The 49ers, as currently constructed, are probably talented enough to play in the Super Bowl right now.
But, if they add a big, No.1 wide receiver this offseason they could be big preseason Super Bowl favorites for 2012, even without an elite quarterback.
They’d have a complete juggernaut of a roster. Their biggest weakness would be Alex Smith, and he’s not weak.
So, which wide receiver should they add?
He needs to be big. He needs to be an ‘X,’ or a split end. Michael Crabtree and Joshua Morgan (who’s a free agent but will likely re-sign on a one-year deal) are more flanker/slot receiver types. The Niners need a very good version of Braylon Edwards. If he’s fast, that’s even better. But he needs to be a red-zone threat first and foremost.
Two free agents fit that description: Dwayne Bowe and Vincent Jackson.
Bowe is 6’2” and he weighs 221 lbs. He’ll be 28 years old next season, and in 2010 he caught 15 touchdown passes from Matt Cassel. He’s exactly what the 49ers need.
Jackson is 6’5”, 241lbs., and he’ll be 29 next year. He caught nine touchdown passes this season.
Either guy would probably make the Niners preseason Super Bowl favorites, but would they likely sign in San Francisco?
I say no for a couple of reasons. One is the Niners will have to spend most of their money re-signing their own free agents. They probably won’t have enough money to spend top dollar on a top wide out.
Here’s the other reason: Would a top wide out want to sign with the Niners? Yes, he’d have a very good chance to win a Super Bowl, but he wouldn’t have a good chance at making future Pro Bowls. Greg Roman typically calls only 20 to 30 pass plays a game. Plus, Alex Smith is still the quarterback. Could Bowe or Jackson put aside his ego to come play for the conservative Harbaugh, Roman and Smith, or would they rather sign with other contenders who have more prolific passers and more aggressive offenses?
I’m betting Bowe and Jackson sign elsewhere.
But Trent Baalke likes to build through the draft, anyway, and there are a couple intriguing first-round prospects: Michael Floyd and Alshon Jeffery.
Floyd is a 6’3”, 224 lb. 22-year-old from Notre Dame. He’s big, he’s got great hands and he’s a premier red-zone receiver. He’s not extremely fast, but he’s fast for his size and he is a downfield threat. He’s probably going to get drafted somewhere in the teens of the first round, so the Niners would have to trade up to get him. The trade would cost them their first and second round picks, at least.
Jeffery is a 6’4”, 229 lb. 21-year-old from South Carolina. He’s bigger and slower than Floyd. If Floyd is a red-zone-target-plus, then Jeffery is just a red-zone target. On the other hand, he’s less expensive – he’ll probably be available for the Niners when they pick at the end of the first round.
I say Baalke should trade up for Floyd. He has the potential to be a No. 1 wide receiver, and I don’t think Jeffery does.
The Niners roster is so talented they can afford to trade their second round pick this year to jump up in the first round and grab a big-time wide receiver.
They don’t need depth. They need their missing Super Bowl piece.
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>>Could Bowe or Jackson put aside his ego to come play for the conservative Harbaugh, Roman and Smith, or would they rather sign with other contenders who have more prolific passers and more aggressive offenses?
Vernon Davis is proof enough that if the receiving talent is there, the Niners will utilize it both in the playcalling and execution. FA WRs should jump at the chance to play with this team.
+1. Nailed it completely.
Marquee Colston. He is big and fast, he got good hands, and he catches everything.
Did anyone see that TD catch at the 1 or 2 yd line, against Culliver? Great throw, great catch, and Culliver played it as best as any CB could, defending that pass.
V. Jackson: sorry to say, another Braylon Edwards(got all the physical tools, but lacks the heart/mental aspect. With one of the best QB in the game, he should be getting at least 15 TD if he is that good.
Have to agree, Colstan makes all the catches. He’s a #1 on anybody’s list.
Neither of those players will be available with the 30 th pick… Vjax will be franchised, Dwayne bowe won’t be worth the money in free agency. Doesn’t have elite size or speed. Juron criner out of Arizona will be the pick…
Because he had 67 catches for 792 yards and an 11.8 yard average and 6 touchdowns? Which by the way is less yards, touchdowns, and yards /catch than in his two years under Singletary.
TE stats vs the rest of the league: 10th in yards, 8th in catches, 10th in targets, and tied for 7th in touchdowns.
Great player, but seriously underutilized. Why did we wait until the playoffs to really focus our offense around him?
It’s either because of our conservative offense, Alex Smith not being talented enough, or both. Not good for potential big name free agents at WR.
i think part of the problem is that alex had little reason to trust his receivers (other than vernon). how many dropped passes in one divisional playoff game does it take for alex to stop throwing your way? in the case of crabtree, the answer is three.
Nicely done Grant. And your assumption is correct I believe. Wide receivers at least the good ones, have egos. Bowe has played with a crappy QB and he is looking for more production. V Jack lit it up like a pin ball machine. No way he takes two steps back. DeSean? NO freaking way he puts up with not being targeted. Any GOOD FA wide receiver would start showing discontent less than halfway through the season and Harbaugh wouldn’t have it.
The draft is the way to if they are going to continue to have Alex sling it for them.
And you are correct. Jeffery is SLOW. VERY SLOW. But a lot of boards have us selecting him…
If we think Ginn is too banged up we should seriously consider DeSean. He is a great returner, a very good wide reciever, and he will be coming home so he would probably do very well. I think we need to look long and hard at picking up DeSean Jackson if they do not put the franchise tag on him.
DeSean bailed on his team this year not exactly a good sign for a team player.
I want to agree with you but I fear DeSean and Crabtree in the same locker room.
As much as I like the guy, if DeSean couldn’t get paid in Philly, he won’t get the payday he wants in SF. It’s the draft for us. Grant’s logic is sound – given what we already have, we need to add size on the outside routes. I’ll add that if just size were enough, we wouldn’t have released Edwards; he needs to be able to run those routes.
D.Jack is a disruptive force, by most accounts.
The other FAs, if they’re any good, the smart money says they’ll be franchise-tagged.
Better to grow our own from the draft.
Dwight Jones, Alshon Jefferey, Mohamed Sanu should be somewhere in the neighborhood of where we pick in either late first, early second round. Don’t be surprised to see Juron Criner from AZ climb a bit, too. He’s projected as a late rounder due to some off-field stuff that some are saying now was all overblown BS. Criner is an interesting prospect.
I’m not sure I agree with Grant on Michael Floyd. His stock will probably fall once teams learn all there is to know on the various off-field issues, drunk driving and other alcohol-related junk.
He’s got an alcohol restriction device on the ignition of his car so obviously there’s a problem there. Not sure I would take a chance on Floyd. But… I assume they’ll do their due diligence on the guy and maybe he’s matured some.
Yeah, it seems like Fleener would be a better option. I’m starting to think Fleener is the obvious pick.
