Here is a list of every player Trent Baalke has acquired since he became the Niners general manager in 2010. I categorized the players by offense, defense and special teams. Is there a pattern in how he acquires players?
OFFENSE
- Mike Iupati – 17th pick in the first round of the 2010 draft. Pro Bowl alternate in 2011.
- Randy Moss – signed in 2012 to a one-year, $2.5 million contract. Currently atop the WR depth chart at split end.
- Braylon Edwards – signed in August 2011 to a one-year, $3.5 million contract. Waived in December 2011.
- Mario Manningham – signed in 2012 to a two-year, $7.375 million contract. Played mostly with the second team in minicamp.
- Kyle Williams – 206th pick in 2010. Competing with Manningham to be the No. 3 receiver.
- Anthony Davis – 11th pick in 2010. 20 sacks allowed and 11 false starts in 32 career starts.
- Jonathan Goodwin – signed in 2011 to a three-year, $10.9 million contract. Pro Bowl Alternate in 2011.
- Colin Kaepernick – 36th pick in 2011. Threw five passes his rookie season.
- A.J. Jenkins – 30th pick in 2011. Competing with five other wide receivers for playing time.
- LaMichael James – 61st pick in 2012. Competing with four other RBs for carries.
- Kendall Hunter – 115th pick in 2011. 4.2 yards per carry on 112 carries last season as a change-of-pace back.
- Brandon Jacobs – signed in 2012 to a one-year, $1.575 million contract. Competing to become the goal line back.
- Anthony Dixon – 173rd pick in 2010. 3.3 yards per carry in the NFL. Fighting for a roster spot.
- Josh Johnson – signed in 2012 to a two-year, $2.115 million contract. Competing to become the backup QB.
- Ronald Johnson – 182nd pick in 2011. Cut at the end of training camp.
- Daniel Kilgore – 163rd pick in 2011. Currently the primary backup at center and guard.
- Nate Byham – 182nd pick in 2010. Tore his ACL in 2011 training camp.
- Joe Looney – 117th pick in 2012. Injured foot in Senior Bowl.
- Bruce Miller – pick in the 2011 draft. Pro Bowl alternate in 2011.
- Michael Person – 239th pick in 2011. Backup offensive lineman.
- Jason Slowey – 199th pick in 2012. Backup offensive lineman.
- Brian Westbrook – signed in 2010 to a one-year, $1.25 million contract. Gained 490 yards from scrimmage in 14 games, and then retired after the season.
DEFENSE
- Aldon Smith – 7th pick in 2011. Pro Football Writers of America Defensie Rookie of the Year. Set 49ers rookie sack record with 14.
- NaVorro Bowman – 91st pick in 2010. First-team All-Pro in 2011.
- Carlos Rogers – signed in 2011 to a one-year, $5 million contract. Pro Bowl in 2011, 2nd team All-Pro. Re-signed in 2012 to a four-year, $29.3 million contract.
- Donte Whitner – signed in 2011 to a three-year, $11.75 million contract. Leader of the secondary.
- Tramaine Brock – signed as an undrafted free agent in 2010. Re-signed in 2012 to a one-year, $540,000 contract. Backup right cornerback.
- Perrish Cox – signed in 2012 to a two-year, $1.02 million contract. Backup nickel cornerback in minicamp.
- Chris Culliver – 80th pick in 2011. Backup left cornerback, third CB on depth chart.
- Demarcus Dobbs – Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2011 to a three-year, $1.395 million contract. Backup defensive lineman and tight end.
- Darius Fleming – 165th pick in 2012. Tore ACL in OTAs.
- Larry Grant – signed in 2011. Re-signed in 2012 to a one-year, $1.26 million contact. Third inside linebacker on the depth chart.
- Curtis Holcomb – 250th pick in 2011. Fighting for a roster spot at defensive back.
- Phillip Adams – 224th pick in 2010. Cut in 2011.
- Antwan Applewhite – signed in July 2011 to a small contract, cut in September 2011.
- Cam Johnson – 237th pick in 2012. Had knee procedure in OTAs.
- Travis LaBoy – signed in 2010 to a one-year, $1.6 million contract. Not re-signed in 2011.
- Taylor Mays – 49th pick in 2011. Traded to the Bengals in August for a seventh round draft pick.
- Trenton Robinson – 180th pick in 2011. Backup safety.
- Will Tukuafu – signed as an undrafted free agent in 2010. Re-signed in 2012 to a two-year, $1.02 million contract. Backup defensive lineman and fullback.
- Ian Williams – signed as an undrafted free agent in 2011.
- Madieu Williams – signed in 2011 to a one-year contract. Not re-signed in 2012.
SPECIAL TEAMS
- David Akers – signed in 2011 to a three-year, $9 million contract. Pro Bowler, set the franchise record for points in a season.
- Rock Cartwright – signed in 2012 to a one-year, $950,000 contract. Replaces Blake Costanzo.
- Blake Costanzo – signed in 2011 to a one-year contract. Pro Bowl alternate. Not re-signed in 2012.
- Ted Ginn Jr. – acquired in a trade for a fifth round pick. Pro Bowl alternate in 2011.
- Tavares Gooden – signed in 2011. Re-signed in 2012 to a one-year, $700,000 contract.
- Colin Jones – 190th pick in 2011. Special teams starter.
- C.J. Spillman – claimed off waivers in 2010. Re-signed to a three-year, $4.2 million contract. Ace special teams gunner and backup safety.
Baalke’s special teams additions have been stellar. Akers was a grand slam, and Ginn Jr. was a home run.
The acquisitions on defense have been even better. Bowman and Aldon Smith rapidly became two of the top-five players on the Niners last season, while Rogers had the best season of his career.
Baalke’s acquisitions on defense and special teams have been brilliant. But how’s he doing on offense?
He’s doing OK, but not as well. None of his additions to the offense has earned a trip to a Pro Bowl, and I wouldn’t rank any of them in the top-15 players on the team.
Three of Baalke’s guys were Pro Bowl alternates last season – Goodwin, Iupati and Miller. None of them played in the game.
Iupati certainly has a bright future. He’s a very good run blocker, and he could be a Pro Bowler one day.
You just can’t help but notice that Baalke’s skill players – wide receivers, running backs and tight ends – have not become impact starters yet.
Randy Moss has a chance to become Baalke’s first impact skill player on offense next season – he should start at split end.
Baalke also spent his first two draft picks on offensive skill players this year – A.J. Jenkins and LaMichael James. They could develop into impact starters down the line, but probably not next season. It’s possible each will get only a few touches a game. If that turns out to be true – it may not — it means Baalke used his first two choices on players who will contribute after next season. But next season clearly is the Niners’ window of opportunity for the Super Bowl – Justin Smith is 32.
It seems to me that so far in Baalke’s brief tenure as the Niners GM, he’s been better at scouting and acquiring players who block and tackle than offensive players who gain yards and score points. If he has any area to grow in – and he’s done beautifully – it would be in getting offensive skill players.
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Grant
I think LaMichael James has a very good chance to get in a lot of plays. RB’s can start from the get-go and not disappoint more so than WR’s.
And it is the combination of speed players which is hard to defend. It is easy to defend againt 1 speed guy. But, if you have 5-6 of them on the field at once, defenses are stretched, and make mistakes. And AS is very smart, and will take advantage of those mitakes.
James and KH with VD and Moss and take your pick WR can be very hard for a defense. Assuming the OL won’t buckle and give AS time.
I thought that James was the 49ers best draft pick. Hes a stud and will be a good player for us.
Baalke will make up for it this year on offense, I think his draft picks this year will be stellar. It is only June, Jenkins is a mystery but his had a great college career and its only June. Did I say it was only June.
@Neal
The offensive players that Baalke has acquired – especially this year – have been solid for the most part. On the flip side, offensive production has been sluggish mainly due to average QB play and conservative game planning.
@ NickRowe,
Your very kind in calling QB average but I do agree his call playing is conservative because Roman is still a weak link along with AS.
Fom SFGATE
Sorry if somebody else already posted it about the QB position
BEST PLAYER: Alex Smith
BIGGEST SURPRISE: Scott Tolzien
I still think Scott will be there after TC and Pre-season.
I know you like Tolzien, I am with you on that one. I fear that he is going on the practice squad tho.
No sense placing Tolzien on the practice squad though undercenter.
He won’t last a week if he is put there. Best to put somebody who is less known and gamble he won’t be picked up by another team. I can see the Niners trying to trade Tolzien for a late round pick if CK/Johnson are 2/3, and another team giving them that pick for him.
Tolzien will be safe on the practice squad.
No way Tolzien will be safe on the practice squad. I promise you someon will snatch him up.
Nice write up Grant. I think TB has done a real good job so far. Most of his aquisitions have proved out. I could be wrong but it seems most of his draft picks have made the team. Thats a sign of someone knowing what he is doing.
kendall hunter was a great pick. bruce miller was a great pick. did baalke sign alex boone if he did that was a great signing. konrad rueland i believe will be a great signing. the offense was much more in place when baalke took over so it makes sense that the more impactful moves have come on the other side of the ball
definite +1 on Kendal Hunter and Bruce Miller. I don’t think people give baalke enough credit for turning an OLB into the teams only FB and having it work out so well that he got selected as a pro-bowl alternate as a rookie playing the position for the first time in his life. I also think that KH is a great player who will only continue to impress. Its hard for anyone to shine behind Gore, but KH did a nice job with the opportunities he got.
Moneyball?
