Posted By: Gabe Cizzle (24/06/2008 11:11:58 PM)
Comment: Hey Matt, Let me start by saying I am one of D.Walk's BIGGEST fans, and am enamoured with VD's athletic prowess. That said, exactly what kind of TE production should we expect this year? I've been thumbing through all the 49er TE hype, but I can't seem to find any historical data that leads me to believe Martz' offense will would feature or give us top tier TE production. Please help me understand why people think our TE's are going to excel in this offense? Aside from playing TE as a player, Martz TE production has been marginal. Conwell, Pollard, Malumaleuna. These guys never busted out. Also, why won't we give Ocho Cinco a look. We have a WR corps chock full of #2's. Ocho = Torry Holt w/ swagger and bigger cajones. I can just imagine what he could do in Martz offense.

Response: There is nothing in Martz's history that tells you the tight end will be featured. However, there seems to be evidence that Martz finds a way to best-utilize the talent as of his offensive players. Therefore, it seems logical that he will find a way to exploit the matchup problems that Davis and Walker create for the opposition. --Matt M.

Posted By: NW Niner (23/06/2008 7:31:41 AM)
Comment: Who becomes the next priority to extend out? Baas? Battle?

Posted By: Frankenvegas (23/06/2008 12:40:55 AM)
Comment: Good move...he'll be featured in Martz' offense. He'll join a number of previously underutilized teammates who should flourish in MM's offensive schemes. I think the sky's the limit for Walker...and pair w/Vernon, they'll be one of the most dynamic TE combos in the league.

Posted By: Marc - NJ49er (22/06/2008 9:07:58 PM)
Comment: Dear The English Language, I would venture to guess that the post from SHER was akin to Borat Sagdiyev doing a not for this world commentary on the NFL for Kazakhstani radio. The use of UPPER CASE TEXT would suggest a loud boisterous tone meant to get attention as it would appear to have been delivered from the window of a passing automobile, much the same as a 'Drive By'. Hence we may have witnessed a rare occurance here on the SRPD blog - A Drive By Post from Borat?

Posted By: Rich, DE (22/06/2008 8:33:27 PM)
Comment: It's a little foggy now but seem to remember Delanie Walker doing a good job when Hill was in at QB. Those two hooked up well in the pass-n-catch category.

Posted By: Rich, San Ramon (22/06/2008 8:05:56 PM)
Comment: Looks like a good move to me.

Posted By: Jon D.B. (22/06/2008 7:30:06 PM)
Comment: Jon you are a d----- bag! Is it parttimer, part timer or part-timer?

Posted By: The English Language (22/06/2008 6:15:54 PM)
Comment: Could someone please translate this for me? WHOS LAUGHING AT R. GREEN, NO ONE YEA. HES THE ONE WHO SHOWS PROMISE AT BLITZIN. AND IS THEA A REAL G. CARAMAZIE HEA, AND. JON YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF 9ERS IS ROBUST, WHICH MAKES ME THINK THERE IS SOME ONE OUT THERE WHO CAN RUN THINGS BETTA THE MUAA. ITS GREAT, UR INTERSET IN THE 9ES YET YOU COULD BE A GOOD DOC OR STOCKBROKE O EVEN A CHOISE TO RUN THE COUNTRY. G LUCK.

Posted By: John (22/06/2008 5:28:22 PM)
Comment: That's funny!!!

Posted By: SHER (22/06/2008 3:31:52 PM)
Comment: WHOS LAUGHING AT R. GREEN, NO ONE YEA. HES THE ONE WHO SHOWS PROMISE AT BLITZIN. AND IS THEA A REAL G. CARAMAZIE HEA, AND. JON YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF 9ERS IS ROBUST, WHICH MAKES ME THINK THERE IS SOME ONE OUT THERE WHO CAN RUN THINGS BETTA THE MUAA. ITS GREAT, UR INTERSET IN THE 9ES YET YOU COULD BE A GOOD DOC OR STOCKBROKE O EVEN A CHOISE TO RUN THE COUNTRY. G LUCK.

Posted By: ninermaniac (22/06/2008 1:17:57 PM)
Comment: Walker must have some crazy plays in the book. I wonder how they are gonna use him.