I seriously wonder if it could be Fleener, to be honest.
My guess for today: Fleener in the first, Brian Quick in the second.
I like those 2 picks! I heard contradicting stories about Brian Quick at the senior bowl. One story said he was turning heads and another said his stock was falling. Coming out of Appalachian State, he wasn’t doing as well against the better corners. But I think the upside for him is huge. The guy has huge hands and is 6’4″, 222 lbs.
A number of guys the 9ers are talking to at the senior bowl invlude;
Criner wr, Arizona
McNutt wr, Iowa
Keenan Robinson, lb, Texas
Brandon Thompson, dt, Clemson
Doug Martin, rb, Boise St.
Bobby Wagner, lb, Utah St.
I think Doug Martin would be an interesting addition also.
Greg Roman typically calls only 20-30 pass plays per game, but that’s in large part *because* we don’t have a legit #1 WR. Add that threat, and those pass plays will naturally go up.
If they convert some 3rd downs that number would go up.
Losing Morgan and Edwards early in the season impacted Roman’s playcalling. I think if those guys had stayed healthy all year you’d see more pass plays dialed up by Roman. Also, Gore isn’t getting any younger and I don’t think Hunter is an everydown back, therefore unless they draft a diamond in the rough our running game is going to go down a peg next year. Thus, we will be relying alot more on the pass.
I don’t know much about the WR draft class but I’d expect us to draft a WR in the early rounds and if the money is right we’ll sign a solid free agent. I would love to see us draft Blackmon from OK state but there’s no way he goes lower than 5.
I’m betting free agents will be more willing to go to San Francisco because of the coaching alone but I don’t believe the teams going to try and build through free agency and sign expensive big names.
Let me dust off my crystal ball.
End of the 2012 season I’ll make a comment about Alex’s lack of production again ( even though he’ll have another year in the offense and another weapon)
The apologists will argue that he only had one year to build rapport with the new wideout…lol
I’m here all week.
When you say “lack of production” do you mean fantasy point stats? Or a winning precentage that gets the team to brink of the SB?
Or I should I ask you later in the week?
did your crystal ball predict the 2nd best record in the league, fewest turnovers, 61+% completion, 17 tds against only 5 ints, a 90 rating, and not one but TWO come from behind drives of at least 80 yards to score a game-winning td in less than four minutes against an offense like the saints?
didn’t think so.
Hmmmm. Dead last in every offensive category year to year. Even after the great Harbaugh came here he is still dead last in every offensive category. I would be able to turn a blind eye to it to if…… Alex improved his league low 3rd down conversions. This is the stat in which he consistently fails that has an overall effect on the team.
Smith takes care of the ball and it is impressive. Unfortunately it comes at a cost. His needle is tilted more towards protect than win. Just ask David Akers. Also a big contributor to his percentage being over 61% is the fact that he completes passes on third down. Unfortunately a large amount of those passes always check down short of the first down marker. While it boosts his completion percentage, it doesn’t move the chains and it doesn’t help his tired defense.
But I know. It is now the fault of the WR’s……. Unbelievable.
>>His needle is tilted more towards protect than win.
And yet the wins kept coming this season.
>>Dead last in every offensive category year to year.
There’s another team with one of it’s squads dead last in stats. Last I heard they were in the big dance.
Too easy. The hook is baited but it’s tainted, sour, and could poison you…DON’T BITE!!! LMAO.
no hoff its just the truth. if you dont think Smith needs to get better, than your a waste of time or your related. get real Hoff. The defense carried this team this year. numbers dont lie. Alex needs to improve and so does the offense. And Smith is the leader. Great post Bay. Im backing Smith but I gotta keep it real too. Smith needs to improve. Crabs could have had at LEAST 3 more Tds and 1000 yards if Smith would have looked downfield FIRST instaed of the “safe” routes. Thats just the truth.
He’s gotta work on that this offseason. I dont know what Grant watches at the games, but I ALWAYS focus on the weak parts of the team, and this year it was Passing. And I personally saw a lot of TD’s left out on the field this year.
Hey fanatic…Time to get a new crystal ball. Remembering your predictions at the beginning of this season, this one didn’t serve you well.
Noob…. Pick on the other noobs. Your talking to a vet. Your like new car flags………NO RESPECT! Earn your stripes first.
What about drafting Mohamed Sanu hes projected to go late 1st-2nd rd.
He seems more like a slot/flanker, not as much of a split end/red zone threat.
What about Blackmon from OSU? Any chance they trade up to draft him?
He would require trading next year’s first, too, and that’s pretty expensive.
Indeed
Yeah, but if you look at how he blocks, you could easily understand why the 49ers can fall in love with him. And according to various report is a “blue collar type” and a “consummate team player”… ;-)
Still, he seems like a replacement for Crabtree or Morgan, not Edwards.
I was referring to Sanu…
I’m not sure he cannot play split… I think they are playing him in the middle coz he’s not scared of contacts (actually it seems he’s enjoying it!!! :-D ). And Crab was playing Split in college… as Miller was playing DE… I mean, not always college and NFL collide… ;-)
Thanks for your insight on Sanu.
Just my opinion… I hope I can say it without bother…
You are welcome anyway! Thanks also for your article, interesting as always.
Would free agent WR’s come here? An astounding yes! A very good WR could make a name for himself here on a very good playoff bound team in 2012 knowing that the key missing piece on offense is WR. They would also know by past history that VD has been very successful with AS throwing to him and that connection is very productive.
BTW, I’m not so sure MC is the other starter in 2012. Two times this season his post-game comments weren’t about the team – once during the season and after the playoff game against the Giants. I didn’t hear any negativity from any other player the whole season. Add in his disappearance in the N.O. playoff game (3 drops) and then the championship game, he is not reassured a starting role. Remember every position has competition per JH and WR is no exception.
If there is a reason Bowe or Jackson aren’t signed here, it will be about money and a bidding war. If that plays out to that end, then the 9ers have to go after a top receiver in the draft in either the 1st or 2nd round. TB has proven this year that he can find talent so the faith is with him and the scouting staff to do so.
I agree you with you somewhat Hof but the nature and history of the WR position entails a lot of ego and me first attitude. All the greats have it in one way or the other. Its a very competitive position. However, I do think the right free agent would definately come to SF because they know that these type of coaches game plan and utilize a system based on all the players strengths.
There is no doubt that Alex will become a better downfield passer with or without a bonafide, elite WR. The guy is a tireless worker and Harbaugh will identify every single flaw and strength in Smith’s game and accentuate it this offseason. If people who watched the Niners this year did not see a different Alex Smith and/or improved Alex Smith this year, they are blind. If they also think this guy at 28yrs old has reached his ceiling than they are ignorant. No one knows or can say this type of comment because its impossible to know. What you can say is this guy is tireless worker, tough, consummate team guy that wants to win. I coach for a living, not football, but what I do know is you can coach and teach vision and especially with guys that want to improve.
