Posted By: Madden 10 (09/07/2009 6:56:27 PM)
Comment: Melvin was a good player for us. I am pretty dissappointed that they released im

Posted By: LOTTNTOTT (19/07/2008 2:14:26 PM)
Comment: Well said, Jed We all love the Niners But something been stolen --and we're not whiners Just need to get on track with a new quarterback --And get rid of that damn bum, Nolan (Yes, you can nominate me for Poet Laureate)

Posted By: Nevyn (17/07/2008 7:22:55 AM)
Comment: NFL performance based play is based on people making minimum salaries who end up getting a lot of playing time. It makes no evaluation on the quality of their play. Oliver got it because he started 14 games. He started 14 games because we had no one else. As a good special teamer and a guy who might even get the starting FB job over Moran Norris, Keasey has more value to us right now than Oliver. Could have have kept him in camp until the final cuts then let him go? Sure, but what good does that do him? Just keeps him from being able to catch on with another team.

Posted By: Jed (17/07/2008 7:15:39 AM)
Comment: Moses - We agree it's about choices. So Oliver is a mediocre backup? Okay. But the idea Oliver was cut to sign rookies is propaganda even Nolan couldn't make up. Like many homers who fawn over Nolan ("he blows timeouts but gives good interview"), you fail to open your eyes to the useless guys kept instead of Oliver. Cohen is a mistake. Zak Keasey is gutty yet unplayable. Anyone think Keasey wouldn't be sitting in the scrap heap if the Niners "needed" him in Oct.? We could dump 10+ players on the 81 list before a guy who earned league performance bonuses as a rookie.

Posted By: Moses (17/07/2008 4:37:56 AM)
Comment: "Do we need to cut someone just to keep a roster spot open for Derek Smith's return? Nolan hasn't earned faith." Jed, you bust Nolan but it is a product of your ignorance!!! You can only have so many players under contract. If you've filled your slots so you can evaluate FA talent during mini-camps in order to improve your roster, when you sign a new player, YOU MUST RELEASE ONE FIRST. We released Oliver, we signed Rachel. Oliver was, at best a marginal, fringe player who's probably done in the NFL. Like it or not, other people have been more impressive than Oliver who was MEDIOCRE to begin with. Seriously, you don't know how the roster works and if you're whining about a mediocre 6th round D-lineman... Get over yourself and stop posting, you're too ignorant and you're making others as foolish as yourself.

Posted By: Moses (17/07/2008 4:30:14 AM)
Comment: "Hindsight is 20-20, right?" That's exactly right. And anyone who uses hindsight to prove a point about 6th round draft choice, especially in the complete lack of their draft being published and reference-able and subject for criticism is a knave and fool and a coward and lacks the sense of a chicken.

Posted By: http:// (17/07/2008 12:30:09 AM)
Comment: Oliver was a late-rounder but no flyer. Rather, I dare say he was a steal: how many unheralded DLs can you think of who could start 14 rookie games, acquitting himself well with a productive 50 tackles? IMO He's on par with Sam Rayburn, whom we'd eyed for the longest time & finally nabbed last offseason. I even think Oliver can become the next Tony Brown, if he can find a conducive environment at his next employment.

Posted By: Evan (16/07/2008 2:06:37 PM)
Comment: Matt, does this mean that Kentwan Balmer will probably take Oliver's number in training camp, #96?

Posted By: dallas9er (16/07/2008 11:42:16 AM)
Comment: Toby, Jeff Ulbrich was a part of the class of 2000 draft. Also, a couple of our outcasts have gone on to play elsewhere (i.e. John Engleberger (Broncos), Anthony Adams (Bears). Oliver was about the same size as M. Douglas and he was deemed too samll to hold up. However, Oliver is 6-7 years younger. Hard to believe there is no spot for him.

Posted By: Nevyn (16/07/2008 10:55:09 AM)
Comment: Toby, these are the first rounders of the Nolan era: Smith, Davis,Lawson, Willis, Staley, Balmer. All are still on the team and 6 of the 7 are expected to start this year, the lone exception being a rookie. These are the 2nd rounders of the Nolan era: David Baas, Chilo Rachal. 1 of the 2 will be starting this year, and possibly both. After two rounds, the draft is much more boom or bust if you're looking for starting position players, and the niners record is therefore more spotty, but they've still found a pro bowl RB and a starting guard, not to mention some great special teamers and a couple players who could end up succeeding Walt Harris as starters. Why do the niners have FA's on their defense? Because they had money to spend and those positions are where the quality was in free agency. Nolan drafts have been by no means wonderful, but the people bashing those drafts are doing so based on woefully unrealistic expectations. Late round picks are cheap, short term labour, players at specialty positions, or flyers on players who probably won't pan out, but could. But the only niner day one pick in the nolan era not still with the team is Brandon Williams, so maybe we're being a tad harsh?

