Here is version 1.0 of my 2012 NFL mock draft. All predictions are 100 percent accurate.
You’re welcome.
1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB – Stanford. The Colts replace Peyton Manning with Luck, the Mobile Manning.
2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB – Baylor. Washington picks the other franchise quarterback in this draft.
3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT – USC. Minnesota needs a left tackle, and Kalil is the best one.
4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB – Alabama. Replaces Peyton Hillis, instantly becomes the focal point of the offense.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB – LSU. The Bucs need cornerbacks because Ronde Barber is old and Aqib Talib may be going to jail. Claiborne is the best player available.
6. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR – Oklahoma State. Big-time help for Sam Bradford.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Floyd, WR – Notre Dame. Big-time help for Blaine Gabbert, who needs all the help he can get.
8. Miami Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill, QB – Texas A&M. The Dolphins hope he’s their quarterback of the future.
9. Carolina Panthers: Quinton Coples, DE – UNC. Huge talent who can rush the passer from every position on the defensive line.
10. Buffalo Bills: Stephen Hill, WR – Georgia Tech. For the same reason that Jacksonville drafted Floyd, the Bills will draft Hill. They need to give QB Ryan Fitzpatrick all the help he can get, so they reach for a receiver. Hill will compliment Stevie Johnson, the flanker.
11. Kansas City Chiefs: Michael Brockers, DT/DE – LSU. Has the potential to become a monster five-technique defensive tackle who can play all three downs – a much more valuable player than a NT like Dontari Poe, who can only play on running downs. The Chiefs need a defensive lineman and Brockers is the best one available.
12. Seattle Seahawks: David DeCastro, OG – Stanford. Replaces Robert Gallery.
13. Arizona Cardinals: Reilly Reiff, OT – Iowa. Arizona needs a tackle and Reiff is the best one available.
14. Dallas Cowboys: Fletcher Cox, DT/DE – Mississippi State. Future replacement for Kenyon Coleman, who’s a free agent after this season.
15. Philadelphia Eagles: Devon Still, DT – Penn State. The Eagles absolutely need a defensive tackle, and Still has the potential to be a very good one.
16. New York Jets: Melvin Ingram, DE – South Carolina. They’ve needed a pass rusher for years.
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB – Alabama. Nate Clements is getting old and Leon Hall ruptured his Achilles last season, so the Bengals drat a cornerback.
18. San Diego Chargers: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB – Alabama. The Chargers need a pass rusher who can also play outside linebacker in their 3-4 defense. That’s Upshaw.
19. Chicago Bears: Whitney Mercilus, DE – Illinois. The Bears want a pass rusher to compliment Julius Peppers.
20. Tennessee Titans: Stephon Gilmore, CB – South Carolina. Replaces Cortland Finnegan.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Cordy Glenn, OG – Georgia. The Bengals want a big guard to help their run game.
22. Cleveland Browns: Kendall Wright, WR – Baylor. The Browns need more explosive play makers on offense.
23. Detroit Lions: Janoris Jenkins, CB – North Alabama. Replaces Eric Wright.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont’a Hightower, ILB – Alabama. Replaces James Farrior.
25. Denver Broncos: Jerel Worthy, DT – Michigan State. The Broncos need a defensive lineman and Worthy is the best one available.
26. Houston Texans: Luke Kuechly, ILB – Boston College. Replaces DeMeco Ryans.
27. New England Patriots: Nick Perry, DE/OLB – USC. The Patriots need another pass rusher to compliment Rob Ninkovich.
28. Green Bay Packers: Andre Branch, DE/OLB – Clemson. The Packers need another pass rusher to compliment Clay Mathews.
29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, OG – Wisconsin. Replaces Ben Grubbs.
30: SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: COBY FLEENER, TE – STANFORD. Solves the Niners’ offensive ineptitude on third down.
31. New England Patriots: Mark Barron, SS – Alabama. The best player available and New England needs a safety.
32. New York Giants: Mike Adams, OT – Ohio State. The Giants need a right tackle and some project Adams as a top-15 pick.
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Sticking with Fleener huh? At boy
*AT A BOY*
attagurl!!!
I was wondering what you guys think about this? I have been thinking lately that the dolphins will not take Tanehill with their first pick. I see them letting them slide because the only real threat is the Browns, and i see them bolstering the offencive skill positions with the 2 first rounders and taking Weeden in the 2nd. For this reason i was thinking the Dolphins were likly to replace Marshal with Floyd with their first pick and then trade back into the late first with us to take Tanehill before letting him slide to the Browns in the 2nd. We would get their 2nd and 3rd rounders (9-10th both rounds). How likely is this to happen?
Not sure Fleener makes it to 30 after his Pro Day. If he does, I’d not hesitate.
I think he will, TE’s are just not taken that high, freak of nature or not. I love fleener and it would be a great fit, but we have Davis and Walker and I just don’t see this happening.
But if all the top interior linemen are gone and Stephen Hill, I guess that would be a possibility. My other pick here would have been Dontari Poe
Vernon was #5 overall, wasn’t he?
#6 overall
Agree wiht you on that one…..wiht the acqusition of Peyton Manning, the Broncos could very well take Fleener wiht their first round pick. We all know what a huge part the TE was in the offense at Indy when Manning was running the offense there. But, if he’s there at 30, we take him, since he’d be the best player available at that pick.
Fleener just has the look of one of those players whose stock will soar as we get closer to the draft. It happens every year with a handful of players, and last year we saw it with QBs like Ponder and Locker, and even with Aldon Smith. Guys who were seen as second rounders or late first at best, all of a sudden are drafted in the top 15. Fleener’s 40 time at Stanford’s pro day will add to his momentum, and I just don’t see him being available at the 30th pick, although I’d love the Niners to draft him there.
i think the chargers go offense and take fleener. gates has maybe a yr left and he hasnt played a whole season since since B.C…(roger goddell voice)”with the 30th pick in the draft the sf49ers draft david wilson”.
@Grant
I think Cleveland will take Blackmon and Richardson will drop to the middle teens. I also think the Niners trade up to grab Janoris Jenkins.
Who do you think the niners will give up, to trade up for J. Jenkins?
Kapernick
It might happen ! CK is the only QB they have on the roster that has trade values.. Just maybe, why they got JJ to back A. Smith..Its just a thought..
CK is a possibility. But, they may give draft picks instead – something like the 1st and 2nd round picks. They could also go after Mercilus.
Nick, I can’t see Richardson going below 6 or 7.
@Andrew
If Miami passes on Richardson, he could slide all the way to Arizona at the 13th slot.
Solves the Niners’ offensive ineptitude on third down?? Why isn’t that Vernon Davis? If VD cant help us on 3rd down what does this guy have that will be different?
Fleener makes the Niners dangerous on third and long when they have to go shotgun, empty backfield, two tight ends and three wide receivers.
Grant, You know as good Coby Fleener is, the niners won’t see him in 3oth..He’ll be long gone by then.
did we just forget about walker or something?
That guy is great do we really wanna run three te sets or do you propose we trade walker?
Or put Fleener in the slot and get rid of one of the receivers we just picked up or resigned?
I get that he is gonna be good but don’t we have more pressing needs? Like OG, CB, Or Lb Depth.
What about Bruce Irvin from West Virginia?
Isn’t that what we had when Davis and Walker were on the field together? I think Fleener may indeed be a stud, but I’m not convinced he’s a big enough upgrade over Walker to warrant the pick there fore the 9ers. My guess is that if there isn’t someone there at 30 that they really like (and that fills a need), they trade down into the top of the 2nd and net perhaps an extra 1st rounder next year.
@DS I agree with you, thats why is said you have to “remove the TE title” from Fleener. You would say Stephen Hill is a WR correct? He is 6’4″ 214 and runs a 4.35ish 40, well Fleener is 6’6′ 245 and runs a 4.45 ish 40. Other than Fleener being a little heaver these guys are basically the same person. So i dont care where you line Fleener up he is going to be a match up problem and a huge target to catch the ball.
And the fact that you can’t double everybody!
VD is more of a deep threat and a RAC guy, which both are hard to complete on 3rd and long!
VD is constantly double covered especially on 3rd and short. Fleener would require additional looks, freeing up others. Having to cover all the recivers would only open up running room for the backs as well. I think that he could work with Walker on the roster as well because i see Fleener as more of a slot/H-back type player is you just remove the TE label. Also drafting Fleener would secure the future at the position. With Moss only signing a one year he is not guarenteed to be back if he even makes it through a year, and DW is a FA so who knows if he will resign. Losing those two threats next year could turn the receiving postion into a position of need so why not fill it while we have the luxury of drafting BPA (who i see Fleener being if he drops that far)?
With all of this being said, I do not see Fleener being around at 30, but if he is the niners should turn their card in before the clock starts IMO…
@alex
“VD is constantly double covered especially on 3rd and short. Fleener would require additional looks, freeing up others.”
Isn’t that the job of the WR’s? If we need to free up 1 TE, how does drafting another one help?
I could care less who we draft since it is all a crap shoot to all but a few people on earth. But if TE is our best position to catch the ball, and we get a TE, how does improving our best position make our weakest position (WR) better?
I get the whole defenses need to double them deal. But if a WR can’t get open on single coverage, it does not matter how many TE’s we have. Our WR’s are not getting the job done with or without Fleener or VD or both.
No way in hell Hill is taken at 10 on my draft board. Konz is gonna be a Raven for sure. I am on board with Fleener or Josh Robinson.
No, he will. I checked the future and that’s what’s going to happen.
I agree Razor, that would be a major reach for Hill
Gotta feeling the 9ers trade up and grab Kendall Wright
ditto
yea kendall wright or decastro if he falls in the 20′s
I dont see them trading for Wright, it would not be reach in my opinion if they did but i see them drafting a receiver with size for 3rd down and redzone plays if they draft one early. If Fleener and Hill are off the board at 30 (my top receiving threats with size that i feel could fall that far) i think they would try to trade into the early 2nd and get Randle or the guy from Rutgers (if they still decide to go WR over RG).
However i do think they will trade up for Decastro if he falls to 20 regardless of who is left on the board. Also, depending on how far he drops I could see the same happening for Glenn only it would have to be mid 20′s (IMO) for him.
Good call on DeCastro and Glenn.
Glenn could drop but DeC will probably be a top 15 guy.
@HOF I agree, DeC is going to early thats why I added Glenn to my previous statement. I could see him dropping as well. The three teams that scare me from that scenerio are Chicago (since they no longer need to go WR) and Cinncy they may want to draft a versitle lineman that can play G or T and Houston after letting their tackle go to KC.
Just two picks I disagree with, first I don’t think Stephen Hill goes that high and second Brockers seems a bit high at 11. I don’t think Fleener goes in the teens, Broncos will take a long look at 25, Elway’s number priority is keeping Peyton happy. If Dallas Clark is signed that could change. Jenkins is another possibility, character issues have been known to take guys off the radar. If Baalke and Harbaugh feel they can live with Moss and Cox why not Jenkins. The way the league is set up top cover guys are drafted before receivers.
for the first time in about 10 yrs, i have faith that the team will get good value for its #30 pick, or get decent value if it trades it.
This is the first time in over 10 years that the 49ers picked anywhere close to #30.
exactly. we’ve botched much better picks in the interim. now we have a front office which seems to get great value for its picks, at least judging by last year’s fantastic output. lets keep it up, Baalke and Harbaugh!
except #33…lol
Fleener could rise up some draft boards…if he’s their guy, then Baalke may need to trade up to get him. Other big priority is RG and there are some dandies that should be avail in rd 2.
They want to win now. They’ve done a great job in free agency so far getting/keeping talent on both sides of the ball without breaking the bank. They’re either very confident in Kilgore, or looking to improve the position early in the draft in my estimation. Move up for DeCastro (already knows their system) makes a lot of sense. They have a jump ball guy in Moss, so I don’t know if going after Fleener fits as well. But I’d be happy with either of them. They have VD, Walker and Byham will be back, so that would be a 4th TE. Then again they could use him as a mismatch against a DB too though. I guess it all depends on where Kilgore is in development right now.
Luke kuechly 26? Grant you feeling ok? He won’t get past 15
Slow inside linebacker.
A 4.58 for a LB is not slow at all, you can talk all you want about his 4.78, but even the scouts watching him said he jumped off the line poorly, oh and third among linebackers in the 40 yard dash with a time of 4.58, sixth in the bench press with 27 reps, third in vertical jump at 38 inches, fifth in broad jump at 123 inches, fourth in the cone drill at 6.92 seconds, third in 20 yard shuffle at 4.12 seconds, and first in 60 yard shuffle at 11.43 seconds.
I want you to notice the cone drill 6.92, 20 yard shuffle 4.12 and the 60 yard shuffle 11.43, those exemplify quickness and great foot work, so on top of his athleticism he has very good speed for a ILB.
I’m sorry, 4.58 is still slow. There’s no way he can over the whole field or a quick tight end. I could beat him in a race right now.
Oh forgot also wanted to add that i agree w/ where you have Kuechly going though at (26) but ill add that I believe Dallas will take long hard look at him and wouldn’t be surprised if the picked him at #14.
He’s a good player, but I bet Dallas will pass on an ILB without elite speed. Look at Rolando McClain.
Grant, Navarro Bowman ran a 4.68 40. After watching him play this year would you call him slow?
Absolutely not.
Grant, you just made the point on how the whole 40 time thing is overrated. You say 4.58 is slow for a middle backer, but Bowman is quick and he ran a 4.68. Watch the guys play and the ones making the plays consistently are fast enough.
You think Kuechly plays as fast Bowman does?
Grant, What I was getting at is you are relying too much on 40 times when evaluating players.
I’ve seen Kuechly play. I don’t think he plays fast compared to NFL ILBs, so I highly doubt he’ll get picked before the Texans. I’m not saying he won’t be a good player, I’m saying that’s how I see the draft shaking out.
@Grant
I gotta disagree with calling 4.58 too slow for ILB. Let’s first acknowledge that 40 times are what they are and ‘field fast’ is what counts. Given that, we’re looking at 4.57 WRs and 4.6 DS. Agree that Bowman plays faster than , but LK will fit the right system; Pats, Steelers, Packers.
Grant,
4.58 for a MLB is not slow. It is a very good time.
Besides McClain, the last college MLB to get drafted in the top-26 was Jerod Mayo in ’08. Was he worth the No. 10 pick in hindsight?
No, but the next previous MLB taken that high was, maybe you remember his name, Patrick Willis.
And he ran a 4.37 at his Pro Day.
Jerrod Mayo was the NFL Defensive ROTY. He was also a All-Pro and Pro-Bowler in 2010.
Your on something if think that’s slow lol and let alone beat him in a race, that’s too funny. There are too many current LB in the NFL right now that have ran slower times or have ran similar times to even list and are some of the best LB’s in the NFL. Again besides the 40 time (which is not slow for a LB) he has great lateral movement and quick feet, his only issue is can he take on those big blockers? Oh and before I forget he ran a 4.5 in his pro day, Gronkowski ran a 4.6 and 4.7, Fleener ran a 4.5 and 4.45, were talking fractions of a second here and like I said his cone drills and shuttle times were very good, he will be able to cover most TE’s in the league.
I’m saying he’s too slow to merit a top-20 pick, since MLBs rarely get drafted high. Kuechly ran closer to 4.6 than 4.5. I’ve been running 4.5 since ’05. I challenge all y’all to a race.
@ Grant
You’re challenging me to a race? WTF, man? Make it fair, I’ll go up against Lowell. If he’s faster than me I’ll challenge Stan. If I lose either of those I’ll check into a retirement home (when Jordo makes good on his promise).
My dad could run a 23.2 200-yard dash in his 20s. Us Cohn boys don’t play.
