This is a blog about Stanford tight end Coby Fleener, but first, some context.
According to Matt Maiocco, Dashon Goldson is the Niners’ top candidate for the franchise tag. Franchising Goldson would cost the Niners $6.2 million in 2012, while it would cost them $10.6 million to franchise their other top free agent, Carlos Rogers.
So, Goldson most likely will be a Niner next season. But, will Rogers?
He wants a four year contract, but he said he’d take less money to sign with San Francisco. How much money would the Niners be comfortable giving to the 30 year old?
Maiocco says “the team believes (Chris Culliver) will be ready to start next year as a second-year player.” If that’s true, it doesn’t seem like the Niners feel desperate to re-sign their Pro Bowl corner.
If they let him walk, how will that affect their offseason?
First, they’ll probably have cap space to seriously bid for a big-bodied, free agent wide receiver – their biggest need by far. If they want the Saints’ Marques Colston, who is 28 years old and 6’5”, the Niners could potentially outbid and weaken their rival.
They’d also have to get another cornerback, probably in the draft but not necessarily in the first round. Teams usually expect and count on first rounders becoming starters in their first season. But, if Maiocco is correct that the Niners see Culliver and Tarell Brown as starter-caliber corners for next season, then Trent Baalke can draft a corner to develop in the second round, like Josh Norman from Coastal Carolina.
Here’s where Coby Fleener comes in. No matter what happens with Carlos Rogers, the Niners should draft Fleener in the first round.
But the Niners already have Vernon Davis and Delanie walker, you say. They don’t need another tight end.
What the Niners need is to improve their offense, especially on third downs and in the red zone.
Fleener would do that.
He’s 6’6”, he’s fast, and he can play tight end or wide receiver. He’s bigger and faster than any wide receiver who likely would be available at the 30th pick of the first round.
Plus, he’s a much better receiver than Walker, the Niners current No. 2 tight end, who is short for the position, plus he drops passes.
Fleener is not as good of a blocker as Walker or Davis. But the Niners don’t need more blocking. They need more getting open and more catching. Fleener is known for both those things.
According to the Associated Press’ Antonio Gonzalez, who covered Stanford Football this season, the Cardinal players called Fleener “deceivingly fast,” and “the second fastest player on the team.”
Gonzalez says Fleener ran past linebackers easily – he even blew by safeties. So, by the end of his college career opposing defenses covered him with cornerbacks.
Fleener stretches the field just like Vernon Davis. If the Niners have both guys, neither one could be double teamed.
Imagine this shotgun formation on third down and long: Fleener and Davis at tight end, Colston at split end, Joshua Morgan at flanker and Michael Crabtree in the slot. Alex Smith could easily find good one-on-one matchups with that personnel.
If the Niners draft Fleener, they’ll have the best tight end corps in the NFL – better than the Patriots’ group with Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.
If the Niners also sign Colston, they’ll be a good third down and red zone offense. They’d have too much talent not to be.
“Good” is a big improvement from “dreadful,” which is what the Niners offense was on third downs and in the red zone this past season. If the Niners can go from “dreadful” to “good” in those areas, they’ll have no holes on their team.
And if all it takes to make that possible is Rogers signing somewhere else, it will be worth it for the Niners, don’t you think?
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I liked Michael Crabtree’s solution to “How the Niners offense can improve on third down”: Do better on first and second down.
True
Culliver ≠ Rogers.
Yes. This.
That’s some pretty solid analysis actually, assuming they don’t go bush league on the WR. A second rate WR makes that calculus only slightly better than we have right now.
But assuming we get a playmaker like Colston or even V. Jackson, it’s right on the screws.
Grant, I often worry when you start talking about scheme and game planning… cause I think you and I both know you really don’t truly know what you’re talking about.
(Looks back at your Ravens prediction…)
Absolutely, I like Grant’s article from a fan stand point, they’re so easy and naive.
Then why are you here?
Why is he here? SO he can show the rest of us simple folks how smart he is. That’s why
you’re right
Grant,
I like the Coby Fleener suggestion. I just hope he’s available at the 30th spot. For those readers who don’t know much about him, youtube video clips of the 2011 Stanford-VT Orange Bowl. Fleener was Andrew Luck’s big play receiver and he was flat out dominant. He would be an excellent compliment and has familiarity with Harbaugh’s system already.
I think you’re being a little hard on Delanie Walker, but I get the point. I recall him dropping an easy pass in the loss against Arizona that was an overall indication of why we lost that particular game.
