Today, we take a closer look at the 49ers' offense. This unit is likely to have new starters at both wideout spots and some stiff competition on the offensive line. The 49ers' offense ranked 26th overall last season, with the league's sixth-ranked run attack and the No. 29 passing game.
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BACKFIELD: Like most spots on the offense, there is no competition for these starting jobs. The intrigue will come with the jostling for the reserve roles.
Quarterback: This is Alex Smith's job for as long as he's around. Trent Dilfer is the backup, but there could be competition between Shaun Hill and undrafted rookie Luke Getsy (Akron) for the No. 3 spot.
Halfback: Frank Gore's status as the offense's biggest weapon is not in question. The 49ers want to get more carries for the backup this season to prevent Gore from absorbing the punishment that comes along with a 300-carry season. Michael Robinson has the mindset to be a good back, but can he fully make the transition from being a college quarterback. Maurice Hicks will try to hold off rookie Thomas Clayton for a roster spot. Personnel chief Scot McCloughan says Clayton has the ability to be an every-down back.
Fullback: Moran Norris had a very good season as a bruising lead-blocker for Gore. The only question is the depth at this spot. Robinson can probably take over at fullback for a finite period of time. Zak Keasey, a converted Ivy League linebacker, has spent two seasons on the practice squad learning this position. Look for the 49ers to sign another fullback before training camp.
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RECEIVERS: The 49ers cut ties with unreliable Antonio Bryant, and then they got aggressive in trying to upgrade this position. They signed Ashley Lelie, drafted Jason Hill and acquired Darrell Jackson in a trade with the division-rival Seahawks.
Flanker: Arnaz Battle was the team's most consistent receiver last season, but he will be hard-pressed to hold onto his job with Jackson's arrival. Those players will compete for the starting job. Brandon Williams also figures into the mix, but his best hope is probably to win the job as the slot receiver in three-wideout packages.
Split end: The main competition will pit Lelie vs. Hill. Lelie sustained a right quad strain on one of the first routes he ran during the minicamp a month ago. He should be ready to go in the OTAs. Meanwhile, Hill did more watching than practicing in that minicamp. Taylor Jacobs is a former second-round pick who is spending his first offseason with the 49ers. Maxwell is doing well in NFL Europe, and this is his final chance to stick. Bryan Gilmore was the 49ers' third receiver last season. He started three games, did not miss any action due to injuries and caught just eight passes.
Tight end: Vernon Davis had an up-and-down rookie season, as he missed eight starts due to a broken leg. There's no doubt he'll start, and he is likely to take on a much larger role in the passing game. Delanie Walker is an intriguing talent who was limited as a rookie after sustaining a dislocated shoulder in the exhibition season. Billy Bajema is a blocking specialist.
Wild-cards: WR C.J. Brewer seemingly made a highlight-reel catch a week while on the practice squad last year. Undrafted WR Dominique Zeigler (Baylor) and TE Zac Herold (Nebraska-Omaha) face long odds to stick.
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OFFENSIVE LINE: This is the position group with the most intrigue. Justin Smiley and Kwame Harris both have contracts that are set to expire after the season. For the right price, one or both can be had in a trade. They won't come cheaply. Smiley and Harris have started every game the past two seasons and they don't miss practices due to injuries, either.
Left tackle: Jonas Jennings has been a good player when he's been healthy. But that's been the problem. He's had trouble staying on the field. He'll be back as the starter. If help is needed, the team could look to Adam Snyder or rookie Joe Staley to take over in this spot.
Left guard: Larry Allen is still a forceful straight-ahead run-blocker, but the end of his Hall-of-Fame career is drawing closer. This is likely to be his final season.
Center: Eric Heitmann is on schedule to make a full recovery from a broken leg. If he's ready to go, the 49ers don't have many concerns about his ability to handle the job.
Right guard: OK, this is where it gets interesting. Smiley watched some comparable guards get huge paydays in the offseason. Meanwhile, Smiley is scheduled to earn a (relatively) paltry $510,000 in base salary in this, the final year of his contract. The 49ers could deal him and still feel good about their line situation. Tony Wragge passed up David Baas on the depth chart last year to start at guard and center when injuries knocked out starters. But this offseason, the word is that there is no question Baas is the next in line for this spot. In fact, Baas could even challenge Smiley for a starting spot. Baas and Wragge can play both guard positions, as well as center. Snyder could also fit into a starting role as a guard (taking over for Allen?) down the line.
