| They
sure have been busy in the "city by the bay" this offseason. While it still
seems like just yesterday they were buried so deep in salary-cap hell it looked like
they’d never escape, the Niners have been one of the NFL’s most aggressive
movers and shakers this offseason.
Hot on the heels of a surprisingly successful campaign in which they nipped at the
Rams’ heels all season in the fast-paced NFC West, the Niners have hardly been
content resting on their laurels.
At strong safety, they’ve replaced Lance Schulters, who proved to be just a tad
too rich for their blood, with ex-Bear Tony Parrish, a rock-solid performer who packs more
of a wallop with his tackles than his mouth. That wasn’t always the case with the
feisty Schulters, who irritated the 49ers’ organization on more than one occasion
with his shoot-from-the-hip trash-talking.
At left guard, where Ray Brown was deemed too big a financial burden at his advanced
age, in steps the versatile Dave Fiore, who moves over from right guard, which will now be
occupied by ex-Giant Ron Stone, who like Brown is a savvy vet with Pro Bowl credentials
but a lot less mileage.
Even as this is being written, the Niners are still busy pondering further moves,
strongly considering the acquisition of ex-Bears OT Blake Brockermeyer, who could add some
welcome beef up front, provided his brittle body parts remain intact.
None of these moves, though, will be worth a hill of beans if the Niners continue to
come up short against the Rams.
Have they narrowed the gap this offseason? It says here they have — but perhaps
still not enough.
While the Niners have spared no expense in adding to their arsenal, it appears the Rams
have been hit with more notable subtractions than additions, the most recent being RB
Robert Holcombe, whose special abilities on special teams will be sorely missed now that
he’s hightailed it to Tennessee along with Schulters.
The Rams have also lost mercurial No. 3 WR Az-Zahir Hakim and MLB London Fletcher among
others, and while ex-Colt Terrence Wilkins and ex-Buccaneer Jamie Duncan, respectively,
seem to be serviceable enough replacements, it remains to be seen whether they will be
equally effective.
In addition, the Rams’ 2002 draft crop raised a lot of eyebrows, particularly the
selections of ex-college QBs Eric Crouch and Steve Bellisari, both of whom will be tried
at new positions, and fourth-round pick Travis Scott, an unheralded guard out of Arizona
State who instantly was tagged with the nickname "Travesty" Scott by more than a
few writers on the Rams’ beat.
The Rams also remain scarily thin at offensive tackle and could be in a heap of trouble
if Pro Bowl OLT Orlando Pace suffers a serious injury.
After all is said and done, though, what it really boils down to in any matchup between
the Rams and 49ers is which team has the most weapons at its disposal.
Which brings us to this column’s conclusion.
In order for the Niners to catch up to, and possibly overtake, the Rams in the NFC West
in 2002, a few other 49ers receivers besides Terrell Owens must step up to the plate on a
consistent basis.
Translation: If J.J. Stokes and Tai Streets can avoid disappearing for huge stretches
and make a steady impact without ruffling Owens’ fragile feathers too much, maybe the
Niners could end up finer than the Rams.
Maybe. |
