Posted By: Marc - NJ49er (24/06/2008 9:56:59 PM)
Comment: My 2 cents on the OLine are that Sims came from across the Bay where every pass play involves a 40yd route to open, and from what I've seen of their scheme, there's really nothing to compare. In the Martz system, quicker hits and hot routes should help all the guys on the line by not forcing them to hold blocks for too long. On Baas, I understand the new Chief Exec in Miami is a Michigan alum and perhaps would be interested in a trade? Baas is not that impressive IMO. Took him a long time to crack the line up? I'd have no problem if he was shopped along with Jonas. We'll see who survives when camp nears its close.

Posted By: DARKLORD (24/06/2008 5:28:48 PM)
Comment: agree that Bass has been a let down thus far. i have never been a big fan of drafting interior offensive lineman high in the draft. Tackle is completely different and i agree with getting em when you can.

Posted By: Razoreater (24/06/2008 5:02:37 PM)
Comment: I recall McNolan drafting Baas who happened to have all the accolades playing the center position out of Michigan to replace Newberry. No "Stress" here, that belongs to McNolan.

Posted By: oneniner (24/06/2008 2:54:03 PM)
Comment: I don't recall Mcnolan drafting Bass to play center....why are you guys stressing the guy about the center position?

Posted By: Razoreater (24/06/2008 2:16:49 PM)
Comment: Hey let's not fiddlefart around about calling it what it is with respect to Baas not taking over the center position from a guard(heitman)playing it. He's a BUST! If Braveheart(Wallace)could take it we would have Heitman at RG,Snyder at LG,Staley and Jennings at LT,RT. All we need is a young capable right tackle learning in the wings(Rachel)to replace JJ and there is the line of the future. Nolan has my respect for visiting the troops. Thanks Mike, I know they appreciated it.

Posted By: PhillyNiner (24/06/2008 5:50:37 AM)
Comment: Hey Matt, How has Duckett been performing? I know the pads aren't on yet, but does he look like an NFL OT?

Response: You hit it. You can't tell much at those spots without pads on. It's a difficult transition. The 49ers are hopeful, but they're not expecting miracles. --Matt M.

Posted By: dmatt (24/06/2008 5:49:09 AM)
Comment: Can you tell me if there was any pattern to his false starts.Did most of them come at arrowhead?

Response: Barry Sims was called for 10 false starts and four holding penalties last season. Six of his false starts (including three in Tennessee) were on the road, while all of his holding penalties were away from home. One more thing, only one of his false starts and one of his holding penalties came in the final eight games. --Matt M.

Posted By: oneniner (24/06/2008 5:48:29 AM)
Comment: Medford - what a dumb comment, we all know you have an itch to always hate on something positive......it is not only a dumb opinion which you should keep to yourself but it is also ignorant of you to think the troops do not know who he his..(that is against the troops)....you fail to think maybe we do have soldiers from san fran and just maybe there is an american soldier out there who is a ninerfan and needs ninernews to keep him sane from this ridiculous war....

Posted By: oneniner (24/06/2008 5:39:31 AM)
Comment: Ryan- If you "really" want to watch the niners, go to a bar close to you on sunday.....there are lots of sports bars in DC than show all the games on sunday.

Posted By: Ryan (24/06/2008 4:45:54 AM)
Comment: Hey Matt- In the downtime between OTAs and the start of camp, how about a look at the NFL's excessively tight grip over its rights...90 second video clips, EA's Madden cornering the market, DirecTV as the only carrier of the Sunday Ticket... I live in Washington DC and I get to watch maybe two 49er games a year. I live in an apartment building, so DirecTV is out of the question. Are there any options out on the horizon for people like me? On-demand games online like MLB? An on-demand box that makes an end-around Comcast like the Roku Netflix box? Come on, NFL...loosen your grip and give me what I need!