Right tackle: Harris started every game last season. Though the team had plans to shuffle Snyder into the starting lineup, injuries kept Snyder from competing in training camp. Then, Snyder was needed elsewhere because of injuries. The team has to decide where Snyder is needed the most - tackle or guard. With first-round pick Joe Staley in the equation, the team could opt to move Snyder inside full-time, especially if they figure the chances are good of them dealing Smiley.
Wild cards: Tackles Harvey Dahl and Patrick Estes, and guard Nick Steitz were on the 53-man roster last season but combined to suit up for only five games. Tackle Tavares Washington spent the year on the practice squad and is in NFL Europa this spring. Damane Duckett is trying to find a home on the offensive line after making it into the NFL as a defensive lineman. Guard-center Sean Estrada (Penn) was an undrafted free agent who earned a contract with a good showing in a tryout during the first minicamp.
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SPECIAL TEAMS: Kicker Joe Nedney has been pretty darn good since coming to the 49ers. The depth on his kickoffs might be diminishing, but his accuracy on field goals has been very good -- even though he's kicking in one of the league's most difficult stadiums. Undrafted first-year kicker MacKenzie Hoambrecker (Northern Iowa) is here to make sure Nedney doesn't wear out his leg before the season. The return game should be in better shape. Brandon Williams and Arnaz Battle are sure-handed with punts. Maurice Hicks, Williams and maybe a youngster, such as Thomas Clayton or Jason Hill, can bring something to kickoff returns.
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The most interesting competition for a starting job should be at right tackle, where Harris, Snyder and Staley are all legitimate contenders for the spot. Also, keep an eye on right guard. Smiley could be dealt. But even if he's not, Baas could put himself in position to make a serious bid for the job. Supremely-confident Jason Hill might give Lelie a run for his money at split end, while Battle is not going to just hand the flanker job to Darrell Jackson. Also, expect fierce competition from Robinson, Hicks and Clayton for the honor of serving as Gore's backup.
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Check back here Monday for updates from the first day of the club's organized team activities.
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Comments | Add Comment
Posted By: kris (07/06/2007 12:52:23 PM)
Comment: I can't believe nobody is talking about Alex Smith he's been hiding under the radar but we spent all that money on him and he hasn't produced at all! No handing the ball off to Frank Gore due to having a weak arm doesn't count and when was the last time you remember him connecting on a pass over 20 yards? Oh thats right they don't let him do anything because he'll screw it up! They beef up the o line because he's slow, they have super running back depth because they'll have to hand the ball off if they want to win, they had to get a tight end with good hands to dump the ball off to him when he can't find his wide receivers which it seems like we have one of the best WR core's in the league even last year and we still couldn't complete passes! And for those of you who forget we're in the softest division in the entire league you'd think we could do better! This is real talk from a real niner fan who wants us to succeed not sweep the issues under the rug!
Posted By: The Interrupting Sheep (06/06/2007 3:49:17 AM)
Comment: You say that Battle is locked in a...uh....battle with Jackson for a job. But is there no chance that they both start? I know about the flanker/split-end distinction, but surely it's better for Smith to have his best receivers on the field as much as possible. In case you haven't guessed, I'm no fan of Lelie, who I think can go deep and that's pretty much it.
Posted By: Robby (05/06/2007 12:29:07 AM)
Comment: Great info as usual. There is one thing you wrote that I don't think will happen. YOu wrote that with Staley on board, that there is a possability that Snyder might could be moved inside full time. I don't see that happening. Tackles are just to hard to find. I can easily picture down the road that Snyder and Staley will be our starting tackles, especially if Jennings misses to much more time this year. We have inough depth at the guard/center position to keep Snyder on the outside where he belongs.
Posted By: endcommunismnow (04/06/2007 2:48:47 PM)
Comment: Any word on how Alex Smith looks? Three offensive coordinators in three years isn't especially good news. How much more aggresive is the passing game likely to be? Do the coaches have confidence in putting the game in Smith's hands rather than Gore's?
