49ers Talk: Is San Francisco a more improved team compared to last season?
On "49ers Talk," co-hosts Matt Maiocco and Jennifer Lee Chan discuss if San Francisco is a more improved team compared to last season.
49ers Talk: Is San Francisco a more improved team compared to last season? originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Video Transcript
On paper, I, I think this is a better team.
You know, I think it's, it's more, it looks more explosive.
Mm-hmm.
I, I was again struck by Kalen Ballage, the way he runs, the way he looks.
he made a nice catch out of the backfield on a ball.
I, I think this ha- I think this team, in my mind, is better than it was last year, which I, I, I don't know if that's saying a whole lot.
Well, last year also was that whole rookie influx, right?
They had 11 picks- Yeah, but all the injuries and all that, right and the injuries, right.
But I mean, even at the beginning of the season, if you're going from point A last year to, to looking at point A this year, that w- there was that whole kind of washing of a lot of the veterans who left.
It was a lot of rookies coming in.
11 rookies who stayed on the roster.
So you've got those guys who are all second-year players now.
Few less rookies this year, but it, you know, and then the free agents that they added.
Really, I think especially in the wide receiver room.
Yeah, I think so, too.
So I think, I think the 49ers are improved, and I think the Rams are quite clearly improved.
Now it's just a matter of making through, making it through that gauntlet, that, that grind of a season so that they're playing their best football when the games matter most.
And a grind of a season with a ton of travel.
I, I would think, you know, the depth is probably better throughout, the team.
I, and I think that goes for the offensive line with some, some quality veteran backup types that they've added.
you know, bringing Dre Greenlaw back, that certainly helps.
Course, they traded away Dee Winters.
It looks like there's, you know, more competition, maybe deeper in the defensive backfield.
So yeah, I think, you know, by and large they've, they've improved their team, and Osa Odighizuwa coming in- Mm-hmm that, that helps.
Now, they lost some guys like Jordan Elliott and Clelin Davis- Mm-hmm and, Clelin Ferrell is still out there.
So they've lost some guys on the defensive line, but, Odighizuwa, that certainly helps.
So, you know, I, I, I don't think they added certainly not the splash of the LA Rams- Mm-hmm but they're improved.
But then when the Rams, you know, are adding those guys and then just come in with the haymaker of Myles Garrett, it, it just makes everybody kind of sit up and take notice.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, no, I think outside of defensive line, I know they have improved.
Osa Odighizuwa is going to make a nice difference in the interior of the defensive line, but they also have to get those guys back.
It's Mykel Williams coming back.
It's Nick Bosa coming back.
I saw Alfred Collins working on the side field, you know, coming back from shoulder surgery.
It's Keon White.
Those four guys were not on the field at all during OTAs, and that, that doesn't mean that they won't be ready for training camp, but it is getting guys who were injured last year back into the fold and getting them ready for week one.
So as long as they're healthy, yes, they are improved.