If the 49ers can sign Marques Colston, that would be terrific. Colston’s only “flaw” that I know of is his deep speed. He did run a 4.52 in the 09 combine so I guess compared to the other Saints WR, he is the “slow man.” Colston is tall, and has good hands. He would be a huge target for Smith, especially in the red zone.
You know the problem is , if Fleener is that good , do you really think he will last that long in the draft , I don’t think so, everybody will want him.
I also have to disagree with you a bit, Grant. We need to resign Carlos Rogers and that is all the more magnified by his willingness to give us a hometown discount. In the modern NFL, you need 3 starting CBs and two safeties that can cover. The concept of the inferior nickel CB and “in the box” safety (code for slow, big, and is deficient in coverage) doesn’t work in the modern spread offense, no defensive hitting NFL.
Rogers, Brown, and Culliver (assuming improvement this offseason) give us three starting quality corners. Brock serves as the 4th back and we should draft another promising cover man. The Saints, Packers, and Lions to name a few will spread us out in 4 WR sets. Also, having 3-4 starting quality CBs actually helps discourage opposing offenses from spreading us out because they’ll face Aldon Smith and other pass-rush packages. Opposing offenses will be encouraged to stay in base personnel which allows us to cover and stuff the run. Advantage 49ers defense.
Grant: Interesting suggestion on Fleener. However, as we evaluate college talent we have to be careful with the temptation to say someone is better than a current NFL player. Fleener may prove to be better than Walker, but he hasn’t played a single down in the NFL yet. Many guys who look great in college don’t make it in the pros.
“Imagine this shotgun formation on third down and long: Fleener and Davis at tight end, Colston at split end, Joshua Morgan at flanker and Michael Crabtree in the slot. Alex Smith could easily find good one-on-one matchups with that personnel.”
Oh man! Tell me when I can wake up! Good insight Grant. I’ve been thinking Colston since we lost. Do you think we need to draft an eventual Gore replacement? I was thinking Doug Martin but I like the Fleener pick better.
Fleener is an interesting prospect, for sure.
Letting Rogers go… I don’t know if I like that too much but you may be right, the salary numbers might not be there to keep everyone we want to keep.
I heard Gil Brandt say the cap figure for this year could go up due to some new unexpected TV money. If that happens we could still keep Rodgers. I’m with you, I hate to see him go.
I’d hate to risk disrupting the chemistry on this defense in order to sign a high-dollar outsider. As Grant said, the offense doesn’t need to be great. If the O can just rise up to mediocre the team should be in good shape.
I’m ok with the draft pick.
But, I would rather have CR than DG. The NFL is a WR league, and our best competitors are loaded at WR.
If Culliver replaces CR, and assuming he is as good (big leap of faith here), then who becomes our 3rd CB? GB/NO/NY will still have their WR’s. Where do we gain here?
They could draft Josh Norman in the second round. He’s 6’1″, 190 lbs like Rogers. He’s a small school prospect (Coastal Carolina) with all the talent. He’s playing in the Senior Bowl today.
@Grant
Yeah. I have no clue at all about college players. I tried to watch college ball, and guess who the Niners should pick a few years ago, and I stank at it.
So I really take to Jim Mora’s quote about “not knowing” here.
I’ll just cheer whomever we get. I put my faith in TB/JH and it seems to have worked. Not going to doubt now.
I don’t like franchising DG either. He was a jerk last off-season. How will he respond to being tagged? The last guy we tagged was AF, and he stank that year (last year), and went to NO, and lead a bad DL there to nothing.
So, I am iffy on 2 things:
1. Franchising a guy
2. Franchising DG. A guy whose heart has most certainly not been left in SF.
The one good think about tagging DG is it would be cheaper, and they could sign Rogers. DG would play good because he would be on a 1 yr.
deal, wants to prove him self worthy of big $$$, or they could get rid of him.
Off the subject a bit, Reports say Aldon Smith arrested for dui this morning in Miami. That sucks! 9ers usually dont have off field issues!
We don’t know the whole story but it looks like All Day was a Man about it. He probably wasn’t thinkin straight when he got in the car. He’s young and he made a young man’s mistake. I don’t see this as much of an off field issue.
At least they didn’t have to subdue him the way the police had to subdue Antonio Bryant in ’06. I can imagine how that would have gone and it wouldn’t have been pretty for the police. ;)
LOL! Oh i definitely agree, It has to go through the courts first. Definitely a mistake on the young mans part! Forgivable!
I think Rodgers will be wearing Red and Gold next season. It makes no sense not to re-sign him since he’s probably willing to stick around and the rent-a-player technique is a proven failure year in and year out.