@hof
I agree with your MC assessment. There are lot of people here saying that the Niners will shake a lot of stuff up, implying AS is not the starter.
I would bet that MC is not the starter (and thus not on the team) a lot quicker than I would bet AS. JH has gone out of his way to promote AS the whole year. What would it mean to the rest of the guys in the locker room if they just got rid of AS? What does that say about Coach? What does that say about when coach says nice things about you?
JH has not thrown people under the bus, but he hasn’t gone out of his way to compliment every player like he has AS. Did he say MC should be in the Pro Bowl this year? Don’t think he talked all that much about a lot of players.
@FDM
Of course JH and staff can help coach AS to have “vision”. I mean what is a coach there to do anyway if he can’t? The QB has the arm or not. That is largely genetic. He has the height and speed (again mostly genetic, but you can work on your speed a bit with practice). Eventually, any QB can figure out the playbook given enough time.
So, the coach is supposed to help the QB do all the things that the QB can learn. Seeing the field is a big part of being a QB, and I just can’t believe that is another natural trait. Where you either have it or you don’t.
I would like to see DB or TB have that innate ability when the Defense is on him before he even sets his feet after dropping back to pass. Oh. Wait. I have seen it. And, they didn’t look that good when it happens to them. Not a coincidence.
Let’s see if Crabtree can make it to training camp. Bottom line, he does not get separation. It seems when he does make a catch the DB is right with him. I’d rather see the team spend the surplus on it’s own free agents. Baalke and Harbaugh will find someone.
@Andrew
Is it easier to find a starting WR or a starting QB in FA?
We all know the answer, so I don’t need to state it. AS is staying here.
“Would free agent WR’s come here?”
Only if they like the idea of playing in the post-season and potentially getting a big shiny ring at the big dance.
Otherwise… nah. :P
I suspect the 49ers take two large receivers in the draft, one early and one late. There are some other diamonds in rough in the later rounds that may be better speed than these more polished receivers mentioned above. The combine 40 times this year are going to be big for determining WR draft order.
@JRSanDiego
I agree completely…take two receivers in the draft, and give up Ginn and Crabtree in trades to make it happen. It has been speculated since draft day, that Crabtree was a cowboy fan and didn’t want to be here, so talk to Jerry Johnson and GIT HIM GONE! Every team in the league would love to have have Ted Ginn Jr returning kicks for them, and maybe become a great receiver under THEIR WR’s coach. We sign our FA’s, pick up a big bonus WR in FAgency, and back that up with two like Sanu and Jeffries or Streeter. Josh Morgan on the outside, Williams in the slot, and let the others fight for the other WR position…could do worse….
I think you are wrong about Jeffery as slow, I have read several times that he has great speed, great hands, and knows how to get open and run routes, and I think niners can use this guy.
One of the biggest concerns is also Alshon’s weight…….Mike Williams anyone???? Apparently, he played at around 230 this season, but he was a little “soft” and out of shape. That is not a good sign.
Grant, can you do an article where you lay out the Niner’s 2012 projected spending versus the cap?
Otherwise, its clear the biggest gaping hole on the team is at WR; if that’s the hole it has to be fixed, and it has to be fixed while this defense is still young enough to operate at the level we witnessed in 2011. Given how short peak effectiveness can be in the NFL, i think that means we need someone who can produce big in 2012 – no time for a WR project from the draft, at least with that #1 pick…its gotta be someone who can produce now. Which would lead me to favor a top free agent, hence questioning your statement that the Niners cant afford to sign their own free agents plus a WR.
the counter to this (i’ll debate myself) is that the Niners D and run game (if Gore is healthy) is good enough to carry the team thru most of the regular season – so we really only need a rookie WR to play like a veteran after he’s learned some things in his first 10 or so games. so a rookie has a chance to be a big enough producer to get us over the hump in 2012. the big “ifs” are the defense staying healthy, and figuring out a way to keep Gore healthy or finding another stud rb in the draft. Hunter is a great changeup guy, but he doesnt look like he’s sturdy enough to be a featured back in a ball control offense.
Coby Fleener and he will be there at the end of the first round
Joke!!!
No joke – Fleener is listed at 6’6″ 252 lbs with above average speed (4.5). He has tremendous hands and excellent athleticism. He’s Gronk with more speed and quickness. Kiper ranks him number 24 (best at his position) on his draft broad with a first round grade. With Davis, Walker and Fleener – Harbaugh ran a lot of three TE formations at Stanford – the Niners would be hard to defend. To much speed for the LBs and size for the DBs.
Mmmhmm. That’s what I was thinking when I had the crazy thought of splitting Davis out as a receiver and bringing in another tight end. Fleener is projected as a second round guy (somewhere in the middle if I remember right).
Stanford’s big Guard is projected in the first round. Our right side is not so good. Anthony Davis, has he done enough to keep his job? Adam Snyder? Maybe it’s a Guard for us in the first round.
So I guess by way of rambling there I meant to say that there are some Stanford guys in the neighborhood of where we draft and are very good players. Both guard and tight-end.
Hmm…
@Adam
Would it shock you if the Niners just took the best player available, regardless of position? For the first round at least. I don’t know if they are going to want to trade up to get a WR (the one position all us fans have convinced ourselves that the team needs).
I’m not sure.
I would think they would certainly take the best player available within the boundaries of all the needs.
Could it be a guy in the secondary? Could it be a guard? Could it be a receiver? Maybe it is Fleener at TE?
Dunno, it’s always interesting, that’s for sure.
@Adam
Think it might be a safety?
If DG is as big a jerk this off-season as he was last off-season, and wants too much, I wouldn’t mind a safety.
DW is one heck of a general out there. His presence let DG run around like he did this year. If DG leaves, he better have a DW type guy back there with him, or else that team will pay heavily.
Could be. Goldson kind of took a huge chance last year. Fortunately for us, no one wanted him and we ended up getting him cheaper, I think? Don’t remember the details now.
Could be another CB. They might wait to see if Holcomb can come back or not. I think they expect Culliver to step up. Sounds to me as if Spencer is done.
Who knows. Fun to speculate though.
I like Sanu. Bowe is our answer at wr. Sign him, and draft a speedster in the later rds. We need to find a replacement for Gore. A big bruiser with decent speed ALA, micheal bush of the Raiders.
I can’t agree on Bowe. He has alligator arms in the middle and he’s not a great blocker. His hands are also suspect.
He has the size and speed but not the mental toughness.
No one’s mentioning Marques Colston from New Orleans. Great WR, solid person. I’d much rather see him over Bowe or Jackson. Both have proven to be problem children in the past…
Go NINERS
Colston has played all 16 games in a season just twice.
Colston has played in 90% of the Saints game in his 6 year career. He has only missed significant time once which was 5 games, the other 5 years he has missed 4 other games. That is more reliable then Gore
I’m with you. He would be a good signing.