Grant,
You should use your 4.5 speed to get some exclusive scoops for the blog more often.
@Grant (+ Lowell)
In those days it was the 220(yds) and I ran sub :23 in high school; MUCH faster a few times in Nam! If we can arrange the logistics, it’s on! You know: EMTs with resuscitation gear and oxygen and replacement hamstrings and perhaps a really good bottle of Montipulciano. I’m positive I can run a 40 yard dash in under 23 seconds!
I meant 220 as well. You guys would be a perfect match today in a race!
Yup. But I have a disability as well; I suffer from Advanced Furniture Disease: my chest has slipped into my drawers! OK, OK, I’ll drop it now.
Lol.
Although I would love seeing Coby come to the Niners, something tells me management isnt going to go that direction.
We are set at the at TE and I dont see us goin after that position with our 1st pick when there are many other needs.
I honestly see them trading the pick to go back about half a dozen spots while getting another 3rd rd pick in return.
And this would be a better spot to go after an o-linmen. I see the niners addressing need and making sure they rnt gunna reach for any players.
This all could change if we sign a veteran or they think Kilgore can step in and get the job done.
I want to see them go after G,CB,RB,WR in that order
I agree. I would like to see them take Fleener here but just have a feeling its going to be D-Line or O-Line here. Wouldn’t mind a trade back and picking up one of the running back that always slip.
I agreee almost-G,RB,S,WR. I might even put S second if a really good one is available (as determined by coach) Our safeties are older and not signed for the long term.
One question Grant. I thought you made some sort of freindly bet some blogs ago that Blackmon would go later and wouldn’t be the first wr off the board?
Yeah, but then he ran a 4.4, which means there’s no way he falls past the Rams.
Gotcha!
so u make a friendly bet, then new info comes out and u decide to forego the friendly bet……sounds like welching to me….the purpose of betting is that one side or the other figures they have a better feel for whatever the point of contention is….so as a result of the other participant having a better read on the situation earlier than you shouldn’t allow u to nix the be bet…..who do u think u are, j23 or his father…just sayin
Who did I make a friendly bet with?
Me. You said Hill would be a top ten pick and Blackmon would be the 3rd WR taken after Floyd and Hill. Prepare to lose on both counts. LOL.
Ha! I’m definitely prepared to lose to the second one.
I offered to change my avatar to a picture of Alex Smith if Hill went top 15 but you didn’t take me up on it.
The Bills will make me look smart. You’ll see.
The 49ers need a starting guard, a fast wide receiver (who isn’t a risky 35 year old Randy Moss) and an every down running back (who isn’t old and injury prone). They don’t need to use a #1 pick on a tight end when they already have Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker. And if you’re concerned about the red zone, a better offensive line and QB would be more help than a third tight end.
Good points Louie.
This draft is rich in big ,fast WR in the mid rounds and there isn’t a RB in the 30 slot we’ll pick-Turbin in the mid rounds or Bobby Rainey in the later rounds could be the ticket at RB. Fleener at 30 slot might just be too much talent to pass and a player easily used in our O scheme! OG? Razor and I agree- Silatolu in the second round!
Traded up last year to draft Daniel Kilgore in the 5th round, has everyone forgotten this? Best player available louie, and if that is a tight end, so be it.
Why is Chris Polk never mentioned. A power runner who can catch and BLOCK (Alex needs all the help he can get in that area). Everyone says he too slow, but he ran a 4.5 at the combine which is more than adequate for a power back.
I mentioned CPolk (like him a lot) as well as RTurbin and my sleeper BBolden.
Better play calling first, then O line, and Then QB..
I think ur off with both panthers and Denver. Both are going to draft offensive weapons that will compliment their QBs
And if the niners do grab fleener I wouldn’t mind seeing DW get traded in some sorta fashion. ESP since he only has one year left on his contract if im not mistaken
Nice pick, Grant. Fleener and Vernon would be nasty. Championship!
C’mon Grant, where are rounds 2-7 ?
Fleener is great .Even teams with a” ground and pound mentality ” realize that modern football necessitates a , top-tier receiver to decongest the box and hence spring the run .We have some nice complements ,eg , Tai Streets ,but if VD gets hurt,we don’t have a chance with the remaining sideshow in – capable of drawing extra coverage and creating mismatches .
“Tai Streets”?… are signing guys from the Retirement Home now?
Fleener will be gone by pick 30.
Heard he will be the 1st TE in the draft tobe taken early..
I agree…
The only problem is the guy under the Center.
Who Harbaugh?
@ Latino Heat,
It was meant for Alex Smith, it is becoming clearer that AS is the weakest link in the chain, all of the other positions are coming in nicely.
Neal, I thought you were going to the Sharks game?
@ Jack
I was at the Sharks game, we won in overtime, it was the first shoot out I had ever seen, but I check my phone in between periods. Love technology.
Grant should have been a Raiders Manager somehow… anytime somebody runs well, automatically moves up 20 draft spots, if not 1 or 2 full rounds!!!! :-D
Regarding the Niners, let’s not forget RG at 30th as a possibility… WR position is deep this year, especially for red zone targets…
I like to see the 9ers get Fleener and also like to see CK get a chance to play he has the arm strength and he was once compaired to McNabb and Vick in the way he runs with the ball……if CK goes to another team within our division he is going to cause alot trouble for our D.
Did you forget Jonathan Martin or do you actually believe he’ll fall out of the first round?
He’ll fall – he’s weak.
He didn’t have a good pro day but I’ll be surprised if he’s not gone in the first 25. Just too much good tape.
Ourlads has Martin going in the top 20. So does Scott Wright.
Are you hating on Stanford Grant? :-D
He goes to Chicago at #19
Fleener, Peter Konz C/G Wisconsin, Hill, Doug Martin is where I’m at right now.
I’d be happy with any of them.
Martin is the only one of that group that has a chance of being there.
There’s alot of updated mock drafts out there since Stanfords pro day and alot of them have us taking Fleener. Theres one out there I was looking at that had us taking Fleener in 1 amd Osemele in 2 (Guard from Iowa State) and Nick Toon in round 3.
I kinda like WR Rashard Mathews from UNR. I heard Gil Brandt talking about him and like 20 teams were at his pro day with alot of decision makers there and they all left buzzing about him. I guess he tore it up. He was injured during the Senior Bowl and tried to go at the combine but reaggrivated it. He could be a great catch in the 3rd to 4th round!
I like Nick Toon in the 3rd. I’d also like to see the 49ers try Jeff Fuller from Texas A&M. He had a great junior season before injuries disrupted his senior season. Being the son of former 49ers Jeff Fuller you know he has his head on straight.
Both of these kids come from great football fathers.
@Clemons
I’ve had my eye on Toon as a value too, but I read a snipe or two about blocking effort lacking. Can Fuller get separation in The Bigs?
Msc, I read your line “Being the son of former 49ers Jeff Fuller you know he has his head on straight.” and it was quite eery for me. Remember Fuller got paralyzed making a tackle for the 49ers. Scary moment from back in the day. I know you didn’t mean it that way, just brought back bad memories for me.
Ouch Fourth… you’re right, I should have phrased that differently.
Just in general, I would take those picks all day long.
I too think they take flyers on 2-3 rd WR talent. I’m All over criner, Toon, mcnutt,Marvin jones,and Ryan broyles. I’d be surprised if they didn’t take one of those 3 in 2nd or 3rd
That wasnt to bad Candyman, except the last few pics. No way theNiners will take Fleener numba one, not with the likes of Mike Adams and David Wilson on the board. Also, of course the omission of J. Martin makes you look kind of silly. I am starting to think maybe you have been spending to much time in the green room. I also can’t see Hill going in front of Wright. The size is there but there is some question as far as the intangibless. It was refreshing to see you had the Dee Tackles rated properly. Also, the giants will take Z Brown most likely unless someone drops. Mike Adams shouldn’t make it past Pittsburgh. You did alright tho. Not bad for rookie. Now get back into that green room and pencil in the second best tackle in the draft.
I want us to take Fleener, but he goes to Dallas at 14. Heard it here first.
Witten isnt getting any younger and you know Jerry Jones doesnt like to be outdone. He’s seen what Gronk and Hernandez have done in New England and what Graham is doing in New Orleans and he will go out and get the next big thing for Romo to pair with Witten. He always talks about how he regrets passing on Moss all those years ago, clearly its eating at him, he wont let it happen again. They also let Bennett go.
Good prediction and I could see the possibility but the Cowboys have way too many glaring needs on the O-line and defense. They have alot of people to throw the ball to but that wont make any difference if they don’t address there other needs….as they found out last year!
That didn’t stop Jones from drafting Dez Bryant. The Plowboys didn’t really need another WR at that time.
Ya, but unfortunately jones has admitted to his mistakes and realizes football is more than just then flashy receivers.
@ Willis great prediction, I hadnt though about that. I agree with you Jerry is the type person to forget about his needs (although he did pretty good in FA this year) and draft the flashy pick. I can definately see him bringing in the best TE in the draft both to have the TE packages the NFL is going to and to honor Al Davis who probably would give up his entire draft to take either Fleener or Hill lol
Forget blowing a first round pick on a tight-end! Look, I know the offense was terrible on third down. You can say what you want, but Alex is still the man. We just need to open up the offense. More bootlegs, screens, etc. We have some new weapons (Moss, Manningham) to go along with Crabtree, Walker and Davis. We cannot be conservative with our playcalling ! I really think we need to start looking at running back. Gore is awesome, but he is not going to be around forever. Lets get someone in, who can take some of the pounding off Gore, so he does not end up get injured.
Doug Martin would be that guy late 1st Round.
Bye bye Mr. Dixon.
Although Gore is showing signs of slowing down they will not go RB in round one. Hunter will see more action this season. He is explosive to the hole, is strong in pass protection, and has better hands than Gore. I know he is small, but he is tough as nails.
Why do we need another TE when we got the #11-85 connection?
because they double team him(85)usually, another large target and it will improve the 11-85 connection
Also DW will be a free agent after this upcoming season, and I don’t see him wanting just #2 on a depth chart.
Dont be surprised if the Niners take a RB at 30, maybe David Wilson or LaMar Miller?
If speed is moving guys up like Hill and Fleener…where is Rueben Randle?
Sorry to burst your bubble. We aren’t drafting Fleener.
Consider my bubble officially destroyed.
Why oh why are we not going to take Fleener in the first????
Tell me quick, I have to go slit my wrists.
“LSU Pro Day: Other players who improved their 40 times were linebacker Ryan Baker, from a 4.88 to a 4.61, and receiver Rueben Randle, from a 4.55 to a 4.42. Randle also looked especially fluid in his route running. The wideout said he worked on his speed and his routes leading up to Pro Day to ensure he’s a bonafide, rather than borderline, first-round pick. “As a kid you always want to be a first-round draft pick,” Randle said. “If that happens for me, it’ll be pretty exciting.” – Alex Cassara, LSU The Reveille
They obviously fiddled with the line markers down there in Cajun country…
did we just forget about walker or something?
That guy is great do we really wanna run three te sets or do you propose we trade walker?
Or put Fleener in the slot and get rid of one of the receivers we just picked up or resigned?
I get that he is gonna be good but don’t we have more pressing needs? Like OG, CB, Or Lb Depth.
What about Bruce Irvin from West Virginia?
I would say G and ILB, but at 30 Baalke most likely goes BPA here. There is a couple RB’s that might slip out of the first round, but unless one of the G’s or ILB fall to us i don’t see them reaching when those positions are relatively deep.
D. Walker is a free agent next year. He might not be back.
Go with the best player available at 30. As msc said, Walker is a free agent next year, and getting Fleener would set up nicely for years to come?
Harbaugh and Roman praised Walker a lot last year, do you think they were lying? Do you think they have a solid plan b for him too?
Heat, Don’t get me wrong, I like what Walker brings to the table, but if you can upgrade the position as a whole do it.
They just did it with the QB position, so why not at TE as well. Depth wins Championships.
@Latino Heat “Harbaugh and Roman praised Walker a lot last year, do you think they were lying?”
Erm… the same guys that said “Alex is our QB” just before they tried to replace him? If they see an upgrade at any position they will take it.
Thank you lemons, its fair game every where with JH, thats why we will win a superbowl.
That’s why i said BPA, just pointing out that its possible we get a RB, especially if Lamar Miller and David Wilson are still on the board and Fleener already taken and also assuming there aren’t any good WR left
“Harbaugh and Roman praised Walker a lot last year, do you think they were lying?”
Uhhh… yeah?
Jason-I think ILB pick depends on what happens with Larry Grant. He is still a possibility, and I would be happy if they keep him.
I agree Fleener would make offense better as a whole. He would allready know the offense and probably would make an immediate impact but I don’t see the team trading up to much to grab him. But one thing is for sure about this administation, you never know what they’re going to do!
The Jets really need to grab a guy from BYU so that Tebow isn’t the only virgin in New Jersey.
The Virgin and the Fetishist ,nfl net reality show?
Hahahaha!
Deep breath.
OK.
Hahahaha!
I assume everyone has seen this already.
https://p.twimg.com/AoyTq2jCEAEEVnZ.jpg
lol arent all the players from BYU married with children by the time the graduate?
We are in a position to take the best available player but we also need to address two more serious positions. A defensive back or running back in the 1st Rd makes more sense. TE at 30 does not excite me and if this guy is the best TE he goes to KC, DAL, DEN, or BAL.
I like the defensive back idea. It’s starting to look like quite a few quality DBs could make it to #30. Just not Jenkins please.
The 49ers also have a couple of guys on the D Line who are over 30. If a good 5 tech DL is around at #30 I wouldn’t be surprised to see Baalke grab him. D linemen usually take a couple of years to develop so now would be the time to grab one.
I agree make the defense absolutely unpenetrable.
Besides Jean-Francois, who can start at NT or DE
We have 3 other guys the Niners “protected” last year, Tukuafu, Dobbs and Williams
I doubt they give up on em yet, It was risky keeping two UDFA’s on the 53 last year, I think they have plans for these guys
Good call Cools. I forgot about Dobbs and Williams.
Still, you can never have too many defensive linemen.
This is supposed to be a good vintage for DLs, so they might show interest in one at #30.
Tuk got re-signed.
DeMarcus Dobbs looked like a beast in pre-season last year. I want to see more of that guy.
Whether or not we take a DB might have something to do with whether the rookie who went out before camp can return or not and if they have any confidence in the kid.
I’m still going offense in the first round.
Running backs are a dime a dozen and you can usually get a good one still in the third round, Frank Gore has two years at best before the ship sails.
Vinny Curry is moving up, fast.
Great prospect,Hof was on to him early.
If we were thinking with our brains instead of our hearts, we’d get VCurry at #30. He has pass rush skills and size – he could add 20 lbs and not lose a step. He could ultimately take over for JSmith in a couple of years. If the 9ers could get him in the 2nd round after trading backing in the 1st, it would be great but I have a feeling he is a late 1st or early 2nd guy. You’ll hear this guys name a lot in 2012/2013.
“he could add 20 lbs and not lose a step”
That is a huge assumption to make. 20 lbs is a LOT of weight to add and assume that there wont be any drop off in athleticism or speed.
Vinny trully looks like a 4-3 DE or a OLB convert in the making.
Nice mock, but we dont want DeCastro going to Seattle!
I like Rueban Randle. Wouldnt b upset if we went with Fleener u could move him around, and even Wideout. We probably hit a G in the 3rd or 4th. Take rb in 2nd or 3rd. Could use a back up Lb or another S unless Jh makes a saftey out of 1 of our many talented CBs. Im sure Harbaugh and Baalke will get 3-4 gems. Excited as hell. . . Glad we are not talkn needing a whole lot. We will do sum damage next year. . Go 9ers
Grant,
Did I miss something how is Dontari Poe not selected in the first round after the season and combine he had? He put up better numbers Haloti Ngata, I think there is a good chance he is a top 10 pick. Overall though not bad.