Not even close. More like Smartball.
grant to your statement that this yr is the window. take my word for it jh will have the 9ers in S.B. contention for a long time. justin smith made that comment because his window is closing because of age[but he may be wrong about that i can see him being effective for at least 3 more yrs]
justin smith said he has 3 to 4 good years left in him
why wouldnt you put iupati on the top 15 on the 49ers, that is a joke. what do expect from a cohn though
Remove Tight-Ends and Running Backs from your offensive analysis for christs-sake. A rookie will not come in and be a better playmaker than VD (top 5 in league) or Walker (could start on multiple other teams)… or our franchise leading rusher and still a key contributor in Gore.
Did you not see Hunter flash potential on the opportunities he got? Or not know that Byham (after his rookie season) was already considered one of the better blocking TE’s in the league by allot of scouts… thats what he was brought in here for, to replace Bajema.
You sir, are mad cause his didnt draft your crush this year, and bitter that Jenkins was the pick. Other than that you are basically judging him for going after bargain basement receivers when he didn’t know who his QB would really end up being. Iupati is a stud, and AD has significantly progressed year over year… add in picking up Boone who completely dominated Callais Cambell in his only substantial playing time.
The only negative he’s gotten so far is bargain basement receiver’s not turning out like Carlos Rogers on defense, and drafting a tap dance in Dixon as a backup RB which he made up for with Hunter.
@ 5280high
“Remove Tight-Ends and Running Backs from your offensive analysis for christs-sake. ”
??? Please explain where you are getting this idea from Grant’s writeup here.
I dont know.. maybe read the article…
“You just can’t help but notice that Baalke’s skill players – wide receivers, running backs and tight ends – have not become impact starters yet.”
I cant help but notice you dont have reading comprehension…
+1 LOL
5280
Don’t be an ass. Leave that to the donkey.
It was a legit question. One that didn’t incite your reply. Unless you actually are that way in real life. Then, you’re just being you. And I can’t ask you to not be you now can I?
Jack
That goes for you as well.
Your question to 5280high makes you the donkey DS. He already gave the answer in the first comment you dumb bass.
Think your forgot the QB position for your skill players.
Move along Jack. Pathetic excuse of a Niner fan you are.
You are stupid. Must be. Only way to explain it. You constantly read my posts knowing you won’t like any of them. That is stupid.
Good to see you are still ignoring me DS : )
DS that was my bad. After reading a couple of your other posts I realized you were just asking a normal question. Being critical on this blog can sometimes cause Cohn’s Bro-mos to get all pissy and try to defend him, and that was my first thought before I read some of your other posts.
@5280
:- )
Not so fast? How many skill position players has he drafted? Dixon, K-10, Hunter, Ronald Johnson, and CK. None of these players were drafted to be starters outside of CK and most knew it would be awhile before he was ready. Most of these players were drafted as depth. He hit on Hunter, who had a great rookie season for the amount of touches he had. K-10, NFCCG aside, showed major promised in his second year. For all those who want to harp on the Giants game, go back and watch the second Seattle game and how his returns changed field position and help set-up the offense all game. RJ was moreso a pick that WR coach Morton campaigned for. I can give him a mulligan on that one. Dixon is still young and but hasn’t shown much. But as a late round pick, is that really a surprise?
As far as the free agents he brought in, I can’t blame him for Edwards getting injured, which subsequently ended his whole season pretty much. Who knows how our season would have turned out if Edwards would he been healthy for the whole year. And its hard to guage him with Singletary as his coach, knowing what we know now and how alot of talent wasn’t being put in position to succeed. A GM is only a part of the equation. He assembles the talent. The HC must make sure he gets the most out of said talent every Sunday. Some HC do this better than others. So guys like Westbrook and Troy Smith have to be looked at as guys who may have performed better under different leadership.
@bee
This is how I see it as well. And I was hoping 5280 could explain his conclusion knowing this.
Doesnt this reinforce my conclusion? He assembles the team for the coach. You build teams from the inside out, which he has. I’m to lazy to look search for the stats, but before Baalke didnt this line give up back to back 55 sack seasons?
So Baalke took over the year after we drafted the supposed #1 WR in the draft, had a top5 TE in VD, and a top 10 RB in Gore… So he focused on the trenches and defense and look what happened?
KW as a WR has shown allot of promise and touchness, possibly our #2 blocking wr even though he is 5’10. RoJo was the call of the WR coach. Edwards was a low risk high reward signing that in no way, shape or form set the franchise back financially.
Look at the playmakers that get no credit like Bruce Miller. Teams knew we would run the ball first since 2005, and last year was the only time in recent memory that the team could run the ball against a loaded box without being down by 2 TD’s. That never happened with Norris as the lead back.
Grant,
Looking at the list the only area that Baalke has missed on offense is the WR spot. That might be rectified with the additions this year, but the last 2 have not been pretty at that spot.
As for TE he already had Davis and Walker, and he has added good depth behind them for the #3 spot.
At RB he already had Gore and added another weapon last year in Hunter and James will be another key acquisition. The only real question marks are how Jacobs and Dixon will shake out. I see Jacobs taking that spot and having a great year for his role. And don’t forget Bruce Miller who was a key draft pick and was transformed from a college DE to a top notch NFL FB.
Jack
You think Williams bombed out as a receiver? If my memory serves me right he was pretty effective in the last half of the season. Problem is my memory!
Williams was quite popular on this blog late last year. Everybody was happy about him.
People have selective memories. Especially when proven wrong, or the last thing that happened (2 fumbles) somehow erases all that good.
TB said it shortly after the game. Williams was working his rear off. And these OTA’s proved that work has paid off.
undercenter,
Williams has been as good as a 6th round receiver should be, and I like his chances of making the team as the 4th WR this year. My knock on Baalke with WR’s has more to do with the failed Edwards experiment, the Johnson draft pick and the total inability to add an NFL quality receiver late last year when they needed to.
Those two fumbles didnt happen as a receiver, hopefully people here are not judging his receiver abilities with his return abilities, that would be a mistake.
I agree with the Johnson pick as bad, as far as Edwards eh we needed something at the time and it looked like he would be ok. He wasnt.
undercenter,
Plus Edwards got injured, so I guess it is primarily the Johnson pick and the inability to find a quality WR to fill the void on a championship caliber team.
As for Williams and the punt returns, he had some nice returns in that game too leading up to that point. Of the 2 fumbles the only one I fault him for was the muff off the knee. From the time you first play organized football you are told to JUST GET AWAY from it once it hits the ground. The second one was just a bam-bam football play and a terrible break.
Jack
Good point about finding a replacement the only one that I can think of that was out there was TO and I dont think he was a viable option.
undercenter,
Two options they passed on were TJ Houshmandzadeh and Chris Chambers. TJ ended up signing with Oakland a week or two later.
Braylon Edwards was working out just fine until he got injured, plus they payed him next to nothing (for a veteran NFL WR), so there never was a downside. The trend I see across the board is to not overpay and overcommit (years on contract) to free agents. This seems to be noticed in the WR department the most because there have not been huge marquis signings like anquan boldin or desean jackson. But there also have not been huge free agent signings for other positions, it just has worked out better, like carlos rogers.
damn i miss brian westbrook. even tho he was old that was a back i wish we had. he wasnt the fastest in open field but the guy straight up moved the chains an got us yards when needed. him an gore back there was great wish it cuda lasted longer
AHHHH,
Westbrook was a casualty of the poor coaching staff. They couldn’t figure out how to use him, then once Gore got hurt and he had to play he did well.
Baalke is proving to be a genius so far. Out of his first two drafts (’10 and ’11) all but three draftees are still with us (time will tell how well the ’12 draft turns out, but they were drafted to a much better roster than their predecessors were). Unless my counting skills have completely left me (which, at my age is very likely), 41 of the 49 players signed under Baalke’s tenure are still with the team, and that’s better than five out of every six. I feel that is STELLAR.
Furthermore, look at the veterans Baalke has let “walk” so far…
ON DEFENSE:
Aubrayo Franklin, replaced by Isaac Sopoaga (an upgrade–plus, Sopoaga
being replaced by Ray McDonald was also an upgrade. One player
gone, two positions upgraded)
Takeo Spikes, replaced by NaVorro Bowman (an upgrade)
Manny Lawson, replaced by Ahmad Brooks (an upgrade)
Nate Clements, replaced by Carlos Rogers (an upgrade)
Michael Lewis, replaced by Donte’ Whitner (an upgrade)
ON OFFENSE:
Davis Baas, replaced by Jonathan Goodwin (at least a push)
Chilo Rachal and Adam Snyder, replaced by Alex Boone (TBD)
Joshua Morgan, replaced by Randy Moss (TBD)
In addition, injured starters who never won their starting roles back ’cause their replacements proved to be superior (the Wally Pipp syndrome):
Shawntae Spencer, replaced by Tarell Brown and Chris Culliver
Moran Norris, replaced by Bruce Miller
I would disagree slightly re baas:goodwin. I think Baas was a little better plus he only had 1 or 2 years playing center and he was younger. But I also think the giants overpayed for him so that wasn’t really TBs fault.
but other than that you made some great points. TB is doing quite well in my book.
I like this post. Simple, to the point and not much to argue with. Nice work.
Grant, all DS does is dirty up your blog! he’s like the house guest that says too much and stays too long
Latino, He’s a squatter…
And all Latino does is complain about others. How much football do you discuss Latino? Almost all of your posts you are talking about other bloggers.
You still didn’t take my advice. Stay out of it.
DS you need a life serioulsy. Do yourself a favor, take a week and log how much time you spend on this blog and then allocate that time to doing something productive, like volunteer work, work with kids, the homeless, I think you’ll find that life is better spent doing productive things then arguing with people about football.
Now if it was like the rest of us who comment maybe once, twice, maybe 10 times a day to your 20-30, then thats normal, you frequency, loser!!!!!!!!!!!
