All the noise is that it's Jones but the 49ers are notoriously tight-lipped so it's all speculation. I'd much rather they take the higher upside of Fields or Lance. The fanbase is going to revolt if it's Jones.
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@cyclops i feel really sorry for a lot of these top QB prospects. They come out of College, get drafted by dogshit teams who are generally dogshit for a reason. They have enormous and immediate pressure to turn the entire place around by themselves. And they are supposed to do this with a paper thin o-line, receivers who can't get separation, and a coaching staff who don't have a lot of a clue.
Then, when for mysterious reason they don't start winning games, they get traded with the word "bust" next to their names, as you say with a bunch of bad habits that come from getting your ass beat week after week.
The same shit side drafts the next unicorn, and the cycle starts again.
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@mariner4life That's basically Alex Smith's first 6 years in the league to a tee.
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@mariner4life said in NFL Season 2020/21:
@cyclops i feel really sorry for a lot of these top QB prospects. They come out of College, get drafted by dogshit teams who are generally dogshit for a reason. They have enormous and immediate pressure to turn the entire place around by themselves. And they are supposed to do this with a paper thin o-line, receivers who can't get separation, and a coaching staff who don't have a lot of a clue.
Then, when for mysterious reason they don't start winning games, they get traded with the word "bust" next to their names, as you say with a bunch of bad habits that come from getting your ass beat week after week.
The same shit side drafts the next unicorn, and the cycle starts again.
The 9ers QB selection will not have those concerns. He will have a very good QB centric coach in Shanahan, and the luxury of sitting and learning behind Jimmy G. Jones feels like the least desirable option on the surface. They will take him if Shanahan values his system over the natural athletic ability of the player
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@kiwimurph said in NFL Season 2020/21:
@mariner4life That's basically Alex Smith's first 6 years in the league to a tee.
We will never know how Aaron Rodgers would have gone if the 8ers actually picked him. I think they did him a favour passing on him
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How the Shanahan family legacy is informing the draft's toughest decision
Kyle Shanahan faces the hardest decision in the 2021 draft, one that could define his franchise and his legacy for years. It's a dilemma that goes back generations -- as no one knows better than his dad.
Massive decision coming. It would appear that one way or another the 49ers have a couple of outstanding people informing that choice
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@kiwimurph said in NFL Season 2020/21:
@canefan the word is it's down to Mac Jones and Trey Lance with Mac Jones the heavy favourite.
The fans won't be pleased with Jones. But what do they know? Doesn't look athletic. Only time will tell
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@kiwimurph said in NFL Season 2020/21:
@canefan I'm good with Jones. I reckon he's underrated as hell and a perfect system fit for Shanahan's offense.
He looks like Tom Brady when he was drafted. Whether that means anything
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@kiwimurph said in NFL Season 2020/21:
@canefan I'm good with Jones. I reckon he's underrated as hell and a perfect system fit for Shanahan's offense.
The thing with Mac Jones is that that Alabama offense is stacked. Waddle and Devonta Smith. Najee Harris. A stacked OL (2 guys projected to go in the 2nd and one in the 3rd). There's a bit of chicken and egg about whether it's him or them, but I think it's pretty clearly more them that him and I think he's going to struggle without two WRs who aren't favourites against any cb1, an rb who is at worst the second best in the league and when his ol isn't winning with the consistency that the Tide's does.
Plus Surtain & Barmore on the other side of the ball, also first round prospects. So he would be facing much more short fields, far fewer high pressure 4th quarter drives etc.
None of that says he can't succeed in the NFL, I just think it lengthens his odds. If they've really traded up from 12 for him that's a poor call, because I think they could have got him at 6 for a lower price, and probably stood at 12 and got him. Realistically the price they've paid to trade up makes me pretty confident they're taking Fields or Wilson if we get a brownsesque last minute change.
All than said, I have this weird feeling that the Jags are going to go Fields at one. No evidence or reason, and almost definitely wrong, but just a feeling I can't shake.
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Kyle Shanahan was a big fan of Kirk Cousins. So he isn't necessarily a guy seduced by pure athlete. So him picking Jones over the longer shot physical specimen Lance won't be a surprise. But right now Mahomes is the best QB in the league. Watson is right up there too. It seems like the strong run and gun QB is ascendant right now
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@cyclops said in NFL Season 2020/21:
@kiwimurph said in NFL Season 2020/21:
@canefan the best QB not named Lawrence will go to the Jets at 2 (Zach Wilson).
The good news for the 49ers is there are still QB options at 3. A lot more than at 12.
I'm pretty convinced Taylor will be a bust. The level of competition he's played against in college is so low that it's basically irrelevant, and the only game he played against a half decent team he was exposed. I'd much rather have Fields.
Lance is an exciting prospect but has played so little he's all prospect. The Saleh connection presumably means that the 49ers have an idea of what the jets will be doing. QB is the most obvious and likely choice but there's a chance of a trade down particularly if the Panthers or even the Falcons decide to sell the farm to jump the 49ers.
The jets are at least one more draft and off season away from being genuine contenders so getting a QB now risks a repeat of the Sam Darnold show where a QB gets terrible habits from having no protection and no weapons.
Wow paragraph #1 sounds exactly like the football chat on Fox Sports Radio this morning!
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Lawrence is going 1. The only reason Urban Meyer took the job was cos of Lawrence. Lawrence has already committed to donating to Jacksonville charities.
As for Mac - i'm talking about the tape. Watch his footwork. Watch his movement in the pocket. Watch how he is an anticipatory thrower (i.e. he throws players open rather than needing the player to be open before he throws it). He had less talent around him than Tua had the prior season and yet he outperformed Tua.
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@kiwimurph said in NFL Season 2020/21:
Lawrence is going 1. The only reason Urban Meyer took the job was cos of Lawrence. Lawrence has already committed to donating to Jacksonville charities.
As for Mac - i'm talking about the tape. Watch his footwork. Watch his movement in the pocket. Watch how he is an anticipatory thrower (i.e. he throws players open rather than needing the player to be open before he throws it). He had less talent around him than Tua had the prior season and yet he outperformed Tua.
9ers fans are in the Shanahan's hands. Kyle has proven he can coach, he will back his ability to coach up whoever they pick
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49ers had a press conference this morning - they were roasted with questions about how the fanbase hates Mac Jones.
49ers were very defensive about not caring what fans/outside noise thinks. Either 49ers are picking Mac Jones or this is the biggest smoke screen ever.
Also - expect Jimmy G to be traded this weekend - it sure sounded like he's gone. I'd watch out for Washington to perhaps trade for him - their new GM just came from SF.
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@kiwimurph said in NFL Season 2020/21:
49ers had a press conference this morning - they were roasted with questions about how the fanbase hates Mac Jones.
49ers were very defensive about not caring what fans/outside noise thinks. Either 49ers are picking Mac Jones or this is the biggest smoke screen ever.
Also - expect Jimmy G to be traded this weekend - it sure sounded like he's gone. I'd watch out for Washington to perhaps trade for him - their new GM just came from SF.
Would be safer to pick someone and have him sit behind Jimmy for a year. Will be massive pressure if they pick Jones and he is made to start immediately
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The Broncos traded for Teddy Bridgewater....
yay...
he's basically free (6th round pick and like $3M) but even still. To me this means they are well aware that Lock is not the guy.