Poe aced the combine but the wrap on him is that he didn’t dominate in a weaker conference and takes plays off. In years to come there will be a word in the dictionary for it…… Haynesworthism.
Nice try, I don’t see Fllener dropping to 30! The best part of this draft is my Niners can go BPA in all rounds and even trade #30 for some extra 2nd. Or 3rd’s and still get a decent RG, RB or redzone WR or all Three with some extra early picks! Man it’s great to be a Niner fan right now! Go Niners!!
@Wilson, I know kinda wierd to see us that high, I keep on looking at mocks in the 5-10 range thinking where are the Niners, oh yeah, we pick at 30 and that’s a good thing, also thanks to the Saints we pick at 29 in the 2nd. Yeah boy!!
What happens to d.walker if they draft fleener?
He still has a year on his contract.
Once again: the 40 yard dash alone, counts zero!!!!
Separation is a totally different thing…
You have to avoid the pressure of the CB, you have to run a sharp route, accelerating after the cut!
Even on a fade route, you have pads and helmets on, you have different field conditions (grip, ability to translate your speed to the ground, equilibrium), you have to turn your head and be able to keep a decent speed (in the 40 you just run straight!), you need to adjust to the ball, still keeping a decent speed…. and so on.
Of course having a good timing in the 40 it’s a good start, but it’s still nothing… and Jerry Rice’s been the living proof of it!
On the other hands Ted Ginn is the other proof… his line speed is amazing, but I haven’t seen him burning cornerbacks downfield…
Otherwise why there should be thousands of scouts loosing time the whole year visiting and observing the players in college?
Just make a test, the 40 yards dash, and that’s it.
You described Fleener to a tee ;)
The niners draft of Fleener will be wasted if the QB is on his butt. At this point they need a Guard, unless the coaches believe that Kilgore is the answer. It’ll be too late during training camp to discover he isn’t. After all they thought Chilo was okay, only to have to later replace him with Snyder.
At least they admitted to making a mistake when they replaced Chilo. That guy was like a disease on our O line nothing could go right when he was out there
I have a feeling Delanie Walker would want to be paid like a starting caliber TE. I see him testing the market next year, and I can see teams signing him to offers that 49ers won’t match.
Draft Fleener~
If one sees Fleener with an inside the box paradigm I can see how the objections to taking him arise.If you step out of the model a bit and remember Fleener has been utilized as a hybrid TE/WR in the past it makes more sense.Multiple formations using unorthodox usage of personnel is Coach Harbaugh’s wheelhouse.
Agree. I don’t think of Fleener as just a TE. IMO he’ll be like Plax. I would be fine with taking him if he’s there. But…………
Pre-Combine reports had Hill at 35-50 overall, and Fleener in the 30-45 range. Question: if Hill moves up due to timed speed, doesn’t Fleener move up at least half that much? That puts him ahead of us and I don’t know if we trade up for him. Hill to the Bills? Yeah that’s a big, risky reach but that sh%# happens every year.
Tuna ,I don’t see us moving up for Fleener (unless it is a slot or two at most),but if he is close he would be an easy choice to make. However,like you say sh%# happens.
My only question…Tannehill @ #8 to Miami???
Did Miami also pick up Terry Tate to make this a successful pick? I just think there are much lower risk players who are very good at this point…and they have needs other than QB.
@FlyingAnchor
Jordo’s good buddy is owner in Miami; he’s capable of some squirrelly moves and he’s in the market for a QB. He’s also trying to out due Snyder, Bud Adams, and J.Jones in owner interference. Can you say overpay for the departed Josh Morgan?
Fleener would be a solid choice. I’m not sure about Hill…he could easily be a 1st round bust. It happens every year…teams fall in love with a receiver with blazing speed, but wasn’t that productive in college.
Grant – Do you see the 49ers taking a guard in the first 4 rounds to compete with Kilgore? Do you think the 49ers will look for a possible successor to Gore at RB in this draft?
Fleeener, Fleener, Fleener… Echo chamber is on here. They won’t draft the guy. He’s got a bad foot, doesn’t block much and they have more pressing needs.
.
Nice try though…
That’s not an echo chamber ,just a bunch fans who like the 6’6″ TE/WR who has great hands and ran a 4.45 40 on his pro day with “a bad foot”.
hah. nice post.
Stop with the facts! :P
no way fleener falls to the end of the 1st with the pro day he had. Based on the production levels of TE’s last year, some one will swoop him up late teens early 20′s. all it takes is 1 team!
IMO, Niners need a young WR, more secondary help, depth on the DL, RG. Expect them to focus their draft in these areas, but don’t be surprised if a RB pops up in the draft either.
It really depends on which direction we decide to go. Best available or need. Judging off what we did in the draft last year we will go off of need. Aldon smith wasn’t anywhere near the best available when we drafted him. But they saw that position as a need. But we never know. Gotta love the draft bcuz no one ever knows what’s gonna happen.
Fleener is not going to solve the 49ers 3rd down woes on 3rd down. It’s what you do on first and second down that make a 3rd down more manageable. Go back and look at the 3rd down conversion rates for the entire league as well as by team that are broken down by down and distance – 3rd and 13+; 3rd and 9-12; 3rd and 6-8; 3rd and 3-5; 3rd and 1-2 and 3rd and inches. You will find that most teams are lucky to convert 12% in 3rd and 13+ (that’s 1 out of 8 opportunties at that distance). At 3rd and 9-12, you still are looking at 17%. Yardage to be gained is a bigger detriment than lacking a TE on 3rd down. However, if the Niners were to utilize the TE more in the passing game on 1st and 2nd downs in a short to medium passing game, it is possible that their 3rd down conversion % would be higher because of fewer yards to go needed for the 1st down. Also, eliminating penalities and sacks on first and 2nd downs potentially could result in a shorter yardage to go on 3rd downs, and maybe a higher conversion %. Offensive design and utilization of personnel contributes significantly in this entire picture, too.
@mike
Very true.
2 interesting points to add.
1. The Saints were very good on 3rd and long all year.
2. The Saints sucked against us on 3rd and long.
Maybe the defenses some teams face at certain times has an impact on how good a team is on 3rd down.
NO did not face a lot of good/great defenses who were playing great defense when they played them. The Niners faced tough defenses for much of the last half of the season.
Facing good defenses means they don’t blow assignments. If you want to beat them, you need to be better on that play. And it is very hard to do anything on offense if you have to be better every play.
It is a lot easier to be good when the opponent screws up. If they don’t, the skill difference between any 2 teams is miniscule. Great offense is often the result of bad defense. Take away bad defense, that same offense isn’t nearly so good.
If we’re gonna trade up, GRAB T. RICHARDSON! With THREE TEs, FIVE WRs, & 3 RBs, we are SET!
Richardson has the ability to be one of the best backs in the NFL in his first year. It would be very expensive to trade up for him.
Fleener won’t be there when we pick.
I agree Fleener will be long gone, someone will take just to get under Harbaugh skin.
I’m sure teams go into the draft thinking lets take Fleener just to make Harbaugh mad instead of addressing our position needs and making our team better, thats a great draft strategy Neal, you would make a great GM someday. I can’t believe the intelligence level on here for some haters!
Most outlandish comment of the day. GM’s trying to build talent on their team by making another GM mad. Intriguing isn’t it??!
Don’t get me wrong I’d love to have Flenner on the team, but let us take a look at the all-world tight ends from last year. Jimmy Graham Saints drafted him in 2010 in the 3rd round #95, Rob Gronkowski Pats 2010 draft 2nd round #42. Now they’re talking teens early twenty for Fleener. He’s overpriced at that slot.
Should the 49ers grab him at 30? Realistically, cornerback is better value, there will be a few guys there who could make an impact. In my mind he’s a luxury pick. If Harbaugh wants him I’m all in but I doubt we take him, and they won’t trade up to acquire him
Prime I HATE Gay’s Time.
Your one of the least inteligent Smithers on the board, your logic on here is a few fries short of a happy meal. Fleener will be long gone but the Niners won’t pick him anyway with Davis and Walker. they don’t pick the obvious, they prove that last year with Aldon Smith. Most said he will be a project, they were dead wrong on that. This type of posturing and drafting happens all of the time and the Niners will do what they need to do, to move up, stay the same or move back with more picks. Damn you are thick.
You’re instead of Your?
@Adam,
My grammar sucks, won’t even defend myself on that one.
I predict that the 49ers trade their 1st round draft pick for a first next year, plus additional picks. They will try and be the New England of the West Coast.
Just as long as the 49ers don’t copy their plan on defense.
Niners already have 2 of the best TE in NFL.
Draft another TE?
Oh yeah that makes a lot of sense.
Sam, It makes total sense when you realize Walker is a free agent next year. This draft is all about the future. The starting line up is basically back intact. The only open spot is RG.
I think it makes total sense if you consider trading Delanie Walker and keeping Nate Byham (as a blocking TE w/ solid hands).
No way 49ers take Fleener on Round 1, for one simple reason: You do not spend a first rounder on a guy who is not going to be a full time player (55-60 snaps per game). Here, that is Vernon Davis. And although some NFL teams, including 49ers, use a lot of double TE formations, it’s never more than 50% of snaps. Also, some of the Double TE snaps (eg, goal line & 3rd and 1) will go to Nate Byham, the best blocker among non-starting TEs. Finally, when 49ers need a 2nd TE who is a good receiver, Delaney Walker is awfully good at the job, so at best Fleener would be only a modest upgrade. IMO, if neither WR Steven Hill nor OG Cordy Glenn is available, 49ers trade down.
I don’t know about that. Delanie Walker was all but non-existent after the Detroit game, then he got hurt. I don’t see why we wouldn’t want to upgrade there. Makes no sense to take a WR in the first round. We have 4 solid guys who can compete for the top spots. Taking a WR in the 1st round means we’re either reaching and will likely waste the pick. Plus out FO hasn’t given up on Kyle Williams. They likely still see him as our Wes Welker (just not a return guy). No RB in the 1st either, likely 2nd round. The only position I could see them grabbing other than TE is DE (to start grooming J Smiths replacement).
All that said I think other people are right about trading this year’s first rounder to someobe for their next year’s 1st rounder.
I think in drafting Fleener you might get a slight upgrade over Walker but not a big bump. But the idea that our wide receivers dont need to be upgraded is laughable. Unless Moss returns to the same form he had 4 years ago our best receiver is probably Mario Manningham who was the number 3 wide receiver for the Giants.
Im not in love with the WR prospects so that is why I would trade down however if one of the better guards drop I would scoop them up in a heartbeat for a greater net gain.
40 times are the most meaningless of criteria to judge a football player on.
Here is why:
DL – How often do you see a DL make a tackle 40 yards down field? hardly ever. DL make plays within the first 10-15 yards of the LOS. Measure the speed (really quickness) at this level. Not the 40. Chances are if a DL is running 40 yards down field the ball carrier is a good 20 yards further.
LB’s – LB’s typically make plays within the first 25 yards of the LOS. When a LB has to run far down field he is likely to going to lose that race,and how often does a LB have to run that far down field anyway? Usually a safety or secondary player will pick up the player. For LB’s I say the important time is 20-30 yards to measure at.
DB’s – A DB on a go route or a deep crossing route is going to have to cover more than 40 yards. So, who cares about the first 40 if the DB slows down the last 20? If that happens it is a TD. So, I would increase the distance I would measure 60 yards.
In all cases, 40 yards to me is meaningless.
Maybe even up that to a full 100? Then you’ll know the truth! That’s why watching tape is so important.
At The Combine now they break out those 40 times these days. They time 20+30 breakouts within the 40 ET. They like to study the acceleration curve for various positions. Your critique is essentially correct, but apparently they don’t need your and my help figuring that out. At least I’ll say there aren’t any messages on my recorder from Baalke or Billichek.
The 40 yard dash is one of the best tools to use in evaluating players DS because it can measure not only speed but quickness, and agility. It obviously is a great measure of straight ahead speed required at every position, including DL, remember Cowboys punch out of Maclin, straight ahead speed and pursuit, very necessary regardless of distance.
For LB its about getting from sideline To sideline and having lateral and straight ahead speed, you can measure that in the 40 in how quick a player can get out of his stance and accelerate within 10-20 meters.
For DBs it’s the ultimate test and measurement of agility, quickness and speed, this postion demands all those things from crossing routes, slants, deep balls, blitzing, you need fast and agile corners in this league and the 40 is one of many great measurements to determine a quality corner.
No way the Niners draft Willis without his exceptional 40 time, same with Vernon. Speed cannot be overstated in terms of performance. It can’t be scouted for or prepared for and seperates the good from great athletes.
Yeah, Prime, but the cone drill and shuttle drill are where some of those insights come from also. Lots of little jigsaw pieces to get the picture. It does matter though cuz you can’t coach speed. We do need to know that Fleener can run that well and that Alshon Jeffery can’t.
@PrimeTime
Do you remember a guy named Bill Walsh? Here’s a quote from BW:
A player’s speed in the 40 doesn’t really tell you how fast he is in a game.
It has value, if you know how to use it. Here is the full article
http://www.sportsxchange.com/DS97/walsh/walsh3.htm
Your right Nick game speed is not measurable but for a sport science perspective the 40 is the best best test regarding reactionary and straight line speed, all components in the game of football.
IMO, game speed is measured by watching film. It includes recognition and reaction times, so it’s not a hard science evaluation. It’s the Eyeball Test. You do have to keep in mind the talent level you’re watching on the film though in order to keep the player in perspective. Senior Bowl game & practice tape helps dial it down.
@prime
I’m not saying you don’t draft players who have speed.
I’m saying certain positions require different things from other positions. And comparing an apple to an amoeba is not going to get you very far unless you care about the unity of life and genetics.
And, I don’t think a 40 time tells anybody anything. Do the participants in the trial have to run back, get set and do it again 10 times in a row (simulating a drive, not a single play)? Are they wearing the same gear they wear on the field while running it?
(Seriously, I don’t know. I don’t have the NFL network and doubt I would watch the stuff if I did)
When you draft a player I need to know that he will give that same speed on every play. If I were drafting a RB, I would want a 40 time where he has to run thru barriers of some kind simulating the DL. A RB 40 time where there is nothing in front of him or making him have to cut is as useful to me as a bucket of sand in a desert.
Besides, running sideline to sideline requires different muscles and agility and ability than running straight does. A LB wants to keep facing the play as long as possilbe before he turns his head and shoulders so that he can see what is happening and react accordingnly. If the guy turns his head too quickly, the RB (assume) can cut back across the field, and the LB will not see him since he turned his back.
A lateral movement test of a LB to move say 30 yards around barriers (not cones since you can see over a cone pretty easily) would tell me a lot more than the 40 time at whether that LB can get to the spot before the RB does.
With all the technology now, why don’t GM’s have engineers figure out how far a player was at the snap of the ball and how fast they got to a certain point to really measure the guys football speed?
It can’t be that hard. Each field is the same size(width and length) and the camera is a set distance from the field (or if not, you can easily find out later by measuring), so you know how far two players should be from one anther at any time. Then you can tell how far the player ran and how fast they ran it.
Do this for each player for each play for each game the player played. Have a computer time each guy at each position and you can find out almost instantaneously how fast a player really is. You can also have criteria of change in direction by having the computer measure angles.
Screw the stupid combine drills and stuff. All that is just to show how good the guys look. Pro Wrestlers are bigger so who cares. I want guys who can play football, and pro wrestlers by and large can’t. Football players can.