Latino
You spend those 10 posts talking about others. You never talk football.
Now, please talk about it, or leave. I have no idea what your Niner views are because you only talk about bloggers.
Why does it matter to you about how often I post? How is that impacting your life? If it isn’t, then you should shut your mouth. How many jobs were lost in your area? Those are the kind of things you should be spending your complaint time on. Not my posting #’s. Which don’t impact you at all, now do they?
PS I do all those things you say I should do FYI. I’m just better than you are at doing all of them at once.
Latino,
Don’t argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
DS, i will tell you how it affects my life and every other niner fan on here. Your the moron who has to comment on every single persons opinion! Its annoying, your annoying when every where you read its the DS show.
You want me to talk football, thats impossible, your everywhere and as you can tell, no one wants to have anything to do with you why? cause you always have something outrageous to say.
Your the guy at the party that wont shut up, you know what im talking about, have you ever been to a party or is it always at your house with you the blog and your computer. take a week off, you might discover who you really are
Here is a radical idea:
How about nobody worry about another bloggers life and posts and keep it to football instead?
Latino
You complained about me “dirtying up” the blog.
You have then proceeded to call me “loser” and “moron”. And I’ve done nothing of the sort in return to you. Yet, I dirty the blog, and you are what, Lysol clean?
Check this hard to grasp concept out. Skip my stuff. If I’m a moron, why read it? Morons can’t contribute anything of worth now. If they can, they aren’t morons now, are they?
So, you’re caught in a Catch-22. You admit I’m a moron as are equally are you for reading my posts, or I’m not a moron, proving your statement wrong about me thus losing this little tussle.
You really aren’t any good with logic arguments. You should have taken my advice and stay out of it. Unless you are that which you call me, then I can’t expect you to behave differently, right?
Should have taken my advice Latino : /
DS, SHUT UP! Take a week off and like I said discover who you are.
You are a moron cause you dont understand the concept of a blog. How many people on here have told you to get lost? im gonna say over 50%. Why, cause were tired of hearing all your dumb sh$t!
Should we ask Grant to take a poll and see how many people think your the biggest joke on here?
Latino, I will vote first. AGREED.
Neal what do you think?
No offense jack, but your just as stupid as DS, and you can add Neal to that same comment. all three of you need to get a life
No offense taken Chico. By the way, how is that Bail Bonds business working out?
Latino heat the only heat that you have is from your ass why dont you and DS get a room. Did I see you on a episode on cops. You and Ds were charged with domestic violence
DS you really don’t believe that people read all
your long winded posts do you? I think people do ignore you an skip your posts because there are too many to read.
I think what we’re all trying to say is ” good God man, take a breath”
Latino cool out swinger. You have the same complaint about DS that everyone else does. But why insult everyone else?
Prime
I don’t read a lot of posts myself. Doesn’t mean I have to be a jerk and point any of them out for being long.
Why so sensitive Bayareafanatic and what, are you trying to solve world peace?
If you havenet noticed the two others I called out are equally as annoying with their hate, kinda like you with Alex. Im surprsed you didnt add anything to discredit smith in your comment, thats typical of you. Haters unite
@ Heat
LOL. So you’re an equal opportunity basher? Hardly anybody escapes your wrath. Guess I’m next. : >)
I’m just teasing you, Dude, cuz you’re on a roll. Last night and now carrying over to this morning.
As to Bay, no its not about World Peace; its about whirled peas.
Also LH
Perhaps you need a life, all you do is complain about DS, that is not much of a life if you ask me.
He’s just an angry swinger.
Lameareafanatic, is that your reply to everyone, that they are angry? You are so one dimensional, you never have anything new to say, it’s either this person is angry or Alex is terrible. Is that the salesman in you?
Hey Prime,
if the therapy fits? You demonstrate a behavior, then you own it.
As for sales, yes I am a sales engineer who also owns a very successful manufacturing company. Jealous much?
Jealous of a salesman who are the most obnoxious pompous people in the world, only out to make money, not likely! Throw on top of that engineers who have the personality drier than a popcorn fart and that basically summarizes who you are, thanks for that, I will be more empathetic toward you now knowing what I’m working with, that means I feel sorry for you!
Sounds like Latino is taking out his frustration on this blog. Dude, lashing out at others to make yourself feel good is lame. Get a life loser.
@Grant
Didn’t see Eco’spost before I wrote mine.
Please delete my post at 9:07 just above as it serves no purpose after what Eco wrote.
Thanks.
its just plain silly to expect all picks to make it if half of ur picks are around 3 yrs later it was a good draft if half of those that r still around 3 yrs later r starting it was a great draft. some players r drafted to be special teams players. to critisize a gm for every pick that does’nt stick is a sign of someone who just does’nt understand the draft. in fact if all your picks r making the team year in year out it would mean u were turning over 15 % of ur roster yearly. winning teams dont turn over just under 50% of their rosters every 3 yrs
Quite right oldcoach.
Grant,
You take a lot of flack, for reasons I don’t understand, but you do a very good job. Keep doing what you’re doing and *most important of all*, keep telling people what you see and think instead of telling them what they want to hear. You may be less popular as a result, but you can look in the mirror and say you were true to yourself and you are a damn good sports-writer.
lol… “Anthony Davis – 11th pick in 2010. 20 sacks allowed and 11 false starts in 32 career starts.”
tell us how you really feel
Happy to see Justin Smith land in at #17 on the NFL’s topp 100 players of 2012. Thought he could possibly end up a little closer towards the top 10 but i understand why not. On a positive note PW will crack the top 10 where he deserves to be. Im guessing #8
You actually think? What a surprise!
I think it may be time for you to grow up a little bit Nick. If your looking for drama go to facebook. This is for football talk
Nick
If you are going to say something like that, please save it for if/when Adam707 insults you first. It makes no sense for you to write that from out of nowhere.
Wonder where the hater term comes from and why it applies to you? Your post at 8:45 explains it all. It has nothing to do with AS.
@DS
Stay out of it.
@Adam Jr.
About a week ago, you took exactly the same shot at me and now you’re playing the ‘grow up’ card. My comment wasn’t unprovoked, it was payback :)
Hmmm i do not recall. If it is true then i guess i had it coming. But FYI its Adam707, I am no Jr.
@Adam707
Fair enough, I apologize for that comment and may have confused you with somebody else.
I’m a bit disappointed. I love Willis but Justin is a better player at this time. In my humble opinion PW and JS should both be in the top 10.
I am enjoying the difference between last year’s list and this one. Last year, 3 49ers (Gore, Vernon, Willis). This year, 6 (7?) 49ers.
Will be 7. Bowman, Rogers, Staley, Vernon, Gore, JS, PW.
I’m surprised a bit msc. I thought I was the only one who liked JS more than PW around here.
Justin’s 2011 season was one of the finest I can remember from a DL. There’s guys ahead of him on the All-Time List & HOF, but for one season his 2011 was remarkably good. Ooooh-RAH!
@brotha
Last year was the first time JS had a good secondary making QB’s hold onto the ball just that bit longer. So he got more sacks. He’s always been great against the run.
Yep. Coverage was definitely improved. Ray Mac’s & Aldon’s pressure helped too.
Mr. Baalke is doing just fine. He is young at his position and will grow into a great GM.
It’s amazing that a person who was a part of the horrendous Nolan/Singletary/McDrunkagain establishment has turned out so fantastic. Not to mention being a Redskins scout. How did Baalke survive all that with his brain intact?
Is it just me, or does Baalke talk like he’s trying to hold in a hit of very expensive weed? (jk)
Seriously, I agree in general with the article. Baalke has a proven track record of acquiring and developing defensive talent for relatively low draft/FA/cap capital.
Only time will tell. Alot depends on how how the high pick offensive players develop.
Anthony Davis – He might not live up to his draft status, but he seems to be developing on track. Remember, he was drafting very young, is still developing and he had to play next to Chilo all the time, which opened gaps on his left side for pass rushers.
Kaepernick – We know he can run. We know he can throw long. We know he can run and throw at the same time. But will he quicken his release and get the pocket footwork down?
Jenkins – High hopes. Love the smooth acceleration. Way too early to judge. He’s coming into an ideal situation with seasoned veterans to study under and little pressure to perform right away.
That said, I have a sneaky suspicion Harbaugh-Baalke were hoping Bruce Irvin would drop to #30.
Sorry again for all the typos. Seems that I write like someone trying to hold in a puff of expensive weed… And I’ve been pot/booze free since August 23, 1980. No excuses. This old boy needs some schooling. LOL
Balke has no history of the 49ers identity or philosophy. Just like the Singletary and Nolan offense he plays it too safe, not to loose. We need west coast WRs and he gives us small 5’10-6’0 footers with speed but can’t break tackles. He does not take chances and acts like the second coming of Bill Belichick. Randy Moss is a nice experiment but why not draft someone with his qualities as oppose to drafting another RB to clutter an already cluttered position?
I also think this list shows a lot about how he builds a team…..I mean he isn’t out there signing high profile FA’s with no one to block for them…or the big name pass rusher with no coverage on the team on the back end.
He’s building the offense from the trenches to the WR’s, wants to be strong up the middle because no QB or RB is good when the get met in the backfield immediately up the middle…
Defense he’s building coverage (Rogers, Culliver, Brock, Robinson, Goldson) then pass rush (Aldon Smith, Ahmad Brooks) and then it helped that he already had some great LB’s and a solid D-line
At least he understands what the foundation of the team is
Grant, it’s hard to judge Baalke’s ability to find offensive talent when he is vetoed on the most important position on offense. All of the skill positions are directly affected by the quarterback.