I like your thinkin on this one Grant. But if Fleener is that good I don’t see him falling to 30. His size and hands make him a guy that should project to the top 20. Remember where Davis was picked? I’d be shocked if he doesn’t go higher on the board than 30 what with guys like DJ Megatron coming into the league and owning Corners all day long. If you see this with Fleener, imagine the personnel guys who are salivating like Pavlov’s dog over this kid and multiply that by 10. :)
Seems like only a day or two ago our biggest need was WR.
Now it’s TE.
:-)
For what it’s worth, I’d prefer Bowe over Coulston. And I don’t really care how big a body our new WR has just as long as he’s a football player.
I’ll settle for getting open.
Nobody’s talking about Reggie Wayne. That would be my top choice now that I think about it.
how old is wayne? and if Manning came then I wouldn’t mind WAyne. They’ve got that body chemistry, the ability to communicate with the eyes.
I would like to make JM more of a third receiver, goodbye KW and see if their is any trade interest for MC, perhaps a third round draft pick.
Fleener is a good idea, as is going after DeSean Jackson or Vince Jackson. They have to get production, or at least the threat of production, from their wide outs.
I like the idea of Fleener but I think he’ll go a bit higher than 30. The Gronk Effect will likely bump him up to the low 20′s even though he’s rated in the mid-30′s. Of course, today’s ratings will be turned upside down by all the draft hype at the combine.
Nick Toon in the 2nd would be interesting.
I know that the “experts” Mock drafts outside of the top 5 prospects are a guess at best but right now nobody has a TE going in the 1st round. So many higher priorities it seems around the NFL on the defensive side of the ball. If a TE does go in the 1st round it’s more likely to be Dwayne Allen from Clemson.
That being said, I’d really like to see the 9ers trade outta the 1st to the early part of the 2nd providing we could find a trade partner. Pick up some extra draft choices and still get Freener early 2nd.
we don’t need extra draft picks on this young team. We’ve been drafting in quantity for a while now. I’d rather get 3-4 studs!
I agree Grant. Niners love running 2 TE sets, and a lot of jumbo packages….more of a need than drafting a WR first. Snagging a proven vet like Bowe would be a better idea. Back to jumbo packages….I hope we don’t put Justin Smith on that again…..he is All-World on defense but not a very good blocker on the O-Line which is not his fault….that damn 3rd and 1 with Dixon in the backfield and that 2500lb jumbo set play makes me want to vomit.
We need to find another gore type runner. Bigger if possible. Kind of like Bush of the raiders. Cut Dixon…..Imagine if Blount would have stayed with us. I think he’d be the starter by now.
blount is a terrible blocker though, which is the reason he isn’t an every down back in tb. although who knows how much better he could’ve gotten at that learning from gore *shrug*
They have way too much money invested in the TE position already to take a guy in the first round it is a business. I’m hoping Michael Floyd is there at thirty that dude is a beast but he’ll probably blow up the combine and won’t be there
I wonder how many times we’re going to stock pile the same positions. If we sign a #1 WR, then I’m ok with Fleener. We’ve got 3 monsters Lb’s that eventually we won’t be able to keep.
There is no way the Niners should go after Colston. He has had surgeries on both knees including the microfracture procedure. There is only so much tread on the tire. I like the idea of another talented TE, they exploit so many mismatches in coverage. I would sign Goldson over Rogers, he is younger and made a huge impact this year combined with Whitner.
Big P,
I agree with you, I’m not liking the Colston idea. I’d much rather have Bowe. He put up solid numbers with Cassel at QB. That’s saying something. Although, I did hear he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed.
Bowe isn’t a good blocker and he has alligator arms. He caused two interceptions that I saw this year short-arming catches.
I can’t see him fitting in with Harbaugh’s “mighty men.”
exgolfer,
You are correct, Bowe is not the brightest bulb. He is good when on, and bad when off. I think the help is going to have to come from the draft. I just don’t see them paying big time money to a FA with question marks.
When evaluating and analyzing “red zone” offense, one must distinguish offensive passes and runs from the “high” red zone (between the +25/+13 yard line) from the “low” red zone (between the +12 and +3 yard line) because there are different runs and passes utilized in those areas just as there are different defensive schemes and coverages played in those two different red zone areas. Substitute defenses (nickel and dime packages) also vary in the two red zone areas as well.
