OutsiderFan dateline='[url=tel:1696871346' Wrote: 1696871346[/url]']
lex24 dateline='[url=tel:1696862093' Wrote: 1696862093[/url]']
49ers talent is terrific. But this is not the most talent they have ever had. Look at the ‘84 roster….. Not to mention ‘88-89. But this may be their most talented post-cap roster.
Bold = Pro Bowl that year
Bold* = Hall of Fame
'84
QB Montana*
RB Tyler
RB Craig
WR Clark
WR Solomon
TE Francis
LT Paris
LG Ayers
C Quillan
RG Cross
RT Fahnhorst
DE Board
NT Tuiasosopo
DE Pillers
ROLB Dean*
RILB Reynolds
RILB Ellison
LOLB Turner
CB Lott*
CB Wright
SS Williamson
FS Hicks
That's 9 Pro Bowers
Dean is in HOF, but didn't make Pro Bowl that year, so let's say 10 elite players
I also think Wright was great, so let's say the Niners had 11 Top 100 talents
Maybe I give you Russ Francis, so make it 12
Alright, Roger Craig was probably considered a top talent, so call it 13 Top echelon NFL players in 1984
There were 3 future HOF players on this team.
'89
QB Montana*
QB Craig
FB Rathman
WR Rice*
WR Taylor
TE Jones
LT Wallace
LG McIntyre
C Sapolu
RG Collie
RT Barton
RE Fagan
NT Carter
LE Holt
ROLB Haley*
RILB Walter
LILB Millen
LOLB Turner
CB Griffin
CB McKyer
FS Lott*
SS Fuller/Brooks
That's 7 Pro Bowlers
Haley is in HOF but didn't make Pro Bowl for some reason, so let's say 8.
I'll give you Steve Wallace and Brent Jones and Tom Rathman to make it 11 for sure.
I also really liked Holt, Fagan, and Carter, and Don Griffin, so we can make it 14 super talented guys on the 1989 team.
There were 4 future HOF players on this team
'94
QB Young
RB Watters
FB Floyd
WR Rice
WR Taylor
TE Jones
LT Wallace
LG Sopolu
C Oates
RG Deese
RT Barton
RE Jackson
DT Stubblefield
DT Young*
LE Brown
WLB Woodall
MLB Plummer
SLB Norton
CB Davis
CB Sanders
FS Hanks
SS McDonald
That's 10 Pro Bowlers.
Young is in HOF but didn't make Pro Bowl for some reason, so let's say 11.
Wallace was still pretty good, as was Ken Norton, and Eric Davis, so let's go with 14 super talented guys on the 1989 team.
There were 5 future HOF players on this team.
'23
QB Purdy
RB McCaffrey*
FB Juszcyzk
WR Aiyuk (likely Pro Bowl if not Samuel)
WR Samuel (has been All Pro)
TE Kittle*
LT Williams*
LG Banks
C Brendel
RG Burford
RT McKivitz
RE Bosa*
DT Hargrave
DT Armstead
DE Ferrell (Randy Gregory, maybe soon Danielle Hunter)
WLB Greenlaw
MLB Warner*
SLB Burks
CB Ward
CB Lenoir
FS Gipson Jr.
SS Hufanga
I've indicated 11 lPro Bowl projections, and even made HOF projections that don't include Purdy
I'd argue Ward deserves Pro Bowl consideration, plus Gipson Jr. and Armstead are really good, and maybe one more OL might sneak in there. If the Niners get 11, it will be the most they've ever had, and I could go up to 14 super talented guys.
If Purdy doesn't make HOF, there are 5 HOF players on the 2023 team. If he does, there are 6.
This is why I make the case the 2023 is the most talented team the Niners have ever had. Even without a HOF QB, he's playing at a HOF level, and the Niners have 5 HOF players not including the QB.
As David Lombardi said, this Niners teams has better stats than the '94 team, and to me, it's because it is more talented. It's not just the number of talented players, it's how good the good ones are.
It is kind of remarkable as a fan to have had four amazing teams since 1980 and they don't include the 1981, 1988, 2013 or 2019 Super Bowl teams.
But I think what this exercise shows is how much talent is needed to just be in a Super Bowl.
1981 - 2 HOF players (Montana and Lott)
1988 - 4 HOF players (Montana, Rice, Lott, Haley)
2013 - 1 HOF player (Gore), Willis should be, maybe Joe Staley
2019 - 0 so far, but maybe Staley, Kittle, Bosa, Warner (should have won this one for sure!)
The 2023 Niners are absolutely loaded and based on past history, should be in and win the Super Bowl this season.
Forget all the names and accolades. The only thing that matters is results.
1984: 15-1 regular season and a 3-0 playoff record, including a Super Bowl win. I would rank this team as the best 49er team in franchise history.
2023 - tbd; so far, things look good; however, the #1 factor issue that will determine this team’s fate is health. One cannot predict the how, when, where, why of injuries but they absolutely influence the outcome of every season. The 49ers lack of premium depth has to be a concern…..