Posted By: Jed (16/07/2008 10:29:04 AM)
Comment: Amen Toby. Sorry, Nevyn. Depth has been a huge issue in the Nolan era (QB, DB, OL, WR, DL). Only so many roster spots can be filled with gutty favorites and projects like Dilfer, Keasey, Bajema, Taylor Jacobs, Duckett, Cohen, Estes, R.Marshall, Gilmore, Ellison, Curry, and all former Ravens' TEs. Teams who are 16-32 can't dump guys who can play now to make room for guys who might be backups in 3 yrs. To Nolan's credit, most of the guys he dumps have been too crappy to play on other teams, but that doesn't mean the guys he keeps are better.

Posted By: Toby (16/07/2008 10:01:30 AM)
Comment: Nevyn - It's not just Melvin Oliver, it's a pattern of poor drafting. The organization has beat the fans over the head with their statements that they want to build through the draft, yet how many starters are from the draft, especially on defenese? Let's check the 49ers depth chart. None of the secondary (Clements, Walt Harris, Michael Lewis & Mark Roman). How about the linebackers? Willis and Haralson - yes, Banta-Cain and Ulbrich - No. And the defensive line - Justin Smith, Aubrayo Franklin - Nope. So only Sopoaga, Fields or McDonald, whoever plays opposite Justin Smith is a player that was drafted by the Niners. I'll even give you Lawson in place of Banta-Cain. That still only adds up to 4 of the 11 defensive players that have been "built through the draft". So the cutting of Melvin Oliver by itself is not noteworthy, the lack of starting talent acquired through the draft is.

Posted By: Nevyn (16/07/2008 7:34:54 AM)
Comment: My god, people, get over it. He was a sixth round flyer. So it didn't work out, that's neither a surprise nor a particularly big problem.

Posted By: Moxie (16/07/2008 6:45:45 AM)
Comment: If we keep 7 DLs this year, I'm leaning towards a 3rd RDE as the last man, partly to accommodate J-Smith doubling at LB. This duel may well be between Curry (OTA form), Ramsey & Cohen (both projectable elsewhere on the line & offering versatility). Cohen also looked comfy carrying the extra heft last camp, despite once being a 243-lb FB. Who knows, maybe Martz will switch him to FB, ala Jon Bradley in DET last year, in order to get some value out of what could otherwise be a wasted draft pick.

Posted By: kobe (16/07/2008 6:43:23 AM)
Comment: jimpooba you are not so different yourself, you contribute nothing sensible to the blog.

Posted By: Moxie (16/07/2008 6:41:02 AM)
Comment: Matt -- Disagree that "the 49ers did not believe Oliver fit the 49ers' 3-4 scheme"; this contradicts his drafting status. (In fact, we'd traded up to take him in Rd 6.) If you check back, he was primarily chosen to succeed Travis Hall as M-Douglas's backup. Way I see it, he's expendable now cuz we've got a surplus of RDEs (J-Smith, R-Mac, W-Curry, L-Holmes, plus Ramsey if the latter can't play effectively at 300 lbs). Nolan admitted recently we'd been 2-gapping only 20% of the time, so Oliver's game was suitable in getting off blocks for us. But he & his positional rivals are kinda one-positioners cuz our LDEs/NTs, except for BY, tend to be 15-25 lbs heavier & physically more interchangeable. (I associated this preference to Nolan's rationale about them seeing double-teams; the RDE isn't immune, but his side tends to be the weakside & in any case, might have a pass-rushing OLB outside of him.) Oliver was on the outside looking in, esp. after Chrissy Mauck -- summarizing the closed OTA sessions -- intimated that he didn't return to full practice then, despite getting the medical all-clear & after 13 months' rehab (he tore his ACL earlier than Cohen & Lawson, but only Manny appeared to make it to team drills by the last OTA day.)