Remember, Baalke wanted to move on and find a real QB.
Give it a rest, man. Your comments are as tiresome as jordan’s.
You should go with your new material. You know, where you cleverly refer to AJ Jenkins as a “tiny” receiver. That was a laugh riot, and you’ve only told that joke 3 or 4 times.
Is there a problem Hollow Balls? Is your cut and paste not functioning tonight?
Baalke was not going to bring back the Precious. Jenkins is an undersized wide receiver. Those are facts. I realize facts offend you. Tough luck for you Smither
I always chuckle when you refer to him as “The Precious.”
Baalke was not going to bring back the Precious.
Really? Offering and signing him to a contract suggests otherwise.
Jenkins is an undersized wide receiver.
Do you know the average height and weight of NFL receivers? I doubt it because researching the facts doesn’t seem to be your thing, but if you do, please share. And even if he is below average in size, that’s not the same as being “tiny.” At least, that’s what you have been telling women you whole life.
Face it, you don’t deal in facts. It’s clearly too much work for you to do any actual research. You’d rather try to pass off your assumptions and opinions as fact, make “clever” one-liners, and call names.
@Claude
MSC has a valid point. With average QB play – at best – how can one expect pro bowl type production from the WRs and TEs?
but we’ve got a probowl TE… so there goes that
You can have outliers like that. Those are called statistical aberrations. But to get consistent pro bowl production you need an above average QB
Nick,
2 Pro Bowls in 3 seasons is not an abberration. Sorry, but your argument here is pretty weak.
@Jack
3 year sample size is too small. Let’s go back to 2005 – which cioncidently is the start of mediocre QB play – here is a year by year list of Pro Bowlers. I see a direct correlation.
2005 Season
None
2006 Season
Frank Gore
Larry Allen
Walt Harris
2007 Season
Patrick Willis
Andy Lee, P
2008 Season
Patrick Willis
2009 Season
Vernon Davis
Andy Lee, P
Patrick Willis
Frank Gore
Justin Smith
2010 Season
Patrick Willis
Justin Smith
2011 Season
David Akers
Dashon Goldson
Frank Gore
Andy Lee, P
Carlos Rogers
Justin Smith
Joe Staley
Patrick Willis
By the way, I don’t know what you mean by 2 out of 3. VD didn’t make it to the Pro Bowl in 2011.
You are correct Nick, Davis was a Pro Bowl alternate, my bad. As you were.
@NickRow:
Which 49ers WRs and TEs do you think would have made the Pro Bowl, or had Pro Bowl production, but for Alex Smith?
To make it easier for you, here are the WRs and TEs who were on the 49ers roster for the years 2009-11 (source for 2009-2010 is Wikipedia):
WRs
Arnaz Battle (2009)
Isaac Bruce (2009)
Michael Crabtree (2009-11)
Jason Hill (2009-2010)
Brandon Jones (2009)
Josh Morgan (2009-2011)
Dominqiue Ziegler (2009-2010)
Ted Ginn, Jr. (2010-2011)
Kyle Williams (2010-2011)
Braylon Edwards (2011)
Joe Hastings (2011)
Brett Swain (2011)
TEs
Vernon Davis (2009-2011)
Delanie Walker (2009-2011)
Nate Byham (2010)
Colin Cloherty (2010)
Justin Peelle (2011)
Konrad Reuland (2011) (may have been on PS only)
You can perhaps fashion an argument for Crabtree, but it would be a very weak one. Anyone else?
@NickRow
So since 2005, in your opinion, which SF WRs were/are ProBowl caliber?
Lloyd was on the 2005 team w/ AS just started. And Lloyd didn’t make the PB till 4/5 years later and after several team changes.
So the talent level of the WRs wasn’t that great since TO left. I agree w/ Jack your argument is weak.
@NickRow:
You want to go all the way back to 2005? That hardly seems fair, but then again, the Smith bashing seldom is.
If so, then add to my list the following WRs and TEs from 2005 and 2006:
WRs
Otis Amey
Brandon Lloyd
Johnnie Morton
Raseed Wallace
Marcus Maxwell
Jason McAddley
Antonio Bryant
Bryan Gilmore
Taylor Jacobs
Brandon Williams
TEs
Billy Bajema
Steve Bush
Patrick Estes
Terry Jones
Trent Smith
Eric Johnson
(Source: http://www.footballdb.com)
Holy crap, that’s a lot of potential Pro Bowl talent that went to waste because of Alex F’ing Smith. No wonder everyone blames him for the 49ers’ lack of success.
Note: I have assumed you are not going blame Smith for Pro Bowl absences in 2007 and 2008 since he was injured those two years. If my assumption is unwarranted, and nothing surprises me any more when it comes to people blaming Alex Smith for the team’s failures, please let me know.
PS – the QB play in 2004 was even less than mediocre. See if you can find a way to blame the lack of 2004 Pro Bowlers on Smith.
@Albert and Claude
Where did I blame anything on AS? I was making a point that in order to get consistent, solid production from skill positions, then the QB better be good. You sensitive Smithers take that as a slam against AS. Do you guys need therapy? Relax. AS is the starter for now. Enjoy the moment.
@NickRow:
Are you kidding? You expressly and unequivocally blamed Smith for the lack of Pro Bowl production from the WRs and TEs.
You wrote:
With average QB play – at best – how can one expect pro bowl type production from the WRs and TEs?
You also wrote of seeing a “direct correlation” between mediocre QB play and the absence of skill position Pro Bowl production since 2005.
Now that it has been shown that your reflexive, knee-jerk bashing of Smith was without merit, instead of acknowledging your mistake, you are trying to deny writing what you so clearly wrote. Take responsibility for your words. If you have concluded you were wrong, acknowledge it. Don’t try to weasel your way out of it.
And as long as we are handing out unsolicited psychological advice, please allow me to reciprocate. Barring injury, Alex Smith will be the 49ers’ starting QB this year. Get over it and move on.
@Claude
In case you missed it, AS was not the only starting QB from 2005-present. Did you forget JTO – the journeyman QB who beat out the Precious? Did you forget about Shaun Hill – the other QB who beat out the Precious? Nonetheless, QB production was mediocre over that stretch.
I challenge you to prove me wrong. Can you have consistent, solid production at WR and TE with mediocre QB play? If you do, I’ll be the first to admit that I was wrong.
@NickRow:
Where you were wrong was in suggesting that Alex Smith was the reason the 49ers have not had any Pro Bowl WRs and TEs.
As for your revised, more general, assertion, I can think of the following receivers who produced consistent, solid production despite playing with what you would call mediocre QB play:
Steve Largent
Art Monk
Lance Alworth
Gary Clark
Steve Smith
Larry Fitzgerald (w/o Kurt Warner)
Brandon Marshall in Miami
AJ Green (yeah it’s only one year, but it was a very good year)
@Claude
Is that how a lawyer weasels out of an argument? Nothing was revised and/or generalized. My original statement was:
With average QB play – at best – how can one expect pro bowl type production from the WRs and TEs?
The names you produced don’t demonstrate anything. That’s a weak attempt. Mark Rypien, Doug Williams, John Hadl, Andy Dalton, and Kerry Collins were not mediocre QBs at the time they played with the WRs you mentioned.
Mark Rypien – 2x Pro Bowl, 2x Super Bowl champ, 70 greatest Redskins
Doug Williams – Super Bowl Champ and MVP, 70 greatest Redskins
John Hadl – 2x Pro Bowl, 1x All Pro, 3x All AFL selection, Chargers Hall of Fame
Kerry Collins – 2x Pro Bowl, NFC Champ
Andy Dalton – Pro Bowl as a rookie, 2× Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week, NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month, NFLPA Emerging Player Award
And Dave Krieg was a 3x Pro Bowler. The other QBs on your list could be considered mediocre.
…..@NickRow….you got “Hulk Smash”….
@NickRow
Actually you DID revised and even downgraded the ProBowl part. LOL
You changed it from “consistent PB production” to “consistent solid production.”
AS is the flat out starter on the team and plays the most important single position.
He does well, we win. Why are so many of you trying to convince yourselves that he won’t be good? Where does that get the team?
DS
I agree with you. It’s time to kill this thread and move on
@NickRow:
No, one tries to weasel out of an argument by doing what you are doing.
From the beginning, your assertion was that Alex Smith has been holding the WRs and TEs back. It was only after that assertion was refuted on multiple levels that you tried to claim that you were speaking generally about the difficulty of WRs and TEs producing at Pro Bowl levels with mediocre QB play.
Your cherry-picking of random good seasons from the largely mediocre careers of Mark Rypien, Doug Williams, John Hadl and Dave Krieg doesn’t change the fact that (1) they often were mediocre (based upon your definition) when the receivers I listed were putting up Pro Bowl numbers and (2) the receivers I listed produced at a high level over multiple years with generally mediocre QB play.
As for the specifics, Rypien’s Pro Bowl seasons (sandwiched around some mediocre seasons) came towards the end of Monk’s career. Same with Kreig; 2 of his 3 Pro Bowls came well after Largent’s best years. Many of Largent’s best years came with Jim Zorn as his QB or during decidedly non Pro Bowl worthy seasons from Krieg. If you love John Hadl’s and Andy Dalton’s numbers, then why are you complaining about Alex Smith? Kerry Collins never played with Steve Smith, so I am not sure why you brought him up.
….NickRow the blog weasel……
@Claude
No, I was stating a fact. The Niners QB play has been average – at best – since 2005. Under such scenario, its highly unlikely to get consistent Pro Bowl level production from skill positions. You being the sensitive Smither that you are interpret that as slamming AS.
