The San Francisco 49ers are currently the number two ranked team in the NFL. This is modestly up from the number 26 spot where the team was located at the beginning of the season. There’s a certain obligatory demand they be ranked number two, since they in fact have the second best record in the entire league.
But I don’t get the sense that Those Who Would Rank firmly believe the 49ers actually are the second best team and are merely waiting for one of the more marquee franchises, like the NY Giants or Baltimore Ravens, to expose the team as pretenders. Merril Hoge even went so far as to roll his eyes heavenward right there on camera when it was suggested by his fellow talking head that the Niners might get the number two seed in the NFC playoffs. Hoge is a former NFL player who had to retire due to brain injury incurred from multiple concussions. You can do the math, but I will merely point out that he then made a nice career choice by signing a contract to babble on TV for a living.
Of course, Favorable Rankings are posted prominently on the wall of Frederick P. Soft’s living room, and we are not allowed to visit his home and bask on the sofa. Besides, unless the team beats Green Bay in the playoffs, Number Two isn’t going to be anything to brag about unless you are a devotee of toilet humor. I only bring it up to point out that despite the team’s favorable polls, NOBODY BELIEVES IN THEM!
Most of the disbelief no doubt stems from My God Alex Smith is the Niners Quarterback! Smith is currently the ninth ranked QB in the league and nobody believes in that ranking, either. Frank Gore is the fifth ranked RB and that gets thumbs up all around, but that’s about the only ranking that is digestible nationwide regarding the 49ers.
Meanwhile, somewhere in Minnesota, in a cold water flat designed for penitential living, an old ex-linebacker is scratching the unused knob at the top of his torso and muttering, “That’s MY team. That’s the team of my vision!”
This 49er team is indeed Physical with an F. But it is also Mental with an Ummm! It is this latter aspect that eluded the aforementioned linebacker as he exits his quarters through the hole in his front door that perfectly defines his shape. Keys? Who needs keys?!
It’s fun to be a 49er fan again, no doubt about it. I try to remember that unless the team wins the Super Bowl this year, the 2011 story is not going to have a happy ending, no matter where and when that ending occurs. But I’m not dwelling on it. There’s at least ten more weeks, maybe more, of fun ahead of us. That is a whole lot better than nine more weeks of meaningless games as a bottom feeder. Even Merril Hoge would believe in that.
Skees- I find the disrespect good. While they believe we are some kind of aioli, maybe we just might have some meat and potatoes to go with it!
I know I believe. I have to believe, for I know how the other side feels too well. If the bubble bursts, at least it feels good for now.
Skees, huh. It’s come to this. I’m being truncated.
Sorry, forgot the “b”. I did not notice. Just call me erger!
Hey Skees and Erger. I also like the position of being underestimated at this stage of the game. The Niners are a pretty good team and barring injury should get better weekly. I am holding back a lot of my enthusiasm until we beat the Steelers in their house. That would make this season a little too much like “81” and I don’t think I could keep quiet after that.
Hey Inder, you’ll have to settle for us whipping Ittsburgh at the Tick. It’s a ome ame.
On SF Gate I’ve noticed the hater trolls have shifted. They are conceding the Niners are in the playoffs and are now talking wait ntil we get there, so and so will tear us apart.
What true Niner fans always trying to set the team up to fail.
I’m happy to have a ticket to the dance. Can’t dance without that ticket.
Nobody can predict what’s going to happen but we are way ahead of where even the most optimistic thought we might be.
Maybe there’s really just 2 hater trolls posting with 10 different screen names but the tone has changed.
Lol. No Shut. I guess I should pay more attn:
Skeebs, that’s what happens when you live so far from the Bay Area, I still can’t believe that I thought we played our Monday game in Pittsburg. They say after the hair, eyes, and teeth, the mind will surely follow.
hey INDER
” I am holding back a lot of my enthusiasm UNTIL we beat the Steelers in their house. That would make this season like “81″ and I don’t think I could keep quiet after that.”
good to see you holding back your enthusiasm !
lol
Rob the Steelers are in OUR HOUSE.
Just like the NYG.
For me, The NYG are the key to our arrival.
Our D-Line vs theirs. We survive and make a statement, we become VIABLE in the Media Circles.
Skeebs…….Screw Merril. WTF does he know?
NJ, at least Hoge provided a great pic for the dart board in the Niners locker room!
yup NJ9ER
i have my eye on the giants game too ! i’ve been hoping for a few weeks that we’d be 7-1 going into that game !
my boss (the bonsai man) is from NY and likes both the jets and giants ! we’ll be watching that one together !
Skeebs that’s what I’m loving about Harbaugh, he has these guys playing with a CHIP.