Posted By: Medford (24/06/2008 4:15:03 AM)
Comment: I belive I could have my own opinion Frank it might have been out of line but it was nothing against the troops. Nolan is on the hottest seat of any coaches in the NFL this season.

Posted By: Frank (24/06/2008 3:44:13 AM)
Comment: Medford...what a mindless comment. Coach is visiting the troops...they really appreciate NFL coaches, players and media. And, yes, I can assure you they know who he is. As for the Walker extension, good move. He'll show this year what he can really do under Martz. If Vernon comes closer to realizing his potential, too, then we've got a dynamic TE duo. There's always the challenge of keeping your top players...so, extending Walker's contract makes good sense from a number of standpoints.

Posted By: http:// (24/06/2008 3:36:40 AM)
Comment: Matt -- You left out Demetric Evans. Also, if the Spikes interest is to be the benchmark, then I can recall reports saying we'd wanted Randle-El as much as Jurevicius; losing out on both redoubled our focus on Antonio Bryant. Jarret Johnson was on our radar too, in between pursuing Adalius & TBC.

Posted By: road dog (24/06/2008 2:55:35 AM)
Comment: You make a good point about the Delanie Walker re-signing regarding Vernon Davis's impending end of contract. My question is if they deemed him worthy of the high draft pick, and the high rookie salary(committing to him financially), how would him putting up huge numbers in the near future put him out our plans? It seems like we have paid the way for this to happen, it would be upsetting to see him finally deliver in a big way only to leave town.

Response: Getting a contract done is a two-way street. If what we wrote about happens, it's possible Davis is going to want more -- regardless of what the 49ers offer him -- and will want to find his true market value by becoming a free agent. --Matt M.

Posted By: Medford (24/06/2008 12:39:42 AM)
Comment: Why is Nolan going there? Do they even know who he is? Is he going to explain how to win 5 games in the NFL.

Posted By: Sam (24/06/2008 12:39:00 AM)
Comment: Matt - What are the odds we see a future line of Staley Snyder Baas Rachal JJ/Sims??

Response: They drafted a center (Cody Wallace) in the fourth round, which means they expect him to be a starter in the future. Sims isn't a long-term answer, and Jennings can't have another injury-plagued season and expect to be around in '09 at a cost of $4.2 million. --Matt M.

Posted By: ninermaniac (23/06/2008 9:48:39 PM)
Comment: Can Sims play LT? Since it would be Staley's 1st year at LT it would be nice to see a vet in that position too.

Posted By: Berger (23/06/2008 9:11:15 PM)
Comment: Jon- McCloughan didn't used to like to spend a lot of money and high dreaft picks on interior linemen, but I think he has a bit of a different view these days. The Steve Hutchison signing by the Vikings changed a lot of teams attitudes about that last year. Then Smiley got 5 mil/yr from Miami. IMO, if he wants good guards, he'll have to spend. He might not like it, but this is the current NFL. I believe he is smart enought to understand this.

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (23/06/2008 8:21:41 PM)
Comment: NJ-Mike: I agree that we shouldn't let proven NFL talent walk. I was just commenting on the fact that McCloughin doesn't believe in spending big bucks on interior lineman. I would prefer that they develop talent and keep it, not let it walk away ala the A's. I would like to see them play Baas an extensive period and sign him to a deal. If Heitmann sucks it up again, get Baas in to see if he can handle it. Lock him up if you can. You gotta figure Synder has to start, Rachal has to start. Unless Rachal is going to be a long term solution at RT, there is a numbers game with Snyder, Rachal, Baas and Wallace. I would hate to see a draft pick wasted on Wallace. Heitmann is probably gone and hopefully we could resign Baas or Wragge to keep out OL together.