Posted By: Moxie (16/07/2008 6:39:34 AM)
Comment: Matt -- Disagree that "the 49ers did not believe Oliver fit the 49ers' 3-4 scheme"; this contradicts his drafting status. (In fact, we'd traded up to take him in Rd 6.) If you check back, he was primarily chosen to succeed Travis Hall as M-Douglas's backup. Way I see it, he's expendable now cuz we've got a surplus of RDEs (J-Smith, R-Mac, W-Curry, L-Holmes, plus Ramsey if the latter can't play effectively at 300 lbs). Nolan admitted recently we'd been 2-gapping only 20% of the time, so Oliver's game was suitable in getting off blocks for us. But he & his positional rivals are kinda one-positioners cuz our LDEs/NTs, except for BY, tend to be 15-25 lbs heavier & physically more interchangeable. (I associated this preference to Nolan's rationale about them seeing double-teams; the RDE isn't immune, but his side tends to be the weakside & in any case, might have a pass-rushing OLB outside of him.) Oliver was on the outside looking in, esp. after Chrissy Mauck -- summarizing the closed OTA sessions -- intimated that he didn't return to full practice then, despite getting the medical all-clear & after 13 months' rehab (he tore his ACL earlier than Cohen & Lawson, but only Manny appeared to make it to team drills by the last OTA day.)

Posted By: jimpooba (16/07/2008 6:20:31 AM)
Comment: oneniner do us all a favor and crawl back under your rock. you poison this site with insults and personal attacks. i hope Matt has had enough and bans you. anyone in favor leave a vote.

Posted By: oneniner (16/07/2008 6:00:45 AM)
Comment: Jon in SoCal - "I'd rather get a NT and run a 3-4 full-time. We had our chances in the draft"..........how did we miss our chance in the draft?.....i must have missed it but was there a true NT with major potential that we missed on?

Posted By: oneniner (16/07/2008 5:57:57 AM)
Comment: Mike in Sac not only a clown but major Moron....its freaking july and you are still fustrated, its either you r too late to the discussions or too early or you r just a 100% whinner 4 life.........the funny thing, is your moronic self admits if things turn out well during the season in the "FALL", you will support nolan.....WHY NOT JUST SPARE US THE LONG JIBBERISH AND SHUT UP!!....wait till you see what we have on the field before screaming fire in your pants....

Posted By: PT Barnum (16/07/2008 4:41:26 AM)
Comment: Mike in Sac- "You're a clown"!

Posted By: IL Giacomo The Great (15/07/2008 11:15:42 PM)
Comment: I could have told you a guy named Melvin was going to be a human hershey squirt.

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (15/07/2008 9:31:48 PM)
Comment: RE: Rebuilding defense "I say this all the time, and it's my standard answer. We're about the best players, and whether that's a 3-4 or 4-3, I really have no preference, and that's what you'll see. When teams look at us and break us down, they'll see, I don't know if it's a straight 50-50 but it's pretty close to a 60-40 split of 4-3, 3-4 in what we do. Straight from the horse's patoot. (his press conference) http://sf49ers.com/pressbox/news_detail.php?PRKey=4025§ion=PR%20Nolans%20Notebooks

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (15/07/2008 9:16:24 PM)
Comment: Nolan has spoken about it a bunch of times, I think Matt wrote about it awile ago. Nolan wants to run a hybrid, shifting from 3-4 to 4-3. It last came up in the Draft b/c everyone was wondering if he can play NT. I remember him saying that 60% of the time he wants to run a 3-4. I'll try to find a link. I'd rather get a NT and run a 3-4 full-time. We had our chances in the draft.

Posted By: louie (15/07/2008 8:38:35 PM)
Comment: This whole season will come down to quarterback play. If the QB plays well a Martz offense will be a MAJOR improvement over what we've been used to. A better offense will make/help the defense really show up. The real question is: when the 49ers become a playoff team will they be good enough with these players and THIS head coach, to be a Superbowl team, or will they be like the perrenial also-rans?

