If any former 49ers could join this Team...

by eldingo on Oct 10, 2011 9:39 AM PDT

...who would you pick.

After the Bucs game it seems the 49ers are a legit playoff team. Our division is incredibly weak. We (The Royal We) have one of the best front 7 in the league. ALeX Smith is looking like a top 10 QB. The running game has come around, and dare I say exploded. Andy Lee's leg was roasted in the Fires of Mt Olympus. And even our secondary and O-line looked good last game. However the 49ers still have ways to before entering the conversation as a Super Bowl contender.

So I was wondering, if you could add One former 49er, at the prime of his career, to this Team (for one year) who would it be?

And would that player make the 49ers Super Bowl favorites?

I'm a young'in, and wasn't around for the glory days of 49ers football, so I'll go with an easy answer:

Jerry Rice

Adding the greatest receiver of all time instantly makes our offense one of the best in the league, and certainly a super bowl contender. With Rice, Crabtree, VD, Walker, Morgan and Edwards we have the best receiving corp in the league. He would make the other receivers more effective, by taking double teams, and he would take pressure off the running game. I worry that GB's offense might still be better than the niners, but I'd take our defense over theirs.

Anyways, I'm interested to see who you'd all choose.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors.

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Joe all the way.

Joe with Gore, Hunter, Braylon, Crabtree, and and Morgan? That would be scary.

extrabaggs
"Just your typical Giants scoring rally: A faceburger on the basepaths, two errors from the second baseman and a bases-loaded balk."

by Badly Browned on Oct 10, 2011 9:51 AM PDT via mobile reply actions

Plus of course VD and Walker.

Rice would be a good addition, the but if you include former QBs, Joe/Young would have the biggest impact.

extrabaggs
"Just your typical Giants scoring rally: A faceburger on the basepaths, two errors from the second baseman and a bases-loaded balk."

by Badly Browned on Oct 10, 2011 9:55 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions

If I had to pick one

I would first take inventory of the current squad, by position, and see where the biggest holes are needing replacement. Cornerback and Quarterback are the easy choices.

Having said that, I think the Quarterback is the bigger difference making position – so it would be either Joe Montana or Steve Young.

I’d be content with either.

If not, I’d take a corner – Dieon, maybe Jimmy Johnson (but the game has changed)

"Aaaaaaaal Apalachicola"

by bonbrillio on Oct 10, 2011 9:58 AM PDT reply actions

I'd want Ronnie Lott

but I have a thing for defense. Lott was a true leader, and with him on the back end with Willis in the middle and J Smith leading the inside the defense would be ridiculous.

Come on, Alex, please be good this year..
Follow @JesseReed78

by Jesse Reed on Oct 10, 2011 9:59 AM PDT reply actions

I would take Joe if it werent for a man named Alex

Dont get me wrong Alex does not equal Joe. Joe >>> Alex. But alex for the first time in his career not in the midst of a qb controversy. Also Joe and Steve both had the greatest reciever/player of alltime to throw to. Not to say Rice made Joe or Steve the Qbs they were, but he definately helped. He even made Garcia look amzing at times. We have not had a hof caliber player since TO maybe even Rice. Larry Fitzgerald looks good no matter the Qb, so I think Rice would make this team so much better, at the same time giving him the opportunity he has earned.

by Mike Cofer on Oct 10, 2011 1:28 PM PDT reply actions

For fun, let's assume Alex plays like he did yesterday for the rest of his CAREER...

So without adding the obvious (Joe Montana or Steve Young), that’s now a pretty interesting question…

Not who’s the BEST of the past 49ers, but who would THIS TEAM need most?

I’d say… Ronnie Lott.

Jerry Rice and Fred Dean also came to mind, but I think this team would benefit from Ronnie’s presence more. He was more than just a great Safety (after coming into the league as a Corner)… I could go on for days about specific Ronnie stuff, but simply put:

He was a ballhawk and a FEROCIOUS HITTER. He was the most FEARLESS football player I’ve ever seen play.

At 6-0 200 lbs — from the Corner and then as a Safety — he INTIMIDATED entire offenses simply w/his prescence. Playing against a defense w/Lott in the secondary, it was like swimming in the Bay at dusk. You know the SHARK is out there, and you know it’s feeding time. He might not bite you, but it’s sure gonna change the way you go about your swim…

Think I’m embellishing? Google “Ronnie Lott Youtube”… Guy just had so many bullseyes on so many different guys in so many different games. And it wasn’t just receivers or guys his size. Two I remember distinctly: a tattooing of Falcons RB William Andrews in the left flat during a game at Candlestick, and his hit on Icky Woods of the Bengals in the 1989 Super Bowl in Miami. Both hits came in games where, up to that point, the RB had been having his way w/the 49ers. After each of those hits, NEITHER GUY WANTED TO PLAY ANYMORE (and if I remember correctly, Lott knocked himself silly w/the hit on Andrews). That was a theme: if you were rolling against the 49ers, Lott would dial you up and SEND A MESSAGE. He INTIMIDATED like a LB or DE.

For chri$$akes, guy CUT MOST OF HIS PINKIE FINGER OFF so he wouldn’t miss the Wildcard game v the Giants in ’86.

Had lunch w/Ronnie and Mike Sherrard at a Carl’s Jr. in 1987 (blatant NAME DROP… ;-P)… Dude was very cool, but he’s just as INTENSE as anyone you’ve ever seen. Kind of guy that you like, but at the same time, you’re afraid of him. Great leader. Kind of leader you want to impress, and you SCARED TO DEATH to dissappoint him. Sets the bar for toughness for an ENTIRE TEAM.

Yeah… This team could use Ronnie Lott.