I liken Josh Morgan to the old John Taylor. I also like the idea of Fleener in a niner uniform. My only concern, (and I’m not here to bash Alex), is whether Colston would want to leave the comfy dome and his QB Brees. Delanie Walker IMO is underated. I agree with everything you have to say here Grant. Good insight. As another poster above stated, Fleener may not be there at 30. If they want him that bad we may have to sacrafice to move up a few slots but I think in the long haul it would be worth it.
Colston’s got his SB ring so I’m betting he’s going for a big payday.
Rather than one of the top tier WR free agents I could see Baalke going after one of 2nd tier guys that is being overlooked.
Steve Smith, PHI – one year removed from being the Giants #1 WR. Had a down year and would be cheap.
Jerome Simpson, CIN – He wouldn’t have to mail his weed to Ohio anymore
Hagan and Schillenz, OAK – both young guys who have shown flashes
warning: pure conjecture ahead
And from out in left field, Mike Wallace, PIT. Wallace is RFA so the 49ers would have to give up a 1st round pick to sign him. If the 49ers used that 1st in the draft on a WR he likely would be little help in 2012. Wallace culd step in day one and improve the passing game.
The Steelers sent Arians packing and have publicly said they want to retool and get back to a power offense. With a lot of needs on the O-Line and an aging defense they may just take the pick rather than match the 49ers offer.
Wallace would be the one guy that would be worth getting. He has speed to burn and has really developed as a receiver. He and Crabs would be lethal on the outside, they would complement each other perfectly.
I agree BigP but the Steelers who never over pay or Franchise have made it pretty clear he will be a steeler one way or the other next year, but that is the type of receiver we need. What is intersting though is Harbaugh favored TE in Sandiego and Stanford, If he can not get field strecher, he may get the top TE and use VD and DW more as “receivers” Going to be intersting.
Msc,
Jerome Simpson is out. He is going to jail and getting suspended. I don’t like the raiders receivers.
Jerome’s headed to jail? Last I’d heard he was cleared as a suspect. Bummer for him.
Rogers has to be resigned with goldson. Success is driven by good cb’s. Look at how many injuries were had by some teams at corner. I know the rams were killes there and i think green bay was killed with cb injuries as well. This is a must do.
Imagine this shotgun formation on third down and long: Fleener and Davis at tight end, Colston at split end, Joshua Morgan at flanker and Michael Crabtree in the slot. Alex Smith could easily find good one-on-one matchups with that personnel.”
-Wake up Grant!
If the Niners draft Fleener, they’ll have the best tight end corps in the NFL – better than the Patriots’ group with Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.”
- Yes, because Fleener already proved himself in the NFl right? Man, you’ve got a lot more to learn!
Thats if culliver plays almost as good as rogers. Our passing defense was already a little suspect last year, imagine losing our pro bowl corner now. I think signing rogers is huge. Hes an elite corner. I saw culliver get beat on a consistent basis last year, he doesnt play the ball well. I think people are looking over how important rogers is to this team. One more good receiver and a qb thats not scared to throw the ball to his receivers might help
I don’t know why everyone is so high on culliver. I’d sign Rodgers and move Culliver back to safety.
We have 5 TE’s already; unload MC in a trade to Dallas for Draft choices, put the put the word out that Ginn is available for more draft choices and load up on big WR’s like McCaffery in the draft after you pick up a proven WR in FA (BOWE, V Jackson) and use Reggie Smith as a P/K returner. Ginn’s never going to be a reliable receiver, and R Smith is a serviceable CB and S.
Dallas needs everything but a wr and Jerry jones knows it. Besides, who’s gonna want him and his 4 million something on the cap until he proves it.
MC could be the 4th WR on the ‘boys. Maybe he would yield a #4 pick??! His talent is ok but I’m not sure he is all about team.
*4th round pick*
Ginn is a free agent now. Why and how would anyone give us any draft picks? lol
If Fleener can play WR like you said, why not draft him as such? The funny thing about Walker and his dropsies is he was a WR before moving to TE. Of course Ginn and Crabtree are WR who can’t catch either…
The problem I can see, no WR will come here…would you? The WR position has been non-existent ever since Alex arrived and it remained that way in our most successful season since his arrival. What WR wants to play for a team that will only devalue his worth. We will need to overpay for any upgrade at the position or use the draft to do so. I like the idea of getting another receiving TE but does that move alone fix our WR’s? I don’t think so.
These comments that adamantly exclaim a point like it is an absolute.
LMAO!
I agree. Maybe they should look at another QB and this offense could really take off. All it takes is bringing in a better signal caller and other WR swill look to come here.