Meaningless? No. Overrated? Yes. It still comes down to what you see in the game. Acceleration is more important in general. People base way too much of their opinion on a guy running a 40 yard dash in underwear from a track stance. I agree with you about the DL and LB, but I do think speed is essential for a CB. It’s not just about keeping up with the receiver, it’s about having the speed to recover if you bite on a move. The perfect example of 40 time in undies vs game speed in pads is Jerry Rice. 4.71 40 yard dash, we all know how that turned out. How many times do you recall him getting caught from behind?
So you think Kuechly should/will be a top-15 pick?
I think he goes in the top 20, but I wouldn’t draft him there. You can find MLB’s later in the draft. I don’t think MLB’s, safeties and guards provide great value early in the draft unless they are truly elite players. The Niners got PW in the first, but they also got NB in the third. Both are All-Pro.
Why will he go top-20?
@BigP
I’d also include RB in that group
@ Grant.
I think Kuechly and Hightower go top 20, although neither are as good as our pair. I read one speculation that Hightower might be converted to SSLB in Pros.
Nickrow,
Absolutely.
GC, I agree I don’t think LK should be top 15 but teams overdraft every year if they think it is their guy. He should be a 2nd round choice. He’s just not explosive when watching him play. He is very consistent though.
I think NFL teams are finally figuring out not to overdraft MLBs – none got drafted in the first round last year.
GC,
He will go top 20 because he was one of the best MLB’s in college the last three years and he performed very well at the combine. Several teams have the need and he can step in from day one and be a very effective player.
If he’d done what he did in the SEC, then I’d say he might warrant a high draft pick, but he played in the ACC.
Boston College is known for their linebackers. The bottom line is the guy has been very productive and performed very well at the combine. His combine performance alleviated any concerns regarding his athletic ability, and I believe he will be off the board by #20. I don’t really care either way because the Niners won’t be drafting him, but I do believe he will be plug and play from day one. That is attractive to many teams.
Known for their linebackers? Who are the good Boston College middle linebackers in the NFL right now? Name one.
And who’s going to draft him in the top-20? Don’t just tell me I’m wrong.
When drafting, it is always difficult to reflect back and see who a team could have drafted. In two years…
3 BC linebackers currently in the NFL:
Alex Albright
Mark Herzlich
Mathias Kiwanuka
three NBD linebackers.
Maybe he was thinking of BRomo??!
Grant,
I didn’t tell you that you were wrong. You ripped the guy about his speed. You even said you were faster then him, although I’m pretty sure you don’t weigh 243 pounds. If you do, you should be playing football, not writing about it. I think he is a very good player that would be attractive to many teams. I think K.C., Seattle, Arizona, Dallas, NY and Tennesse would all be very interested in him.
I am faster than him. There are zero star linebackers in the NFL from Boston College. If you were Seattle you’d take Kuechly over DeCastro? If you were Arizona you’d take Kuechly over Riley Reiff? If you were Dallas you’d draft Kuechly over Cox? If you were Tennesse you’d take Kuechly over Stephon Gilmore? Sure, the Giants would take Kuechly @32.
The bottom line is the kid has the skill sets and the intangibles to be a great ILB. His instincts and athleticism have and will continue to make up for what he lacks in straight line speed. Shuttle and lateral speed are far more important to a linebacker.
That may be, but the bottom bottom line is he will not be a top-25 pick.
If he goes before pick #26 I think you should change your avatar to a photo of Mark Sanchez in a tank top as recognition of your error.
He goes to Philly at #15 btw.
No, but I’ll bet you a nickel.
A bit rich for my blood but I’m confident.
Alright Faithful, you’re on.
Grant,
That’s great, you are faster then a linebacker who weighs 100 pounds more than you. “That may be, but the bottom bottom line is he will not be a top-25 pick.” Kind of like you were confident your AP source was 100% correct about Alex Smith’s contract numbers.
The AP was closer to being correct than Maiocco was, and Kuechly weights 60 lbs. more than I do, not 100.
Smith basically has $15.5 million guaranteed. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/22/clearing-the-air-on-the-alex-smith-deal/
Smith’s second-year base salary of $7.5 million is fully guaranteed only if Smith remains on the 49ers’ roster on April 1, 2013. That is what I said last week. True guarantees.
You’re wrong. His 2013 base salary is fully guaranteed. It’s his roster bonuses that are not. Read the article I linked. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/22/clearing-the-air-on-the-alex-smith-deal/
There are another ten sources that say otherwise. Maybe you can ask somebody with the team if the second year base salary is guaranteed for being on the roster by a certain date.
Ten sources?
Yes, most reports say the salary is only guaranteed if he is on the roster by a certain date, can you verify that with the team or front office?
You’ll have to show me most reports. Like I said last week, I trust the AP’s source, and so does Mike Florio apparently.
BigP, Why do you care so much about the structure of the Smith contract?
http://www.ninersnation.com/2012/3/23/2896262/alex-smith-contract-49ers-how-much-is-it-really-worth
Breakdown of smith’s contract based on press release’s
JH,
They (NFL contracts in general) fascinate me because they are often misleading. I mentioned the “true guarantee” because Maiocco emphasized it in his article. Matt usually team or league sources, Grant tends to reference other web sites. There are different guarantee structures in contracts. I mentioned that to Grant last week and he seemed unaware of that. It was meant as a fun poke at Grant because he proclaimed that Kuechly wouldn’t go in the top 25, with his strongest argument coming from the fact that he runs faster then Kuechly.
BigP, I couldn’t stop laughing when I saw Grant predict that he would beat Kuechly in the 40. What Grant needs to do is set up a 49ersinsider Pro Day at Santa Rosa JC. We could do the 40, Shuttle, and bench press (with only the bar).
JH,
It was funny, even more so after he became adamant about it. Who knows, Grant might be the answer to upgrading the WR core. Although, his 4.5 speed would be very pedestrian for a WR. Hopefully he realizes that was a joke too.
My parents still won’t let me play. Maybe next year!
BigP, According to Pro Football Insiders hehas good speed but can’t go over the middle. He also has a difficult time with beating double coverage : )
GC is correct about LK. In two years whoever drafts him will look at who they could have drafted. Not to discount LK, he’s just not 1st round talent unless someone overdrafts. If he gets drafted in the top 20, you’d have to look to see if he really is BPA which is not likely. TBD.
GC,
I’m glad you could have some fun with it. I love the blog and enjoy the back and forth.
Hofer,
It is impossible to say, and that is the bottom line. He has been very productive for three years. He ran faster and performed better at the combine then expected. He ran faster and benched more then Navarro Bowman and had a more productive career. Did anybody see NB being a All-Pro after his rookie year? It’s easy to forget that Bowman got in trouble for fighting and marijuana in college.
Absolutely. You’re a big reason why this blog is good, If I do say so myself.
But GRANT,I am so disappointed in you for saying you rely on anything the AP puts out. That is almost as bad as saying you rely on something from the NY Times or MSNBC ,lol.
AP was right on from the beginning about Smith’s contract.
Grant,
I tweeted Maiocco yesterday (and started following you, got your following) and asked for clarification about the second year guarantees and he sent me a direct message. It read “You can find all the accurate information here: http://www.csnbayarea.com/football-san-francisco-niners/niners-talk/Full-details-of-Alex-Smiths-contract?blockID=675216&feedID=5936
Thanks for asking him.
This sentence: “But Smith’s second-year base salary of $7.5 million is fully guaranteed only if Smith remains on the 49ers’ roster on April 1, 2013.” contradicts this sentence from Florio’s article three days ago “$7.5 million base salary in 2013, fully guaranteed…So that’s $12.5 million in fully guaranteed money.” Add in the $3 million roster bonus for making the team in 2012, that’s $15.5 million.
Someone is misreading the contract, and I find it hard to believe it’s Florio’s source.
Yeah, I hear what you are saying. It’s more of a useless curiosity at this point. I agree with you, Florio is very good at the contract breakdowns, which is why I referenced him last week with regards to the contract shenanigans. I also know that he often uses Maiocco as one of his sources and has him on PFT live fairly often. Either way, keep up the good work.
Thanks BigP. It’s certainly a curiosity. I’d even call it a quandary.
What’s the big deal anyway? He’ll more than likely be on the roster, so either way he gets the money. I don’t see him regressing at this point with the added talent and a full offseason working on intricacies of the offense with the WRs, TEs, etc.
BigP – You’re getting direct messages from the distinguished Matt Maiocco now?
You just got bigger (pun intended).
What’s it take to be a member of the “in-crowd” bro? :-)
“It’s certainly a curiosity. I’d even call it a quandary.”
Yeah, don’t want to interfere with anyone’s agenda. LMAO.
Hofer,
I could care less what they are actually paying Smith. I hope the guy does well. I just find the contracts interesting because there are so many different aspects to them. I expect him to improve, and you know I have stated that many times in the past.
Crabs,
Grant and Matt are both very gracious in their responses, and I appreciate their input. I post on this blog because I enjoy the cast of characters on here, you included. I like that Grant interacts and isn’t afraid to express his opinions. It’s also nice that he is young and embraces technology because it just provides another opportunity to talk 49er football. You can follow him on Twitter at @grantcohn. If you have Twitter, (I just started) you can find me at @BP49er.
Hofer,
No agenda. Weren’t you the one yelling Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! at Grant the other day? I found the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sdVx5gQz6w
BigP, I agree with you, I’ve completed many contracts in my career and it’s interesting how they get creative to get around the cap limitations.
Regarding agenda, with 390 comments on here I haven’t discussed AS or his contract. He is 1 of 53 players. BTW, this blog piece was about the draft. Anyway, just having a little fun with you – don’t take it so seriously. lol
Hofer,
I don’t take it that seriously. I thought you might get a chuckle out of the video, it is pretty funny. Don’t you think? Dana Carvey doing John Mclaughlin was hilarious, even though I was like ten years old and didn’t even know who John Mclaughlin was at the time.
BigP, yes I saw it classic DC although tough to top the church lady routine.
BYE…BYE! lol
If you referred to yourself in the third person would you use your initials instead of your name?
Hofer,
Good stuff. Sometimes typed words don’t convey the intent. As far as the draft, I would love for the Niners to get KW over Fleener and Fleener over Hill. I would be stoked to get Fleener. I’m looking ahead to next year when Moss and Ginn probably won’t be back, but we will still have a stud TE in VD. I don’t think you can go wrong either way, unless they are all off the board. Neeeeeeeexxxxxtttt issue! Lol.
If the choice was between trading up 10 spots for Wright or sticking @ 30 for Fleener, which would you choose?
I’d stay at 30 and draft Fleener, but I don’t see him being around at that point.
Care to predict who will draft him?
I really like Wright, he is super explosive. At the same time, I understand where Grant is coming from with the size thing. I think we will need WR’s again next year but we will still have a stud TE next year. It’s a tough call because Wright would open up the underneath routes for the TE’s and Fleener would be a mismatch against LB’s.
Tough call Grant. I see a few places he could go:
Buffalo
Arizona
San Diego
Chicago
Cleveland
Denver
Houston
If I had to guess right now, I’d probably put my money on Chicago or Denver. Both need a pass catching TE and both will be switching to offenses that use the TE a lot in the passing game.
The Bears are a definite possibility for Fleener. I think the Broncos owe it to themselves to draft a DT in the first round – they ranked 22nd against the run last season. Ty Warren is old and Robert Ayers is bad. The Broncos must improve that D-line to become a serious Super Bowl contender. They should draft the top DT on the board – whether it’s Jerel Worthy or Dontari Poe.
Grant,
I would rather stay at #30 if I knew Fleener was going to be there, I should have paid closer attention to the question. I’m not a big fan of trading up unless there is a sure thing that fills a big need.
Grant, if I had to choose between trading up for Wright or getting Fleener at 30, I stay put and get Fleener.
To me Wright looks like Crabtree 2.0, while Fleener has explosiveness written all over him. Fleener averaged 7 yards per catch more than Wright.
A lot of analysts are starting to point out a more “granular” metric. It’s where the burst is in the 40. What that would tend to show (at least in general terms) is how fast can a guy can get off the line of scrimmage.
I tend to agree with Big P – somewhat overrated. Track speed and game speed are not exactly the same thing.
It’s like looking at game (and individual) stats. They give you an indicator of what “IS” and give you a pretty good idea of what is going on but don’t tell the entire story. Good diagnostic tool.
Adam,
I agree with you. That is exactly why they break down the 40′s into 10 yard splits.
@brotha
“At least I’ll say there aren’t any messages on my recorder from Baalke or Billichek.”
Are you sure about that? Did you change your phone number recently?
: – )
Although Fleener is a stud the Niners will have other areas to address and CB, WR, and RB seem to be more prominent now. In a pass happy division the need for another nickel corner who can return kicks make it a better decision. After that they might consider a WR who can do the same and then eventually take over for Moss. Throw in Gores inability to stay healthy, those seem to be the areas of immediate need.
It’s all about depth and competition for the Niners and addressing those areas makes us a better team going into training camp.
I think their happy @ DB with Rogers, Brown, Culliver, Brock & Cox. I think it’s either Fleener or trade.
Prime,
Fleener is faster than most of the WR in this years draft and has the ability to split out wide and work out of the slot just like they do with Davis. His size and speed makes him a match up problem.
As for that extra nickle DB who can also return kicks, they filled that role with the signing of Perrish Cox on the first day of Free Agency, plus they re-signed Ginn this week.
They can get a good RB in rounds 3-5 to replace Dixon. Hunter will be getting more touches this year, and can be an every down back himself. When Gore was either injured or took himself out, Hunter kept the offense from missing a beat.
@Jack Hammer,
Right on! Fleener is clearly the right choice, plus we not in a position where we HAVE to address any positions in the 1st round. Which means we’re going after “best player available that fits our scheme”! That’s a great place to be in!
I see no way that Fleener drops to 30
I do, it’s more about what the other teams ahead of us need. They have bigger needs than we do and it doesn’t seem to be TE
You say the other teams will draft for need and then say we won’t draft for need ??? (we certainly don’t NEED another TE). I think we should probably draft the best player on the board at the time we pick or trade up to get the guy we really want. If the guy we WANT is in an area of NEED,then great.
Drops? I don’t see any one ever having him much higher than that. There are some that still dont think any TE’s will even go in the 1st round. We’ll see I guess.
Grant thanks for posting your mock 1.0!
A couple of players I see missing from your mock draft are JMartin (I know only bench pressed 20 reps) and DPoe (who killed it at the combine). I believe both are legit first round picks. Both will probably go before #24.
I’m still thinking that the 9ers trade down from #30 since their needs (WR, RB, G, and DL, CB/S) can be addressed in rounds 3-5. This would be a great BW type move in a year where they are pretty much loaded with team talent already.
But that’s why grabbing Fleener (if he’s there) is the right move. Loaded with talent? Great! Grab some more! You can never have too much talent. And you can still address the other positions in later rounds.
Roc, I’d really like to see them grab CF as I stated on Thursday, but he may be gone to Clev or a team waiting in the shadows. The 9ers can get multiple picks in the 2nd and 3rd if they trade back to address RB, G, and WR.
So we’re in agreement that if CF is there we take him, if not we trade our 1st pick.
There may be a very good player there, even if it isn’t Fleener. You don’t know until draft day.
Roc, agree but if they trade back, not having the value chart in front of me, they could possible get a 2nd and a 3rd, giving the 9ers two picks in each of those rounds. This year is a great year for WR, RB and G in those rounds. With 4 picks total in 3/4 round, they could then address all of those needs and add add’l talent as well.
Hofer, they don’t need multiple picks like in years past. This team is loaded everywhere with the lone exception being right guard, and I think they feel good about Kilgore there as well.
They can easily address the 3 positions you mention (RB, WR, G, S) in rounds 2-7. Go with best available at 30, and if that happens to be Fleener awesome.