I have many leather-bound books.

by I'm Friends With Merlin Olsen on Oct 10, 2011 1:39 PM PDT reply actions

On a realistic note...I really wish we would being Jerry in as a coach

Show Crabtree how to use his natural talent

...and then Singletary opened His Book and it said "thou shalt NOT pass"

by jimisoursavior on Oct 10, 2011 1:43 PM PDT reply actions

I'd have to go with Jerry Rice or Ronnie Lott.

Jerry would open up the offense and open a ton of space for our TEs, turning our passing attack from average or below average to one of the best in the game. Much has been made about Alex Smith and his situation with the different coaches and offensive coordinators, but I think the biggest problem he’s had developmentally is his lack of a true #1 receiver or even a good receiving corps.

As for Ronnie, he’s a natural leader who would complete our defense and turn it into potentially one of the greatest ever. We would be totally impossible to run against – we’re already great, with a fantastic line and incredible linebackers, and adding a safety who could also come up and dish out punishment would really help. As well, Ronnie was fantastic in coverage, and with him patrolling the middle of the field, it would be really tough to pass on us as well.

I'm just a simple Giants fan trying to make my way in the universe.

by Tim Lincecum's Bong on Oct 10, 2011 2:09 PM PDT reply actions

Best Cover Corner in Niners History

Jimmy Johnson. He would shut down one side of the field and Lord Fangio could do his Magic on the other. We would have the best defense in the league and with the Roman Empire Offense we would be set up to win multiple Super-Bowls again.

by Andrew Hutchinson on Oct 10, 2011 4:40 PM PDT reply actions

sorry Ted Ginn but I gotta bring back the MAN with the kick returning plan

Dexter Carter!!

Coach Raye crazy man. Says Yahoo in our training camp,We Didn’t know we had Wifi,cOach Sing says he likes UpGut.com. Bish! - Anthony Dixon

by 49erLou on Oct 10, 2011 7:44 PM PDT reply actions

#35 himself...

Made being undersized cool before Kendall Hunter was even born…

I have many leather-bound books.

by I'm Friends With Merlin Olsen on Oct 10, 2011 8:05 PM PDT reply actions

Jose Cortez.

Motivate the offense never to fail on third down in field goal range. More touchdowns.

We don't need 8 in the box. We have 52 in the box.

by these3words on Oct 11, 2011 6:26 AM PDT reply actions

lol

Jose “LINE DRIVE” Cortez…

[shivers at the memory]

I have many leather-bound books.

by I'm Friends With Merlin Olsen on Oct 14, 2011 1:20 AM PDT up reply actions

T.O. NOW!!!

He deserves a chance at redemption. I believe only the 49ers could provide such a thing. He comes back to help us win the BIG ONE this year. Then comes back for a couple more years(thanks to the Jerry Rice conditioning regimen) he is on. CRABZ, T.O., EDWARDS, MORGAN, V.D., DELANIE WALKER. ….WOW!!! INSANITY LIKE WE NEVER OULD SEE AGAIN…THINK ABOUT IT

by STELF BOMBZ on Oct 11, 2011 6:31 AM PDT reply actions

noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Come on, Alex, please be good this year..
Follow @JesseReed78

by Jesse Reed on Oct 11, 2011 7:11 AM PDT up reply actions

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Come on, Alex, please be good this year..
Follow @JesseReed78

by Jesse Reed on Oct 11, 2011 7:11 AM PDT up reply actions

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Come on, Alex, please be good this year..
Follow @JesseReed78

by Jesse Reed on Oct 11, 2011 7:11 AM PDT up reply actions

Okay Jesse

Tell us what you really think…

Justin Smith is something else. 100% Effort! 100% Class!

"I was just running toward the ball," Smith said. "The guys in front of him were making him slow up a little bit. I just went for the ball and, luckily, it was there."

by riderless on Oct 11, 2011 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions

I think I've made my point. LOL

Come on, Alex, please be good this year..
Follow @JesseReed78

by Jesse Reed on Oct 11, 2011 11:06 AM PDT up reply actions

Any former O linemen from the glory days....

Despite 6 quarters of solid play from our OL, that doesn’t change the fact that it is the absolute weakest point of the team. This would be the absolute best thing for the team.

Beyond that there is the obvious choices of one of our two HoF, former QBs (despite the success Alex is seeing), the GOAT because of our depleted WR corp, Charles Haley to amp up the pass rush even more, Lott and Deion to make our secondary truly legit.

by 9thevolution on Oct 11, 2011 8:32 AM PDT reply actions

I would love to have 5 ring Chuckie

chasing Stafford’s sorry ass all over the backfield.

Justin Smith is something else. 100% Effort! 100% Class!

"I was just running toward the ball," Smith said. "The guys in front of him were making him slow up a little bit. I just went for the ball and, luckily, it was there."

by riderless on Oct 11, 2011 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions

It's a QB league

Therefore I would have to go with Joe of course.

Other players I considered are:

Ronnie Lott: Great leader, fierce hitter, and racked up the int’s.
Deion: The best shut down corner in league history as well as a great return man.
Jerry Rice: The best receiver in NFL history.
Charles Haley: The Niners need a pass rusher and he was one of the best.

by Pippen on Oct 11, 2011 1:46 PM PDT reply actions

Bring back T.O.!!!!

Now that Josh Morgan has broke his leg we can use T.O.’s big playmaking ability!!! And he will put butts in seats.

butch

by draytondelvin on Oct 11, 2011 2:30 PM PDT reply actions

meh...

Don’t think TO’s much of a draw these days.

He can probably still play, but he may have already burned his last bridge. Too bad. Helluva player — arguably (almost IN-arguably) one of the greats of all-time — who will never get his due because he turned into such a diva.

I have many leather-bound books.

by I'm Friends With Merlin Olsen on Oct 14, 2011 1:27 AM PDT up reply actions