Grant,
IYO does a big name free agent WR come here if we do not overpay?
No, not if Alex Smith is the quarterback. That’s why I think they should get their receiver in the first round of the draft.
Agreed.
Plaxico Burress would probably sign for cheap.
Grant,
have you been inside the stadium club? If so, have you seen the picture of three DB’s sitting on a bench. #21 Eric Wright, #27 Carlton Williamson, and #24? Do you know who number 24 is in that picture? From far away I couldn’t tell. From close up it’s obvious…
I haven’t, but I’m guessing it’s Lott with the wrong number on his jersey?
@Grant,
How did u come up with that? BTW you are CORRECT!!!
There’s no way the Saints let Colston go, Brees loves throwing to that guy.
Saints don’t have the cap room to sign all the players they would like to. They are most likely going to lose Carl Nicks and they have to sign Brees to a huge deal. Colston has already said he’s going to the highest bidder and I have a feeling that won’t be the Saints.
Colston also said that he’s not giving the Saints a “hometown discount”! I’m with rocket.
Ryan, the character or lack there of would be my concern with Bowe and Jackson, also. Unless there is a cap casualty somewhere, I don’t see any obvious #1 wideout free agents.
#24- Derrick Harmon
It’s Lott. I wish there was a way to post pictures on this site. I’d share the ones I have from the game…
bay, can you post them to flickr or some other photo sharing site?
Grant,
You and I are thinking alike. Bowe and V. Jackson are probably the two WRs I think would make the biggest difference as legitimate #1s. I think Baalke is likely to not try to overspend similar to the 2011 lock-out shortened offseason. However, I also think if the team believes they are a dominating WR away from improving the offense, they may make an exception. I am assuming Crabtree slides into the #2 and Morgan takes the slot role away from Kyle Williams. Ginn serves as a breather replacement and occasional deep threat.
Assuming the team resigns all of the major free agents, there are other position upgrades needed in the draft and mid-tier free agency to make us a postseason favorite. We need a backup guard to replace Chilo Rachal and challenge Snyder for the starting job. We should consider drafting TE Coby Fleener from Stanford. Putting him with Davis and Walker would create defensive matchup nightmares. We also need to identify another OLB Aldon Smith type. More pass-rush will make our defense even stronger.
What’ all the talk about Coby Fleener about? Yeah, he’s a good TE, but so is Byham, VD and Delanie Walker, and last years Stanford TE that spent all season on the PS, as well as Justin Peele. I don’t think a ‘six-pak’ is called for. Get a big FA and a couple of big WR’s in the draft. That would bring us back to being closer to the BW version of the WCO. Effective WR’s will make our running backs and TE’s more dangerous. Spread the field
Fleener is taller, faster, and he runs better routes than Byham. I expect him to be the Niners pick in the first round. He’s taller and faster than Alshon Jeffery.
I think the 49ers have a choice to make at the end of round 1. They can either draft a tall receiver that is going to be a developmental type, or they can make the TE crew elite and draft a guy like Fleener (Stanford). Adding an athletic 6’6″ TE with the talents of Walker and Vernon would be special. I hope the Niners don’t use FA to address the needs at WR. It would be way too costly to get a guy like Bowe or V. Jackson. Signing guys like that would be a 1 year band-aid, but not a solution. I believe that Big and Slow is not the way to go in the NFL. That can work in college but not the NFL…plenty examples of that.
I think wr and cb are important needs but there is talent in both positions to draft in middle rounds. I see Fleener like a luxury pick (we have 2 great TE), however I ‘d agree with the Fleener pick. That would be a fantastic TE combo, maybe we could even keep byham. We know JH loves TE’s.
But what about other luxury pick in round 1. Someone like L.Miller, just imagine Frank, Hunter and Miller, besides very soon FG will need replacement and Miller will be the feature back. Frank is amazing but he gets injured a lot and sometimes he asks for his own rests trough games.
Vincent Jackson “could” sign in S.F. even for a little less cash. However, AJ Smith has a very rocky history with Jackson and could franchise tag him, out of spite.
He’s not what you’re looking for, but I really like Eddie Royal. He was hurt for most of 2010 and looked a lot fresher in 2011. His biggest problem is Tim Tebow throwing to him, which deflated his stats a lot.
Royal can also return punts, which as we can see is a real asset.
Another guy I like was also hurt in 2011.
Domenik Hixon. I wouldn’t offer him a hefty contract, he’s on his second ACL in two years, but I would bring him in for a look in camp and load his deal with incentives.
Lastly, file this name away; “Tommy Streeter.”
He’s 6’4 225 and runs a 4.4 40. He played for the Hurricanes and was their star wideout. He’s a junior eligible and he’s declared.
They could easily get him in the lower first, “maybe” the second.
Jackson is not the droid you’re looking for.
Vincent Jackson btw is not big and slow. He runs about a 4.45 forty.
@Grant
Good piece! At least we know that there are several options at WR. Has anybody considered adding Ted Ginn to the pot with our 1st rounder for Bowe or Jackson? Whoever comes to the 49ers is going to need a locker…Maybe even for for better draft placement….
TG is a free agent.
Sign Robert Meachem then draft Mo Sanu in the 1st round and Ryan Broyles in the 4th round.
Crabtree, Meachem, Sanu, Broyles, Williams is a good young group of WRs.
Don’t forget Morgan.
My meager research seems to indicate that there are many more big and not so fast receivers in this year’s draft class, and I would expect the Niners to take at less two. My favorite is Sanu who fits Harbaugh’s fascination with multi-purpose players. The guy runs, catches, throws, returns, and kicks once in a while. Seriously he is rated for having great hands and body control as well as leadership qualities. Other interesting WR are Streeter, Jeff Fuller out of Texas A&M, and being a Cal alumni Marvin Jones. Given last year’s draft however, my predictions won’t be any where near what they do. To me, last year’s draft was the most creative thing of an amazing year that they did.
We don’t have time to develop a WR through the draft, and we are not playing for the future…the time is now. I know that Baalke typically refrains from spending big dollars on FAs, but I bet we see him make a play for V Jax. While we are at it we should save that overpriced 8-11mm that people think we are going to commit to Alex Smith and bring in Josh Johnson for a quarter the cost.
You can’t assume that either player won’t sign with the Niners because they won’t put up big numbers. If they are true #1 type-receivers, they’ll get the ball thrown to them, these coaches aren’t idiots. To me the only question is are the Niners willing to put out the money to get them? If they are, I have no doubt that this is an attractive team to come to for anyone.
FA’s go where the money is. Nobody is going to turn their nose up at coming to the Niners if they offer the biggest contract. Thing is, the Niners won’t be the top bidders so it’s moot.