The thought of Curry at #30 is also intriguing. That would be a nice piece to have as well.
“they don’t need multiple picks like in years past. This team is loaded everywhere”
Check out BW in the 1986 draft when he traded down twice I believe. They already won two SBs and were loaded with talent, but BW took extra picks which again helped them win SBs in 1988 and 1989. A team always needs to have top talent waiting in the wings.
I still think it is a good move this year to load up on RB, WR, OL, DB, and DL.
There’s a difference between those two scenarios. This Niner team isn’t coming off a Super Bowl victory, it’s trying to get over the hump. That’s why i feel trading up makes more sense than trading back this year. But I still don’t think they’ll have to do either because Fleener will fall into their lap.
I disagree with you other than they should draft CF. I think again he goes to Cleve and I stick to it! lol
Richardson and Wright – that’s the Browns’ best game plan.
Can we agree that the Niners must draft an impact offensive skill player who can contribute right away?
GC, which player this year is worthy of the 9ers moving up? What would they give up to move 5-7+ spots? Probably a 3rd round pick since they draft so far down in each round.
They need to draft Fleener, Wright or Hill in the first round, but If Floyd or Richardson drop into the teens they need to think hard about trading up.
I’m not thinking any of those players are worth a trade up other than TRich. KWright is overrated and SHill was a 2nd round guy until the combine. If it is CF or TR, I agree as long as they don’t pay too much. I don’t see it happening though.
I don’t think Wright is overrated – I think he’s Greg Jennings/Victor Cruz caliber.
I’ve seen 30 mock drafts listed on niners nation pretty much from everyone and 8 have us taking Hill, 7 have us taking Fleener, I think 2 or 3 had us taking Wright and the rest was a mixture of different lineman. Just saying! I agree with grant tho. I see us moving up more than back.
I think Martin will fall to the top of the second round.
Poe seems more like a NT than a 5-tech to me, and NT’s are less valuable because they don’t play passing downs. If Poe could be a big five-tech like Ngata, he should be a top-10 pick. But I think he’s a NT.
I think the Chiefs sign a NT like Franklin and draft Brockers, a five-tech. And I think the Steelers value linebackers over NTs, so they’ll draft Farrior’s replacement in the first.
Grant, I hear you. I’m just thinking that with DPoe’s athleticism, he won’t drop very long in the 1st. Incredible athlete for a man of his size. JMartin has very quick feet which is difficult to get from OL especially OT – they don’t come around very often. A good strength coach could work with him to add strength and bulk. I think he’ll get grabbed up around #20 in the 1st round.
Martin seems like a LT who could be very good in his prime, but needs a year to sit and get stronger, so that’s why he’ll drop a bit and get picked between 32-40. Which team in the 20s would take him?
Good reasoning but my hunch is that they both go in the bottom of the 1st round. Depending upon what happens above them, Az could take Martin.
Grant, I’m thinking Chi drafts Martin at 19.
They drafted Gabe Carimi last year.
GCarimi is coming off knee surgery and there is no guarantee how well he will play. The Cutler to BMarshall connection won’t happen if Cutler is on his back. JMartin coming from a pro style offense could step in and start – less of a learning curve.
You still have a certain amount of salary already allocated to the position. I just don’t see a team using back to back first round picks on the same position. Carimi was playing well before his injury.
The bears played musical chairs on the Oline last year. Now with MTice as the new OC, there is no way he puts JC in the position not to be able to throw the ball. They value lineman and will pick the one closest to starting based on college program. TBD.
Here’s what Drafttek says, FWIW: “The Bears have not been shy about their desire to bookend Julius Peppers with another premier pass rusher. They kicked the tires on Mario Williams and Kam Wimbley, and were very upset when Jeremy Mincey chose to stay in JAX. With a change in the offense, the coaching staff thinks the O-line will show marked improvement, leaving LT as less of a need. Expect them to focus on one of several DEs at this spot, with Q Coples, N Perry and Mercilus being the main targets.”
The operative word is “thinks”! LOL
BTW, other mocks have the Bears taking a WR, but who cares the ORIGINAL point is that JMartin will go in the 1st round. lol
I see him at 30 if not i like an O lineman here.
Off Topic here but I’m interested in what y’all think about B Davis’s contributions next season. The kid did really well as a rookie in a totally new position and no off season. I’m thinking he may become a secret weapon with a whole off season to work with T Rathman. Just when the D thinks they’ve got Moss, Davis, Manningham & Crabtree…etc covered they flip it to Davis. Rathman used to kill teams in the Walsh WCO.
Who is B. Davis and who does he play for?
I think maybe he means Bruce Miller?
I’ll make any bet you want but the bottom line is Fleener WILL be taken by the Browns at #22 if he’s even still there. They have Greg Little and will have Richardson after their first pick, they need Fleener far more then they need another WR at this point. Plus they can crab a WR at the top of round two.
I’m surprised your zealousness for this player clouded your judgement on thinking he’d still be available for us to draft.
No zealousness – the Browns will take Wright over Fleener.
Cant just throw that out there like that man, you need to back it up. Why would they take Wright over Fleener ? I really don’t think you are giving enough to how much they like Greg Little. That cat is fast, has great hands and runs good routes. If they had a decent QB we would have heard his name a lot more last season.
The Browns currently have at TE: Ben Watson(old) , Alex Smith (old), Evan Moore who is young and good but is more of a blocker and definitely doesn’t have the play making ability of Fleener.
The Browns have a good enough WR that they can easily wait until the top of round two for a receiver and grab Fleener who will clearly not only be one of the best players available but also be a key need for the team. It’s only logical Grant.
The Browns starting flanker is Mohamed Massaquoi. Wright would start from Day 1 and be a huge upgrade. No brainer for them.
Plus you aren’t giving enough attention to the fact that a play making TE is a better tool for a poor QB or if you are planning on bringing in a rookie. It’s a lot easier to hit that big fast guy running 8 yards in front of you rather then the skinny guy who’s 25 yards down the field.
I think Clev gets CF in the 1st (since TE’s are a very important commodity in the NFL these days) and then they pick up a WR in the 2nd or 3rd. Possibly Jones, Quick, or Sanu.
Well honestly and embarrassingly I had forgotten about Mohamed and now I’m convinced more then ever that they will take a TE instead of a WR. They have Little and Massaquoi they have every reason in the world to take Fleener instead of Wright. You just made my point for me.
Massaquoi is terrible. Fleener is explosive but Wright is more explosive, better fit for their play action game.
You continue to ignore two points: Greg Little / Drafting Fleener not only takes care of their need at the position but it is also like drafting a WR because of his talents.
@ Grant
I see some mocks have cleveland taking Claiborne with there 1st pick. Didn’t they have the top ranked pass D last year? What are the chances they take Blackmon with their first pick and an ILB with that 2nd spot. I believe those are their top 2 needs.
Fleener all the way! Now that’s a mock I want to see.
(The NY Times mock had the 49ers taking a quarterback at #30. A QB?)
I hope Grant is right about Fleener. His 40 time makes me think other teams will nab him. (I hope not) If Hill and Fleener are gone at #30, anyone else on the radar? Guard/Center? Trade back?
As much as I love Fleener, he isn’t a need for the 49ers, since we already have a pretty handsome set of TEs and WRs. Instead, they should address what they truly are urgent towards, and pick one of the more elite offensive guards to solidify their line. More specifically, Kevin Zeitler out of Wisconsin, coming from the home of huge, corn-fed offensive lineman. Doing this will certainly improve the 49ers’ offense for Smith will have extended periods of time to pass the ball, unlike last year, where he was under constant distress (like in the Ravens game).
I agree Guard is definitely a big need, especially one that can also play Center (Goodwin is not getting any younger).
I wish I knew more about the Guards to know who the good ones are. The 49ers have talent, so it could be a BPA situation at #30, or even trade up.
The 49ers are stacked at Tight End, but Walker (though fast) is a bit short for being a red zone threat. Not knowing how the Moss experiment will turn out, a 6’6″ pass catcher that excels in the red zone and third downs is just what the 49ers need.
Imagine 3rd and goal at the 8 yard line… with Davis and Fleener at TE, Moss and Manningham (or Crabs) split out. Suddenly Bruce Miller goes in motion out of the backfield, or maybe Fleener in motion. That’s a lot of pressure on a defense.
I hope I didn’t confuse anyone with my previous post; I’m not necessarily advocating Fleener as their 1st round pick – I just said he would be a solid pick. More than anything, you just can’t blow a first round pick – they have to be solid with low risk. 1st round WRs are always a risky pick (I recall Rashaun Woods…). Adding an offensive weapon would be tempting…but I’ll take a good guard that starts for the next 8 years.
I hope you are correct. I think Denver is a good bet to take fleener. If
not NewEngland will trade the 28th pick and that pick will take fleener.
we need og or wr at 30th–best player
Denv just signed two TE’s. CF won’t happen there.
I hope you are correct. I think Denver is a good bet to take fleener. If
not NewEngland will trade the 28th pick and that pick will take fleener.
I sure hope we get Fleener.
The NFL TE trend now is, great size, athleticism and jumping ability. How many times did we see Gronkowski, Graham, Ballard and Finley out jump linebackers, safeties and cornerbacks to make catches last season?
The Niners had touble in the red zone in 2011, Randy Moss and Fleener (if we draft him) will help solve that problem. We can’t rely on David Akers as much in 2012.
Absolutely. It’s becoming a TE league now. And with the increased focus on protecting “defenseless” pass catchers, tall targets over the middle have increased value.
Vernon will have the freakish size/speed, Fleener seems the more natural, fluid pass catcher. He makes tiptoe sideline catches with ease.
Indianapolis Colts Andrew Luck
Washington Redskins RG III
Minnessota Vikings Matt Kalil
Miami Dolphins(trade) Justin Blackmon
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Morris Claiborne
St. Louis Rams Michael Floyd
Jacksonville Jaguars Quinton Coples
Cleveland Browns Trent Richardson
Carolina Panthers Dontari Poe
Buffalo Bills Riley Reiff
K.C. Chiefs David DeCastro
Seattle Seahawks Ryan Tannehill
Arizona Cardinals Mike Adams
Dallas Cowboys Stephon Gilmore
Philladelphia Eagles Luke Kuechly
N.Y. Jets Melvin Ingram
Cinncinnatti Bengals Stephen Hill
San Diego Chargers Cordy Glenn
Chicago Bears Jonathan Martin
Tennessee Titans Peter Konz
Cinncinnatti Bengals David Wilson
Cleveland Browns Koby Fleener
Detroit Lions Dre Kirkpatrick
Pittspurgh Steelers Fletcher Cox
Denver Broncos Michael Brockers
Houston Texans Courtney Upshaw
New England Patriots Whitney Mercilus
Green Bay Packers Mark Barron
Baltimore Ravens Dont’a Hightower
Carolina Panthers(trade) Kendall Wright
New England Patriots Zach Brown
N.Y. Giants Lamar Miller
wish I could have previewed I would have made that easier to read.
If Hill, Fleener are gone, it makes sense to trade back into the high 2nd round, especially if the 49ers can get the same stud Receiver/Guard/RB/BPA they could get at #30.
Grant, thank goodness you have the Niners drafting Fleener, because now I know it WILL happen! When it does, we’ll be unstoppable in zee zone rouge – as the French say.
I’d be happy with Konz.
I like him too.
I’ve got my WR sites set on Alshon Jeffery. Too much of a reach at #30 but if we do trade back into round two this guy would be my choice.
Actually, he might not be a reach at #30 in fact he might not even be there.
Tiger is BACK!!!
meh.
More of a PMick fan myself!
That sounds about right.
Tiger and Pitino successful on the same day. A whole lot of cocktail waitresses are getting banged tonight.
MSC, tell us what you REALLY think! lol
Kentucky…..easy.
Future big concerns – RB and Center, we are getting old there. Nothing will surprise me this year. I am expecting the unexpected from the FO. Players I do like is Fleener been on his bandwagon for a few months, Joe Adams WR/best return man in college, great speed good hands and gets seperation, Konz at center, cant go wrong there. Other then DeCastro good gaurds should be availiable in later rounds.
undercenter, Don’t sleep on Kendall Hunter. He will see more playing time next year. He is explosive through the hole, has good hands and has shown he can stand up well in pass protection.
At center they drafted Mike Person late in last years draft, plus have Chase Beeler from Stanford.
Baalke and Harbaugh did a gret job of creating depth last year, all the way through the practice squad.
Jack, I wasnt worried about Kendall just thought it might be time to get another back as I dont think Dixon is what we need and Gore not near as explosive as he once was. Forgot about Beeler.
undercenter, they do need another RB, but they can get good value in rounds 3-7 there.
Sporting News draft guru Russ Lande has a top-32 grade on Midwestern State G/T Amini Silatolu and expects the small-school star to be a first-round pick. Interesting.
I’ve seen his name surface recently.
I think the Colts are gonna take RG3 Thats what I would do More mobile QB for that atrocious O-line the Colts have Lucks a better fit with the Skins…but I suck at the draft. I just like chimming in during the off season…This is the guy I would love to see the 49ers get Stephen Hill, WR
I like RGIII a lot but he wasn’t even in the top 10 conversation 2 months ago. I think the Colts will take Luck, but RGIII may end up being the better QB in the long run. Griffin looks a lot like Steve Young to me.
I agree with that comparison, which is why I worry about concussions with him.
As long as the Redskins don’t sign Lawrence Phillips Griffin will be safe.
RG3 seems to be a good kid but his skill set is similar to MVick and VYoung. QBs with talent eventually figure it out that it is best to stay in the pocket. SY figured it out. CNewton is another awesome QB that needs to figure it out. Look at the last twenty years and QBs that tend to run (usually too much because of their outsanding athleticism) don’t win the SB. But hey, I’m waiting for the anomaly.
@Hofer I think Griffin is much more like Cunningham or S. Young than Vick or V. Young. He smart as heck and has a real savvy with the media. I think he’ll adapt okay to the NFL. Luck is a safer pick but I won’t be surprised at all if Griffin makes the Cowboys, Eagles and Giants suffer for the next 10 years.
MSC, ALuck is an athletic QB that knows to win in the NFL you need to stay in the pocket. He is a stud and will go places once Indy gets some talent around him. AL is similar to AS in that the talent is limited and he may get beat up early on.
I agree Hofer. I’m biased against Luck though because I hate Stanford. #GoCalBears
@msc
RG3 is better at this stage than Vick and Cunningham. Those two entered the NFL as running quarterbacks. They evolved over time. RG3 is accurate on the deep ball and he and Luck have the right temperament for stardom.
Side note: Tim Tebow=Bobby Douglass
Griffin is smaller and more of an injury/concussion risk, which is a big reason why he’ll go No. 2.
Concussions are unrelated to size.
As is often the case overanalysis leads to ebbs and flows regarding draft picks.
When the College season ended, Luck was the unquestioned best QB in the country with a dropoff to the next guy. The next group featured Matt Barkly as the likely second QB off the board and RGIII and Landry Jones somewhere after him. Now that Barkly and Jones have gone back to school, RGIII has been pushed up the charts and some are saying he should go #1, and it’s nuts.
Call it paralysis by analysis, artificial inflation, whatever, but RGIII is the benefactor of a limited QB class and a great athletic showing at the combine and pro day. If people actually watch the games you quickly see the biggest difference between Luck and RGIII is pro readiness. Luck has run a pro offense since the day he stepped foot on the Farm. RGIII while very talented, wasn’t considered anywhere near this elite level until he had a good season this year and the other QB’s dropped out.
This happens every year, and it’s the reason why a guy like Ryan Leaf gets up to #2 overall and is considered a possibility to go ahead of Peyton Manning the year they declare for the draft.
