re: What will prevent this team from winning 11 or more games?

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i feel like our playcalling and lack of running last year had more to do with the defense putting us in a hole than it did with our players ability to produce. That said we still had the most productive offense in the league, but without a defense that's worth a damn, all it was good for was 7-9.

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I feel that way, but at the same time even when we weren't in holes the playcalling was atrocious. You could tell when they were/weren't going to run or pass and that made it easy to get some picks imo.

3rd down. Both sides of the ball.

Offensive consistency. Defense being opportunistic.

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Run defense. We gave up 147.6 yards a game. That's insane.

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For this year? Don't think so. Ryan already came out and said Spags' run defense was unsound.

That plus the additions and subtractions in the front 7 should have us playing much better run d.

You talking about losing Ellis and Shanle and putting Hicks, Bunkley, Galette, and Wilson in much bigger roles, along with Foster, Walker, J. Jenkins, and Humber showing they could potentially step up.

And if there's one thing Smith has done well as an OLB it's playing the run(better than he has as a down lineman in the past IMO).

Add to the fact that Ryan likes to keep a safety(Harper in this case) in the box VERY often and Harper is very good in the box as opposed to playing deep like Spags had him, I think our run d well be very improved, if not one of the tops in the league.

All that said, I'm throwing my hat in the ring for saying the run game on offense might be our weak point. The Oline is having the same problems it did to start last season in not opening up enough holes.

Getting enough defensive turnovers would be a close second but it has a lot to do with luck and pressure and we've been showing pressure to this point at least. But in 2011 we didn't get many turnovers but we're much better yardage wise and in not giving up points on D.

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Also forgot to add our tackling has looked miles ahead of last season or even when we had GW. That will surely help in run D.

And I didn't list injuries because that's a given for every team.

Yeah, I kind of answered the question the one way. The OP is asking what's mostly likely to keep us from succeeding, and I answered with what killed us last year. I expect the run defense to be greatly improved.

Gotcha. I misunderstood where you were coming from.

Yeah Spags scheme not only killed us in the air by playing zone in the back which our guys suck at, it was very porous on the ground which kept us off balance.

We gave up(if I added right) 69 and 67 yards rushing in these first 2 games. We only gave up 2 10+ yard runs and one was to Daniel on a scramble. Draughn busted a 17 yarder but finsihed with 13 yards total which means we stuffed him twice also.

We look much more sound against the run and I think we have turned what was one of if not our biggest deficiency into perhaps one of our biggest strengths.

I really hope Payton can find a run game because I think that's the only thing that could hold us back even a little this season.

How bout the linebackers. They have to be the worst in the league. He'll those ones they cut on hard knocks last night are better then what we have!

Rob Ryan failing/defensive talent being worse than we think.

This team is going 12-4 and I don't feel like explaining why.

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How bout the linebackers. They have to be the worst in the league. He'll those ones they cut on hard knocks last night are better then what we have!

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I mean I'm not really all that worried about the LBrs anymore. I think we're absolutely set at ILB with a two deep of Loftin, Vilma, Hawthorne, and Humber. I would feel comfortable with really any of those two starting. As far as OLB goes, I really expect Galette and Wilson to excel. Smith will be situational and I like Eric Martin as depth...and I know I'm missing someone else.
To me, everyone focuses on the 34 OLB, but if the d-line isn't getting taking on blocks and getting pressure as well, your OLBs won't be nearly as effective.
Look at San Fran the last two years. They've had one of if not the best defenses in the league. The moment Justin smith went down, Aldon Smith pretty much fell of the map and they're defense got absolutely carved up last year in the playoffs.
And I have great hope for our line considering we have as solid a two deep there as we've had in probably almost 10 years