The idea of Fleener is an interesting idea but I wouldn’t want to use a 1st rounder to get him. I can easily envision a player sitting there at 30 that other teams will trade up w/the Niners to acquire. If the potential is there to acquire another 1st round pick next year, I’m all for it, especially if there is no difference maker there when the Niners are on the clock
Another qb ! hahaha
Look at another QB. how about McNabb, Kolb, Orton, etc. Oh that’s right…that was last year’s plan! lol
Kapernick could be that guy, just going to take time to develop, He has a cannon.
Well they might want to play for the niners because they have a chance to go to the SB.
Grant, all good scenarios. My only caveat is regarding Culliver. He could be a viable DB in special packages but I’m not convinced he is ready to become a full-time starter. Culliver plays good coverage until the point of ball to receiver contact.
Culliver lost focus during the Saints game in the endzone and gave up a TD. Same thing occurred in the Giants game. Good coverage until the point of ball to receiver contact. If this can be corrected in TC then Culliver may become a productive starter.
Now, while Fleener could give us a very formidable TE corps, ala the Patriots, the Pats Wes Welker had a very strong campaign with over 100 (122, 1569 yrds) receptions and Dion Branch had 51. Ochocinco was the weak-link. So, the receiver position must still be productive.
Gronkowski and Hernandez had great seasons, but the Patriots shifted a lot more attention to them because of their strengths, especially in Gronkowski’ case. Fleener could be a great weapon only if Harbaugh is willing to alter the offense to emulate the Pats scheme. If Harbaugh can do this, Fleener would be an asset 0n offense. And if we land Colston, we could be considered the odds-on favorite to win it all next year.
Wow, who ever would have thought after the 2010 campaign that we would be just a couple of players away from being a Superbowl contender!
Read Culliver had the flu or some other bug for the NO game. Remember he was also playing safety in college. He played pretty well considering and now he’s got a year at corner under his belt, Looks like he’s going to be pretty good.
I find your analysis to be dead on. The future looks very bright with a couple of Super Bowls in there.
Brock gave uP the TD in the giants game, not culliver
I don’t know. You still need a QB that can pull the trigger. Alex Smith had a solid year, but I don’t think he can pull the trigger (read Cosell’s article – it’s spot on). So, you’ll have all these open receivers and Smith still holding the ball too long and getting sacked or rolling right and throwing the ball out of bounds. It seems like if the Niners are going to keep Smith as their QB, what they really need to do is develop an unstoppable running game.
I agree with you for the most part. I don’t always see eye to eye with Cosell but he’s right with the evaluation of Alex Smith. I hope Kaepernick really puts the work in this offseason because the Niners will never win a SB with Smith. He’s had all these flaws for the past 7 years and at this stage, there’s no reason to believe it will change. I like Hunter’s potential but they need to draft another RB to replace Dixon.
Love the idea Grant. However four years for Rogers isn’t a bad deal. It will allow Culliver and Brock to further develop.
We missed out on one Rogers, I’d hate to lose out on another.
The 9ers get JMorg and Bynam back from injury this year. The question is if they want to get into a bidding war and overpay. I think not and it’s not TB’s MO to do so. They will need to add playmakers through the draft. Maybe the answer is additional draft choices – trade CK and MV for a 2nd and 3rd pick to add more talent. Not a bad plan.
*Byham*
*meant MV not MV*
No more wine for you!
Doubt we could get value for Crabtree or Kaepernick at this point but you’re right that the 49ers don’t have to break the bank for a Jackson or Bowe. There are a ton of 2nd tier WRs on the market this year.
The 49ers don’t need to become the Packers or Giants. With this D and ST they just need to boost the passing game up into the top 25.
*MC*
MSC, too much wine you got that right! lol
Regarding your comment, yes JH and staff will have a top offense including the passing aspect. Imagine if they have a full off-season? Year one and JH and staff make it to the Championship game! Very impressive.
Great blog as usuall all of your points are spot on to me
I don’t think you understand football.
Be nice to Grant’s mom
Imagine a third round line up with all Grant mentioned PLUS P.Manning in the shotgun!!!!!Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Peyton Manning will not be a 49er next year.
Alex smith will be the Niners’ starting QB.
drsgrosse… let the fantasy football guys have their fun until reality kicks them in the a$$ again this summer. At least they’re aiming higher than McNabb and Kolb this time around. LOL
Balony
JH would laugh at your face for making such statement. If you think you can solve the niners’ redzone problems. Be a GM or Coach instead of a blogger.