Luck was the guy a year ago, he was the guy once this season ended, and he is the guy now. If the Colts drafted RGIII, it would be based on hype and track measurments, and it would be a decision they would regret in the coming years. The worst thing anyone can do is over think a decision that is fairly easy.
Chimming Chimming …really Tree Chiming was what I meant
Going to have a Stan moment and discuss Barry Zito today. He was back to where we expected him to be today.Zito faced 18 batters and gave up nine hits plus two walks in 2 1/3 innings. The contact was loud, too. It included three doubles and back-to-back home runs by A.J. Pierzynski and Alex Rios. This coming right from Comcast.
@Neal
I guess somethings never change
Did anyone see the outstanding article on page one of the Chron regarding Willie Mac? I don’t know SWhiting but he displayed excellent writing skills. Check it out!
Good thing the Niners don’t play their hand because this team of Balke and Harbaugh are as unpredictable as the wind.
Luck is the more polished QB and he has a god given ability in the pocket like Manning and Brady
Hofer you say AL is similar to AS in that the talent is limited and he may get beat up early on? No way dude Luck is light years ahead of AS and he can succeed on his own.
No quarterback, rookie to all time great, can succeed on his own. They all need a line, skill players, and good coaching. They also need a defense that’s strong enough to allow fewer points than the offense can score.
Andrew Luck is further along in his development than the vast majority of quarterbacks coming out of college. He will still have a hard time if his support is weak. Given what the Colts did last year, his support just might be weak.
At this point, no one can predict with 100% certainty how Luck will do in the NFL. A few things are clear, however. He’ll make a lot of money and for that reason will be given plenty of opportunities to succeed.
As some have already pointed out, there are similarities between Alex Smith and Luck. Both being #1 overall picks and both going to disfunctional orgs. One thing that Luck lacks, however, is the built-in Alexcuse of having played in a gimmicky offense in college.
Only time will tell. Let’s see if Luck becomes the next Aaron Rodgers or an year project like Alex Smith.
8 year project
Probably only if he’s on an 8-year project team.
NickRow,
To start with, Smith’s career is seven years, not eight. The first two were fine on the trajectory of QB just coming out of college at 20 to a team with expansion level talent. The next two were wiped out by injury. The next two were under the incompetent regime of Mike Singletary. Last year, under the great coaching of JH, et al, Smith showed improvement. It looks like Smith is a QB with some level of talent. How much exactly, we don’t know yet, since he is still improving. Some are hopeful, some are not, and that’s fine.
But to say that Smith is an, “eight year project” is not telling the whole story. Even the most simplistic, not to mention incomplete, summary of Smith’s career to date would term him a five year project.
Ex……This is Smiths 8th year. Im sure thats what Nick meant. Is Smith where he needs to be right now? Nope. That means he’s an 8 year project
@md
If the AS lead Niners win the Super Bowl in year 8, how is it that AS will still be an 8 year project again?
Rowco, cool your jets and re-read what I wrote. The talent AROUND them. Indy is decimated – let’s hope their OL can keep the kid upright or he ends up like AS and SBrad – injured early in their careers. SB is on his 3rd OC and again similar to AS. Good luck to that kid as well.
i was saying fleener in early january. i think he might be there at #30 if they do need to move up i think it will be 2 or 3 spots
who will be better between AL and RG3? which ever one receives the better coaching and which ever team puts a better roster together sooner. young QB’s sucess directly corelates with the quality of the franchise
Speculation is endless, of course, but as I look over Grant’s mock I can’t help but wonder if a few OLs move up higher than he’s predicted. I could see Buffalo, for instance go for Reif. KC could grab DeCastro, etc. An early run would drag Martin back into the 1st and ensure 1st Rd for Kunz & Adams. Then a few other guys fall at other positions. tick-tock-tick-tock
That Buffalo pick will hinge on whether or not they re-sign OT Demetrius Bell.
Yeah I think you’re right. If they don’t re-sign him it might force their hand.
If Fleener is available it’s a no brainer. But if he is gone, we could look at a stud O-lineman whether guard or tackle. More help at DB is a possibility as well.
My personal guess is that if Fleener is gone we will chose a RB. Gore is on the decline and Hunter is not an every-down back. Dixon seemed to be in Harbaugh’ doghouse last season and his value is at a low point. He may not make it through TC.
We could find good value for a WR in the 3-4 rd range, and pad our defense with D-line and fresh pass-rushers.
AES,
They won’t go RB in round 1, the value isn’t there. They can get better value later in the draft. The secondary is already packed. They have 5 CB’s under contract, 2 FS’s and Whitner at SS.
If they don’t go with Fleener look for them to go either RG, or DE. The guard spot is the only question mark, and this draft is all about adding depth for the future.
As for Hunter, I disagree with you that he isn’t an every down back. Not only does he hit the hole quick, but he can run with power, holds up well in pass protection, and has the best hands out of the backfield. If Gore were to go down, I would not worry about putting Hunter in there at all. The only reason that people say he isn’t an every down guy is because of his size, but Jones-Drew, and Ray Rice are about the same size, just a little thicker.
AES, I mentioned above they should trade down if they can’t get CF. BW did it in 1986 and it helped secure SBs in 1988 and 1989. There is never too much talent where an upgrade doesn’t help. Trading down works well if the talent evaluator is excellent and TB and staff proved last year they are top notch.
Hofer, Trading down would be a good option if they needed to add a number of players. My guess is of their draft picks, if they use all 7, only 4-5 will actually make the team.
They have built a lot of depth already through FA, and there just are not many spots left to fill.
Jack, if the 9er brass feels that way, then they should trade this year early picks for 1st and 2nd round picks in the future.
Hofer, I would not put it past then to do just that during the later rounds.
@AES
Are there any WRs with speed who might drop to 3rd Rd? I think we might be able to get Jones from Cal in late 2nd. After that a lot of the fast guys are smurfs. Harbaugh probably has good info on Owusu’s medical issues and talent, so he might be a mid/late value. @RB the kid from Boise State looks like a 49ers type of guy to me, but do we expend that high a pick to upgrade A.Dix? Maybe as investment for the future.
Grant there is a chart all nfl teams use when trading up for draft picks its based soley on a mathematical equation. i’ve seen it on espn do you think you could get your hands on it? so we can figure out what the niners need to give up to move up in the first rd.
http://www.draftcountdown.com/features/Value-Chart.php
This chart isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on anymore. A huge part of valuing a pick is how much you have to pay the guy and how many years of control you get over him. The new collective bargaining agreement completely changed the math on this. High picks cost way less and low picks reach free agency after 3 years. High picks are MUCH more valuable than they used to be.
Do a search on *NFL value chart*. It pops to the top of the page.
so after looking at the draft value chart, if we need to move up 10 spots to get fleener we would have to swap 1st picks and give up a future 3rd and a future 5th or 6th. more realistically if we moved up 5 spots we would swap 1st picks and a future 3rd or 4th. i think he is worth it
Yes, I agree he’s worth that price to the Niners if it comes to a trade.
CF is the best TE in the draft this year. Many analysts believe he should be a 2nd round pick, but I see him going early because similar to the QB position during the draft last year, if you don’t grab him early, he won’t be there. He’ll go 22 or higher.
The Browns are going to want the next Victor Cruz over the next Greg Olsen.
i think he will go 25 or higher i think he could last untill # 30. Grant of the teams that pick 20 through 29 are any of them targeting a TE
Why would we pick a TE when we have Vernon and Delanie? Delanie was used in an enormous amount of formations last year because of his versatility. Shouldn’t we address the more obvious need of a OT or plan for the future with a RB?
meant to say OG
I agree OG is the glaring “position need”, but Fleener fills a “functional need.”
The 49ers were weak in the redzone and horrible on third down conversions. Fleener addresses that in a major way.
Walker is fantastic, but he’s a bit short for many red zone and 3rd-long patterns. A Fleener+Davis combo would threaten above the pad level, putting enormous pressure on offenses. If Moss works out, even better.
It depends on talent. If the 49ers think an available super-stud OG is there at #30, grab him. If not, maybe wait till round 2.
I’m pretty sure OG would help in the red zone too. People seem to forget that
Vernon was #7 over all if I remember correctly.
GC, if the 9ers move up for a WR – SHill or KWright – then MC is not their number one and it seems you also feel that way. Why haven’t you written any blog articles regarding MC if you believe the 9ers should move up to take a WR in the 1st round (the 2nd WR in the 1st round in 3 years)? Would it send a message to MC? Maybe he would be a trade possibility since MM is very similar in skill set.
It’s probably better for the Niners to have Crabtree AND Fleener than just Wright or Hill.
I still think Crabtree can be a good possession slot receiver in this offense.
they will pick up a RB later in the draft there going with kilgore at G so they can pick up a back up later. regardless of position fleener is a game changer and if you can get a game changer later in the first rd you have to grab him
Here an interesting article on SFGate by our old friend Eric Branch about QB Guru Roger Theder and his relationship with Colin Kaepernick or Josh Johnson. There’s an interesting quote from Theder:
“I think they’re both very talented – much more talented than Alex. I’m an Alex Smith fan. I just think Colin and Josh are both very, very talented kids.”
Grant, I can’t include the URL link to this article. Oh well, folks know where to find it (SFgate.com) if needed.
http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2012/03/24/qb-guru-tutored-49ers-backups-kaepernick-johnson/
This one is even more interesting.
http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/09000d5d81f54896/article/kaepernick-holds-slight-athletic-edge-over-newton-trainer-says
BigP
Thanks for sharing the NFL.com link. I hadn’t read that article before. Quite interesting. I hope there’s open competition at QB this year. I’m excited to see how things shake out.
Big P,
I love the last two paragraphs from that interview.
“Which one, Johnson or Kaepernick, will win the battle to be the Niners’ backup? Theder thinks both are capable of beating out Alex Smith for the starting job.
“I think both of them could, yes,” Theder said. “I think they’re both very talented – much more talented than Alex. I’m an Alex Smith fan. I just think Colin and Josh are both very, very talented kids.”
This is a QB guru that Harbaugh admires…. Well Mr. Guru, we share your view….
Bay, what do you think of Grant’s mock 1.0?
I made mention of this article yesterday or the day before(don’t recall) and got ripped for being a “hater” ,LOL
In fact almost every “so called expert” in the World thinks we need an upgrade at QB ,especially if we want to become a great team. I am glad to hear that some experts think that upgrade is probably already on the team in Kaep or maybe JJ. I believe JH and Baalke also believe either Kaep or JJ will be the upgrade in the near future. I believe that even more nowadays because they just tried to move Alex out last week.
I have many times bent over backwards so far as to throw a bone to the few fans in the Alex camp ,that I supposed even alex could be THE upgrade if he improves dramatically this season and I said I hope he does.
But then I still get attacked…and I am the “hater” ??? LOL .No,I just want any weak link on the team,at any position,upgraded. (see Chilo and Norris for other examples of where I have called for upgrades ,it’s not JUST Alex although he is the most visable and obvious because he handles the ball on every play).
GO NINERS ! (the whole team ).
Tim,
Do the 9ers draft a TE or WR in the first round? Thoughts??!
Hof:
I hope they draft a WR that can at least step in and contribute big time starting in 2013 if not right away. Fleener ,as you said,would fill that role and would also fill the TE/HB role,so I would love to have him BUT… we already have 3 fine TE’s and it is not an area of need. But then Baalke WUILL be looking towards the future and Walker is a free agent after next year,so…?
I want a new RB to take over for Gore and be in tandem with Hunter. And I also think we need a replacement/upgrade for Dixon.
And we really need a vet to compete for the RG spot
but who knows,Baalke might trade up for the Stanford Tackle in the 1st round and put him at RG to contribute right away ?
Good stuff! Thanks Tim.
I didn’t post the link to trash Smith, just to compare Kaepernick to Newton. He is very talented, and I look forward to his continued development. If he is able to give the team a better chance to win, I think Harbaugh will go with him. If he doesn’t, he won’t.
C’mon Hofe, has it ever occurred to you that the Org has a much higher view of Crabtree’ value then you and DS?
Let’s see what happens in TC. If someone moves ahead of Crabtree during TC so be it, the team benefits. As of now, like Alex, he has earned (being our #1 WR) the right to be our starter.
As much as I like Crabtree, if we can find someone better I’m all in.
Not attached to any player here, just attached to the Red&Gold!
Rumor had it that the Niners wanted to extend Bowman by the midpoint of this year.
What rumor have you heard about extending MC with a new contract?
That is the difference AES.
Bowman has two years left on his deal, Crabs has three. Bowman is a All-Pro, he is a higher priority.
Good point DS. Crabtree is not even close to semi-elite status, so that comes as no real revelation.
The coaches know more than any of us what the expectations are for MC this season. They also know that he led the team in pass catches. And i’m sure having seen countless hours of film they also know about the drops as well as the difficult catches that were not thrown accurately. But as I said earlier, TC will be the litmus test. My case regarding Crabtree is that like Alex (who put up ‘fair’ numbers), he earned a right to come to TC as the incumbent.
@AES
What is the MC TC litmus test for you?
Simply show up and participate? What specifically?
@DS
Simply showing up for training camp will be a major accomplishment for MC. I’m not trying to knock the guy. I’ve been a supporter of MC, but he has to step it up. No more excuses.
“has it ever occurred to you that the Org has a much higher view of Crabtree’ value then you”
AES, very true. Same could be said of a certain named QB! It was TB that questioned (a few weeks ago) if MC could raise his game to be a true #1. I’d love to see MC and AS get the chemistry that VD has with AS. I think MM is similar to MC although MM seems to get the separation because he is quicker and finds space. If the 9ers draft a WR in the 1st round, we’ll have to see how this plays out.
Agreed Hofe, but the QB you are refering to, has had his case defended ad-nauseam. I stood up for Alex when he didn’t have many supporters here at one time. Now Alex has a strong fan base and his play last season gives him some credibility to stand on.
Let’s just say that I like to root for the underdog. After all the disrespect our #1 WR received at seasons end, he will get a little love from me.
That is generally true AES. As a reader of the blog for a long time, you did/have.
Are you a civil rights activist by any chance? At the very least you liked the movie “Rudy”. Or at least you better have.
Is it reasonable for me to think Peyton Manning chose Denver over Niners because of his perception of John Fox, Jim Harbaugh and Randy Moss?
PM seemed to be totally at ease while playing for the gentler coaching styles and softer personalities of Tony Dungy and Jim Caldwell.
John Fox is very similar to them, while Harbaugh’s style of coaching and his personality is more hard-nosed.
PM’s former receivers and current ones don’t have reputations that compare to Randy Moss.
I believe PM played it safe by selecting Denver and softy coach John Fox, because he was a little intimidated by the ego/attitude of Randy Moss and Harbaugh’s tough-minded way of coaching.
It’s pathetic but I’m still trying to get closure on why the fool (PM) did not choose the Niners.
Can someone give me a better reason than mine, why Denver was more desirable for PM than the Niners?
If not, I will assume my reason is spot-on.
Fox told him he could completely take over and run his offense. He gave him complete control in that area….
No way Harbaugh does that and I don’t blame him…
Payton was stupid in my opinion…
Bay – Thanks, I didn’t hear that. I doubt Harbaugh/Roman would’ve done that.
PM still a fool.
“We’d love to have you come in and compete to be our starting QB”-Jim Harbaugh
grimey/Neal – Love the humor!
Here are three reasons. AFC. AFC. AFC.
Bay hit it on the money. Fox gave him complete control over the offense, and Elway gave him the big money he wanted, plus it was the AFC West.
1. Denver is in a wuss division. Niners are in a hard as nails division. Raiders, Chargers are not scaring anybody on defense. Chiefs are ok, but nothing next to the real tough teams.