Speaking of AS, his best year was 2011. I’ll take Rypien, Williams, Dalton, Krieg, and a few of the others over AS anyday. At least those guys are Pro Bowlers. AS hasn’t even sniffed the Pro Bowl yet.
@OneWeasel
Nice try. Did I hurt your feelings by stating fact?
But Nick,maybe RM can catch all those high passes thrown late and off target,and make it to the Pro Bowl ? RM is big and knows how to use his body to screen off the defenders that are waiting there for the ball ,because the QB telegraphs his throws and throws late .
Who would this qb have been, Warner? Who was that guy that used to play for the Eagles? Oh ya, McNabb? Who else might we have got? Hasselback? Oh, and let’s not forget Garrard. Any great qb’s in the draft that would progressed enough to be doing what Alex is doing right now? Don’t think so! Harbaugh did the right thing talking him into keeping AS! The people I named above woulda been a joke and a lot of bloggers here wanted them. By the end of this year, you’ll understand! By the end of 2013, you’ll finally see why we drafted him over Rodgers and you will be happy! Trust me
@montanaman16
Thanks for some positive outlooks here. To much negativity man.
How many other 14-4 teams have fan bases as negative as ours?
“Any great qb’s in the draft that would progressed enough to be doing what Alex is doing right now?”
Andy Dalton
Mays and. Johnson were not TB choices he caved in to pressur. lesson learned . The offence last was awesome in the short amount of time by the end of the season we were hitting big plays . Grant could you do a AS comparisons from the first 8 game
s to the last 8 games qb stats compared to.
thethe top 5 in the ledge
Yeah,some of us were on the ledge watching Alex ! lol
We did fear for the health of a few of you. Glad you didn’t jump. :P
My phone is making difficult to write , keeps doing what it wants
Thre is nothing in this column. Just opinions without analysis. Reminds me of kids arguing if Batman could take Superman. Bottom line is Baalke and Harbaugh are so off the charts compared to anyone before them since Bill W and his crew that I have to wonder why even waste time reading or writing this.
Totally agree
As usual Grant was a little Pre-mature to make an honest evaluation only because Jimbo just showed up in town last year so I don’t count anything before that because “Coaching” evidently DOES matter.
WTF…Superman would crush Batman…
unless batman got his hands on some kryptonite, and since he is a genius billionaire I think he probably could
dangle – you forgot nobama – redistribution of wealth, batman is no longer a billionaire.
….Batman moved his billions offshore…….Uncle Sam turned out to be his kryptonite….
Seeing how Baalke has only been Officially the GM for a little over 2 years and clearly this Off-season was all about Offense mostly I would hold out Judgement on his Offensive Prowess until AFTER this Season.
I expect a Big Boost in Production on the Offense this Season with contributions from everyone including Rookies Jenkins & James. Can anyone really doubt that?
I gotta believe that Edwards was a Harbaugh call. Michigan guy, etc…I know TB had final say, but there is definitely politicing behind the scenes for draft picks, free agents etc…
Much more to it than the picks.
What you fail to mention is the caliber of coaching. Nolan sucked – period!
TB made the picks but the talent has to be developed and groomed for improvement. We now have a real coaching staff.
JH didn’t have a complete season to develop the talent. This is the year TB’s offensive picks will start to shine.
Didn’t Trent come out of the Bill Parcells ‘School’ (or Coaching/Personnel Tree)? There does seem to be some emphasis on the core positions. Its an effective fundamental approach that’s also helpful late season when the weather is bad. But how bad are the skill position decisions?
QB: CK & Tolzein are good developmental backups. JJ more of a Harbaugh acquisition
TE Has been looking for the PlowHorse compliment to Delanie & Vernon, and has done ok
FB Miller was surprizing to me and is a gem
RB Not everyone did, but I supported the big deal for Gore. Hunter looked good and I think will continue to improve. LaMichael will have to establish himself at the pro level, but it seems likely he will. Missing OTAs may have delayed how soon we get to see him this season. Dixon was a bargain, and will probably be on an NFL roster this season. J-Hampton may make the Practice Squad
WR Braylon was an experiment, didn’t work out as well as the experiment with Randy looks like it will. The Redskins overpaid Joshua, and Manningham plugs that hole in the roster pretty well. Kyle continues to develop and will be on an NFL roster, probably ours. Jenkins will be fine, imo and may make some plays for us in later 2012.
Mr. Tuna
Good job!! My crystal ball tells me that Williams will make the team.
I said that last year when everyone was hating on him . I hope we are right Under !
Tuna
Braylon and Moss were the same types of signing (known name, down on their luck ,willing to accept a minimun contract w/o guarantees, to rehabilitate image/issues/physicaly) BE didnt work out RM is looking like it will. In either case the “mistake” wont cost us anything (although not having a replacement for edwards was an issue in the nfccg). I find it interesting that no other team has taken a chance on Edwards thus far
As far as KW goes IMO out of all the WR on the roster he is the best fit for a slot receiver. He has the perfect build for the slot 5’10-6′ 185-205. He is more quick than fast and has that great burst that allows him to separate (think of that TD vs the rams where he planted his foot after catching the slant and raced untouched for 50 yds) and posesses that “wiggle” that most PR need to have. He is tough and will fight for yards like W Welker or P Harvin does.
In 2012 I see no other receiver on our roster who would be a better fit in the slot than KW
@BOS49er
Hey, Man, howzit going in Beantown?
Yes, it is interesting that Braylon hasn’t had any offers. I don’t know if he’s finished yet. The tv Talking Heads have been saying if TO gets an offer it will be later in Camp or after season starts due to an injury. Maybe BE is in the same place.
I think Manningham will help us in the slot, and Jenkins too, when he gets comfortable.
You know, I get that the players just love how Harbaugh has their back. Can you imagine the effect on the Team if they stand by KW and he produces? I think that would be a powerful on team cohesion, and it lets the role players know that their efforts and contributions are appreciated.
Arrows up, baby!
Grant’s list of Baalke picks and ol’Jock’s list of Baalke discards in the comments section together are an excellent summary of TB’s career with the Niners. If he continues at this scorching pace, he will not only be the best Niners GM ever, but also one of the best ever in the NFL.
One should keep in mind that Baalke’s biggest and best pick was not a player, but coach Harbaugh. Baalke spent countless hours cultivating Harbaugh’s interest while the latter was at Stanford. Harbaugh was sold on the Niners well before the word got out that the Niners were pursuing him.
I particularly like the way he makes the Niners better by small tweaks to the team for improved depth, and also to the front office. The scouts are a really important part of the organization, and I’m confident that the changes and reassignments he made over this off-season will make the scouting team better. Under Baalke, the Niners’ strength and conditioning program (led by strength coach Mark Uyeyama and trainer Jeff Ferguson) is probably the best in the NFL. It’s not by accident that the Niners’ linemen are some of the least injured in the league. Baalke does much more than choose draft picks.
I too recognized Mr. Uyeyamas’ worth noting the virtual injury free season of the majority of the team.
Here’s a feel good story about Brandon Jacobs. Good work by BJ. It also sounds like he’s ready to go and motivated for the season.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/young-brandon-jacobs-fan-gets-3-36-back-061716774–nfl.html
The sad story of Ryan Leaf …
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/ryan-leaf-gets-sentence-terribly-low-self-esteem-065652937–nfl.html
LMAO!!!! “Just leave me ALONE”
Sounds like someone else we know?
So my A’s Sweep the crappy Dodgers and the Giants cant help themselves with at least 1 win? HA HA HAAAAA Take yo A**es home Dodgers! wheeew
Darn it! You’re absolutely right MD.
What a perfect opp for the Giants to make up some ground. If T.Lincecum has any type of decent season perhaps we don’t flounder. Big Daddy Cain can’t do it by himself.
BTW, where did you guys find Yoenis Cespedes?
Ces is a beast isnt he? He’s healthy finally and is a HR threat everytime he stands up to the plate. I know my beloved A’s arent going anywhere, but its good to see them getting it together without the pitching ,the bonehead owner got rid of, from last season. I hope its a sign like 99 when The big 3 were young and upcoming, well Hudson at least. lol
my early grade for Baalke: A. But the final grade depends on whether they win the SB in the immediate window in front of them now, or have to retool the offense.
….really feels good to be a winner……
….the only “NFL coming in September” commercial on ESPN I get to see includes Alex(SF)…….others teams shown Giants, Packers, Patriots….
…gone are the days we were irrelevant….
Hear, hear! oneniner…
in miaocco’s post today regarding the 49ers receivers he has some very positive things to say about a.j. jenkins. he has been critical of him in the past but this post and his previous one were very positive. i have predicted that jenkins will be the next john taylor and like miaocco i think it will be in 2013. one yr after the niners win theS.B. and moss retires
John Taylor? More like JJ Stokes…
Zzzzz…
Mosin, WAKE UP AND GET YOUR NOSE OFF THE KEYBOARD
JJ Stokes? Wow.
Good thing you’re not still bitter.
Bitter? Nah. Saying Jenkins will be the next John Taylor is disrespectful to JT. JT is second only to JR in best 49ers receivers of the last 30 years.
What is going on here? oldcoach had a full positive post when this thread started. Now it isn’t. Can we at least keep the positive vibes on posts/threads that are all positive and reserve the negative stuff for threads that started negative.
That too much to ask for?
@ Jack
While I agree that comparing Jenkins to Taylor isn’t right until he does something (& I agree JT is second best Niner WR ever), what’s with the JJ Stokes comparison? As I think of Jenkins and Stokes I find nothing at all similar in the players or their games.
Do you want to talk football or tell people where they should post?
oldcoach is right that Jenkins will be more of a contributor come 2013. Will he be John Taylor? JT was a physically dominant WR meanwhile AJ is having trouble staying on his feet.
