This is the third installment of my series on the Niners best players. To read the first two installments, click here and here.
Today I’m ranking the 11th through the 15th best players on the roster. I’m eager to read your lists.
11. Ted Ginn Jr., PR. – Averaged the 2nd most yards per punt return in the NFL last season (12.3) of all players with more than 25 returns. He was also an excellent kick returner, averaging a career-best 27.6 yards per attempt. The Niners offense had the best average starting field position in the league last year, and Ginn was a big reason why. On the Niners, the special teamers are just as important as the guys who play offense and defense, and Ginn solidifies the Niners special teams as elite.
12. Joe Staley, LT – Pro Bowler and Associated Press Second-Team All Pro in 2011. Six sacks allowed, six false starts, but most of those blunders happened in the first half of the season as he was learning the system. The best player on an improving offensive line. A good pass protector and run blocker who’s athletic enough to run and pull. He even caught a pass for a 17-yard gain. Was the lead blocker on Alex Smith’s touchdown run against the Saints in the playoffs, and made a key diving block 20 yards downfield on that play.
13. Frank Gore, RB: Earned his third Pro Bowl selection last season. Rushed for 1,211 yards and eight touchdowns on 282 attempts. Carried the offense the first half of the season, rushing for more than 100 yards five straights games. Caught just 17 passes for 114 receiving yards. Dropped seven passes. Turned 29 years old in May. Slower than he used to be. At this point in his career he’s more effective rushing up the middle than around the outside, and he’s most effective with a limited amount of carries. In 2011 he averaged 5.0 yards per carry his first 10 rushing attempts every game. But he averaged 3.9 yards per carry on his second 10 carries, and 2.4 yards per carry on this third 10. Greg Roman will likely limit Gore to 10 to 15 carries a game this season, with Kendall Hunter getting around 10 to 15 as well, Brandon Jacobs playing in short yardage situations and LaMichael James playing on third down.
14. Dashon Goldson, FS – Six interceptions and Pro Bowl appearance No. 1 last season. Hard hitter who who’s fast and has very good range as a free safety. Occasionally whiffs on tackles but he’s cutting those down. Made a spectacular interception in the playoffs against the Saints.
15. Donte Whitner, SS – Tough and fast. Made the best hit of the Niners season in the playoffs on Pierre Thomas. Good in coverage, but he’s a bit short (5-10), so he struggles with the taller tight ends, naturally. Still, he’s a near-Pro-Bowl-caliber safety, and he was a Pro Bowl alternate last season.
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Wow, that is a fascinating stat on Frank Gore. I had no idea. Is that the first time you’ve mentioned that Grant? You may have buried the lead a bit.
WHERE IS BRIAN JENNINGS?!?! He was a Pro Bowler last year and without him Akers and Lee are nothing.
TRUE… MASSIVE OVERSIGHT
Not only could he pull off the unibrow, but he is the Jedi knight of long snapping and probably the only 9er player that can go toe to toe with Harbaugh on the readings of great leaders in history.
He is also the only 9er to span the Mariucci to Harbaugh divide.
I’m just glad you were smart enough not to post Alex smith in the top 15. I would’ve lost a lot of respect. It seems you know your football. Viva la Grant Cohn!!!
Where is T. Brown, Grant? Starting corner that had an underrated season from what I saw and from a lot of team observers.
He’s a very good player, but he has the easiest job of all the players in the secondary in my opinion. He mostly plays man under coverage with inside leverage, meaning he gets help over the top from Dashon Goldson and outside from the sideline.
Still, he’s probably a top-20 player on the team. We’ll see tomorrow.
#16-20:
Isaac Sopoaga
Mike Iupati
Tarell Brown
Bruce Miller
Brian Jennings
i’ve read this blog for a long time, and seen the rapid turnover since maiocco left, some i still read daily (eric branch, maicco) but only grant cohn managed to make me stop reading this daily, or even looking weekly. I’m sad to say after many many years it’s past time to remove this pages bookmark. Good luck grant, hopefully your dad can keep this job for you because sure as hell nobody else would ever hire you. Get a new career, or maybe actually watch a little football and ask questions…
Ted Ginn may not even make this team but he’s the 11th best player?
Ted Ginn will be on this team. Did you not watch the NFC championship game?
James, Hunter, Culliver and I cant believe I am saying this, K.Williams could all very easily take the position of returner. Ginn is no lock to make it and if he does, it wlil be solely on special teams.
There is too much depth at WR for him to get any snaps ahead of Crabs, Mannigham, Moss, and VD and or walker 4 wide.
Ginn’s primary role will be on ST, and he will be the 5th receiver, thus giving then insurance in the case of an injury to one of those that you list.
Would you like to make a friendly wager?
Harbaugh is unpredictable and keeps his own counsel. Betting on anything you think he is going to do is a sucker bet.
I don’t agree with Ginn being on the list, but it’s Grants opinion and he’s entitled to it.
Ginn is not a lock for this team either. He’s still rehabbing an injury and KW has shown very well in the offseason program. Before the Playoff disaster, KW had returned kicks for us without incident, so I doubt the Coaching staff will overreact like the fans are and not let him do it again. Perrish Cox can also return punts.