2. NFC West defenses won’t fall for PM stupid tricks like the AFC West team defenses will. Only the Rams in the NFC West sport a weakling defense (and they may be a lot better as well this year). All other teams in the division are strong and not scared, and know their assignments on defense.
3. NFC is just all out better with younger teams on the rise (meaning they will be good for longer) than the AFC teams. Meaning it is easier to reach the Super Bowl.
4. Does not want to play against his brother. Chances of facing Eli is a lot higher in the NFC than in the AFC.
5. JH runs the offense. PM won’t. PM’s ego is too big to take orders from anybody buy himself. Isn’t Fox a defensive guy? He will have no problem with PM doing what he wants. In fact hasn’t PM primarily had defensive minded HC’s? Jim Mora Sr., Dungy(?), last dude are all defensive guys. An offensive minded HC won’t let PM have complete control over everything which is the only thing PM has really known for so long, he can’t do anything else.
DS – “Niners are in a hard as nails division.”
Are you nuts? Was that a typo?
@Crab
The defenses for the Niners, AZ, Seattle are all really tough. They will all get better next year, and they all punish opposing teams.
The Cards magically didn’t start winning games until Kolb was gone. For some stupid financial reason, the Cards have convinced themselves that Kolb is not the reason why they went 2-4 or whatever with him and 6-2 without him. So, the Cards will still stink as a team next year. But that defense of theirs is legit.
PP is going to be a fine shutdownn CB and they can get pressure with 4 man rush. Just like we can. Know what that means? Cover the best WR on the other team 1 on 1 and rush the passer without blitzing and that is not an easy defense at all.
As for Seattle, they too were stinking it up to start the year. But their defense was ok to start, and near dominating at the end. Plus, Seattle is always tough to beat in Seattle. Just ask the Ravens that. So that is one game that PM is always going to be in danger of losing his health, much less the game in.
Seattle had a stretch in their Crab where they didn’t allow 20 points for 10 straight games. And that only ended due to a FG in OT on the last day of the season. And they only gave up 30 points once. Against us on opening day. And 14 of those points were on the ST of Seattle. Not the defense. Only 4 times did they give up 20 or more points. And only gave up 30 once to us.
If that is not impressive to you Crab (AZ and Seattle defenses), what does impress you on defense?
http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/schedule/_/name/sea/seattle-seahawksimpress you?
Crab 15, we have three top 10 defenses in the NFC West. Definitely not a wuss division.
The main reason is that Alex said he would relished the opportunity to compete with Peyton. PM got nervous and did not want to compete with a elite QB.
I’d stick at 30 for Fleener
Hofer, Whether they draft a WR in round 1 or not the 49ers won’t be trading Crabtree. Of the receivers under contract, 2 (Moss, Ginn) are on one year deals and the 5th is Kyle Williams. Trading Crabtree does nothing but put them right back in the position of having to go after a receiver again next year.
His numbers were good in 2011, when you put them in context with the offense. Sure he struggled against NY to get open, but so did the receivers for the Falcons, Packers and Patriots. Crabtree is going to have a very good year in 2012.
Jack I hope MC has an excellent year. With the addition of MM and RM, let’s hope it takes the pressure off MC and he is the 9ers top WR in 2012.
Hofer, The additions should help stretch the field and help him get open, and work from the slot in 3 receiver sets.
Hofe – Did you get hacked? A positive Crabtree comment? :-)
@Jack
He also couldn’t get open against NO after the first quarter (or at least hold onto the ball). And both NO and NY have weak secondaries with weak corners.
Add the fact that Peterson of AZ owned MC in game 2, and if I could trade MC I would.
DS, he couldn’t hold onto it against NO.
You are wrong about Peterson owning him in game 2. He had 7 catches in both games, and in game 2 his yardage was down because the defense kept giving the offense the ball with short fields, thus cutting down the yards they could gain.
Well Jack…
I remember the announcing crew talking about how improved PP was in just a few short weeks (between game 1 and 2). And, I also noticed the increased difficulty MC had as well. If I had the tape, I could tell you when in the game I heard it, but I don’t so I can’t.
In game 1, MC did what I want a player to do. He made big plays in big moments. In game 2, he may have had 7 catches, but his impact will negligible.
Also, PP stands a better chance to improve and grow between last year and this coming season than I think MC can.
MC might have had the same number of catches in both games, but just goes to show yet another reason why I don’t like stats to judge players.
MC in game 1 was awesome.
MC in game 2 was far from.
Both games you say he had 7 catches. That is a difference that does not show up statistically.
It’s true NY has week corners against fast WRs. But they do stack up well against bigger, slower types of WRs, even if they’re good like Fitzgerald for example, because the corners are built for those kinds of WRs.
Small, fast guys give them fits. But plodding guys like Crabtree can’t use speed to seperate.
@moses
I don’t know much about the Giants to really debate you much about it.
But how can it be that small fast guys give them fits. Don’t they practice against a few of those guys every day?
And, MC is no where near LF. In that first AZ game, LF caught a ball that should have been Int by CR in the endzone. The ball went right thru CR hands and LF maintained concentration to catch it for their only score of the day. I was like “God damn! Give me a break! How could he have caught that? At the very least CR’s hands should have hidden/distracted LF from catching it!”
I hate LF. A lot. Can we please get him on our team?
The issue is he couldn’t reliably get open against man defenses. His good numbers came against bad zone teams. Against decent/good man teams he was mostly a non-factor.
Reports are saying that Sean Payton is pushing the Saints to hire Bill Parcells on an interim basis. There is a relationship between those 2 that makes it a real possibility.
Grant, although Wright is a flat out production machine, I would need to give the nod to Fleener because DWalk seems to be getting more injured then I like. And he may be hitting the F/A waters next year. Plus Fleener gives us many options with his freakish size and speed.
If Fleener is everything everybody says he is, why wouldn’t the Colts trade a ton of picks (like 2-5) to pick him up as well (move up in the 1st round)?
I mean if AL and him really do click like this, and Fleener is as good as you think, why wouldn’t the Colts trade a bunch of picks to get the guy?
They can get a WR next year. They still have Freeney don’t they to scare offenses? Get AL and his favorite target in the same draft, then go after filling the rest of the pieces later. But to get the “new PM” and his favorite target in one draft, I’d call that a good draft. Wouldn’t you?
DS, the Colts defense is terrible, and that showed last year when Manning wasn’t there to help protect them by eating up the clock. They don’t put fear into anyone other than their own coaches.
The Colts defense was not terrible all year long Jack.
They broke down by the end of games a lot, and the fact that they are completely built for being in the lead and rushing the passer did not suit them once PM went out.
Truth be told, they were not particularly great either (hello NO game that was a real stinker). But I thought I remember them being in a number of games where the defense held off the opposing team for a while.
I did not mean to imply that they are good. They are not. They are not horrible either. They are average, or something between horrible and good.
The Colts gave up 30+ points 4 times by my quick count and the held teams under 21 points 4 times. And they clearly got better as the season wore on.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Indianapolis_Colts_season
DS, the Colts defense was terrible. They gave up 144 yards rushing per game and 227 yards passing, and opposing QB’s had a 103.9 rating against them.
I know you are all about points, but when teams can run on you for 144 yards per game, they are going to eat up the clock and speed the game up, while physically beating you. We saw that with the 49ers a lot in the middle of the season.
They need to fix the defense, and the o-line first (they lost 2 starters from last season).
They were the 25th ranked defense. #28 in scoring, I would call that terrible.
Did you look at the link Jack?
The Colts stank the most after PM was hurt. The defense was better as the year wore on, and seem to come together at the end.
It is not that unusual a defense to suddenly suck after losing the starting QB (remember the Niners after SY?). But, they didn’t stink for long. BY was on that defense, and he righted that ship before long. The Colts have DF who can do the same.
The Colts have 2 Pro Bowl DE’s. That will keep you in most games. And I bet the defense was put in a lot of bad spots by the new QB/offense as well (just a guess here). So, that didn’t help their stats. I would expect the Colts to suck against the run. They pretty much always have. And without a lead, they will suck more.
But they gave up more than 30 points the same number of times as they gave up less than 20. That tells me that they are average. If a defense gives up more than 30 they generally lose the game. If the team gives up less than 20, they generally win. The fact that those two things are equal tells me that they were not as bad as somebody who knows nothing about stats says they are.
The first 4 games, they gave up an average of 27 points. Not shockingly, they lost all 4.
The next 4 games they gave up an average of 36 points. That is over 30 a game and not shockingly they lost all 4.
The next 4 games they gave up an average of 26.5points per game. Not shockingly they lost all 4.
The last 4 games (against teams in their division and a visit to Baltimore where they gave up 24) they gave up an average of 18. That is under 20 a game and not shockingly they won 2 of them. So, they improved at the end and against the teams they most have to be beat (their own division). I would not count the Colts out of winning the division this coming season by any means. The Colts have some decent talent at critical positions (DE). And as long as the offense does not screw up (AKA turnovers), they can be in a lot of games.
Wanna bet how often the offense turned it over in each of those 8 games (30+ and 21 under) and see if a pattern emerges?
DS, I don’t need to look at your wiki link to realize that the 25th overall, and 29th in rushing giving up an avg of 144 yards, is terrible.. They were bad 2 years ago as well but Manning masked it with his ability, and they were exposed last year.
As you say, all that matters is wins and losses, and last year they were 2-14. Why are you arguing with me about how bad another team is anyway?
Mostly to let you know the Colts are not as bad as the Niners were when AS was drafted.
Andrew Luck (AL, you happy now lol) is going to a team that can rush the passer quite well. And that may be the most important thing a team can do to help its chances to win games (minus the obvious stuff like TO’s and points).
And if by some chance they got him the guy he is most comfortable throwing the ball to in Fleener, not to overlook them. They are not as bad as many think. All a team has to do is come in and think their opponent is less than they actually are, and there is a good chance that overly confident team will lose. It does not matter if the opponent is weak. It only matters how you play them. And how you play a team has a lot to do with how you think about them.
Have you ever seen Belichick ever say anything but great things about any team they are going to play next? The Pats can be 10-0 going up against an 0-10 team and Belichick will make it sound as if it is to equally matched 10-0 teams fighting it out. If there is one thing that stands out to me about the guy, it is that.
No, because the Colts were 2-14 last year, are completely changing the coaching staff and need to build their team with different players that fit their new schemes on both O and D. They need as many picks as possible. If there wasn’t a great QB prospect at the top of the draft this year they would probably trade down to get more picks.
the colts first priority will be to protect AL not skill players, then defense
Not saying you’re wrong old coach.
But if AL is all that, he can move the offense decently between the 20′s. Why not have the player he is most comfortable with in the hardest part of the field to score (and also the most important) if possible?
The defense had their ups and downs, but they actually finished the year on an up note holding the opponent under 20 points in their last 3 games if that means anything to you (against the Titans, Jags and Texans) who are division opponents. So their defense can hold their divisional foes offenses under check fine. They just need more. offense. If you win all 6 or 4-2 in your division, the chances of you making he playoffs is pretty decent. Remember the Texans are the consummate “blow it in big games” team, so they are not assure of being great next year.
With AL and Fleener, that may not be so impossible.
fleener at 20 to 30 is a far better value than any receiver they could draft at that point and TE and WR in harbaughs offense are interchangable
from what i’m reading harbaugh is in love with kilgore he will pick up a backup G later in the draft
@ old coach
Do you recall where you read that? I’ve been wondering about the team’s view of him.
Good column of a NFL scout discussing the NFC West QB’s. A shocker this scout believes that Alex is not so hot and CK is the future QB.
http://bleacherreport.com/tb/bfGfF?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=san-francisco-49ers
Peter King on QB.
2. QB Alex Smith staying in San Francisco. This was not a phony, visit-Miami-for-leverage ploy by Smith. If the Dolphins had shown him some more first-year money, he very well could have left San Francisco. Good idea that the Niners stepped up, rather than make the quarterback position on a solid Super Bowl contender a Josh Johnson/Colin Kaepernick camp duel.
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/peter_king/03/26/meetings/index.html#ixzz1qG4euPbe
So Alex was lying when he said he never planned on signing with Miami. Miami was lying when they said that they could not give Smith more money because they didn’t know if he could beat out Matt Moore.
We all know Smith is average. Just like Matt Moore. Just like so many other QB’sin this league that have not proved themselves.
I’m not gonna slam SMith. I’ve done enough of that. The front office has spoken. They are saying that we don’t believe you are our future. Let’s se if he can prove he is. Case closed for me.
Do you honestly believe what one the scout is saying? What guarantee does he have that CK is going to be elite QB in the NFL?
He hasen’t done anything yet, to give him the props overA. Smith..lol
Zito,
You’re right ! CK is getting alot of attention, but he hasn’t prove anything yet. This kid is still raw and nobody can’t tell if his going tobe good or a Bust in the NFL…
All we can hope for the niners win the SuperBowl this season..This might be Alex’s break out year and the 49ers will win it all in 2012..
Sando: You said we’ve seen the best from Jackson. A lot of people think we’ve seen the best from the 49ers’ Alex Smith as well.
Williamson: I agree. I really think it’s going to be Colin Kaepernick’s job not far down the line. They are going out and getting vertical guys, guys who can really run. That doesn’t fit Alex Smith. Yes, it will open up room for Frank Gore and Vernon Davis, but after a while, people are going to realize they don’t have to take away the deep ball. I think Harbaugh wants Kaepernick out there. He wants a guy to use the whole field.
Sando: The contract Smith signed was for three seasons and can max out at $33 million, but the 49ers can easily exit the deal after one or two years and a lot less money.
[+] Enlarge
Kyle Terada/US PRESSWIRE
The 49ers brought back Alex Smith, but Colin Kaepernick, left, is San Francisco’s future at QB.Williamson: Everyone realized that offense was easy to play against last year because they had no weapons on the outside to scare you deep. Harbaugh knew that, so he was really creative with his big-body personnel, using a lot of six-man line sets, double tights, heavy formations. They did a lot of odd things and had to coach up points. I think he wants more explosiveness for sure and more verticality, and Kaepernick has those traits much more than Smith. They traded up to get Kaepernick for a reason. You don’t use a second-round pick for a quarterback who is very toolsy without looking at him as the starter.
Sando: Smith did go 13-3 last season. He did make the winning plays against New Orleans in the wild-card round. Is the trajectory pointing up on him?
Williamson: Smith minimized the negative plays and will never be any better than he was doing that. He may get more confident, may make a few more throws, but what we saw in that one playoff game will be few and far between. He is an OK player, but has a real low ceiling.
30: SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: COBY FLEENER, TE – STANFORD. Solves the Niners’ offensive ineptitude on third down.
I don’t see it. We have three issues that put us in bad down-distance situations which directly cause our third down problems.
Offensive line. Alex Smith lead the NFL in passes thrown away to avoid sacks. It was close to 7.5%. Most QBs were in the 3% to 4% range. For the year we had one offensive lineman that finished in the top-half of the NFL in positional rankings — Iupati. All the rest were in the bottom half. Staley is okay, he’s just not in the top-half of the NFL as a pass-blocking LT. Part of the problem has been fixed. Snyder was 75th of 77 guards and is gone and I doubt anyone we put in there would be worse. We still need to fix the ROT and OC spots.
Running back. Gore’s average disguises his ‘typicals’ due to his abnormal number of ‘big runs’ last year. When success is measured on a per-run basis, he was one of the least successful backs in the NFL (under 38% of his runs met the ‘successful run requirment of: 4-yards on first down, half-the-distance to 1st down on 2nd down and a 1st down on a 3rd down run). Good backs behind good lines, in the NFL, do this about 43% to 45% of the time they run the ball.
And we can’t blame the line. As bad as they are at pass blocking, they’re a good run-blocking line (which how Gore got the long runs) and Kendell Hunter easily hit 43% on his success rate despite, like Gore, running against 8 and 9 man fronts.