Posted By: http:// (15/07/2008 8:30:29 PM)
Comment: Jed..awesome post. Jon in SoCal..when did Nolan say he wasn't going full-time anymore to a 3-4, isn't this his specialty? So now he's tinkering & staying more with a hybrid D where he doesn't know much about the 4-3? Also he brought in a DC who specializes in the 3-4 & now he's not going to fully convert us over..it doesn't make much sense. From that bit of info is Nolan no longer going after a true stud NT? This would answer what I was going to ask Matt which was...McNolan made the FA move long ago to get his ANCHOR ON THE O & spent the money to get Jennings as our LT. Then they drafted VD instead of a #1 WR in hopes of getting a dynamic playmaker. The ANCHOR ON THE 3-4D is the NT which is the key piece to stopping the run & protecting the LB's to make plays & the rush OLB is the playmaker to get sacks & pressure the QB improving our secondary/INT's. Nolan has performed poorly not getting this done while he did an OK job with this with the Offense. Sorry everyone to harp on this but if we had these pieces in place already I believe we would have an awesome & very exciting Defense RIGHT NOW TODAY!! A solid Ted LB, young stud 2nd CB next to Nate (new kid just drafted or TBrown?), & an upgrade in FS would come in time (Goldson?). Matt...what are your thoughts in McNolan not being able to accomplish this yet? Sorry for being on the negative here but I'm curious to hear what you have to say about this. Still am looking forward to doing some good maybe, great things this season & seeing what we have in our new team.

Posted By: Mike in Sac (15/07/2008 7:36:29 PM)
Comment: Jed- Great post. BTW, we are fans (fanatics) because we are "marked by excessive enthusiasm". I would think that being a fan might include having opinions about what we would like to see. Nope Randall, we are not probably qualified to run a franchise, but I am allowed to have opinions. Other teams were bad, then great, bad again and on the way back up; see Cowboys - Dallas. Yes the drafting prior to the Nolan era stunk, but there were some good names in there as well. If I am not mistaken some of those dudes were on a team that went 10-6. Don't you get it; York = we suck. BTW if we all had the same opinion wouldn't the world be boring and why would we need a blog to talk about this stuff? Lastly, please tell me how we are better suited to play a 3-4 versus a 4-3. I asked Matt this question in his Q&A and personally, I thought the answer was weak. We have a group of linemen who some appear to be accomplished. We have two LB's that are accomplished (Willis and Ulbrich). Lawson does not get that rating because he is coming off reconstructive knee surgery. See Rice, Jerry for how that can set you back. The rest of the LB group is a bunch of what ifs and maybes. The line, well you have Smith, he has skill. You have Soap, he better have skill as we just paid him a mint. Balmer was a 1st round pick, if you are going to be good you better hit on #1's, so I assume he better play and not ride the pine. Franklin is an ok NT so I am thinking he would be better as a DT with other big fat guys around him. Fields is a good interior line guy. You then you could have had Oliver, Cohen and McDonald in the mix. The line seems like a much more certain group than the ?????'s we have at LB. Get my point. This is more about Nolan and what appears his desire to ram a square peg into a round hole versus the quality of players drafted. Nolan is the chief and thus he is responsible for the outcome; he hires coaches, sets the master plan and is supposed to be able to adjust along the way. He has been terrible at this. Someone made great points earlier such as it looks as if he knows nothing about offense, is mediocre at best as a d-coordinator and his record speaks for itself as a head coach. We all have a right to be frustrated.

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (15/07/2008 7:36:17 PM)
Comment: Wow, this is getting good! Couple of points, it's a bit unfair to blame McCloughin for some of the picks, This year was the first year that he had personnel power, the previous were all Nolan. Second, the "comfort" with 3-4 comments aren't realy true. Nolan has stated that he won't run a 3-4 full time...again. Third, this is Melvin Oliver we're talking about, not Warren Sapp. I'm just happy that our top 4-5 DL are solid, we can argue all day about the interchangability of the bottom 4. It does seem like we churn many of our later draft picks and I find it annoying, we could have picked up a true NT over the last couple of years (ie: Red Bryant)and converted full time to a 3-4. We really don't do well later in the draft. I think we should trade everything after the third round to pick up another 3rd rounder.

Posted By: Jed (15/07/2008 6:13:18 PM)
Comment: Randall - I don't know much about money, foreign affairs, pensions, government, health care, etc., but I still vote every four years and make judgments. And I love my country -- even when I want to throw the bums out. Nolan is up for re-election. He can run on his record.

Posted By: Randall (15/07/2008 5:47:03 PM)
Comment: Man. No matter what discussion board I go to, there really is a bunch of whiners out there. Get over it. Come on, we don't actually think that all the "Nolan can't pick good players" posters actually know what they're talking about? I don't pretend to know that much myself, but I guarantee, the people that post on these sites don't have a clue how to run an NFL franchise. I mean, really, we are not ACTUALLY qualified to remark with any expertise as to what these teams should be doing. Anyone out there that thinks they could do it better are deluding themselves. There is a reason that sportswriters, bloggers and us fans, in general, don't have a clue. But I doubt that will stop us mental midgets from trying.