I’m not sure a WR is the missing piece to a SB but it couldn’t hurt. I wouldn’t trade up for Michael Floyd though. There’s a number of comparable WR’s and every year you can find effective WR’s and RB’s later in the draft. A kid like Jeff Fuller fits the role of the big WR you think we need and will most likely be available in the 3rd or 4th round.
I agree they need a better redzone option but I think they may look to the TE for that. Coby Fleener could be a guy they look at if he’s still around in the 2nd. He played for Harbaugh and Roman at Stanford and fits the bill of the tall TE with good hands that is in vogue right now.
Stephen Hill and Juron Criner are a couple of other inriguing big bodied WR’s that will be available in the middle of the draft.
I would like a see a over haul, trade MC for a third round pick, keep JM as a third receiver and get two top receiver’s one from the draft and one from free agency. Also we can use another power back, who run’s North to South, FG has 2 more year’s top. I’m hoping that GR was being conservative mostly, because we have weak receiver’s and AS is not elite but is improving to be a good QB.
If you want a solid WR core without breaking the bank, you draft Sanu, then Jarius wright in the 4th. They might even be able to trade back and still get Sanu. Anyone who’s seen him play knows how he dominates. Wright is one of the fastest, most crisp route runners in the draft. We’ll need a gaurd in the 2nd and another DB. We better blow out wad on our own players contracts.
NFL 101: You are never, never, ever one player away from a Superbowl.
If Aldon Smith goes down, who replaces his production?
If Willis or Bowman goes down and Grant signs someplace else?
If either guard goes down? and no Rachal?
Who returns kicks if Ginn doesn’t regain his speed?
etc etc etc
Bad idea to trade up for anyone, we need the picks. I’d suggest best available WR or CB or Guard or OLB for our #1.
Grant can start on most teams in the NFL and make big money, and since we have PW, why would he stay.
could say we were one player away from the SB this year….and it was ted ginn
lol. True.
In other words we need a better backup kick returner.
So clearly we’re not just a WR short of a SB.
No team is ever one player short. The last coach to think that was Seifert so he drafted Dexter Carter with his first pick.
I like Mohamed Sanu better than both Floyd and Jeffery. Besides Niners would most likely need to trade up to get Floyd and I don’t think he is worth it. I think that both Sanu and Jeffery have a shot at being there when we pick. Sanu is 6’2″ and has a great wingspan. Jeffery reminds me of JJ Stokes. I think he compares well to Dewayne Bowe. If we trade up to get a player I would rather trade up in the second to get Coby Fleener. TE from Stanford who is 6’6″ and 244 lbs. I would like to see us draft Franks replacement in the 3rd. I like Doug Martin from Boise St. He has a shot to be drafted in the 2nd though.
OPS I think Sanu compares well with Dewayne Bowe.
Would Kaepernick interest any teams so we can move up and grab Michael Floyd?
Juron Criner is a big bodied dude and has great hands.
I’m all for bringing in a big FA WR (Reggie Wayne) and drafting one high in the draft. Bring in Wayne and get Floyd, Criner?
What body of work does CK have that makes him trade bait? Othereteams haven’t seen what he can do, we haven’t seen what he can do. He’s still basically a draft day project.
@ribico
I think (don’t know for certain) that hof started the CK trade bait thing.
I asked him the same basic question you are asking, but have not heard back.
Sure, we could trade him. We’d never get back the pick we used for him, essentially throwing away a 2nd round pick. That’s a smart way to stockpile talent. Not.
KENDAL WRIGHT!
We have a slim chance of landing him at the bottom 20 but my guess is that his stock will rise alot in the coming months. Forget about those free agents, i would like Bowe but he will be to pricey i think. Here is my prediction at this time
Crabtree: Trade him if you can, not a team player
The Jacksons: Vincent and DeSean will not fit as Niners
Meachem: Very fast but only catches passes wide open 60 yards downfield
Draft
Kendall Wright: This guy made RGIII alot better. This is the new Steve Smith boys.
FA: Eddie Royal: The Best hands i have ever seen during the NFL Combine, had a great starts to his career but a player who needs a chance somewhere else. Could also replace Ginn as a return man #GREATHANDS
FA: Stevie Johnson: Long arms and wide shouldered with good muscle definition. Great straight-line speed and very quick of the snap.
Even if we have Jerry Rice or Fitzgerald on the team, the 3rd down conversion and red-zone problems will persist. The problem is Alex Smith PEOPLE. Yes, he did get it done against the Saints, but he did not get it done against the Giants. Without the strong D, the Niner could have been easily 10-6.
Alex Smith plays a bit too slow and hesitant, and his decision making is just off sometimes. For every game, he will have one or two passes batted down by the defensive line. All he needs to do is step sideways and have an open throw. I look forward to Kaep or Tolzien playing, and I don’t mind have a few more INT., because INT(in opponent’s half of the field) is basically not converting on 3rd downs in disguise. I am just sick of being the last in the league in 3rd down conversion and 30% red zone TD conversion.
Alex Smith looked great throwing the football at Vernon Davis, if he gets a WR he can trust, he will be a great player. We got no other option right now than Alex Smith
yeah, alex had zero receivers worth a lick other than vd and delani. everyone else was spotty at best, and crabz was, well, i don’t know what to think of him other than that i can’t ever remember him giving me a reason to see him as being a ‘team player.’ we all saw how he could make those “wow” throws when he trusted the receiver like he did with vernon. give him some dedicated gamer wr’s, and he’ll be shutting up more haters next season.
@alameda
You’ve never seen JR or LF, have you.
JR made every Niner QB look great. Pre-season, regular season, post season. Back up, starter, back-up to the back-up. WOW. You really don’t know your football or Niner history or JR.
And LF is the best in the league. He has nothing of any worth around him, and still has lead his team to several division titles and their lone Super Bowl appearance. Think Warner lead that team? LF had the best postseason in WR history during that run. And when KW didn’t target LF, the Pitt D beat him and the rest of the team up. LF nearly single-handedly (as one can in the game of football) beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl.
You don’t think that either of those guys could make a big difference?
It’s a blog, and it is America so you have your rights for an opinion. But, man, you are so wrong.
P.S. Might want to check out AS’s redzone efficiency last year before you mutter another BS opinion. Check some facts once in a while.
I’m really looking forward to seeing Tolzien in the pre-season. Harbaugh was high on the kid and snapped him up quick as soon as SD let him go.
I agree. After reading TK’s article in the Merc regarding trading CK, I think it a trade is more viable especially if STolzien shows vast improvement especially given his release is less project oriented than CK’s.
*long release*
I wonder about that, too. Could CK be on the trading block?
Is it a smart move? What’s the perceived value?
I have mixed feelings about that idea. I like CK, nice kid, wanted to be a Niner since he was a kid, big/strong, etc. But… can he make the throws? Sounded to me like when Grant was reporting from camp/practices, CK was having some accuracy issues.
Dunno. Kinda torn on this idea.
