Philosophy Clash
September 5th, 2019
“Back off, Glazer. Lynch and Shanahan have it all backwards.”
One reason Sunday’s 49ers matchup is so interesting is because of the different team-building philosophies of Jason Licht/Bucco Bruce Arians versus those of 49ers general manager John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan.
The Niners have loaded up on running backs and defensive linemen, and they rushed to sign their young quarterback to a fat contract (which isn’t so fat any longer).
Licht and Arians? They’re not big on the running back position and don’t ask Joe to figure out what’s happened at defensive end with the Buccaneers in recent years. Also, these guys obviously are in no rush to pay Jameis Winston.
Joe sure hopes Carl Nassib is the stud the Bucs have considered him to be for many months, and Joe certainly hopes the Ndamukong Suh/Gerald McCoy swap is a winner.
Lynch did an extensive interview with his in-house media team this week, and Joe found it interesting how Lynch explained that their new free agent running back Tevin Coleman fell to San Francisco in free agency. “Christmas in March” is how one of their assistant coaches called the signing. Coleman recorded 28 touchdowns withe Falcons over the past three seasons.
Coleman, 26, got a two-year contract for $8.5 million. He joined a three-headed monster backfield in San Francisco with Jerick McKinnon and Matt Breida. McKinnon went down injured last month, but that was no problem for the 49ers. They bought depth and Coleman is likely to get a load of work against the Bucs on Sunday. The Bucs have little running back depth.
This game sure will be an intriguing clash of personnel approaches on display.
Now Joe is hardly saying Lynch and Shanahan are studs when it comes to personnel. They haven’t been. Licht and Arians haven’t been, either. But Sunday likely will reveal a lot about who is going in the right direction.
September 5th, 2019 at 3:15 pm
It is stupid to pay running backs a lot of money. How good your running back is rarely effects how good your football team is. Look at the Giants with their generational offensive rookie of the year they had 5 wins. many in the stats community not just the Tribe thinks it is foolish to pay running backs and I agree that money is much better spent on offensive linemen. which if you look at the 49ers line is suspect.
September 5th, 2019 at 3:20 pm
Lynch will build a winner in San Fran
September 5th, 2019 at 3:32 pm
Winning football in the long run will always be about running the ball and stopping the run…. see it every post season
September 5th, 2019 at 3:33 pm
By in large, this team is as haphazardly built as they come. It’s a patchwork of competing and outdated coaching philosophies (looking at you Lovie and Dirk) and player-types. Even now, we’re trying to fit legacy guys into roles that suit this new staff’s requirements. Sure, that’s the business of the NFL, at least to an extent, but It has been darn near 20 years since we effectively drafted and developed players to the point that it made a difference on the field. I suppose some of that is due to the schizophrenic nature of blowing through HC’s, but a visionary GM should be able to serve the greater good of his team vs always seemingly reacting to the immediate fancies of whoever is coaching this team. There’s a balance we’ve been missing. We’re also missing $$$, and don’t discount just how much that hurts. Here’s the fun part- we’re on the cusp of a season where we’ll see just how much of our woes are roster vs Xs and Os. The good, bad and ugly are about to be revealed!
September 5th, 2019 at 3:36 pm
If you like the Dynamic Duo of Dumpster Diving, then you’ll love the Bucs.
September 5th, 2019 at 3:39 pm
Tevin Coleman meet Devin White.
September 5th, 2019 at 3:44 pm
Breida is a very underrated back. IMO he’s the better of the 2.
In terms of front 7 – despite “loading up on defensive lineman” – I don’t see a big difference in each team and might give us the edge… If we had JPP it wouldn’t be close.
Bucs marquee front 7 players:
Suh
Vea
Lavonte
White
Nassib
49ers marquee front 7 players:
Ford
Bosa
Buckner
Kwon
Sheldon Day / Airk Armstead / Solomon Thomas / Fred Warner / Dre Gleelaw are the other 49ers in the front 7 mix
Thomas has basically been a bust. Day has been meh / whatever type player. Armstead had an OK year but generally underperformed thus far in his career. Gleeway = random late round flier.