Posted By: Nice Pre-McNolan Track Record, Eh? (15/07/2008 5:33:11 PM)
Comment: A look back at the drafts that stocked the shelves before McNolan signed on. The one thing they could be faulted for is letting Julian Peterson go. **2004** Rashaun Woods, Justin Smiley, Shawntae Spencer, Derrick Hamilton, Isaac Sopoaga, Richard Seigler, Andy Lee, Keith Lewis, Cody Pickett, Christian Ferrara **2003** Kwame Harris, Anthony Adams, Andrew Williams, Brandon Lloyd, Aaron Walker, Arnaz Battle, Ken Dorsey **2002** Mike Rumph, Saleem Rasheed, Jeff Chandler, Kevin Curtis, Brandon Doman, Josh Shaw, Mark Anelli, Eric Heitmann, Kyle Kosier, Teddy Gaines **2001** Andre Carter, Jamie Winborn, Kevan Barlow, Cedrick Wilson, Rashad Holman, Menson Holloway, Alex Lincoln, Eric Johnson **2000** Julian Peterson, Ahmed Plummer, John Engelberger, Jason Webster, Giovanni Carmazzi, Jeff Ulbrich, John Keith, Paul Smith, John Milem, Tim Rattay, Brian Jennings

Posted By: Mike in Sac (15/07/2008 5:33:04 PM)
Comment: Bandwagon, fellas I was in the stands for the 78 and 79 debacle. There for the catch and everything in between. I am a die hard fan. I am allowed to have an opinion and be frustrated with the direction of this team. I will watch this team every Sunday just like I always have. I junked the season tix three years ago after watching this ownership ruin a great franchise. I VOTED WITH MY WALLET. They were good seats and if someone was actually willing to buy them at face you know what I would have kept them but other people hate the crap ownership is delivering as well. I think I have the right to be pissed. Firing Mooch had to be one of the dumbest moves ever. For Erickson? That was the start. Look, Oliver is not the second coming of anything. I am frustrated with the overall concepts here. We have good linemen and enough to play a 4-3. You do not draft 1st rounders like Balmer to ride the pine. Devise a plan to get the good players in the field. The plan/leadership has been weak. Rip me all you want. I will be happy to give praise where it is due. I hope Nolan wins a bunch this year but has he demonstrated that ability? Smith is a joke (many things have gone wrong for this kid but that is not the issue, he has not delivered!), VD is TOTALLY unproven. Gore had one good year. Willis is what little home grown talent we have. Oh yeah, our left tackle has never played a snap there is his career. He should have been wracking up games there last year when everyone was already getting the hell beat out of them but we elected to keep him working in his old spot. Bottom line WE HAVE ISSUES, BIG ISSUES. If some of them can finally work out we might be on to something. If not, well we are going to suck for a long time. I am tired of "wait till next year." Get the point! Oh yeah, Oneniner you are still an idiot. I think many of us can agree to that! LOL!

Posted By: http:// (15/07/2008 5:09:54 PM)
Comment: WELL THERE GOES THE SEASON!

Posted By: Randy in Santa Rosa (15/07/2008 4:50:39 PM)
Comment: Nolan (inheriting a 2-14 team) improved the win totals in the first 2 years with hardly any talent, while also installing new schemes on both sides of the ball. We took a step back last year because of a clueless OC (thanks Norv)... It didn't help Nolan that his father was dying as well. Funny how most haters were praising Nolan up until last year. Regardless, in a little over 3 weeks we play the Raiders and it will be a good start to the football season... Can't wait =) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIDVZH_5k0E

Posted By: Mike in SF #2 (15/07/2008 4:22:11 PM)
Comment: Mike in Sac - What part of "6th round draft pick" do you not understand? Do you remember the Niners of the 80's and 90's when even our 1st and 2nd rounders had to battle just to make a spot on this roster? This is a sign of a team getting better and a sign of good depth. I hate to use the Pats as an example, but I'm going to: They had 9 draft picks in 2007 and only 2 yes TWO made the season opening roster in 2007. Does that mean the Pats are bad at drafting? Last I checked they are known as one of the best draft day teams in the NFL. 7 picks didn't make the roster the year they were picked. That's what happens to good teams. Oliver slipped down the depth chart behind better players. I really don't understand where some of you fans come from. You want track record? Name ONE player that Nolan cut that did anything in the NFL afterwards. In fact, name one that even remained in the NFL for a few more seasons. I see a LONG list of guys he's cut or traded that have names like: Winborn, Beasly, Barlow, Lloyd, and Plummer. If that's not a proven track record-. what is? Many would argue that is the only thing Nolan has done right!!!!