I have a sneaky suspicion that Scott Tolzien may end up being a very good player in this league. His college games were pretty decent but not enough to say definitively one way or another. Just a weird gut feeling I have on that guy. Good size, accurate arm, good velocity on the ball, etc. Not particularly fast but the scouts thought he was fairly mobile.
@Adam
What will you get for CK at this point?
He didn’t play in division 1 NCAA, right?
He didn’t start any games this year.
He didn’t look all that great in pre-season.
He was not one of the first QB’s taken in the draft last year.
He has an odd throwing motion (supposedly).
How does any of this add up to a valuable draft pick? If anything, we get next to nothing for the guy and he develops on some other team and kicks our rear ends for over a decade.
I just don’t think you give up on a 2nd round pick so readily.
Hard to say what they’re looking at doing. I certainly have no inside info. It’s all hypothetical.
Hell they might sign Smith and trade him. Or Crabs. No one really knows, exactly. Some of it’s performance, some of it’s economics, right?
I really don’t know what CK is worth. Correct, Nevada is a non-BCS school but I don’t know if that hurts him necessarily. I would think though that they’d have a better chance trading a known quantity.
Who knows. Fun to watch though.
Actually we should point out that Nevada’s had probably one of the best offenses outside the BCS so it helps CK in that way.
Like I said though, I’d be torn on that idea. I like CK and I don’t know what we have in him.
On the flipside, we have some pretty big needs and how we get there is going to be tricky. What thing outweighs another thing, etc.
Nobody is Trading CK. That’s Harbaughs first QB pick. He is grooming him to be the future. And DS enough with your nonsense. What QB on our team did look good in preseason?
Kaepernick is the only QB in NCAA History to throw for 10K and rush for 4K. He will be a beast and definitely has the ” over my dead body ” quality to him.
Stevie is 6-2
The 49ers are pretty loaded at every position except wide receiver. This isn’t a team where there are so many holes that we have to count on every draft pick working out. So I agree with Grant’s idea that we should be willing to trade up. My first choice is always to get your needs met in free agency if at all possible, but without overspending too much. The 49ers are an infinitely more attractive destination than they were a year ago, of course, even for a WR. But if they can’t get a really good receiver in free agency, then do what it takes to move up in the draft (unless Balke identifies a sleeper). I’m not familiar with a lot of the WR’s, but I salivate over Blackmon, who looked like the second coming in his game against Stanford, but he’ll probably be taken in the first three.
You’re only loaded if all the FAs re-sign. Some might not. Free agency causes holes.
Don’t know about that Adam.
Last FA period seemed to fill more holes than it made.
I think Denver drafts Sanu. With Sanu and Tebow, you get the Jesus factor AND the prophet Mohammed factor ….. and with The Lord and Allah pulling in the same direction …… man, no one’s gonna beat that, baby! (* yeah, yeah, I know that the Jewish/Christian God and Muslim God are actually the SAME creator, and the three religions all stem from Abraham. I’m just having a little fun here.)
God Damn that is Funny! I like you Kezar Mike! Seriously funny!
Absolutely best post I’ve read in a while; keep up the good work ( my wife is wondering what I’m laughing about at this time of night…)!
What about Mohamed sanu from rutgers. He looks like a harb/balke kind of guy. Tough blocks well and makes great catches. Maybe a guy they can get with their 2nd pick.
ANiner:
Disagree with you. If we had Fitzerald we are preparing for the SuperBowl. Alex is not hesitant throwing to Davis: see the last two games. In Detroit he wasn’t hesitant throwing to Walker. If he had Larry to throw to he would just wing in near him knowing he would probably make the catch. Alex hesitate with receivers he doesn’t trust.
Trent is gonna find some guy at Moosefart U. and he will be great. I trust Baalke and Harbaugh to come up with some outstanding picks.
In the meantime, I’m overjoyed by the season we just had. Everyone stepped up to the plate and no one more so than Alex…
Crabs will not be on the 2012 roster. His lack of production and burnt bridges will mean a new home for the Crabmeister in 2012
Why did we keep bringing Alex back year after year after year after year after year after year? Because we were too invested. Owed him a lot of money.
For those of you that think that Crabs won’t start or will be gone think again. He still have two years left and we are paying him a lot of money. Quit being haters and support your teammates.
Like Cosell said. Crabtree is open. Not all the time but he is open. Can’t make a play if your QB doesn’t throw you the rock.
Hopefully Harbaugh works out the issue next year so that Alex learns to get his number one receiver the ball more often.
actually could have walked away from AS a couple of years back when he took his pay cut
>>Alex learns to get his number one receiver the ball more often.
Yes, we are all expecting to see huge, huge numbers from Vernon next season.
Grant: I agree that Trent Baalke’s priority should be signing our own FAs. It’s clear TB and JH are not going after guys that don’t put TEAM first; even experienced ones. Trent let all the “money talks” FAs sign first (Baas, Nnamdi) and then went after the “I’m good, haven’t been taken, and want to play” guys (Goodwin, Whitner, Rodgers). His strategy was helped by the shortened FA signing period. He’ll have to be even more patient this year between March 13 and the late April draft date to see who is still available.
Like many others here, I like Sanu from Rutgers. Yes, he sounds like he has slot skills like Crabtree but without the bad foot and still doubtful attitude. I like Crab’s potential but think TB would be wise to get some trade value for him now. Crabs blocks well and shows flashes that make him attractive on many rosters. Something tells me Crabs will leave as soon as he becomes FA eligible. Get something for him now!
Tommy Streeter from the U would be a great add to the roster. Delanie and Vernon can line up at WR and be better than most WRs in the league right now. Morgan will be back and he runs great routes and comes back to the pocket-fleeing QB. I’d rather see Baalke use two draft picks on WRs than sign a free agent with big cash and ego driven priorities.
Looking at the top twenty WRs in 2011, three were undrafted players: Victor Cruz, Wes Welker and Nate Washington. Three others were 6th or 7th rounders: Colston, Stevie Johnson and Antonio Brown. Baalke missed on Ronald Johnson from USC in the 6th round. He hit on Colin Jones and Bruce Miller so whoever he listened to on the WR might get ignored this year.
I’ll leave the “Alex is not weak” and “the QB is still Alex” comments alone, for now.
Attitude and chemistry has a lot to do with the QB to WR connection. MC has talent and may be more effective with a top WR on the other side. At some point the 9er brass will need to decide if his demeanor and body language is team oriented and if he fits their long term plans.
Grant,
I’m a little late on responding to your grades, but wanted to add — Alex did well for the year. He missed throws he had to make in the NFC Championship game. He is just as responsible for the loss as KW, even though it’s easy to see the KW mistake. Also, JH make some play-calling mistakes and coaching mistakes. Shouldn’t have JM in the Tampa game. Baalke also made a few mistakes. Should have replaced Edwards and Morgan. That said, both are rookie GM and coach. They were so close to getting to the SB anyway. Imagine how much better this team is going to be. I don’t the window will close because the team is now positioned for the next 10 years. In a way, if they had won this year, we might go back to mediocrity because it would have just been a magical season. Now baalke and JH will be hungry every year. It won’t be magic, it will be their talent and smarts.