Meanwhile other Bucs in mix of front 7 =
Shaq Barret / Will Gholston / Beau Allen / Buccanon / Anthony Nelson
9ers easily have the edge on edge rusher with Ford + Bosa vs Nassib/Barret
Bucs have edge at DT with Suh + Vea vs Bucker + that rando guy
Bucs have edge at LB with White/David/Buccanon vs Kwon/Warner/Greenlaw
Secondary a “?” for both teams.
GO BUCS!
September 5th, 2019 at 3:46 pm
We got Dare Ogunbowale. I think he could be the real deal if they give him some carries.
September 5th, 2019 at 3:55 pm
49ers did not impress or show a lot in preseason. We should not…have a problem with them. But hey guys, until we prove different, We are the Bucs and anything could happen. I do have us winning this 1st game. Don’t disappoint me TB.
September 5th, 2019 at 3:57 pm
Also while being a Bucs fan is pretty traumatic, at least we aren’t the Raiders right now lol. This ANtonio Brown stuff is insane
September 5th, 2019 at 4:01 pm
It’s funny because 49ers fans are saying the same things. I heard one YouTuber say the Bucs have no right winning this game bwahahahaha.
Another 49er youtuber was torn on who had the better receiving core. He gave the “slight edge” to the Bucs, haha, slight edge.
The 49ers are formidable but if we have playoff aspirations, this is a game we should win.
Go Bucs!!
September 5th, 2019 at 4:01 pm
Yes Joe Yes.
Starring Carl the accountant Nassib, TJ don’t call me hulk Logan and Dare I say Ogunbowale
September 5th, 2019 at 4:03 pm
I think Brown hasn’t been the same since he took that crushing helmet shot from Burfect. He has gone off the deep end and something isn’t right with him upstairs.
September 5th, 2019 at 4:10 pm
Well if I were looking at a winning philosophy I’d have to take a quick look at the Patriots. Yep they don’t really care who their RB is ever and without looking I’d dare to say they don’t pay them either. The modern day NFL is built for throwing the football hence all the time spent protecting the QB and the WR as well. Hell they are letting teams call their own pass interference penalties.
September 5th, 2019 at 4:15 pm
I’m not taking the 49ers lightly. I look for hard fought games from both “young” teams.
I am counting on Arians and staff to have our guys prepared to play some football! They won’t be overlooking anyone or looking ahead.
________________
Go Bucs!!!
September 5th, 2019 at 4:17 pm
Bucjim
They don’t even pay their QB who has 6 rings 🤣🤣🤣😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
But they are so far from soft. Dotson wouldn’t be allowed in the state and McIceCream would have been shipped back to Oklahoma his 4th year. Bc in Oklahoma all there is are steers and ….. and McIceCream ain’t no steer.
September 5th, 2019 at 4:29 pm
DB55
I’m in total agreement with your post
Point being they have never needed a big name at RB
September 5th, 2019 at 4:35 pm
Frank … Excellent post, especially “the schizophrenic nature of blowing through HC’s” (very descriptive & appropriate). And you’re spot on … the GM should be the stable, guiding hand when it comes to team identity & vision. Sadly that hasn’t been the case for many moons now (actually since Rich McKay left for points north IMO).
I long for the days when the Bucs were considered a defensive model for the league. With Licht as our GM I seriously doubt we’ll ever gravitate back towards a defensive identity though. Hopefully BA & TB can save him from hiself.
Funny thing is though (to me at least) that Bruce Arians, an offensive-minded coach, seems to appreciate the value of a strong DEFENSE more than any coach we’ve had in a long time. Even in Arizona he recognized the need to have a strong defense to complement his offenses. He and Todd Bowles seem to really appreciate the value of playing COMPLEMENTARY FOOTBALL. Hopefully it all comes together in that regard for us this year.
September 5th, 2019 at 4:44 pm
Jason Licht has a philosophy?