Kyle Williams fumbled a punt to a lose his last game at Arizona St.
Yet the Niners still used him in that role. You can’t let isolated incidents make the decision for you Grant even if they came on a huge stage like the NFC Championship game. Players make mistakes and if they don’t learn from them then you move on. We’ll see if KW has learned something.
I don’t know if it’s a question of learning so much as it’s a question of handling pressure.
Isolated incidents? In his last 2 games as the primary return man he has cost his team with fumbles.
As for Ginn, reports are that he was nearly at full speed at the end of OTA’s and will be ready to go come training camp at the end of July.
I just can’t believe anyone who thinks Ginn won’t be on the team, if he is not hurt he will be on the team.
Those fumbles in the Championship game were the first time KW fumbled as a pro. That’s what I mean about isolated incidents. How many times did he fumble his Sr. year Grant?
Ginn is a Returner only. That means he is either head and shoulders above the next guy or he isn’t making the team imo. Whereas Williams has shown an ability to be a slot receiver and before the last game, the team had no problem as a returner. If they feel that Williams isn’t good enough as a returner then maybe they go with 6 WR’s, but it’s no slam dunk the way some of you think it is.
It’s not a fumbling issue as much as it’s a handling-huge-pressure issue for Williams, in my opinion. Maybe he’ll outgrow that.
Also, I think both Williams and Ginn make the team. Ginn returning punts and kicks makes the Niners much more dangerous.
We sure will! I predict KW doesn’t fumble once in September.
I say it is, you say it isn’t. We will know I am right come September ; )
I don’t like to fling arrows, but are u high? U think ginn won’t make this team? Not only will He will be the starting return man, he will make the pro bowl(barring injury) did u not read “2nd best” in the nfl in return yardage? That’s called elite!
KW is a much better receiver and will make the team as a receiver. Ginn is a ST player ONLY and if it comes down to a player the team thinks can contribute as a starter in future years but not contribute much this year or a player who will be a needed backup this year and maybe a starter in years to come ,overGinn,Ginn would go imho.
But I think Ginn makes the team because he is a trusted vet who catches the punts (if not the passes)and is a dangerous return man. But to say he is a lock disregards the fact that a lot of good players with potential may need to be cut from this roster,so every roster spot is precious this year,unlike in the past. If another player who they are keeping already gains the trust of the staff in fielding punts and is anywhere near the threat Ginn is,then Ginn is gone to make room ..
2 words: Chris Owusu
2 words: practice squad
The good news is that there is so little going on in the sports world that I have time to peruse just about everything niner related I can find on the web.
The bad news is it led me to revisit this blog. 3 special teams players in the top 15 best players, no rookie sack leader though. Strange list.
I rescind my post. Deleting would be a neat option.
If Ginn is so important, why did they let him walk? I’m glad he’s back, but he’s not a major improvement on the alternatives and his legs are fragile.
Ginn was looking for a team that would commit to him as a WR, but he couldn’t find one.
“If Ginn is so important, why did they let him walk?”
You could say the same thing about Goldson last year, and look how that turned out.
They let him walk because he either, a) wanted more money than they were willing to give, or b) he wanted a bigger role in the offense.
Since he got neither on the open market they were able to bring him back at their price.
But it also shows they thought they could live without him if they had to.
Just like with Smith they knew his value when they let him go out and look. They knew what the outcome would be…
Baalke and Marathe have been genius so far in pegging a players’ value in the market.
So far I haven’t disagreed too much but I’d make two big changes in the 11-15.
Slide Soap into Ginn’s spot at 11. Soap is one of the best 3-4 NTs in the league. Ginn is a great return man but he is so horrible at receiver that I just can’t see him placed this high.
I’d slide Alex into Goldson’s spot at 15. In Harbaugh’s system he is a better QB than Goldson is a free safety. Goldson makes the occasional big play but he also makes big mistakes – he gave up 8 TDs in 2011. Alex makes the occasional big play but he doesn’t make the big mistake – he protects the ball.
Ginn and Goldson I would drop into the 16-20 area.
I still think Ray Mac was too high and think Ginn is too high here, too. Iupati and Goodwin need to be top 15. The OL was solid last year, especially the left side of the line. You could make a good case that Goldson should be higher, too.
Ginn is a piece of crud. John Madden could run for 10 & 25 in Brad Seely’s ST. Come on Grantifius. Be a man!!!
not complaing about the names so far as much as the order. wondering where delainie walker and sopoaga rank. and how can u rank Alex boone based on his ascent this season as opposed to last.
When all is said and done Alex Smith will be the man on top. He stuck with it through the worst owners in pro sports, finally Harbaugh will let him do his job.
I’d take Ginn over Williams any day of the week!
You have Ted Ginn ahead of Frank Gore? However you look at it, this is flawed.
Once again, you’ve proven your immaturity as a football anything, rendering you a football nothing.
Dude, at least post well formed argument instead of just being a troll.