Okay — clearly with some new wide-outs the Niners are going to be better. But let me throw this out there — Would you rather have Payton Manning for 10 mil a year, or Alex? I love Alex’s story but I would role the dice with Payton. He NEVER had a defense to back him like the current SF one. If he lasts for 2-3 years, then that gives CK time to develop. If he gets hurt, well then he can coach CK. It’s WORTH it, and I’ve been a Smith supporter. By making that FA deal, that cuts Alex loose, and you will get a top WR to joing the Niners for sure. Plus we get to let Alex and find another gig some place else and we can make the conversation be about money and not talent.
If Peyton Manning could play, yes, the Niners should sign him. But, I doubt he ever plays again.
I agree Grant, i think its highly unlikely that he will ever play again. We should stick with Alex Smith, Eli Manning did not play well in this game, yeah he took the beating but he did not win Giants the game. Kyle did #10points
PM’s better days are behind him even if he can play again. If JH deems AS is not long term, go with CK. These long in the tooth QB’s that go from team to team because they refuse to retire seldom works for their new team.
Sounds like Manning and Irsay are taking shots at each other now in the media.
I’d say he’s done in Indy.
Maybe the only question is: is he gone before the $28 mil payday in March?
I agree..I have fused discs in my neck and the doctor says it takes a year for the bone to heal . No golf for eight months after the surgery. Now what doctor in their right mind is going to give the Manning the OK to play in the NFL? You lose elasticity and the ability to bend your neck and therefore a big hit could do some serious damage to your spinal cord.
@fan
Can you please point out to me any big time throws PM made in the playoffs (Championship game and Super Bowl) which won the game for the team in a high pressure moment?
If you can’t point them out, then what is the upgrade? AS even won his first playoff game. PM struck out 1-2-3 before he won his first. And he has always had better offensive weapons than AS has ever had.
The one year he won, the Indy D carried him. The last Super Bowl, he blew it big time throwing an Int in the waning moments near the red-zone which was returned for a TD, losing the game.
Fan,
nicely said. If Payton is healthy and that’s a big if, then a big name free agent WR would come to play on this team and would be more inclined to take less money up front and load it up with incentives.
Want to know why BE and MC both got frustrated? Because they both have huge incentives in their contracts and both figured out that they wouldn’t reach their incentives.
Put a real QB back there and it changes the game. And the plus is that our Oline isn’t an issue anymore.
Payton isn’t gonna play anywhere for 10 mil a year. He got 26mil for nothing last year. Plus Payton is still recorvering and might never play again anyway.
and if he watched any of the Niner game films this year with the inconsistant pass protection, seeing some of the hits Alex took this year just might make his neck start twitching during the film session. LOL
Oh I wanted to add to my post regarding Niners singing Payton. If they did that, I would make Niners SB favorites for sure and Payton gets to join the franchise that embodies great QB play!!! And then he can shut up that stupid Bill Simmons from ESPN.
Blackmon will most likely end up in st Louis. Do that means we have to deal with him and Fitzgerald in our division….
We need play makers on offense. Sign Bowe, instant strength, hands and speed. If Manning is available, no one should be insulted or upset if we sign him. Even Alex. Forget about credibilty with players. One would argue they’re trying to win now. Imagine not having to think about the QB position. This blog might close down!! Lol
One would argue also, remind me if a signature throw Brady has made or Brees…. These players are instant offense, TDs, yards and credibility. I’m not bashing Alex because I believe in him. I’m just stating the facts. Manning is a hall of famer. He has had more success than Alex might ever see. He takes chances, Alex checks down. With our D, we almost made it to the superbowl. Imagine if we were ranked in the middle if the pack on offense. We might be undefeated. Our special teams played out if their minds during the season. Our D was lights out. The offense was Vd. A fake field goal and a run down gore.
A healthy Manning could play at least 2-3 more years. If he gets hurt, then the next guy, CK or Tolzien need to be ready.
I’m not for stock piling in this draft. I’d rather get 3-4 good players to add depth this year or start right away. Our offense was HORRIBLE.
How about we pull a Ditka and trade the house Luck. They would get better really quick with all of those picks and we’d gave our guy!
Manning does not need money man! This guy has at least $300 million in the bank. It’s all about the rings now, the legacy. He wants to win. Imagine if his brother wins more….
They need to sign him of he’s healthy. Forget about hurt feelings. This is a business. Teams want to win now. Superbowls add at least 50 million to owners pockets and leverage for t.v deals, tickets, vending and merchandise.
If manning us healthy enough to play, it’ll be some where else. The bridge has burned in Indy.
Signing the big name QB worked great for the Jets and Vikings look at those rings Farve got them.
philly,
Those team were not even close to this one talent wise. Our defense with an average QB almost went to the super bowl. Imagine it with a good offense that sustains long drives, score TD’s instead of field goals and give the Defense even more rest between posessions. Did you know that our D was on the the field for 90 snaps the last game? 90!!! compare that to the avergage between 50-60 in the league and you know how bad our Offense was/is.
If I remember correctly them Viking teams were set on D and had playmakers on O they were just a QB away from the superbowl.
Look,
Alex Smith is at best a B QB. I like the guy. But that’s what he is. Can you win with him? Sure! We almost did. Payton is a 1st ballot Hall of Fame QB. As smart as they come. And I was never Payton fame. He had won a lot of games against Brady. So from a business perspective, is AS worth 10 mil a year? Would you take him over Payton for 10 million? Now look at the plus side of your Trent Baalke. You sign an elite QB, you are rolling the dice. We will have to unretire Gene Washington’s 18 for PM. Think of the number of 18 jerseys you will say. Imagine Payton vs. Bress. Payton vs. Rodgers. Payton vs his brother. The Niners won because AS didn’t make a lot of mistakes.
Imagine how happy Vernon Davis will be with Payton at QB. Payton made Dallas Clark an All Star.
Crabtree is in the Marvin Harrison/Reggie Wayne mold. Now you sign a big receiver and suddenly the Niners are very very dangerous.
Now look at it from Payton’s perspective. Niners ALMOST went all the way! You know he watched that game against his brother. He KNOWS the Niners have the talent and coaching. Of all the teams that need a QB, is there one more attractive then a team that was 2 muffed punts from the SB from a 1st year rookie coach? AND he is adding to the franchise that raised the level of QB play. That is not a bad way to retire.
It’s not like the fan base in love with Alex Smith, so you have nothing to lose.