September 5th, 2019 at 4:46 pm
“This picture above clearly shows what the true problem is with this franchise and why we are in this predicament
Glazer wants to play “President of operations”
He just doesnt want to sitback collect a 200 mill check like the other handsoff owners
He wants to be like Jerrah of Dallas
He wants to get his hands dirty and prove he had a part in the hopeful success
The reason Gump received a 5 year GM extension is because Glazer doesnt want a Pres of opes with total control here and be left out
He owns the ball and he wants to play with it too”
Kobe Faker
September 5th, 2019 at 4:51 pm
Frank … And speaking of ‘visionary GMs’ I just read a fascinating piece on ‘The Ringer’ about Bill Belicheck titled “Why the Lessons From the Patriots’ Dynasty Continue to Go Unlearned’. You sound like a fan who’d enjoy reading that. It’s at … https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2019/9/5/20850798/patriots-bill-belichick-brady-super-bowl-lessons
September 5th, 2019 at 4:56 pm
Every one of NE’s championship teams have had a great Rn if not two but wtfdik
September 5th, 2019 at 5:01 pm
*rb
September 5th, 2019 at 5:02 pm
We will absolutely slaughter them.
Goropollo will not make it to the end of the game.
Six forced turn-overs by the Bucs.
You heard it here first.
September 5th, 2019 at 5:02 pm
You’re making hay over a 3rd rounder Tevin Coleman? Maybe Joe should move to San Fran so he can slobber and relish over a 3rd rounder. smh
September 5th, 2019 at 5:07 pm
Pay Winston? Why would you pay him more until you know that he will be your long term franchise QB?
September 5th, 2019 at 5:19 pm
NFL.com has JW ranked 25th out of 32
Parr: While the hiring of Bruce Arians led to an offseason of hopeful headlines for Winston and the Bucs’ offense, there’s plenty of reason to believe this match wasn’t made in heaven. One stat that sticks out like a W no one wants to eat: Since Winston entered the league as the first overall pick in 2015, no QB has more giveaways (76). That’s the opposite of tasty. If Arians can’t help him make better decisions, this might be his high point on the QB Index in 2019.
____________________________________________
Boy, that’s encouraging
September 5th, 2019 at 5:23 pm
Whoever said NE has never had great Rbs during their six championships either isn’t paying attention or just doesn’t know football. They were one of the first teams to revolutionize the pass-catching RBs and have had great RBS from Corey Dillon to James White to Sony Michel who had a historic playoff run last year. So many other very good backs in between – almost all better than anyone the Bucs have rostered.
Even Blount had an 18TD season with the Pats during Super Bowl victory #5 season.
September 5th, 2019 at 5:37 pm
@Kobe
Glazer boys by far been the biggest problem with the team.
They’re the ones who pulled levers on Gump and DOminik and signed off on a bunch of horrible coaching hires while letting the league screw us on schedule and playing london games. They’ve sucked plain and simple.
GO BUCS!
September 5th, 2019 at 5:38 pm
49ers have edge on DE/edge rusher.
Bucs have edge on DT
Bucs have edge on ILB
So in general we still have a better front 7 IMO, and pressure comes from DT/DE and LBs in our scheme.
Secondary is a “?” for both teams.
49er run game > Bucs
Bucs pass game > 49ers
GO BUCS!
September 5th, 2019 at 5:54 pm
I see four running backs in our depth chart. All healthy and ready to go. You’ve already written about Peyton Barbar’s yards-per-carry average being better than the last two seasons of the Muscle Hamster here, Joe, so how about laying off the running backs until we get a few games under our belts please? It’s more about the offensive line than it is the running backs and you know it. But just because the 49ers pick up some Atlanta cast off running back we’ve got another helping of your bias against our backs — yet again, as if you know better than the coaches. Always it’s like this with you. That horse is dead. All the horses are dead Joe! How about we give these backs and this line and this team at least two — yes two!!! — games before you soil yourself and have to round up the dead horses again?
September 5th, 2019 at 5:54 pm
“History repeats itself
BA knows nothing about pass protection…again
Our putrid offensive line gets JW killed
cant run with the Oline
whats good with receivers when you don’t have time to throw it to them
Shanahan and Brieda is going to make fools out of Bowles
34-17 Niners”
Kobe Faker
September 5th, 2019 at 6:01 pm
Just read the QB rankings on NFL. com; JayMiss #25. Worst ranking in NFC South by a mile. At least he ranks ahead of Mariota, who is #27.