Posted By: Zee from SF (04/06/2007 12:17:41 PM)
Comment: Matt, if the Niners are to trade away Smiley and/or Lame Harris, when are the likely date range/time frames? If the team doesn't trade them away by whichever date, then it's likely their trade values diminish, since they're both FA's after the season.
Posted By: mick13 (04/06/2007 10:49:30 AM)
Comment: Matt: Let's get one thing straight: Kevin Lynch can't carry your jock. He tells me things I already know -- usually from reading your blog.
Posted By: maia (04/06/2007 9:05:22 AM)
Comment: what do you think of delanie walker? obviously he's not going to start in front of vernon, and billy bajema is a great blocker, but it would be a real waste to see a guy with his talent on the bench. Everytime i saw him on special teams he was returning kicks for 20 to 30 yards.
Posted By: Mark in Singapore (04/06/2007 6:07:29 AM)
Comment: Matt, great detail as always. Quick question that is slightly off-topic. I don't know how much you cover of the stadium proposals, but perhaps you can shed some light on how it impacts the team. Is the issue discussed amongst the staff or players? At what point does this become a distraction?
Response: Mark, I seriously doubt that a quarter of the players on the team even know what's happening with the talks for a new stadium. With the career spans of NFL players, the vast majority of the players will not be affected by anything that happens down the road with a possible new stadium. Frankly, they'd probably all prefer to have the stadium in Santa Clara anyway. All but one or two players make their homes in the South Bay, and a stadium in Santa Clara would be much more convenient for them. --Matt M.
Posted By: Bob (03/06/2007 10:49:23 PM)
Comment: Matt - Nice article, but can you explain to me exactly what the difference is between the Split End and Flanker receiver positions? Thanks!
Response: The split end lines up on the line of scrimmage. (Seven players must be on the line of scrimmage at the snap of the ball.) Generally, the bigger, more-physical receiver plays this spot. He has to be able to cope with a cornerback inches away playing press coverage. The flanker is off the line of scrimmage, so he has a chance to put on a few moves to get past a corner who is playing up in his face. The flanker is generally on the same side of the formation as the tight end. --Matt M.
Posted By: cervant (03/06/2007 9:14:38 PM)
Comment: C'mon Matt, why can you be prefect like the rest of us?
8^)
Posted By: Pastor Dave (03/06/2007 5:38:27 PM)
Comment: Matt, Great job as always. Ignore all the wannabe English teachers who proofread your blog in order to send in their "corrections." A blog is supposed to contain some typos. You obviously spend a huge amount of time on assembling your content. That's what I look for. I could care less if you misspell "personnel." I copied and pasted your two blogs on the offense and defense for future reference. I especially appreciated the way you detailed the LB competition. Thanks for all your efforts.
Response: Thank you, Pastor Dave. Not to make any excuses, but my typical blog entry is about three times longer than anything I'd be allowed to get in the newspaper. My focus is on getting the information out there -- and getting it out quickly. Sometimes, that means I don't re-read what I'm writing as thoroughly as I should. I suspect that most fans don't mind a typo here and there as long as there is a lot of information about the team scattered amid the garble. --Matt M.
Posted By: carl (03/06/2007 5:17:40 PM)
Comment: Welcome back Matt. We missed your articles! Hope you had a nice break and looking forward to Mondays post.
Posted By: ninerglory (03/06/2007 4:57:20 PM)
Comment: Any chance d. jackson and battle are in the starting lineup together?
Response: If Battle and Jackson are clearly the team's top two receivers, yes, both would have to start. I believe that is a very realistic scenario. --Matt M.
Posted By: TheFunkyChicken (03/06/2007 4:40:35 PM)
Comment: I know that Battle plays flanker and not split end, but if Lelie ends up losing that starting job wouldn't that indicate that Jackson and Battle are probably our 2 best receivers? If that's the case, why wouldn't one of them change position so that they can both start?
Response: I agree. Mike Nolan has said Battle/Jackson are competing at flanker and Lelie/Hill are at split end. But he has also said that if one of the guys who gets beaten out is clearly better than the top guy at the other spot, then there would be a position change. Battle is certainly versatile enough to play either spot. --Matt M.
Posted By: endcapitalism (03/06/2007 4:31:44 PM)
Comment: Gore to get less than 300 carries next year! If that's true it's a huge fantasy football nugget. It would surprise me given Gore's ability and the fact that Alex Smith had the second most rushing attempts last year. With an improved team (particularly the defense) SF should run the ball 80-90 more times this year. That is a lot of attempts to come up with before even thinking of reducing Gore's role. Last year SF was 6th in rushing yards, yet only 19th in rushing attempts.