Exactly ! Theres to many here wannabe GM ! lol
Anyone else see Aldon Smithg got flagged for a DUI in Miami???
Sorry Montanaman16, didn’t see your post.
When you have a proven, quality guy like Rogers already here and who wants to stay, you do whatever is reasonable to sign him. It doesn’t mean you can’t do a lot of the other stuff, too. No matter what they do with Rogers, they won’t get in a bidding war for Colston, which is what Colston is looking for. Colston has not yet seen the big bucks from playing and this may be his only chance. Rogers has already made a ton of money and wants to win.
What would it been if A. Smith and the 49ers went to the Superbowl? All this shmucks won’t bitching and crying…
I’m not sold on Bowe. He acts like he loses interest in playing at times. I recall when the Chiefs played the Steelers how he went up for the catch at game’s end. He barely jumped and looked like he was trying to clap his arms together instead of catching like a true WR. Not something I want on this year.
No. This team needs a 36 yr. old coming off three neck surgeries in a 19-month timespan. That’ll take this team to the next level. Makes sense right?
Yeah PM…after two dismal seasons at QB getting sacked 50 times per year then what is the plan?!! LMAO
Hofer,
I am now convinced that you are tied to Alex loosely through friends or family. You don’t care about the Niners first. You care about #11 first. Obvious! Extremely obvious.
Payton Manning at 40 would take less sacks that Alex simply because he reads a D faster and gets the ball out quickly. When he retires a Niner the backup will have ha a chance to sit and learn fro
A championship caliber QB. And the addition of PM means a top flight WR FA would actually consider coming here.
Stop thinking #11 first and start thinking 49ers first.
0.027% chance that Payton is in a 49er uniform next year. 94.73% chance that Alex is the starting qb here next year.
Probably right Canada but a man can hope.
Here are my candidates for best WR fit for this team: Colston, VJax, and S. Smith.
Too much money Big. The team has too many key free agents it needs to retain on offense and defense.
interesting idea, Grant. i dont know much about Fleener but will take your word for it.
adding two good receivers to this offense would be huge…but to me corners are absolutely precious. hope we can somehow manage all three.
Baalke and Harbaugh have taken us to the brink of the promised land…hope there’s more magic up their sleeves.
Not signing the Pro Bowl starting CB makes no sense. After Qb’s and passrushers they are the most important players on a team. You also need at least 4 good ones. We need to sign Rogers.
We also need to sign Goldson.
I’d rather have Goldson tagged. He needs to show that he can cover better. He gave up too many big plays during the season. He needs to improve in that area before getting paid big money.
Fleener will be available in the 2nd round. Not a round one pick, but I like the idea.
It’s hilarious when one grown man speaks of another grown man’s fluid hips.
Rogers is in his prime, and I’ve always loved Goldson. They should both be back. Colston is solid but too much wear and tear. I’ve only seen a few highlight reels on Bowe so can’t make a comment. Harbaugh is a fast learner, with the exception of keeping Williams in the game, he adjusts to situations quickly. My whole take is that I’d rather see them spend the money on their own players than free agents. Harbaugh and Baalke have plans A,B,C,D in place.
Aldon Smith get’s a DUI in Miami, what a dumbass. Lucky he didnot kill anybody that would of been tragic along with his career.
Yeah but who’s going to throw it to them? Alex Smith? See, the problemt is not that they needed WRs or TEs it’s who was delivering them the ball or lack there of.
I agree that the Niners need size at TE and or receiver and getting two guys would be great. I need to check out fleener on you tube but they are only giving him 4.75 speed which is okay. Draftcountdowwn is rating him the 36 best prospect so he will be around. And I love Colston through FA, but he isn’t that fast either. Even if we got those guys would be too slow or would we have so much size the D couldn’t defend us.
I think Ill go out and have a drink tonight under the downtown lights with great friends. WHEEEW!
You should md because even you had a breakout season this year from your old “Tim with roid rage” type posts. LOL Congrats
What they need is a seal here, and a seal here, and to run it up the alley!
Fan didn’t watch the Saints game obviously.
Cause I am a loser. Why else would I be on here at 11pm on a Saturday night.
Say again?
LOSER! Read it again.
No disrespect there. She is like a can of Campbell’s soup, mmm mmm good.
Wow, that’s a bold statement ‘ they’ll have the best tight end corps in the NFL – better than the Patriots’ group with Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez’ considering Gronk just had the best statistical season in TE history, DW is a converted WR, and the stanford TE is a rookie in a hypothetical situation.