Posted By: Toby (15/07/2008 4:15:41 PM)
Comment: Just thought I'd chime in that Antoine Bethea, CB, with the Colts was drafted 10 picks after Oliver and not only is he a starter, but he's also made the Pro Bowl. And like previously mentioned, Marques Colston, was picked in the 7th that year. Just another draft pick that can be put in the bust catagory. Along with 80% of all the McNolan picks.

Posted By: http:// (15/07/2008 4:11:37 PM)
Comment: For the most part I'm with Mike in Sac. WhyTF can't a 3-4 "guru" get the most crucial pieces for his converted D by now?? A NT & rush OLB. A Ted shouldn't be as hard & should be able to be found in later rounds or in FA. Red Bryant COULD HAVE BEEN HAD in THIS DRAFT. Even Rubin was available. In the other past drafts who knows but I'm thinking we could have done better than the backup quality we have in Franklin/Fields. And TBC as the rush OLB?? You weren't able to catch on film that he has ZERO speed & that the talent around him in NE is what made him? You get these pieces FIRST then build on that foundation. Why hasn't he done this from the beginning? Nolan has already shown his colors as knowing NOTHING/ZIP/ZERO about any concept of Offense, not even a basic knowledge of it & now he's starting to show that he's just an AVERAGE DC, nothing spectacular by a long shot. He's just a solid organizer who looks good in a suit & talks like a politician. If in the end he does go I have a feeling Manusky has the potential to become well above & beyond Nolan without the "scared little boy conservatism" that he shows on BOTH sides of the ball. I don't see Manusky as this anal scared rigid conservative type. Not at all. And Manusky has to know the IMPORTANCE & URGENCY of getting these key vital pieces in finishing this Defense right?? He has to. Let's get this thing done!! The pieces for this Defense should have been completed by now. If Nolan has a winning season he deserves his props. With MM running the O & hopefully Manusky influencing Nolan to attack more on D & getting some results maybe Nolan can loosen his all around grip on this team so they can start to perform to their full potential.

Posted By: Jed (15/07/2008 3:42:43 PM)
Comment: Randy - My family ate season tickets watching Scott Bull run the offense into the ground. Don't question patriotism. It's a weak response. Like last season, I have hope. I'm just not going to suck up to Nolan's pride as he persists with these stubborn personnel moves. Do we need to cut someone just to keep a roster spot open for Derek Smith's return? Nolan hasn't earned faith.

Posted By: oneniner (15/07/2008 3:35:33 PM)
Comment: looking back at the draft the cardinals did pretty good in players with potential.......Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Calais Campbell and Early Doucet.......those 3 players could really help them......i just hope they dont.

Posted By: Randy in Santa Rosa (15/07/2008 3:25:38 PM)
Comment: What will the Nolan haters say when we have a winning season this year? Not sure, but I do know they will be posting here under a new name...

Posted By: oneniner (15/07/2008 3:17:51 PM)
Comment: Mike in Sac- "When he can demonstrate WINNING, then I will cut him some slack.".......you mean you will change your name to Mike in Belarus, and jump on the bandwagon

Posted By: PhillyNiner (15/07/2008 2:59:28 PM)
Comment: I was wondering what would happen with Oliver. As a 4-3 end, he was a steal in the 6th round. He was really good at doing something the 49ers don't intend to do: rush the passer with 4 down linemen. I think this is a sign that the coaching staff feels comfortable enough with the 3-4 that they're not leaving the door open for switching back to the 4-3.

Posted By: Mike in Sac (15/07/2008 2:53:27 PM)
Comment: Yes my spellng stinks. I was typing to fast.

