What would you say the 49ers weak spot is?

[NinerHomer49]

off topic:
we are well rounded so the only team that scares me is another well rounded team...........someone with enough defense to slow us down and enough offense to score regardless....obviously the Texans fit the bill,, maybe the Steelers but not really

Atlanta seems to be the team that's "getting all the bounces" so far this year. The team itself doesn't scare me, but the luck factor may come in if the game is close.

[DownSouth49er]

I definitely think the secondary is still a question mark for the team. The front 7 is so damn good that the secondary benefits from it. I think we need to re-sign Goldson also, I just like his all out, aggressive approach. Tarell Brown on the other hand still scares me for some reason.

[Bowman53]

Our weak spot is a third pass rusher to help out Aldon/Brooks imo.

[rapjuicer06]

He's below average in coverage and he doesn't wrap up when he tackles. He causes turnovers and he is a good player, but I don't agree that he is one of the best safeties in the league. He's a good safety, not a great safety. He is seeking great safety money. Personally, I think Donte Whitner (grossly underrated by our fan base and others) is the best safety on the team and makes far less than Goldson. Whitner is a tackling machine and solid in coverage too. He doesn't cause as many turnovers, but he is much more important than others suggest.

Me and Ninerhomer have talked about Goldson's tackling. He doesn't wrap up, but there is a reason. He's very thin. He's 6'2 200 pounds. He tackles TE's a lot and wide receivers. He doesn't (at least this year) miss a lot of tackles by any means. And he's below average in coverage? That is so false. I suppose you think Ed Reed is good in coverage too right?

Donte Whitner doesn't do half the stuff Goldson does. I think we have the best combination of safeties in the game. I would go out and say I think Goldson is a top 5 FS in the NFL as well.

[rapjuicer06]

Our weak spot is a third pass rusher to help out Aldon/Brooks imo.

I think Justin Smith and RayMac do just fine

[Gibby23]

Coverage unit hasn't looked up to par thus far. Other than that, I think our weakest unit is the secondary...and they are an above average to good unit, which says a lot about how good this team is. I don't agree with those who criticize our pass rush. We aren't getting a ton of sacks, but we rarely rush more than 4 and still get a lot of QBs scrambling around and running outside of the pocket.

What makes you think that? They are 2nd in the NFL in passing yards per game and have played 3 teams with above average to great passing games. They have only given up 1 td to a WR so far this year.

[NinerHomer49]

Me and Ninerhomer have talked about Goldson's tackling. He doesn't wrap up, but there is a reason. He's very thin. He's 6'2 200 pounds. He tackles TE's a lot and wide receivers. He doesn't (at least this year) miss a lot of tackles by any means. And he's below average in coverage? That is so false. I suppose you think Ed Reed is good in coverage too right?

Donte Whitner doesn't do half the stuff Goldson does. I think we have the best combination of safeties in the game. I would go out and say I think Goldson is a top 5 FS in the NFL as well.

I think Goldson is better than he was last season, at least in the second half. I thought he started strong, but kind of tapered off. Hopefully he keeps up what he's been doing so far. That play deep vs the Jets was one hell of a play. It's tough for a safety to pick up a WR, turn around, locate the ball, then have the hand/eye coordination to reach up and swat the ball away. I thought he showed several good things on that play, not the least of which is more speed that I really gave him credit for.

If he keeps the level of play up where it's been this season...I have no gripe with them giving him a substantial contract.

[ESaady]

There are people on this forum who always say we can find alternatives to Goldson. Just curious, who are the alternatives? Will they be free agents or through the draft? I personally don't see any viable alternatives.

[rapjuicer06]

Top 5 FS

1-Reed
2-Weddle
3-Bethea
4-Thomas
5-Goldson

[rapjuicer06]

There are people on this forum who always say we can find alternatives to Goldson. Just curious, who are the alternatives? Will they be free agents or through the draft? I personally don't see any viable alternatives.

Goldson fits in this defense better than a lot of other safeties would. He is beyond physical, fast, and a ball hawk. He is with out a doubt the most physical FS in the NFL, outside maybe Ryan Clark

[jmethlo]

Kick coverage. Team is missing Blake Costanzo. They signed Rock Cartright to fill that void but he didn't even make the team out of traning camp.

[DerekRE_3]

I definitely think the secondary is still a question mark for the team. The front 7 is so damn good that the secondary benefits from it. I think we need to re-sign Goldson also, I just like his all out, aggressive approach. Tarell Brown on the other hand still scares me for some reason.

Last year I would have agreed with you on the secondary. But the 49ers rank 2nd in pass yards given up despite playing the Packers and Lions, and to a certain extent the Bills. Fitzpatrick had been leading the NFL in TD's going into that game. The 49ers pass rush has not been good, but the secondary has still done very well.

Tarell Brown may be the most underrated player on the defense. It's between him and Ray McDonald. Brown had a rough start last year but was lights out his last 9 games. I worry more about Rogers than Brown.

Also, Chris Culliver is averaging just one reception given up every 29 snaps. That's outstanding.

[RedandGold_35]

I'm interested to see how Brown and Culliver do when Rogers is gone. The 3 are a solid group, but can those two be solid 1 + 2 by themselves? My concerns are plans for long term. There's still the question of Goldson here/not here next year, how long Whitner has left, how long is Rogers going to be here, etc. I'd say for this year and next we're solid, I just hope we get the backup pieces in place soon.

[DerekRE_3]

^14 draft picks next year is a good start for that. And Baalke has a good history drafting defensive guys (Culliver, Bowman).

[RedandGold_35]

^14 draft picks next year is a good start for that. And Baalke has a good history drafting defensive guys (Culliver, Bowman).

Yep, as long as it continues.