If you're new to this site, there's something you should know: I've already made up my mind about Kwame Harris and Joe Staley. I actually made up my mind back on Draft Day, before this site had even been created, that Staley should be the starter at right tackle and Kwame should be starting, at best, for the San Jose SaberCats.
I'm going out on quite a limb here, I know. I think it's safe to say that 99 percent of 49ers fans have already made up their minds about this as well. And how could they not? Kwame has been awful since, well, forever. Staley has been great ever since he pulled on a 49ers jersey. So why does it need to be stated? Well, Mike Nolan apparently hasn't made up his mind yet. Or at least he's not letting on that he has. Harris started against the Broncos. He started against the Raiders. He's going to start against the Bears on Saturday. There have been indications that Staley's promotion to the starting lineup is approaching. He joined guard David Baas with the first-team offense in the third series of Saturday's game against the Raiders. And Nolan has said Staley could play even earlier against the Bears. Playing "earlier" than the third series of the game doesn't leave a whole lot of options. Either he comes in for the second series, or he's the starter. The latter has to be coming soon. For Kwame, this game should represent his last chance to prove himself to the 49ers' coaching staff. The third game of the preseason is typically when the starters play the longest. Nolan has said they'll play at least the first half, and maybe more. In the fourth and final preseason game, the starters will likely play only a series or two. That means if Kwame is going to prove he should remain the starter, he's going to have to shine in whatever action he gets this weekend. Given that he's failed to "shine" since his NFL career began, don't expect much. Staley, on the other hand, actually appears motivated. He's also good, which gives him a big advantage over No. 77. This would have been the perfect week to name Staley the starter. It would have been nice to see him play an entire half of football with the first team. But for some reason, Nolan continues to drag his feet on this one. He's merely putting off the inevitable, and it's time to face the facts and get Kwame out of the lineup. Then again, maybe Nolan is just trying to pad Kwame's trade value by making it appear as though he still figures in the team's plans. I don't know. If I'm not buying it, I have a hard time believing any NFL general managers are buying it. Just make the move, Mike. Please. Like, yesterday.
0 comments:
Post a Comment