Posted By: Mike in Sac (15/07/2008 2:48:42 PM)
Comment: The leadership of this club sucks! Wasn't Oliver a McNolan pick? Assuming that is the case, why did they draft a dude who "does not fit the system?" Based on the fact he played pretty well as a rookie this seems dumb. Lastly, the 3-4 will suck pond scum if you do not have a STUD NT, we don't have that and they are very hard to come by. Couple this with the fact we don't have a prototypical battering ram ILB to play with Willis and we are a long way off from a stud defense. Again, we did have a very nice stable of quality DT's and DE's fitting the 4-3 scheme. Lastly, we have a bunch of scrubs to play the "rush" OLB, see Cain, Harrelson, Moore (Jay and Brandon) and Rod Green. Yes, yes, we have Justin Smith, who knows if this guy can play "up" and work in space. We will know real quick and if he can't mark my words other teams with exploit that weakness all day long-..her goes another season of dumb moves. Don't give me any Nolan hater comments. I will hate all day long, as this clown has proved nothing. When he can demonstrate WINNING, then I will cut him some slack. This dude talks a lot in circles and delivers noting in the way of results.

Posted By: SactoBob (15/07/2008 2:38:10 PM)
Comment: Because the DL looked so great last year without Oliver? No offense to Curry, Ellison, Holmes, and Ramsay, but without looking I'd guess that Oliver has more tackles than all of them combined.

Posted By: http:// (15/07/2008 2:20:59 PM)
Comment: I wish Oliver the best. Classy move by McNolan to release him with ample time to try to find another team before TC starts. Next year if we can draft that young stud RT to develop behind JJ/Sims we'll be in just as good a shape with the OLine as the DLine. Also if we keep a 3-4D ---- get a REAL NT..NT..NT pleeease!!

Posted By: http:// (15/07/2008 2:18:19 PM)
Comment: Bad move! You dont cut players that perform reasonably well as sub-in rookie starters no matter if they "fit" your system or try to come back from injury... As some put it correctly, Nolan might be gone before the season is over and some of the players (Willis, Smith come to mind) might fit (even) better in a 4:3 anyway...

Posted By: jed (15/07/2008 2:02:43 PM)
Comment: Bert - Fair points. Saving a PS spot for a clear mistake makes no sense. Nolan's track record is so poor in finding scheme fits that he needs to keep guys who can play and mold a scheme to them. Look at how 2007's defense started v. finished. This team isn't deep enough to keep having spots taken by long-shot projects and converted athletes.

Posted By: bert (15/07/2008 1:48:20 PM)
Comment: well jed, thing is oliver isn't eligible for the practice squad, and he's coming off an acl injury. cohen is still on the team because he was eligible for the practice squad. oliver wasn't good in our 3-4 defensive scheme anyway, and we enough lineman.

Posted By: jed (15/07/2008 1:33:08 PM)
Comment: More Nolan vanity. Spending a 4th rd. pick on Joe Cohen was a mistake -- he might have gone undrafted. Now SF dumps Oliver, who proved to be a decent backup, and keeps Cohen for the practice squad? If Nolan gets canned and the next guy wants a 4-3 ... we still have Joe Cohen!

Posted By: Scottie G (15/07/2008 1:27:41 PM)
Comment: Matt, if Oliver was at 280 isn't Mcdonald at 280 too? I know he is more of a 3rd down pass rusher but is Mcdonald starting to tip the scale so that he can play more then just on passing downs???

Posted By: Mike in SF #2 (15/07/2008 1:22:34 PM)
Comment: Jake - How could Matt, McNolan, or anyone for that matter answer that question when Vernon Davis has two full seasons ahead of him before his contract expires with the 49ers at the end of the 2009 season? The Niners can wait a full season and a half before they even need to consider floating him an extension. Check back here at the end of the 2009 season and we can all give you a good assessment of Vernon's' game and our chances of retaining him.

Posted By: Rich, San Ramon (15/07/2008 1:17:49 PM)
Comment: Mel Oliver showed up as a rookie, he really did. I wish him the best.

Posted By: Jake (15/07/2008 1:06:45 PM)
Comment: Matt, Speaking of recent draft picks being cut, I wanted to know your opinion right now of the 49ers retaining Vernon Davis once he hits the free agent market?? I would not call him a bust at this point but he definitely hasn't been what he was forecasted to be, especially for the money. Him and Alex Smith seem to be in the same boat.