Brotha,
Both were 1st round picks, and I foresee Jenkins putting up similar numbers.
@Jack:
How is it possibly disrespectful in any way to predict that Jenkins will be the next John Taylor? It may be premature and incredibly optimistic, but it in no way disregards, diminishes or dismisses John Taylor and his accomplishments. If anything, oldcoach held out John Taylor as someone to emulate and his accomplishments as something to aspire to.
If you’re not bitter, you don’t (a) object to a fan’s optimistic prediction and then (b) substitute for it your own prediction comparing Jenkins to one of the team’s biggest ever WR disappointments.
And why keep directing that bitterness at Jenkins? He didn’t draft himself. Direct your bitterness at the GM who drafted him and the coach with whom he consulted.
@ Jack
I expect AJ to be a lot more productive than JJ, but that’s the difference in our views, I guess. At this point I’m only guessing.
Other than being 1st Rounders they’re pretty dissimilar. JJ big and not-so-fast, rounded off routes and late looking for the ball. Didn’t adjust well to ball in flight. Lacked body control. Lacked quick twitch suddenness.
I’m expecting AJ to do well. I’m hoping I’m more right than you on this one.
Claude,
I already answered your question on why it is disrespectful in my opinion above.
This bitterness you speak of is non-existent. Yes, I thought Fleener would be a better choice, however my evaluation of Jenkins is completely separate.
Every weakness in his game that I pointed out after watching his play at Illinois has played out here so far. Fortunately we have an excellent coaching and strength/conditioning staff and they will get him ready for 2013.
Remember, I also said this draft was more about contributing in 2013 and beyond, so that again is being proven true.
Brotha,
I hope he proves me wrong as well. Unfortunately I am not often wrong when it comes to player evaluations.
We will know one way or the other in the 2014 postseason…
I hope he proves me wrong as well. Unfortunately I am not often wrong when it comes to player evaluations.
Noooo…Jack please don’t tell me you are one of these self proclaimed Couch GM’s. You offer some pretty good insight at times; don’t ruin it by pretending you are some kind of quasi player evaluator.
AJ Jenkins hasn’t even practiced with pads on yet. Forming some kind of consensus on the kids future right now is ludicrous. It certainly isn’t a stretch for Old Coach to link him to JT. JT was a 4th round pick out of Delaware before he became the JT you fondly remember. Give Jenkins the same chance to grow into a pro player before deciding you know how it’s going to play out.
Rocket,
Part of the reason I stepped out of coaching was due to the countless hours I was spending away from home scouting and recruiting, thus I think it is safe to say I have enough in my background to call myself a player evaluator.
I would never say that my knowledge is on the level of any NFL GM, but I would say it is better than most on here.
I had quite a conversation with you and others about Jenkins between the time of the draft and workouts. So far everything that I mentioned has played out, from the type of player I see him to be, to where he will fit into the depth chart.
If he develops his weaknesses and builds on his strengths he will become a major contributor and possible starter by 2014, year 3.
Jack,
Anybody can say what you’ve just said and it can’t be proven one way or the other. The bottom line is you are a fan on the message board like everybody else and if you believe you are rarely wrong on evaluations of players you don’t get to see workout, or talk to in person, you are taking yourself way too seriously.
We did talk about Jenkins after the draft and most of the things you said about his size and whether he could deal with being bumped off the line haven’t been dealt with yet. You are jumping the gun based on some reports from practices in shorts with no contact.
It’s too soon to make any sort of opinion on what Jenkins can accomplish this year, nevermind two or three years down the line.
That’s fine Rocket, you don’t have to believe me. I can see more from game footage than watching a player run around in shorts anyway.
Too seriously? Nah. I just have confidence in my analysis. As the preseason and season plays out you will see I am correct.
You are an excercise in contradiction Jack. In one post you profess not to know as much as an NFL GM, then in the next you say you are confident in your analysis even though Trent Baalke and the Niner scouts obviously see it very differently than you do.
The footage you’ve watch on youtube is a small part of the equation. NFL scouts actually get to see every snap the kid has ever taken, interview him to see into his character and work ethic, see how competitive he is in practice etc. I don’t doubt you’ve Coached some football, I have as well; what I don’t want to see is someone on a Niner message board pretending they have some great insight into player evaluation because they watch youtube hilights. You’re better than that Jack.
No contradiction Rocket. What you are missing is that I have said he could develop into a good player. After the draft I said I see little production coming from him this year, but that he should ascend up the depth chart come years 2 and 3.
This was a pick that Baalke and Co made for 2-3 years down the road after Moss is gone and Crabtree/Manningham are up for renewal. I had quite a discussion with DS about this at the time.
As for the analysis, in addition to youtube, I have
watched numerous games on Big10 network. And you are correct, I am not privileged to be in the interview room, but like i said, you can get a good read on a players strengths and weaknesses in game action.
Jack,
I don’t dispute that Jenkins is a pick for the future. What I disagree with is coming to some kind of conclusion on what he can or can’t do based on a few reports from OTA’s. I don’t recall anyone disagreeing with the fact AJ needs to add muscle and work on his ability to get off the line. My point is you don’t make an assessment on his future based on what we’ve seen before the pads have even come on.
No problem Rocket. We can follow back up on this come September.
BTW, when do you think Smith will come up in the Jaws QB breakdown? My guess is by Friday, which I think puts him between 17-12.
Jack,
Yeah I think you are right on when Smith comes up. I can see it anywhere from 17 to 15 personally. I’m really surprised Jaws has him ranked that high as he has been one of his biggest detractors due to the locked knee problem he pointed out years ago.
@ Jack Hammer,
“JT is second only to JR in best 49ers receivers of the last 30 years.”
That’s a very interesting statement. I have great respect for Taylor but 2nd best??? He was better than Solomon, Dwight Clark, Terrell Owens??? Not so sure I agree with that.
@ Houston
I agreed with him but its worth reconsidering.
I do rate Taylor above Clark & Solomon.
I think he’s right up there with TO (as a 49er) because he was as capable of big plays and yet was more consistent and reliable than TO.
Now a guy who maybe should be #2 is Gene Washington.
Houston,
From ’88-’90 JR & JT were basically 1a and 1b. In ’88 JT helped turn the season around with that great punt return on Monday night against Washington, scored the long TD against NO to help win the division and then the Super Bowl winner to cap the drive.
Then in ’89, he killed the Rams on Monday night with not one but two 85-90+ yard TD catches and then the death blow in the NFC championship game to give them a 21-0 lead going into halftime.
And don’t forget the TD in the ’90 NFC championship against NY that almost led to the 3 peat.
Nothing against any of the others that you mentioned, but none of them could do the things JT did.
whoops. I guess G. Washington actually doesn’t fit into “the last 30 years” window.
@ Jack,
That’s a compelling argument but I’m having trouble completely buying into it. I think TO had more athletic ability than JT but I don’t think he was as good while he was in a 9er uniform. Clark wasn’t the most athletic but he and Montana had such a great chemistry together. Solomon was my favorite for several years so I have a hard time putting JT over him. JT wasn’t really ever the #1 receiver so I have a hard time putting him over guys that were covered by the other teams best db like Solomon or Clark. JT benefitted from having all the attention on JR but you have to give him credit for producing. I think maybe his ability to return punts has to be factored in there as well. This is a really tough one. JT might have it but I really liked Solomon and Clark as well.
I’m a big fan of JT but I have to agree with Houston here. TO was a better player. Can’t let personal feelings be a part of the analysis and there is no way you take JT over TO while each was in their prime. Taylor was great as a second guy to a great player; TO could take over games on his own.
The 20 catches against Chicago in JR’s farewell game proves that…
@ Jack
The Smithers know more about Football then Bill Walsh. All of these guys should join the Jim Jones cult.
Jim Jones is dead Neal. Just thought you should know.
No crap sherlock, forget about it if I have to spell it out.
You don’t Neal. I was being facetious because you made a reference to somebody that hasn’t been relevant in 4 decades. Get into the present with your religious nutjob references. Kent Hovind is a good one.
I actually believe some Bay Area writter’s know more about football then these so called professionals. I remember Glenn Dickey saying that Aaron Rodgers will be more NFL ready then Alex Smith. What a dope Mike Nolan was and even Mike McCarthy in taking AS. 8 years later AS is still not NFL ready.
Rodgers didn’t play for 3 years. He may have been more pro ready but he didn’t play. He benefitted from the best development situation a QB could have:
One system learned and practiced for his entire career so far
Because of dropping to the 24th slot, he didn’t have to go to a terrible rebuilding team.
Got to learn from a HOF QB.
Has had probowl caliber players around his entire time in the league.
You can’t make comparisons when one guy had everything done right for him and one where the situation couldn’t have gone worse.
In my opinion Rodgers was and is the better QB, I actually wanted him over Smith at the time, but if we really look at this objectively, nobody was going to succeed under the circumstances Smith has had to endure.
Jerry Rice referred to the Alex over Aaron decision as “the worst move ever”.
Of course, Rice doesn’t know anything about football. He’s just some hater on the radio.
I just don’t know how these AS follower’s are wired? Don’t get it.
In hindsight the pick of Smith over Rodgers was the wrong one, but hindsight makes everybody an expert. I also don’t think Rodgers would have been nearly the player he is now if he had been selected by the Niners. His talent is top shelf, but his development was key to his success and he wouldn’t have had that here.
Rocket,
Since Smith had the one play off win, he will be ranked at about 15, if he at least played average in the Championship game, probably a higher ranking. Jack at number 12 that would be way to low.
So two TD’s, no TO’s and a 90+ QB rating isn’t average to you Neal? Tough marking system you have.