Posted By: Global Nomad (22/06/2008 12:15:39 PM)
Comment: Yes Walker did catch check down crossing routes to rack up most of his yards last season against a prevent defense. But he also showed his YAC potential. You might even be able to argue he showed more potential than Davis ever has. With his TE/WR ability Mad Martz can have a field day with this guy. In today's NFL you get money by showing obvious potential, or putting up great numbers. Walker did one of these and he got a pay raise. There is no reason to be upset.

Posted By: Giovanni Carmazzi (22/06/2008 12:07:37 PM)
Comment: The nice thing about not having a lot of talent on the team is that resigning players becomes less of a concern.

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (22/06/2008 10:27:42 AM)
Comment: Boridge: It's not like we're the Raiders and signed him to a 60mil contract. It's just interesting. I think it's good that they identify players and sign them early. Hopefully he'll work on his blocking so he isn't a liability in the run game and the defense can key on him in game (run/pass read). I guess under 2 mil a year is not a lot to pay for a parttimer in the NFL these days/

Posted By: boridge (22/06/2008 8:12:35 AM)
Comment: Jon in So Cal - Under normal circumstances I think you make a fair point. However, our offense last season was far from "normal" and the year prior D. Walker was a rookie - cant expect anything from his in his first year. So all that said, this is an encouraging signing because it shows that it took Martz all of 15 minutes to see this kid and realize his immense potential (which he also showed flashes of last year). So while I think the standard route is to see solid production before this type of extension, we we're so bad offensively last year that our players production is almost irrelevant. Bottom line, Walker can play and thrive in the right system. There's no better coach to exploit his talents than Mad Mike.

Posted By: buzz (S.F.) (22/06/2008 7:19:18 AM)
Comment: Delanie Walker is a talent and I am thrilled that Coach Martz has acknowledged him...if he can sidestep injuries this year he will be an exciting element of what projects to be much more dynamic offense .Last year was a nightmare of injuries and poorly coordinated Offense( the stats won't show on some of our younger players as a result -look for that to change!)

Posted By: PhillyNiner (22/06/2008 7:09:09 AM)
Comment: I'll be interested to see what happens with Heitmann's contract. On one hand he's one of the most consistent players on the current line, but on the other hand there appear to be plenty of guys ready to take his place. This is the one position on the line where we seem to have a lot of depth.

Posted By: nate (21/06/2008 10:10:38 PM)
Comment: Man they gotta sign Heitmann now! Has there been any new of this happening?

Posted By: Max (21/06/2008 9:16:46 PM)
Comment: Matt, Wikipedia says Foster signed a 2-year 1.8 mil contract.

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (21/06/2008 8:42:00 PM)
Comment: Same goes for Rachal and Wragge, although we may get a discount cuz Wragge isn't a starter. There are a couple of good guard prospects we signed as UDFA this year that may fill the role

Posted By: DMC (21/06/2008 8:28:13 PM)
Comment: Hmmm. No wonder we drafted Cody Wallace. I see Heitmann go the way of Justin Smiley.

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (21/06/2008 7:24:55 PM)
Comment: I am wondering about Zak's future, even though Nolan LOVES the guy. He is purely a ST, he doesn't do much as a back-up FB. Now with Martz de-emphasizing the position, me may be in trouble. Larry Grant is going to fight him for that roster spot. I think the edge would go to Grant. He's younger, cheaper and blocks punts. He'll have to lose the job for Zak to stay.

Posted By: AlaskaDan (21/06/2008 7:07:47 PM)
Comment: I thought DeShaun Foster signed a 1.8M deal through the 2009 season.

Response: Foster signed a one-year, $1.9 million deal. --Matt M.

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (21/06/2008 7:04:40 PM)
Comment: Interesting signing, particularly since he really hasn't been that productive. You don't sign players who "might flourish" IMHO, you need a bit of production first. Particularly for a guy who is a one dimentional back-up. He's a pass catching TE that hasn't caught a lot of passes.

Posted By: AlaskaDan (21/06/2008 7:00:35 PM)
Comment: It will be interesting to see Gore running more often behind two tight end sets and three wide outs this season. From what I've read in the limited media exposure to OTAs, the fullback position will be on the field a whole lot less under Martz. Does this mean that we may see Zak Keasy make the team over Moran Norris based upon his (Zak's) value on special teams?

Posted By: Rick (Las Vegas) (21/06/2008 6:25:13 PM)
Comment: First lol, JK. I thought we didn't ask Roderick Green to come back? Really glad if he is.