Posted By: NJ - Mike (23/06/2008 7:44:01 PM)
Comment: Jon -- We don't know much about Wallace (or frankly, Rachal) yet. But when we've seen Baas play, he's mauled people. Nolan has this thing about staying with vets longer than I'd prefer when the team has yet to crack .500 during his time at the helm. I'd rather have seen what Hill could do at WR in a few games last year vs. continuing to give time to DJax...especially when he wasn't going to be here in '08. (Seems kind of silly now, doesn't it?) Ditto for kids like Hudson. I mean, when you're out of the playoff hunt, why not see what you actually NEED to draft for by seeing who can play next year? We saw enough from McDonald, for example, to know he has an explosive first step and could potentially be a guy who can get to the QB on passing downs. Anyway, unless we think we're going to the Super Bowl this year (and I don't), why not line up Staley (#1), Snyder (3#), Baas (#2), Rachal (#2) and -- at least for now -- Jennings? All those guys are young and Grade A beef. Let them gel and build a line that can stay together for five years. That's really all I'm getting at... McNolan seems to have a plan -- they just don't execute it once they draft the pieces. Frustrating in many respects.

Posted By: Matt (23/06/2008 7:35:04 PM)
Comment: Lets not forget that David Bass won the Dave Rimington award for the best center in the Division 1 during his last year at Michigan, his first year playing center in college, so the guy can play the position no doubt. It seems that the reason he hasn't has been both injury and Heitmann being good enough not to warrent it.

Posted By: Will (23/06/2008 7:29:27 PM)
Comment: As always Matt, great job in not just picking up the hot story, but analyzing its implications. Going off that, will all the new personnel and shake ups at O-line negatively affect the cohesiveness of the unit going into training camp as a whole, and if so, how much?

Response: It does not help that the only person projected as a full-time starter in the same position as a year ago is Eric Heitmann. The 49ers need to do a better job of creating continuity on the offensive line, no question. --Matt M.

Posted By: Scott (23/06/2008 7:18:05 PM)
Comment: is duckett practice squad eligible?

Response: No. --Matt M.

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (23/06/2008 6:43:58 PM)
Comment: I don't know if you move Baas over to center with Wallace "waiting in the wings" It is a nice problem to have extra lineman around. Remember that Wragge and Heitmann are signed through '08 only. Baas is signed through '09, Snyder is signed through '11. I think that they may be willing to let Wragge go, maybe even Baas if Snyder works out at LG. Your left with Wallace at OC, Rachal at RG, Snyder at LG with Staley for 3-4 years. We just need to draft an RT and you have a pretty good OL built through the draft for 3 years. The backups can be some of the UDFA's we sign to the PS. The Walker signing makes more sense with the perspective Matt has, I can see VD wanting the limelight. If he ever plays to his potential, we might want to give him the dollars though

Posted By: SAM ADAMS (23/06/2008 6:29:34 PM)
Comment: I agree with NJ Mike - that does seem like the starting of a good young line - But I have to think there is a reason Baas hasn't stuck at center

Posted By: SAM ADAMS (23/06/2008 6:28:12 PM)
Comment: Good stuff Matt - it has seemed like we've gone out and gotten our "Targets" every year P.S. What is this epidemic of people running to post "FIRST" - Its lame - Stop it!!! Your partially to blame for this Matt - giving out prises to people - tsk tsk - haha - keep up the great work!

Posted By: NJ - Mike (23/06/2008 6:13:30 PM)
Comment: Matt -- The team is on the record as saying it wants to "build through the draft." Presumably, when you're a 5-11 team, you expect to get better by playing your #2 pick. If Rachel shows tremendous ability in camp, what are the odds the Niners shift another young #2 pick -- Baas -- over to center...especially since Heitmann is in the last year of his contract and getting older? A line of Staley, Snyder, Baas, Rachel and Jennings gives you 4/5ths of a potentially good, strong young line that can play together for years. Your thoughts?

Response: Remember, they drafted Cody Wallace to be the center of the future. Right now, I wouldn't think Wallace would be active as the backup center for regular-season games. That means someone (Baas or Wragge) would likely be the backup center on game days. --Matt M.

Posted By: KoreaNinerFan (23/06/2008 6:02:22 PM)
Comment: First????