Response: You have to remember Gore's history with breaking down. He is also now under contract through 2011, and the team would like him to be productive for another few years. In addition, they expect to get better production from the passing game. --Matt M.
Posted By: oneniner (03/06/2007 4:28:46 PM)
Comment: it wont make any sense to cut maxwell...we groomed him and should benefit from his success.....i doubt nolan will let some other team grab him.....i think gilmore and jacobs and even lelie are on the hot seat....not really sold on gilmore, i have seen him in one or two plays...a reverse and in the slot running a deep out.....Battle, Jackson, Hill, Williams, Maxwell....are the starting 5
Response: I like Maxwell, but you have to be realistic. He needs to prove he belongs against NFL competition. --Matt M.
Posted By: 49ersWebZone.com (03/06/2007 3:34:40 PM)
Comment: Hey Matt, Great Info!
My question to you is the following: Did Nolan draft Staley specifically for the LT spot, or was he drafted to provide an upgrade at the RT spot. He was one of the top ranked OTs coming into the draft and many analysts think he'll excel at the LT position.
Do you see Staley playing the LT spot next year full time while Jennings will shift to the RT spot? Thanks
Response: When Staley was selected, O-line coach George Warhop told him to start working on his right-hand stance. He's versatile enough to play either side, and his development will determine at which position he ultimately settles down. --Matt M.
Posted By: MrBoBo (03/06/2007 3:07:48 PM)
Comment: Great Article! Another question. Do you see the 49ers taking a shot at Jared Gaither OT/Maryland at the Supplemental Draft? He has impressive size(6'9", 350lb.) athleticism(36 inch vert. jump)
Response: I'll touch on that one later. --Matt M.
Posted By: Greg (03/06/2007 3:04:00 PM)
Comment: i know theres a lot of competition at wide receiver and i see 5 who are locks to make the team (jackson, lelie, battle, hill, and williams). who(beyond those 5) do you think we will keep? i dont think we should keep more than 6 and i personally like maxwell in nfl europe, but gilmore and jacobs are pretty good themselves. also, how do you think brandon williams will fit in as a receiver this year?
Posted By: Scott (03/06/2007 2:17:54 PM)
Comment: Scott McCloughan "personal chief" or personel chief.
Also, any thought amongst the coaching staff about moving Jennings to Left Guard next year?
Response: Neither. It's "personnel." As for any talk about moving a guy to a different position in 2008, let's first see what happens in '07. --Matt M.
Posted By: louie (03/06/2007 1:54:16 PM)
Comment: Unless rookie RB Clayton is a steal/surprise, expect a trade (Smiley) for a proven RB to back up Gore. Robinson or Hicks cannot replace the biggest weapon the 49ers have. WHAT WOULD MIKE SHANAHAN DO?
What say you, Matt?
Response: Hopefully, he wouldn't draft Maurice Clarett again. --Matt M.
Posted By: jason (03/06/2007 1:46:24 PM)
Comment: It has got to be the best minicamp with the talent and competition for the 49ers in years. I'm very interested to see what are second year players are going to do Walker, Davis, B. Williams and Robinson step up on the offense. Do you see the rookies like Hill, Staley and Clayton making an impact? It doesn't seem like Nolan likes to start rookies if he doesn't have to. Has the offense been running even more smoothly with Alex Smith in his second year in the same offense? Thank you for always keeping us informed of the most current Niner news, you are the best.
Posted By: Clint (03/06/2007 1:45:24 PM)
Comment: Do you think Baas is the heir apparent as left guard? He's another big bruising mauler type, with Snyder potentially taking over at right guard next year.
Response: Either or. I'm thinking Baas at right guard. --Matt M.
Posted By: Mario (03/06/2007 12:53:00 PM)
Comment: Taylor Jacobs was a second round pick. But other then that great article!
Response: Thanks. He was the No. 44 overeall pick of the Redskins in 2003. --Matt M.
Posted By: Shaun (03/06/2007 12:27:16 PM)
Comment: Great job as usual. I am interested in seeing what Baas and Staley can do.
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