If it comes down to the 49ers having to choose whether to sign Goldson or Rogers, but that they cannot afford both, then Rogers should be the one. Rogers is older and has fewer years left, to be sure, but finding a top-level cornerback is a more difficult task than finding a top-level safety. Goldson could be replaced with Oklahoma State’s Markelle Martin, who will probably be available at the 49ers’ draft slot, but there is no player that the 49ers have a chance of getting in the draft who could step in immediately to fill Rogers’s shoes.
Goldston is too big-play happy, and that leads to him letting a receiver get behind him when he goes for the pick; a safety” should be a SAFETY: the last line of defense. It also leads to Goldson knocking his own teammates out of a game, as he did to Tarrell Brown in the NFC Championship. See the semi-facetious analysis here http://49ers.pressdemocrat.com/2011/12/inside-the-49ers/dashon-goldson-the-weakest-link-of-the-niners-defense/ that contains more than a grain of truth.
Going after Fleener is not a bad idea, but the red zone problems were not necessarily a lack of tight end talent; a simple addition of a fourth tight end (do not forget Bynam) probably will have near-zero effect all by itself.
Aside from the red zone issue, I think that the need for a speed burner slot receiver who can catch the ball (in contrast to Ted Ginn, who has speed to burn but cannot handle a ball that hits him in the numbers) is a more pressing need.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VntqR5-2Ng
I like this pick also fleener knows the offense we need a taller receiver too!
I disagree that the Niners should keep Goldson instead of Rogers. Rogers played solid at corner all year and he often covered the slot. Goldson, for all his mighty hits, was not sterling in coverage. The Niners gave up too many long passes up the middle, which is Goldson’s territory. Also, it isn’t excusable that Goldson effectively broke up two 49ers interceptions in the championship game – somebody has to keep his eyes open, and he’s the deep back.
And, I know he did not intend it, but DG took Terrell Brown out of the game with that hit. And, it was the guy who TB was covering who made that 2nd TD catch in the 4th quarter.
While everybody has bashed AS and KW for the loss, I see that play of DG injuring TB as the big play of the game. TB was dominating in coverage all day long. We will never know if he could have prevented the catch or throw, but TB was a major reason why the Niners were as good as they were on defense this year. And losing him in the title game to DG not holding up (he could see him clearly) was a major catalyst in the Giants coming back to win the game.
Had that throw not been made, or caught (Eli’s 2nd TD pass), it would have been 4th and a mile, and at most the Giants would have gotten was a FG. The Niners still would have won the game following KW first bad punt mistake, and the second one in OT would not have happened since the Niners win the game in regulation.
Andrew Luck is going to hold out and coming to the Niners to be our new kick returner. Relax guys.
All the way with Bay in 2012!
This team needs a QB like Manning to help them realization their full potential. Will never get there with Smith at QB. His price may not be so high also because of the injuries.
Everything we do in FA and the draft hinges on the Rogers decision. The initial question is “how good is Rogers?”
The 49ers are one of a few teams that pressure quarterbacks without blitzing. Is Rogers a “system” cornerback because he plays on a defense that can keep more backs in coverage… or was Rogers a diamond in the rough in Washington and is only now showing his true talents on the 49ers?
One thing is certain… in today’s NFL there are few true “shut down” corners that can lock onto the other teams best receiver man-on-man and take him out of the game.
That’s a very good point. I think Rogers is a more of system cornerback. I think he IS very good though, but he got scorched in the first half against the Giants (he did redeem himself in the 2nd half).
I think Rogers will stay for less $$ if he feels that he can win a super bowl here. However, his contract will likely be for 3 years and not 4.
We still draft a young corner, but I would suspect our earlier draft choices will be spent on WR, OL, TE, DL and FS (Reggie Smith wants to start and he won’t be back next year.)
NinersRoc: I hope your right about Rogers staying for less then other clubs are offering.
I like your draft needs list. Gore is wearing out. I think we need a versatile running back that can run inside, outside and catch passes.
I completely disagree. Dashon Goldston is a must. We have to keep this defense together and Dashon will help make our secondary a tough hard hitting defense.
Interesting scenario Grant. I like the way you came to it. Very realistic and as much as I would hate to lose Rogers, he may be too expensive to sign.
Ideally we’d be able to sign both Goldson and Rogers, but I agree out of the two, Goldson is the one they need to focus on first. After the first wave of FA, there will be CB’s on the market the Niners can get a little cheaper the same way they did Rogers last year.
Fleener makes a lot of sense in a couple of ways. First he fits the offense as he played for Harbaugh on the farm. Second, Walker is a FA after this season, and having a replacement in house is not a bad idea.