Posted By: MaddenFan (15/07/2008 1:06:18 PM)
Comment: For all you madden people get the latest player ratings here http://www.maddenfans.com/showthread.php?t=1116

Posted By: Henry (15/07/2008 12:27:09 PM)
Comment: The diamond in the rough that is Marcus Colston is a one-in-a-million/fluke shot. Not even New Orleans expected him to be such a great contributor even at draft. If anyone had, no one would've let him slip. If anyone knew Antonio Gates would be the All-pro that he is, he would've been drafted. Don't slam franchises for the make or break for low-round draft decisions, those are gambles, plain and simple. If they hit, it's not necessarily because of foresight, as I've mentioned, they would've already been drafted beforehand. You don't find Pro-bowler caliber talent in the last few rounds by mostly skill.

Posted By: Indiana Jim (15/07/2008 12:20:09 PM)
Comment: If I don't comment, Scotty D will be disappointed. I got nothin'.

Posted By: re: whocares (15/07/2008 12:03:05 PM)
Comment: I posted the Marques Colston comment, but I agree with oneniner. to this whocares guy...look back through the NFL drafts from, say 1999 to the beginning of the Nolan years. Those guys (Dwight Clark, Terry Donahue) had far too many first and second round picks not pan out. I'd not try to paint McNolan as a failure on the basis of their 6th round picks. They've done a pretty good job, in my opinion.

Posted By: Re: oneniner (15/07/2008 11:58:26 AM)
Comment: oneniner said: if you could mention someone picked after him in the draft, who made the probowl or is currently a starter in the nfl....then maybe I reply: Marques Colston would be the 49ers top wideout if we'd used our 2006 sixth round pick on him. Hindsight is 20-20, right?

Posted By: PDX Mike (15/07/2008 11:39:41 AM)
Comment: Whocares??? Are you really contending that releasing a third year late round pick is a mark against the personnel decisions? The best teams need to release many of their picks; late round selections are luxury picks--boom or bust type players. If all of the teams late round picks stuck to the roster; that would be a cause for concern. With all due respect, your comment is ludicrous.

Posted By: Randy in Santa Rosa (15/07/2008 11:35:49 AM)
Comment: Ronald Fields in practicing at NT, behind Franklin I believe...

Posted By: oneniner (15/07/2008 11:33:47 AM)
Comment: Four offensive coordinators in four seasons for a QB...is enough reason to explain why we have been a losing franchise.....the biggest mistake will be to let A. Smith go to another team after his contract expires...

Posted By: Randy in Santa Rosa (15/07/2008 11:31:44 AM)
Comment: Definitely a 4-3 guy... Nice to see the depth now that allows us to do this. Good luck Melvin.

Posted By: 49erJeff (15/07/2008 11:30:52 AM)
Comment: Hate to see him go. That injury really set him back on the depth chart. I'm sure it won't take long for him to find another home. Just hope this cut doesn't come back to bit us in the ass.

Posted By: oneniner (15/07/2008 11:29:31 AM)
Comment: I don't think a sixth-round draft pick was a wasted pick.....if you could mention someone picked after him in the draft, who made the probowl or is currently a starter in the nfl....then maybe

Posted By: Dirk (15/07/2008 11:26:11 AM)
Comment: Ronald Fields? Will not line up at DE, will he?

Posted By: Rich, DE (15/07/2008 11:25:19 AM)
Comment: Hope the best for Oliver. Would like to see him get picked up by someone and get a chance to play somewhere else. Was rooting for him with the Niners but guess they don't have the room for him now that they have added more talent.

Posted By: Berger (15/07/2008 11:24:12 AM)
Comment: Matt- Did you omit Ronald Fields on purpose?

Response: Yes, only because he is now playing the nose. --Matt M.

Posted By: whocares (15/07/2008 10:59:36 AM)
Comment: Boom another wasted draft pick from the "build through the draft" bumbling duo of idiots McNolan!

Posted By: Moses (15/07/2008 10:42:28 AM)
Comment: No surprise there. A mediocre second-string power-end for the 4-3 coming off a major injury... Sorry, too many guys ahead of him... At least the 49ers gave him a chance to latch on somewhere else. Instead of rotting for another season.

Posted By: Mike in SF #2 (15/07/2008 10:39:53 AM)
Comment: ... but not really. Its nice to see the 49ers finally have depth. I would expect a few more surprise "cuts" before we get down to 53. Again, much better than the days of 2005 when anyone could play/start for this team. I see this as the biggest boost to Curry and/or McDonald. As Balmer, Smith, Franklin, and Soap were locks to make the team.

Posted By: Mike in SF #2 (15/07/2008 10:33:49 AM)
Comment: First... and surprised. Thanks for the info MM