The nest week Rocket back to the same Alex 1 -13 third down conversions, 29th ranked offense for the year, without the defense, special teams, and zillion field goals from Akers, a good year for Alex but not for a top 10 QB in the league. hey you like him, that is fine, I don’t. Actually he was pretty dismal in the Saints game in the second and third quarter. Those two drives were unusual and it just not going to happen very often.
Neal,
Jaws ranked AS 16th, which I think is fair. Not above or below average, but right in the middle.
I like him Neal, no question. Good guy, thick skin, has persevered through a lot of crap, but if he doesn’t win, I don’t want him playing. That’s the bottom line for me. The fact he doesn’t get respect from people even when he wins is just sad and makes no sense.
You aren’t making much of an argument against him. In esscence, I’m reading a lot of yeah buts from you. He had one playoff win…but, he didn’t play well for two quarters against the Saints…but they won because of two scoring drives he led with the game on the line.
And for Pete’s sake Neal, stop saying they had the 29th ranked offense. They didn’t, and everytime you say it, it makes you look ridiculous for not knowing the difference between passing yards and offensive production.
Smith was ranked 16th in yards per pass, which means he would have been ranked a lot higher in passing yards if not for the fact…you know he didn’t throw more passes. That is the system Neal; not the QB.
In points scored, the Niner offense was ranked 11th. That is pretty darn good Neal and before you say it was all due to the defense putting them in good position, let us not forget there were 5 comeback victories led by the offense during the season and another in the playoffs.
See what you and a few others fail to understand or just refuse to acknowledge, is that the Niner offense played situational football last year. If you watched the games you saw the offense go conservative with a lead and let the defense do their thing. No trying to get passing yards Neal, just running the ball and keeping the clock moving. Now when the defense couldn’t hold or the Niners faced a deficit, the playcalling would open up a bit more and more often than not, the offense would move the ball and score.
Situational football Neal. That is what this team played last year and won 14 games with. This idea that Smith was below average in a game in which he threw 2 TD passes and didn’t turn the ball over is crazy even for a hater. Was he great? Hell no, but he sure wasn’t below average either. He played a defense that was playing at a very high level in sloppy conditions and gave his team a chance to win, and if not for the KW fumbles, they probably do, even with the 1-13 on 3rd down which objective and knowledgeable football fans know isn’t all on the QB.
As I’ve said numerous times on this blog, you don’t have to like him or sing his praises, but don’t be dishonest either. He is not the piece of garbage you like to pretend he is. In fact he just got a pretty glowing review from Jaws on his ESPN rankings as well.
So lets check the facts:
In your opinion, Smith sucks because he doesn’t throw for 300 yards a game and was poor on 3rd down. The rebuttal to that is you can’t get 300 yard games without the attempts needed to reach that number, and 3rd down conversions are a team execution problem that the QB is one part of.
From my point of view, we have a QB who finished in the middle of the pack in yards per attempt which is a much more accurate stat to gauge passing effiency, had the fewest TO’s of any QB, finished 9th in QB rating and just happened to win 14 games. I’m ok with that Neal, because I just want to win games. If Smith comes out this year and stinks, then I’ll be calling for him to be replaced right along with the rest of you, but I refuse to focus on preconceived negativity and bias while ignoring the fact the guy played winning football.
A jury wouldn’t even hear your case Neal. It would be thrown out for lack of evidence. Now feel free to call me a Smither because compared to you and a few others, I guess I am, although I would call it being objective and rational.
…he would have been ranked a lot higher in passing yards if not for the fact…you know he and the offense stunk on 3rd downs which resulted in less opportunities for him to throw more passes?
There, fixed it for you…
There was no need to fix it Jack, because that isn’t the point. The point is simple: you can’t put up yards without attempts. Smith would have hit a much higher yard total with more attempts. The most annoying thing I see on this board is a few people referring to the Niner offense as the 29th in the league. That is incorrect period.
Pretty simple Rocket. Convert more 3rd downs and you get more plays, get more plays and you get more yards. Improve from being the second worst 3rd down team in football and the stats will improve as well.
You can stick up for Smith all you want, but to say it was about conservative play calling, lack of offseason, etc is a poor excuse for their ineffectiveness in this area last year.
Take Tennessee for example. New coaching staff, new QB, Chris Johnson ineffective due to a contract hold out yet they still are able to convert at a 36.7% rate compated to 28.1% here. Don’t you think that Smith would have better numbers had he been able to produce more first downs and plays for the offense?
The most annoying thing on this board are the constant excuses people make to defend Smith and the 26th ranked offense in the league.
Jack,
You are completely going away from the subject here. The point was that you can’t accumulate passing yards without attempts. That’s it. End of point.
If you want to discuss the 3rd down problems, I agree with you that better 3rd down efficiency would have led to more offensive plays, but this was also a run dominated offense that passed less than every other team in the league with the exception of the Broncos. That is system more than 3rd down conversion. It was the way Harbaugh ran his offense at Stanford and it’s the way he ran it here, at least for the first year anyway.
If you think I’m just making excuses for Smith, then you haven’t been reading my posts very well. I don’t absolve him of blame for 3rd down problems; I just don’t blame him solely for it. It’s a team problem. Smith doesn’t run the short yardage play that gets stuffed on 3rd down and doesn’t call the conservative pass play in the redzone intended to make sure they at least come away with a FG. He also doesn’t block for himself on 3rd and long when the flood gates open.
He has his part to play in it when he throws a bad ball, or leaves the pocket too quickly instead of standing in there and making a play, but it’s not all on the QB man.
I’m glad you mentioned the Titans. They had the better 3rd down percentage yet ran fewer offensive plays than the Niners did, averaged less per pass and scored 60 fewer points, so it shows you that the 3rd down percentage is not as outcome related as you think.
I didn’t blame it solely on him either Rocket.
Of course the 49ers ran more plays than Tennessee, they were +28 compared to +1. Given that, if the offense converts at a higher rate their numbers would have been higher.
I don’t see the offense becoming any less balanced in 2012. That is the Harbaugh way. I do see it becoming more efficient though. I foresee Smith taking a big step forward in year 2 similar to what Luck did at Stanford. Probably not so pronounced because the level of opposition is stronger, but a big step nonetheless.
“You just can’t help but notice that Baalke’s skill players – wide receivers, running backs and tight ends – have not become impact starters yet.”
Wait a minute, are you telling me that in the span of two year, Baalke has not acquired someone who can unseat Vernon Davis, Frank Gore or Michael Crabtree? Well, best get out the torches and pitchforks, cause we got us a GM to run out of town!
What has Baalke been doing all this time, acquiring offensive linemen, pass rushers and DBs? Why hasn’t he put more time and money into adding more players at the team’s greatest positions of strength? And don’t get me started on this year’s draft class, it’s mid-June and not one of these guys has supplanted a veteran as the entrenched starter yet. It’s Lawrence Phillips all over again!
Seriously Grant, do you not understand why people think you’re full of crap here? When the pick was made, you fell all over yourself to declare Jenkins the worst draft pick this side of JaMarcus. If he turns into a star, you look embarrassed at best and incompetent at worst. Therefore, people get the impression you now have a vested interest in making him look bad, and you’re telling us to trust you as the “eyes and ears” of the team.
Branch and Maiocco might feel the exact same way you do about Jenkins, but neither of them are going to say in on their blogs because they know that their credibility relies on people assuming they will be impartial in how they present the team and players. Someone in your position should know the difference between a beat writer and a columnist.
@Grant
How ’bout them Thunder and Russell Westbrook?
Off topic: Some wonderful person posted the entire 1989 49ers-Eagles game on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SH_pcoHwcgE&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PLEF6120BF4D54D6C3
If the link works correctly it should auto-play the entire game.
Note: this is the FULL game – including commercials. You can fast forward of course or simply enjoy how delightfully horrible 80′s ads were. The in game graphics are also atrocious.
This is still one of the best performances by a quarterback I have ever seen. The Buddy Ryan Eagles beat the living crap out of Montana that day, sacking him eight times and hitting him on seemingly every play. In the 4th quarter the 49ers were trailing 21-10. A battered Montana responded with 4 touchdown passes in the face of a ferocious blitzing defense to take the 49ers to a 38-28 win.
Also – notice the “weak armed” Montana hitting Rice perfectly in stride on a ball that traveled 40 yards in the air.
Booo yow!!! We can only hope smith or any of our future qb’s are half that good. But we’re back!!!! Just I’m a different way. Wheeew
msc,
Thanks for this. Awesome to see Montana at his best. I have a few games still on VHS from back in the day but this is one I didn’t. Great stuff.
Agreed msc.
I great come back by the 49ers. BTW, was it me, or did JR drop a possible TD early in the 2nd half?
Well in any case whether he did or not, he certainly redeemed himself with the winning catch.
Watching the great BW skipping off the field while R.Craig was congratulating him was a classic.
Great game, great memories!
It was an incredible performance. The O-line was awful that day, the running game was dead in the water, receivers were dropping passes and somehow Montana pulled a win out of his butt. I think that game set the tone for the 1989 all the way up to shellacking the Donkeys in the Super Bowl.
>>In the 4th quarter the 49ers were trailing 21-10
You mean the offense couldn’t build up an insurmountable lead??? And had to … (gasp) come back?
I kid I kid .. ButwWhat do you think about that md?
So, the usual morning routine; cup of Joe, check weather and headlines and then click over here and what do I see? An ad offering to fly me to Ho Chi Minh City. Look, the whole time I was there all I could think of was getting back here; aint interested in going back. Just sayin. : -0
And how ’bout the Eco Tours to the Amazonian Rain Forest? Yeah, right, I’m going to pay for that….