In Alex’s defense with out Payton in the mix. He’s as good as the other FA quarterbacks. He’s as good as Kevin Kolb, Sam Bradford, Matt Flynn, Rob Fitzgerald, Matt Cassell. He is just not at that next level. Payton is. For the same amount of money, I go with the Hall of Famer.
nicely stated.
Never happen and Alex has already made VD an All-Pro. Crabtree is NOWHERE in the mold of Wayne\Harrison, both are smaller, quick guys, MC is bigger, slower, possesion type. He should be watching Michael Irvin films to learn how to shield himself from the DB and make the catch when he is covered, which is almost all the time.
I was rooting for Stanford, but I’d loved Justin Blackmon performance in the Fiesta Bowl.
I’ve never seen a receiver dominate a large school college game like that he did. Without Blackmon, Stanford easily wins hat game in a blowout.
The good: Justin Blackmon reminds me of a faster, younger T. Owens. Intense competitor. Fights (and wins the battle) for the ball. Despite the fact that his is “only” 6’1″ and 215, he’s Tight End strong. A buffed bad a** with speed and great hands.
The no so good: Likely to be drafted too high for the 49ers. His on field personality also reminded me of T.O. He might not be tall even to be the ideal red zone candidate. I also only saw him playing against Sanford, not the fastest secondary in football. Oregon made them look like they were wearing cement shoes too.
Bay says,
“For those of you that think that Crabs won’t start or will be gone think again. He still have two years left and we are paying him a lot of money. Quit being haters and support your teammates’
Quit being haters and support your teammates?
That is some funny stuff coming from you Bay, especially with all of the Alex hating that you do on here.
There is no doubt that Alex Smith has flaws, but like I keep asking, name one quarterback that you would rather have. And be realistic because we all know Peyton Manning is not coming here.
Da Coach,
let me take a step back. I really enjoyed this season. Right around the fifth game I reset my expectations. I thought we had an eight or nine win team. This year was a grand surprise and when I look back I can even appreciate some things that Alex did. He had an occasional good game, sprinkled in a big throw here and there. He drove me nuts to be honest but they won and they won and they won. I need to appreciate the fact that while he isn’t the main reason they win, he is no longer the main reason they are losing.
I know QB’s and I know he is not the long term QB. I also am not in a huge hurry to usher him out until we have a better replacement. I also think that with an upgrade at the other wide receiver spot his numbers will slightly get better. How much i don’t know. He just has some inherent flaws in his game that I am going to somehow try to ignore until they bring in an upgrade.
I do owe Mr. Smith one small bit of gratitude though. A huge thank you for the special moment in the 4th Quarter that will forever be ingrained in my brain against the Saints. Doesn’t get any better than that.
Smith was never the main reason they were losing. They had the worst o-line in the league, crap receivers, and a carousel of crap coaches. O-line’s improved, receivers better (not great, but better), and better coaching. Now, with Alex we are superbowl contenders.
So, yes…”quit being haters and support your teammates”. Take your own advice.
interesting to say u know QBs….
Hearing that you “know” quarterbacks makes me feel so much better.
I will start by saying that prior to this season I wanted to see Smith gone, and could not believe that they were going to bring him back when it was first mentioned. I am however a huge believer in Coach Harbaugh and since he was willing to give Smith a clean slate I did as well.
There is no doubth that Smith has his limitations. The biggest stride that he made this year was to not turn the ball over, and this played a major role in the huge turnover differential that the team had this year. Sure there were times when he did not try to make a big throw that he saw as dangerous, but when it was needed he showed that he could, and he did it over and over throughout the season during all of those comeback wins.
I personally would rather have a QB who had the type of season that Smith had, (good leader/few mistakes) over the season that someone like Newton had (good stats/too many turnovers that put the defense in bad situations). That always served my teams well when I was coaching back in the day, and seems to be what Harbaugh is looking for too.
Ok so a little off topic here is my dream off season starting with draft 1st round coby fleener te stanford 2nd round Brandon Brooks og 3rd round Tommy streeter wr 4th round Tyler nielson olb iowa 5th round Chris rainy rb Florida 6th round asa Jackson cb cal poly 7th round tj Graham wr northern Carolina obviously as stock rises this will change free agency pick up desean Jackson release Ted ginn , Kyle Williams, Brett swain more to come as I research more but in my opinion this is a great start
cold, like where you are going with this. WR, TE, OG, CB, RB, and OLB. I would like to see if we can add one more and that is DT in the second round. We need one more beast to give a breather to the guys that are there already.
I still like DeSean but there are alot of doubters out there. He is a star that can play return man and WR. I think he would be a very good fit for us and would be a homecoming for him.
Vincent Jackson would be a great choice. I just saw his highlights on Youtube and he gets really high for the ball.
Grant, on what personal research do you base your assessments of Floyd and Jefferies?
Although Crabtree isn’t dominant, he had some clutch games and is one of the reasons Alex had a super low number of interceptions. Although Alex was much better this year, 49er fans know that Alex has a tendency to throw hard and high when he’s excited. Crabtree showed that he has sticky hands, reaching up and coming down with those high throws. Those are balls that other receivers might tip and turn into a pick.
If you watch the New Orleans game closely, you will see that defenders had their hand on the ball for at least two of those drops. One play I remember specifically, he reaches up, makes contact with both hands, and the defender’s hand is between his, knocking it loose.
“If you watch the New Orleans game closely, you will see that defenders had their hand on the ball for at least two of those drops. ”
Yet, when other teams #1 WR’s have defenders hit their hands/arms, they tend to still hold onto the ball.
Remember the first game with the Giants. TB was beaten for a TD pass. The WR had to run it it, and TB was grabbing every part of the WR. Arms, hands, legs, etc. Didn’t get him to drop the ball or fumble it.
I know what play you are talking about. Still need to make the catch. The rule is “If the ball hits your hands, you make the catch.” There is nothing in small print saying “If the defender hits the ball with his hands, it is ok to drop it.”
Nice:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ben-mankiewicz/forget-the-twitter-hate-l_b_1232438.html
First the Niners need to get a QB. Alex Smith – Mr can’t convert a third down – isn’t going to win a Super Bowl. If Peyton Manning is healthy, he’d be perfect. Maybe Reggie Wayne comes along with him. Manning won’t be cheap, but how often do you get a chance like that?
Then, trade draft picks to move up to get Justin Blackmon. So what if they give up next year’s #1? If they have another great year, that’s a very low pick, anyway. Blackmon is a stud. They have a bunch of just-OK receivers already. Why draft another Crabtree? Time to clean house and bring in some guys who can play.
@Chillequea
Be careful, you may ruffle Smither’s feathers with that point of view. Soon, they’ll label you a ‘hater’ and start attacking you personally.
Clean house after missing the SB by one play, having the second best record? Nah, that would be counterproductive in a BIG way. A few changes are needed for sure, I’d love Blackmon, he looks like the real deal. I don’t know how we could pull that off though, I’m sure Harbaugh will just tell us ; )