Another by product of not giving huge money to Rogers is they will be able to most likely sign Brooks and a couple of others that may have been on the fringe.
Not a bad plan at all Grant. Nice job.
Very interesting scenario Grant! But I’d like to see Carlos Rogers back in SF for the right amount of $$ (I’m sure Baalke is all over that). I would like for Rogers, Culliver, Brown, and a talented rookie to all compete for the roster order. We shouldn’t put all of our “cornerback eggs” in one basket with Culliver. Let them compete and if Cully beats out Rogers or Brown, then we have a serious upgrade for two guys who played very well this year. Brown is the guy that gets beat the most, so an upgrade there would be nice. Brown did play well this year, his size just creates some match up problems sometimes.
As for Fleener & Colston, those two guys would be huge upgrades (assuming they produce similar to what they are currently doing). Delanie is a good player but he’s inconsistent. Some games he makes great plays but others he disappears. Also, what do we do about Nate Byham in the offseason? He is a very strong blocker and he appeared to have sure hands (even though many passes didn’t go his way). It sounds like Delanie would be the man out (likely traded). We would need two solid blocking TEs on the roster and Byham is a better blocker than Walker (though not nearly as fast). There simply isn’t room on the roster to accommodate 4 TEs, especially when 3 are being asked to do similar things. I think we could potentially get the “bookend” TEs that we wanted but didn’t quite get with Davis/Walker if we drafted Freener, plus we wouldn’t have to ask much of Freener because Vernon would carry the brunt of the work. With Colston, Crabtree easily gets pushed down to #3 receiver because I don’t see him beating out Joshua Morgan in the offseason, Morgan’s chemistry with Alex is too good. Not to mention Crabs probably won’t participate in the offseason workout. Ultimately, I don’t know if Crabtree stays here very long. I think he either gets traded soon or he signs somewhere else when he’s a free agent. If we pickup Colston, Crabtree won’t last more than one more season here, unless he has a great year in 2012-2013.
I think the proper line up in the Shotgun would be:
Colston Freener-XXXXX-Davis Morgan
Smith
Gore
You don’t want Frank off of the field in 3rd down & mid -or- goal line situations. This way you have all of your major threats covered. We can even use a formation shift to get to our WHAM formation (even though it won’t be lineman back there). With this kind of lineup you can pass short-range, mid-range (inside), mid-range (outside), long-range 1-on-1, or simply run a screen (Frank’s gotta sure up those hands), or a draw. It’s going to be an interesting offseason. If we continue to improve and address our weaknesses this offseason, then we’re going to the super bowl!
Best way to improve the 49ers offense: play against these Pro Bowl defenses. These guys aren’t even pretending to try.
LOL. They should just make the Pro Bowl and not play it. What a waste of time. This isn’t football.
Some wag said the Pro Bowl looks like what Goodell wants football to be.
colston is very fragile and so is crabtree. that could lead to serious problems by the end of a very phsyical season. another good thing about fleener is he lined up at fullback quite a bit and that could cause some really difficult match up issues for defenses across the league. he also could replace moran norris as our backup fb saving about a millon a yr.
the niners should sign rogers. you can never have too many corners and draft picks do’nt always develop as culliver [if at all] I.E. mike rumph
It makes me laugh evertime I hear someone state Alex Smith can’t make this throw or can’t make that throw. He can’t thow a deep sideline pass etc….
Well, I don’t remember him naving too much trouble doing-so when he had Norv Turner and Atonio Bryant as his go-to WR before the shoulder injuries! All he did was throw the sideline over the shoulder pass to him!
Mike, You just made all of our points. That was BEFORE the shoulder injuries, and even then he was not able to be a winning QB. They never finished over .500 then either. After the surgeries he became a pie thrower who is unable to hit the deep ball.
Let Smith walk, and sign either Manning or Johnson so that this team can take a step forward and reach their potential.
smiths arm is fine. its his inability to pull the trigger in the red zone that gets him in trouble. i think another yr with harbaugh and better weapons should improve that.
It’s an idea, I’ll give you that, but did you consider who will have to be making those throws? It’s no hack at Alex Smith, I have been one of his biggest supporters. While other 49er friends of mine wanted to crucify him other years, I defended him but because I know what he can do and one thing he cannot definitely do is GET RID OFF THE BALL QUICKLY! He will also go through strectches where he will sail passes over the head of his receivers. Offensively we need a WR no question about it, but I think we should make our Defense even better. YES, it can get better.