From: daveshao@leland.stanford.edu (David Shao)
Subject: Re: Watters status????
Originator: daveshao@leland.Stanford.EDU
Keywords: Rathman
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 92 01:22:32 GMT

In article <102370@netnews.upenn.edu> satish@a.chem.upenn.edu (Satish Nair) writes:
>
>Watters is still complaining of sores.  But why start him and risk further
>injury?  Amp Lee has done a great job gaining over 100 yards against a D
>which has not allowed a 100-yard rusher all season.  A backfield of Watters
>AND Lee... hmm, now that should give defensive coordinators fits through the
>playoffs.

The 49ers would not for a moment think of this backfield combination this
year, or any year in which Tom Rathman is a 49er.  Rathman is one of the
finest fullbacks in the league, and the perfect fullback for the 
Walsh offense.  An essential weapon of the Walsh offense is the sweep
and Rathman consistently delivers the blocks to spring Watters.  
Would Watters be blocking for Lee on the sweep?  It certainly wouldn't
work for Lee to block for Watters.  Rathman is a sure-handed receiver
who can make spectacular catches such as his one-handed grab in the
Super Bowl against Denver or his diving catch for a touchdown this
year.  He is the running back the 49ers trust most not to fumble,
as evidenced by their giving him the ball on the second to last play
of last Sunday's game against the Vikings.  He is their short-yardage
back near the goal-line, getting low to the ground and almost burrowing
his way through.  I remember a dive of his this year which was called
a touchdown where the replay clearly showed that his knee was down,
but the way in which he dove fooled the official.

Lee ran well in the game at Minnesota, but we must remember that
this game was played indoors on artificial turf.  He looked much less
impressive at Candlestick on a wet natural grass field.  The final
49er games of the season will all be at Candlestick up through the 
NFC championship if they make it that far.  I doubt that Lee will be the
49er halfback of the future.  In the Philadelphia game I saw him
tackled in a manner quite similar to how defenses would stop Dexter
Carter--one defender would hit Lee and Lee would be stopped cold.
And at Candlestick Lee will be much less sure of his footing and be
unable to make as quick cuts.  The running game would sputter with him
as the starting halfback just like it did with Dexter Carter.
Do 49er fans still remember the home game against Atlanta when
Carter's ineffectiveness led the fans to chant "No more sweeps!"

Watters on the other hand seems to be the long awaited replacement
for Roger Craig.  He is magnificent running for the 49ers on the
sweep.  He is much harder to bring down than Lee.
And with a healthy Watters, the 49ers can run out the clock late
in the fourth quarter holding onto the lead, as Watters demonstrated
in the victory against the Rams at Anaheim.

Watters' not playing the last couple of games means that his injury
is pretty serious.  I doubt that his arm will be close to 100% even
by the time of the playoffs.  And if there is the slightest weakness
in the arm, it will be much easier for a defender to strip him of
the ball.  If Watters is starting in the playoffs, look for him to
give up a fumble in a crucial situation.