@brotha
I rather like the Amazon. Won’t hear anything from me hating it. Has more terrestrial biomass than anyplace else in the world.
Ok, now I’m just having fun here, but do you like being wet 24/7? Wet feet for a year? Insects on steroids? We found a water roach one time as long as my forearm, not counting the antennae. You like sleeping with snakes?Hahaha. I believe I’ve had all the rain forest experience I can handle; at least all I want.
I appreciate all that biomass churning out a bunch of oxygen for the planet, but I don’t need to be mucking around in it. : >)
@brotha Tuna:
[D]o you like being wet 24/7? Wet feet for a year? … You like sleeping with snakes?
Dude, you need to get your self some better gear. There’s no need to suffer any of that, even in the Amazon.
@brotha
Well, the poles (N or S) are a much worse place. If it is winter, you’re dead. If it is summer, even Survivorman had it rough. Or a Russian prison can be a place I’d rather not be before the Amazon.
The Amazon is at least cool. The ants there, when they go hunting, everyhing runs away. People, large cats, everything. If you are on the ground, you’re dead.
One time a horse was tied to a tree when the hunt was on. The ants killed the horse! Kinda cool that there is something in the world that can keep man from going around and think they are all that, and that animal..ants.
Lesson: Don’t ignore the small guys. If they want to do something, the big guys are in no position to stop it.
I’d be careful how much gear I have claude.
You need to make your way thru a lot of thick brush and cross a lot of waterways. Crossing any water is hard work. More gear you have, the more you need to keep dry. The larger the surface area for something (snake) to drop/travel with you. The harder it is to move. More weight. And no shoes will keep your feet dry in the Amazon.
Seen the movie “Platoon”? The main character is going out on patrol with a lot of gear. Then, his mentor comes and removes virtually all of it.
Rule of thumb. Go travel, see how much the natives carry. If you’ve got way more stuff, you’re overloaded.
@DS:
Where in my comment did I say that one should carry a lot of gear? I said Tuna needs “better” gear, not “more” gear.
@ Claude
Yeah, I got your point, but I think you may be over-rating what modern gear can do. In my experience, the only things that can keep the water out have to be airtight & water tight which leaves you drenched in your own sweat; useless. The best gear I’ve found presumes you’ll get wet and tries to dry out faster.
The Jungle eats everything.
Now DS actually made a good point about looking to the natives in any given area on how they do it.
You didn’t. Just that most people carry more than they need thinking they need the gear.
@Tuna:
I hate sweating out from the inside due to my rain gear’s lack of breathability. Although it probably wouldn’t withstand an extended torrential downpour in the Amazon (or Southeast Asia), I am a big fan of rain gear made from eVent. Unlike Gore-Tex fabrics, eVent actually breathes. In cold and wet weather, it’s the best rain gear I have ever tried. Hopefully, future versions will prove adequate for something like the Amazon jungle.
Assuming you cannot avoid getting wet during the day, the key is to have dry clothes you can change into for sleeping. I’d also get off the ground at night in a good camping hammock under a decent tarp. You can stay dry and solve your snake and insect problem.
I’d rather watch Dual Survival or Man vs Wild than put myself through the rigors of surviving extreme conditions in harsh climates. The Amazon is no joke, in addition to heat and inspects, you have anacondas, piranhas, and alligators seemingly everywhere. Who wants to vacation there?
@NickRow:
Sissy.
That was meant as a joke.
I don’t know that I would want to vacation there, but there’s a part of me that wants to see it before it’s gone/irrevocably changed.
@Claude
Good one. When/if you go, be sure to take the right gear. For me, rafting class 5 whitewater is the furthest that I’ll mess with nature.
LOL I’m just saying I’m selective in choosing vacation spots. Not going to Amazon or Arctic or Antarctic.
Venice? Barcelona? North Shore of Maui? New Orleans? Yellowstone? Yosemite? THAT’s what I’m talking’ bout.
@DS
“The Amazon is at least cool.” Cool as in ‘nifty’? Cool as in ‘intriguing
? OK with that. Cool as in temperature, uh, not so much; hot and humid and suffocatingly steamy in my experience.
@brotha
Humans came from Africa, where it is hot, humid (some places). Humans are designed for the hot weather. We are sweat machines.
Humans are not designed for the cold anywhere near as well. We don’t spontaeously grow hair over our bodies when it’s cold. Be cool if we did though.
Given the choice between hot and cold, you’re better off selecting hot.
I am not on the Trent Baalke bandwagon. I think he made some great choices in the draft, but I also think that Singletary’s insight is why they made such great defensive picks and why the offense is nonexistant.
The pieces were all there prior to last year. We were a win away from making the playoffs with Singletary. I believe Harbaugh brought the right attitude to the team and arranged the pieces Mike couldn’t get together with a generic coaching staff that was never meant to do anything but save money.
So, I don’t give Baalke all the credit. I still think as a whole, the organization is doing a great job of mimicking NE. Pick up stars willing to play for a ring instead of the $$$. Seems to be working.
I have to disagree Medic. I think you are giving more credit to Sing than he deserves. He really had little to do with the draft other than listening to what the Scouts told him and offering support for players he liked. As Claude mentions below, Sing didn’t want to draft Willis and was the main supporter of taking Mays in the second round.
You are also right that the team was a game away from the playoffs with Sing, but I think that’s more of an idictment of him as a HC than a favorable impression. Harbaugh took a similar team with no offseason to the NFC Championship a year later. Sing was just a bad Coach who’s ideas were based on old time views that had no place in modern football. Not to mention his flip flopping between Troy Smith and Alex Smith while the team was still in playoff contention.
@Medic One:
… I also think that Singletary’s insight is why they made such great defensive picks …
Mike Singletary? The guy who didn’t think that Patrick Willis was all that special? The guy who insisted on drafting Taylor Mays? That Singletary?
Sorry for being flippant, but I am not aware of any great defensive players who were selected as a result of Mike Singletary’s insight. Can you name them?
Titan’s safety Michael Griffin (2 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro selection) signs for 5 years / $35M, $15M guaranteed. Writing’s on the wall, Mr. Goldson, and only about 3 weeks left. Time to act.
I am not sure it’s good idea to commit that much $ to a guy who may be the 6th best/most important player on the defense.
To answer the inevitable question: Justin Smith, Aldon Smith, Patrick Willis, Navorro Bowman, Carlos Rogers (ordered from front to back of defense).
I’d add Whitner as well. DG without Whitner was without a job.
Which makes DG the 7th best player on a unit with 11 men.
It’ll be interesting to see how Trenton Richardson develops, a lot of people were praising that pick. It would certainly simplify matters if he were to step up and let Goldson go elsewhere for his big pay day in 2013.
MM breakdown of the receivers.
http://www.csnbayarea.com/football-san-francisco-niners/niners-talk/Deepest-ever-Why-49ers-should-be-set-at-?blockID=728790&feedID=5936
The 49ers should throw more play-action passes. They were the 5th most effective practitioners of play-action last year, but used it on only 19% of their dropbacks.
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stat-analysis/2012/2011-play-action-offense
I was calling for more of that last year Claude and this is why. They had a lot of success with it but didn’t use it nearly enough imo.
Claude
I think we’ll see more play-action plays this year. My reasoning is that AS will be given more freedom as JH/Roman open up the offense more this year.
“…and I wouldn’t rank any of them in the top-15 players on the team.” G.C.
I would put Moss in the top 15 based upon the reports from OTA’s that he’s back to old form. No one knows for 100% yet but IF those reports are at least close to true you cant reasonably argue that Randy Moss isn’t in the top 15 of any team in the league.
Hank
Doesn’t even matter if Moss is top 15. If he doesn’t quit and other teams have to respect his speed (meaning 2 teamed), this offense will suddenly find holes to run the ball for a long time with 2 of the fastest RB’s in the NFL, and teams will have to gamble on when not to double VD.
We are so close to getting this thing right.
I wish you wouldn’t respond to my posts, you’re free to do what you like obviously but I never read or respond to anything you post and would rather you just didn’t respond to anything I’ve posted. Thx in advance.
Totally off topic, but I thought it was worth posting. Excellent article by Michael Lombardi about the decision to release Coaches tape to the public and how it will lead to another level of Monday Morning QBing by fans and media alike.
One thing he mentions that really stuck out to me was in regards to the perception that an open receiver is missed by a QB. That’s not always the case as the QB has a progression of options that may not lead him to the open guy based on the coverage he sees. Well worth the read.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82a0b2d8/article/nfl-opens-pandoras-box-by-offering-all22-tape-to-public?module=HP11_content_stream
Im not sure I believe it’s quite as bad as being suggested by Lombardi and others. So what if there are more questions being asked, since when have fan questions or scrutiny had any impact on anything when it comes to what plays the coaches called. The people that are evaluating the coach have already had this access and they are still the ones that will determine if the coach is making the right call or not. This goes for the players as well, the coaches have always had the all 22 and regardless of whether Tom Dick or Harry are asking why so and so wasn’t thrown to the coach knows who was right and wrong on the play.
All I see is an opportunity for the fans to be able to ask better more football intelligent questions by being able to see the entire play before asking the questions. The thought that there will be more questions is just silly, press conferences are timed events and there will be the same amount of questions allowed as always has been.
*A great*
@jondowds u mean trenton robinson and i probably saw 5 of his games on tv this past yr and i think he will be the sleeper of the 9ers draft. his contribution will start of on special teams but look out in 2013
I hope so. I’m not as down on Goldson as some, but there’s only so much you can spend and he’s made it clear that he wants a “respect” contract. When your front seven is as good as these guys are, you can get away with having a “B+” free safety instead of an “A-”