IMO, Eli isn’t a top shelf competitor like his Bro. He’s benefited from a Top Shelf D. I’m hoping Alex can return the favor this time around.
Wow! Very nice. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/02/sports/football/with-harbaugh-in-his-corner-alex-smith-emerges-as-49ers-leader.html?_r=1&ref=football
Rob, the NFC East is a bottleneck right now. I think Philly will catch fire and grab the Division in the end and, we’ve already beaten them.
We need the Win against NYG just in case. Harbaugh will feature the passing game more and more as we get closer to the December run.
For now, running and Defense is keeping us ahead.
Berger it’s time for Crabs and Braylon to get onboard with Alex.
The month of November is unofficially Passing Sync 101
NJ- Steve Young used to say he could read what Rice what was doing while running routes and know where he was going next. I think if you give Crabs and Braylon a chance you’ll see constant incremental improvements with the QB communication.
What was telling to me was Smith’s trust throwing slants to Edwards early and often in the Cleve game. Once he’s back fully healthy, Edwards will be the deep threat.
.
Crabs is still a furking headcase as far as I’m concerned. He barely acknowledges the existence of his QB. Scotty’s final folly. I hope he proves me wrong, but his route running isn’t impressive, and he has blown 2 very catchable deep balls, among too many other drops.
If Crabs desires the spotlight he’s gotta deliver in crunch time.
I love his ability to ‘snatch catch’, which should allow him to murder the Slant Routes. He and Alex need to have that chemistry and timing to allow him to snatch and run. Too many high deliveries defeat the purpose of the Route.
Berger I agree, that’s exactly what I’m hoping to see from Alex. Come December, this Offense has to be firing on all cylinders with all the weapons in the Pass Routes.
Be nice to have our Division in the bag, with time left to polish up the timing.
With all the losing since 2003, this 6-1 start feels metempirical.
Alex Smith leads the league in 4th quarter comeback victories this year with three – all on the road.
Two mock drafts, Walter and Mockng the Draft, have us picking 28th and taking Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers. NJ, you know about Rutgers, tell us about this kid.
I just watched some youtube video of Sanu. He looks great. Catches the ball in his body too much but looks great at everything else. Will go up and get the ball and he is fearless over the middle. Long strides with great acceleration. Excellent quickness, especially for a long strider. Is a really good runner with the ball in his hands. Looks like a good pick at 28. I’ll be watching out for a Rutgers game on Saturdays.
Having said the above, I still wouldn’t mind a DE, NT or CB with the pick.
The mocks seem to be assuming the 9ers will lose their divisional game as the second seed. Fie uponst them!
Yeah, find me the mock draft that has the Niners picking 32nd . . .
At the beginning of the year we were picked by all in the top 10, IIRC. IMO, 28th is good to see.
HAPPY NINER just finished second as the even-money fav in the 5th at Suffolk.
“Who’s got it better than us?!” PRICELESS MEMORIES, the winner at 2/1.
I wasn’t able to get in on the truncated names the other day. That was my one attempt. I’m going back to being Dennis.
Bill Cosby has a son named “Ennis.” If my father would have named me that, I woulda punched him in the goddamn throat. Again.
Sorry, that was supposed to read “had” a son named Ennis. He was murdered back in 1997. Somebody must have not liked his stupid name.
Still see Jared Crick as eventual successor to Justin Smith and he should drop because of his injury.
Also like Dre Kirkpatrick as a big cover CB who should be there
from 15 to 30.
As for QB I think that Josh Johnson will sign as a UFA next year and that has always been the plan.
McDaniels singlehandedly destroyed the Denver Broncos by dismantling the team mostly based on his ego.
Broncos had Jay Cutler, Peyton Hillis, Brandon Marshall, Tony Sheffler and Daniel Graham.
He got rid of all these guys
and has Tim Tebow and Demaryius
Thomas and Knowshon Moreno all busts.
How did this happen?
Belichick’s coaching tree hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire.
Berger Sanu is much the same player Kenny Britt was at Rutgers. Lanky kid with a lot of fight in him.
(That Jersey Attitude you’ve heard me speak about LOL)
I like him but, I’m still looking for more Defensive pieces early.
I like Courtney Upshaw LB ‘Bama and would also be happy with Dre K or a FS as well.
Like Crick also Bullit, and you know me, a busy Fat Man in the Middle is always on my list.
Aldon Smith won defensive rookie of the month…..not to shabby
We have the best LB Corps in the NFL, right now. And it’s still a couple of years away from peaking.
NJ- Sanu = Britt? Please do not draft said stupid NJ man. Britt is cancer. Period, end of story!
New post is up.