Wide Receiver. The other dubious stat Smith lead the NFL in was passed dropped by his receiving corps. This was 7% of all his throws. most NFL QBs deal with 3% to 5% drops.
Crabtree, including playoffs, dropped 12. Davis dropped 6, but at least caught 71% of the balls thrown his way and is the NFL’s premiere deep-threat/big-play TE.
As percentages, these numbers seem small. But over a 1,000 to 1,200 offensive snaps, they can make a big, big difference. And especially to something like 3rd down conversion. A back gets two yards on 1st & 10 like Gore does so often and the chances of getting another first down drop dramatically. A WR drops the ball on 2nd and 8 and third down is much harder to convert. etc. etc. etc.
So, picking up a TE when we already have a very good TE… Doesn’t make a lot of sense. We need offensive line, another running back to replace Gore and another WR to develop.
Maybe in Round 4 I’d find a tall TE that didn’t have a lot of speed, but could block and occassionaly slip-out for a pass to change it up. Sort of a possession/blocking TE hybrid.
in harbaughs offense the TE is interchangable with the WR and fleener is a much better value than any WR that will be available at their pick. evidently harbaugh is in love with kilgore so we can pick up a back up G later in the draft and quality RB’s are always available later. i believe Fleener is the best value at that point in the draft.
So who would you like them to draft?
Andrew Luck ! hehehe
Another Alex Smith spin doctor.
Moses – Where is the stat for poorly thrown passes that were caught?
What is Alex Smith’s completion percentage if you eliminate check-down passes?
The spin stops here.
What do you mean by AS spin doctor? If you don’t mine me asking.
It means this guys doesn’t like A. Smith ! His anti smith dude..
Manilaboy – I’m glad you asked.
Thefreedictionary.com spin doctor: A person who publicizes favorable interpretations of the words and actions of a public figure (AS).
Or see Bill O’Reilly. :-)
When/if Crabtree is no longer a Niner in the future, my new avatar will be Bill O’Reilly.
I’m sure DS will be thrilled. :-)
@Crab15
“I’m sure DS will be thrilled. :-)”
Upon seeing it, I will throw a block party signaling the end of all that which makes this country great.
Sigh…
:- )
P.S. How did I get named in this post?
I’m anti Smith propaganda.
The entire Niner roster should be supported equally!
Is that too much to ask? Fair & balanced lol.
Crab15, Thank you you for the info ! Who’s DS and why are changing your name to bill O’Reilly?
That would be me Manilaboy. I am DS.
DS i see you and crab15 are good friends !
Manilaboy – Hope you stick around long term bro. You and me, we make a team. :-)
Seriously though, DS and I go way back. We were once briefly at war but now we are blog buddies.
Thats good to hear, you guys have some comaraderie.
@Manilaboy
Yes we (Crab15 and myself) did’t get off on the best foot, but we found a way to be cool with one another.
Basically manilaboy if you follow the rules you learned in pre-school and Kindergarten, don’t be an a-hole, then I’ll converse with you.
Welcome to the blog!
Manila – Welcome, I’ll be watching you.
Remember me and you, we’re good we make a team.
DS, Crab15 thank you both for the heartful welcome ! looking forward to it..
MosesZD,
May I ask where you are getting your drops stats from? I’ve not read those anywhere before. I think you’re inflating the drops stats a bit.
For your information, Colt McCoy and Cleveland led the league in drops percentage at 8.2%. Also, Crabtree only had 7 drops in the regular season and 2 in the playoffs.
One thing to point out. Look at the length of the passes on the drops to Crabtree. The 2 in the playoffs were for less than 8 years on each pass.
MC’s 7 drops on 72 passes caught is 10%. He can do much better.
Alexfan11,
I think youre being overcritical. His 7 drops tie him for 10 th with 13 other players. Not to mention the other 10 that are above him. That puts him in the middle of the league in drops. I don’t think that is too bad ALexfan11.
Hofer, where are you able to find the # of drops he had? How about the total # of times targeted? That would be interesting to see.
Try 7 dropped on 79 targets. Wouldn’t want your numbers to get skewed Alexfan11.
that 79 only reflects his number of catches 72 and the number of drops, 7. Targets are a bit more because then we would have to add the bad passes and the passes that were batted at the line. My bad.
Jack, MC was targeted 114 times with a catch rate of 64% which isn’t too bad considering the top is WWelker and JNelson at 71%.
Crabfan15 singing off.
Hofer, where are you finding these stats? Can you please post a link?
Here’s one source:
http://footballoutsiders.com/stats/wr
Is this guy crab15 referring to all the balls drop by crabtree, was all mr .Smith’s fault? And the other recievers who are running wrong routes and dropping catchable balls, and the offensive line being terrible in protecting the QB. And when the speical team played poorly in the nfc championship and the 2 miscues by K. williams ultimately cost the niners the SB is all alex’s fault.
Zito – Check the archives pal, I ripped Crabtree every crappy game he had. The drops were pitiful.
Where were you in here the last 4 years?
No ! I was in Texas…
@zito the man
Check last week I believe.
Crab15 was suggesting we try to trade MC for some picks. Take from that what you will.
@DS, sorry who’s MC ?
zito the man, MC is Michael Crabtree. It is too difficult for most on here to spell the names correctly so they just use the initials.
Welcome to iou as well zito
I can tell you must be new.
MC = Michale Crabtree
For your convenience, here are some other very common initials
AS = Alex Smith (or Aldon Smith or Adam Snyder. Just have to figure it out by reading the sentence and post)
FG = Frank Gore
JH = Jim Harbaugh
TB = Trent Baalke
PW = Patrick Willis
NB = Navarro Bowman
JS = Justin Smith
JT = Joe Staley (unless we are talking Niner WR’s, then it is John Taylor more than not)
TG = Ted Ginn
KW = Kyle Williams
MC = *Michael* Crabtree
Just to prove Jack’s theory to be true. He is so often wrong, I throw him a bone now and then.
lol
@jack, I see ! Why not trade MC next season if he doesn’t live up to his potential. Maybe he would still have some value getting a 2nd rounder comes draft time in 2013.
Zito – I agree, If Crabtree is not more consistent this year than maybe it’s time to move on. He just has to catch the damn ball and he’ll be great.
“Why not trade MC next season …”
Yes Jack. Why not?
(snicker, snicker. I have had more than 1 thread with Jack zito where I suggest that.)
DS – If I’m the Bill O’Reilly of this blog, which news anchor would you be?
BTW, Wolf Blitzer is one of my favorites too.
Now back to football talk.
Sorry Grant.
@Crab15
Jim Lehrer or Ray Suarez, or any of the PBS NEWSHOUR anchors really.
Detailed stories (match my longer than average posts) and take the common ideas/questions and does not care for them at all (AS just sucks because he does), but rather something deeper. And if it is the common idea, looks further than most to find out why it is so (comparing games rather than years for instance).
zito the man, If Crabtree does not continue to show improvement this season I have no problem with them trading him, other than the fact that Moss and Ginn are playing on 1 year deals, and they would be right back in the same position they find them
I have gone back and forth with DS on this because he wants him traded this year, and given the current state of their receiving corps I don’t think that is a good move.
The current receivers are:
Crabtree
Manningham
Moss
Ginn
K Williams
We all could see that Williams and Ginn were not the answer last year after Morgan went down, as neither went over 20 receptions on the year despite being the number 2 and 3 receivers for over half of the season.
Jack,
If you don’t think Crabtree has improved every year since he has been a Niner, then you’ve not been wacthing him. He’s not the guy the Niners are trying to replace in a year. He had a good season last year considering the circumstances. The only place you hear complaints about Crabtree are here on this blog. Find a national reporter that has some questionable things to say about Crabtree. Then look to see if you can find anything about anyone else on theteam nationally.
No more Smith attacks from me. I’ll allow the play to dictate what we have and where we are. If Crabtree fails this team, he won’t be worth trading anyway. He makes too much money.
Jordan,
If you can find a post where I have said that Crabtree hasn’t improved each year please show me. I stand firm on the thought of trading Crabtree makes no sense.
He had an excellent regular season last year especially when you consider that they threw the second fewest passes in the league last year, yet still had 72 catches and was close to 1000 yards.
Crabtree has improved every year, and that is all that really matters. The same people that constantly mention his drops are the same people that don’t mention Smith’s underthrown and overthrown balls. The same people that mention Smith had to learn a new offense don’t make the same excuse for Crabtree. The same people that claim the HC and GM of the year want Smith as their QB are the same people that said the HC and GM of the year were making a mistake with Manning. Nothing new.
Jack Hammer,
Well said. I think people get tired of the Crabtree bashing. He has played pretty well all things considered. DS just doesn’t Crabtree because he and Smith aren’t best buddies. She even compared her willingness to dive for passes at recess as proof that Crabtree lacks desire. It is what it is.
BigP, That post is almost dead on. The stats actually show a slight dip from year 1 to year 2 because he played in more games, but your point is correct.
I fully expect to see a much improved Crabtree this year now that he is finally healthy and able to participate fully in the off season program.
I have never been a big fan of his personality, but I like him as a player. His blocking is a very under appreciated aspect of his overall game. Go back and watch Alex’s TD run against NO, and you will see him making the final block to help Alex score.
@Jack, I know what you mean. You’re right, Moss and Ginn sign a one year deal each. Tobe honest with you, we are not sure what were going get out of Moss, the old moss or a mediocre one.
In my opinion, the 49ers should consider drafting a WR in the 2nd or 3rd Rd for the future. Maybe using the 3oth pick as a trade bait with other picks to move up in the draft. Get a player that could contribute right away, like a big guard, TE, RB.
The reason i’d mention a RB , we all know that Gore is almost at the end of his career, and his numbers will dropped considerably in the next few years and more likely his recovery from injuries is going to take aliitle bit longer…
@Jack
He was supposed to be healthy by the start of TC his rookie year. Then he was supposedly fully recovered to be healthy by the start of TC in his second year. Then he was supposedly healthy to be in TC in his third year.
I am sure even you can find the pattern here. Where has it been stated that MC is healthy (100%) for the first time ever in his NFL career? Grant didn’t post a blog about that. Nor have Eric Branch or Kevin Lynch. Please provide me the link backing up such a statement.
And if it is true, he sure better play at an All Pro level. He wants a contract like the one he has now, he has a long way to go to earn it. Right now, it isn’t much above vet minimum. Or maybe he can go to the Redskins who always overpay players.
jack,
My apoogies, misunderstood you. He certainly has improved every year that he had been in this league and there is no way the Niners are trading him. The team is addressing the issues they have with the offense. Smith threw 445 passes last year. :ess than any starting QB in the league. The staff was trying to protect him and minimize the possibility of turnovers. We have to be much more agressively this season. I think we all agree on that.
BigP,
Let’s be truthful here. People had issues with MC for several reasons including:
1. He held out almsost a half of a season
2. He has yet to play a pre-season game
3. He has an attitude
4, Has yet to play to his draft pick potential
5. ED and JR called him out for his lack of drive
6. Can’t get consistent separation
Yes, I would say that some of the criticism is just but let’s root for him to do much better this year with the additional competition that should push him.
DS, No links, just my opinion based on what I have heard and saw towards the end of last year. Starting April 16th we can all see for ourselves.
Hofer,
What you say is true, but he has still improved each season. Call it maturity, call it whatever. Harbaugh said he did everything he was asked to do and said he was a great teammate. JR has commented on MC’s work ethic, but he also said Peyton Manning would be a huge upgrade over Alex Smith. The point is, campaigning for Crabtree to be traded says more about someone’s personal feelings towards him then it does about his talent. I believe he will be a very good receiver in this league.
@hof
7. (And this is the biggest one to me personally) MC didn’t put the blame of losing that Title game on himself like a #1 WR should always do. Especially given how bad he played. Had MC had the same type interview that KW had, I would not have been nearly so hard on him these past couple months.
Doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t look for a true #1 someplace else. But I would have done so a lot differently.
@jack
I hope you are correct. I hope MC is fully healthy (seriously, I do). I was so stoked when we drafted him and want to see what the guy could do with a Championship QB (yeah, AS is). An offensive minded HC in JH. And an overall talented young team surrounding him. If MC left this team for any reason, he likely wouldn’t have such an opportunity to win and make something of himself again. AS knows it. I don’t think MC does.
Jackhammer:
When you say you don’t like Crabtree’s personality I presume you mean you don’t like shy kids that work hard and try their hardest for the team ? Would you prefer a Diva type WR over the shy Crabs ?
Tim, Thanks for calling me out on that. You are on point about his personality. Often shyness is mistaken for cockiness, or being full of ones self. Unlike past diva type WR’s like Lloyd, etc, I have never heard anyone inside the building say anything bad about him.
I hope he proves the naysayers wrong in 2012.
Manila – One last thing. Out of 100%, DS is right 10% of the time and I’m right 90% of the time. For real.
One little edit there.
Out of 100% of dinners, Crab15 is eating a cold one 90% of the time and a hot one 10% of the time because he thinks he is right when he argues with his wife and does not get a hot meal 90% of the year as a result.
The 10% he does let a hot meal, he shuts his mouth.
There. Fixed it for ya!
: – )
@Crab,
Don’t discount yourself, I would say your right 99% of the time and DS does multiple choice and gets it right 1% of time.
Joe Flack O’Warner?
Why are my posts getting erased, Grant?
They read like gibberish to me. Proceed.
Ok, but the first one wasn’t gibberish… “get to work ya bum…” was not meant to be insulting. You are not a bum. Tone, Grant, tone: “ya” instead of “you”
You’re resting on your laurels, or aren’t you?
500 hits is nice, but what about posting something else on your page?
Maiocco has a few new entries.
Branch threw that thing about Theder (useless as it was)
Sando is prolific
–
So, Grant (ya bum; ma boy; insert another term of endearment here), get to it, boy!
Oh. We were talking about football and your comment seemed to refer to nothing. My fault. I assure you I’m not resting on my laurels. I’ll have a new blog up soon.
a mock on SB Nation has Fleener falling to us and S.Hill not taken in the 1stRd.
DS:
“Are you a civil rights activist by any chance? At the very least you liked the movie “Rudy”. Or at least you better have.”
Black Panther Party headquartered around the corner from me. Lost a few friends who joined their movement. Didn’t really agree with their political stance. Loved MLK Jr., but never respected the leeches who attached themselves to him (one of whom calls himself a Rev. today).
I have not watched ‘Rudy’ all the way through. But I loved “Brian’s Song” the Brian Piccolo (original only) story. Also, my first and best sports movie is Paul Newman in “Somebody Up There Likes Me” the Rocky Graciano story. Can’t find it to this day. I guess it’s to old and outdated?
Almost like me (lol)!
Here’s a link to Mario Mannningham highlights with the Giants…. just to get us fans salivating about lining up Manningham, Moss and VD with Crabs in the slot in 11 personnel grouping.. come September.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1cIHF29DTg
That was great. He got to be starting.
The sad part was he was thier 3rd wide receiver while he will be our number one probably.
Matt Williamson just corroborated my Browns prediction with this tweet: “Still like for #Browns: 1. Richardson 1B. K Wright (complements Little well) 2nd round: Weeden.”
Grant, who is he?
He is a former scout and co-host of the ESPN Football Today podcast. It’s a good listen. I download it and the Rich Eisen podcast and listen to it when I run. The ESPN First Draft podcast is also available now through the draft.
BigP, I know just giving GC some *grief*!
Lol, good listens either way buddy. Mo’ football, mo’ betta!
Can we please draft Janoris Jenkins, we need our own version of Antonio Cromartie. Jenkins has 4 children between 3 different women. Sounds like a pretty smart guy, no character issues there.