Go Bucs.
September 5th, 2019 at 6:01 pm
27 – 20 Bucs
September 5th, 2019 at 6:11 pm
we lack depth at RB? we have a bruiser in PB, a slasher in ROJO, a do it all in Dare, and a developmental kid with raw skills in Anderson -plus Logan, a 4.3 speed based pass catching specialist that is also a KR1
You might not like them yet Joe’s, but you will soon enough
September 5th, 2019 at 6:17 pm
“Cam is done
Cam isnt going to stop running and his shoulder is 1 hit from surgery again
Dont see carolina paying 150 mil /5 years for Cam next year
Panthers will be looking for new QB starter next year”
Kobe Faker
September 5th, 2019 at 6:35 pm
DB55,
My bad on the Patriots you were right. All I could think of as far as scoring production was Corey Dillon and Blount had like 18tds or something crazy like that. Besides those guys I could only think of Burkhead, Vereen, Ridley, etc. Come to find out I forgot about Kevin Faulk, Antione Smith and a few others even White did really well. Good call!
September 5th, 2019 at 7:19 pm
That is why as long as Jason Gump is the GM we will suck!! The Glazers set us back at least 10 years by giving this arse clown another 5. For every year this fat joke of GM is with the Bucs it takes 2 to repair his damage. I just hope to se winning football again before I die… I’m not counting on it though.
September 5th, 2019 at 7:38 pm
49ERS – 38
BUCS – 9
September 5th, 2019 at 7:50 pm
That’s the spirit bandit
September 5th, 2019 at 7:50 pm
Neither of these teams is going anywhere with these g.m.’s.
September 5th, 2019 at 7:56 pm
Bucjim
Don’t be fooled with this “passing league” talk. It only works in fantasy football. Real football games are won in the trenches with a strong defense and a strong running game. It’s always been like that and always will be. Look at our SB win, who carried the team? Keshawn and Johnson? Nope! Alstott and the defense. But again wtfdik
September 5th, 2019 at 8:02 pm
31- 9 49ers…. 9ers run only 4th quarter just to keep the clock running… Bucs only get field goals…
September 5th, 2019 at 8:15 pm
Bucs win 20-17.
September 5th, 2019 at 8:39 pm
ony LA Says:
September 5th, 2019 at 5:23 pm
Whoever said NE has never had great Rbs during their six championships either isn’t paying attention or just doesn’t know football. They were one of the first teams to revolutionize the pass-catching RBs and have had great RBS from Corey Dillon to James White to Sony Michel who had a historic playoff run last year. So many other very good backs in between – almost all better than anyone the Bucs have rostered.
Even Blount had an 18TD season with the Pats during Super Bowl victory #5 season
____________
Sorry, dude. You’re confusing production with greatness. What have ANY of these RBs ever done immediately before or after their spot on NE? Not much. Average RBs that are good in one facet of the game and that’s where they produce. A pass receiving RB, a short yardage guy, a a decent multi dimensional guy. The Pats haven’t had a GOOD RB since Robert Edwards. This is WHY they drafted guys high. Because they do want better RBs… not just good production.
September 6th, 2019 at 12:35 am
Ok, hold on…
The 49ers drafted non-rushing defensive ends. Armstread is mediocre, Thomas should be playing inside and can’t rush from end, Buckner is more of a defensive tackle, and we’ll see where Bosa is other than a walking injury. The ironic thing is if the Bucs were as bad as the Niners the Bucs would’ve taken Bosa second too.
Now, Licht can’t evaluate a running back to save his life, this is true. But Tevin Coleman had 1520 yards his first 3 years combined, and 392 his first year. Let’s not go burying RoJo compared to Coleman just yet. And Breida and Barber were both free agent finds. And hey, I’d argue Dare’s gonna do a little better than McKinnon this year.
Stop bagging on them for having Nassib when picking him up was brilliant. And they drafted Noah, and he was our Armstead. And I know Dominick picked Gholston, but he’s been as good as Thomas, and we didn’t draft him 3rd overall.
September 6th, 2019 at 6:38 am
@joe
You called for Dee Ford.
You were right.