Posted By: Razoreater (24/02/2008 3:55:26 PM)
Comment: hey jon-i agree, my target center is sullivan from ND

Posted By: Marco from Stockton (23/02/2008 4:19:50 PM)
Comment: "We've got a good line" Pardon me? Does anybody buy that? SF gave up 55 sacks last year tied for the bottom in the NFL. That wasn't a good Line! The NFL average was 34 BTW. How does he get away saying that?

Posted By: Marc - NJ49er (23/02/2008 12:02:43 PM)
Comment: Berger, you are a BlogDaddy. Get out to the East Coast at all? We need to have a beer or 6 sometime. Kendall Lanford, Rd 3 or 4? WVU (DE) Dingle is also on my radar now for Day 2. I'm adjusting my board for Day 1. Albert (OT) moves ahead of OG. Someone convince me whether O goes ahead of D on Day 1? Still like McGlynn, but he probably moves to Day 2 for me.

Posted By: Marc - NJ49er (23/02/2008 11:54:02 AM)
Comment: Mind of McCloughlan, well said, excellent talent but I would not overspend for his services. He apparently was quoted as being willing to provide a 'Hometown Discount'? Price is the bottom line, we need DL and OL help also. Having spent several hours on the Combine, I'm willing to spend a 1 pick for OL again and perhaps 2 would dictate DL? Briggs could defer a Draft pick on LB until Day 2 if the price is right.

Posted By: Mind of McCloughlan (23/02/2008 11:39:01 AM)
Comment: I said this about three months ago, and I think it bears repeating: Briggs has played his entire career as a weakside LB in the Tampa 2. The Bears have pretty consistently NOT used him as a pass rusher because that isn't the way they choose to play defense. It has little to do with what their personnel is capable of. The Bears could have Lawrence Taylor and Derrick Thomas in their primes and they would be told to "stay in your gaps and drop into coverage." Then everyone would say, "Those two aren't pass rushers" when they were up for free agency. I'm not saying Briggs would fix the pass rush, but I don't think it's as cut-and-dried as people think when they look at his career sack numbers and conclude that he isn't a pass rusher. Granted, you don't sign him hoping he'll be a pass rusher, and you don't sign him to be another 3-4 ILB. You sign him because he can be an OLB in your 4-3, an ILB in your 3-4, a demon in your nickel package (freeing up Lawson and/or Willis to blitz on 3rd down), and you give him a few chances to blitz just in case he can actually do that well too.

Posted By: Shifter (23/02/2008 10:35:29 AM)
Comment: Sincere apologies for the salty turn of phrase in my previous comment. I am curious as to how a franchise being "used to jack up the interest" in any potential free agent works. How would the Niners benefit from affecting the fair market value of a free agent? Thanks.

Response: They would not benefit. I floated the theory that they're being "used." Like I said, it's just a theory. --Matt M.

Posted By: Shifter (23/02/2008 10:14:38 AM)
Comment: Matt, I have to know what that "49ers are being used..." line meant, please inform me how that works

Response: Hey, it's just a theory that maybe an agent is behind these developments. The 49ers have a lot of cap room. Other teams know the 49ers have a lot of money. If everyone believes the 49ers are going to go after Briggs, that could force other teams to come in early and strong with their own contract offers. It could be a ploy to convince other teams that the 49ers will get him. . . . It's definitely a tactic that has been used successfully in the past. --Matt M.

Posted By: Berger (23/02/2008 9:27:07 AM)
Comment: Matt- I like your answer to Montana comming back a Lott! It did Cross my mind that it seems you were Wright on! I know we've Turner'd the page, but it is fun to think of the good old days and Walsh for some more good Williamson! Those teams were the Pillars of our history and had a good Ayers about them! You could even bring out the ceremonial Rice because they were Taylor made to not get Stuckey'd in the mud.

Response: You're the Dean of this blog. You deserve a Ring, Young man. --Matt M.

Posted By: 49ers 4 life (23/02/2008 7:56:28 AM)
Comment: hey matt do you think joe montana can come back from retirement and get us back to the superbowl lol

Response: Come on! Get serious! What kind of question in that!? Everybody knows the answer . . . of course, he could. --Matt M.

Posted By: Medford (23/02/2008 5:46:48 AM)
Comment: Hey Matt anyway to post ur audio clips on here. Sometimes ur on KNBR and they dont post all of them since im up here in Oregon we only get KNBR at night. Thanks....

Response: I haven't been on for a while. During the season I was on five times a week. --Matt M.

Posted By: Marc - NJ49er (23/02/2008 12:31:55 AM)
Comment: Hoping to see Jennings on the Trade Block in April and Duckett? Not sure where he is on the OL depth chart either. Could go C on Day 2, Heitmann was a 7th rounder himself, so why not grab another OT/OG early?

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (23/02/2008 12:18:04 AM)
Comment: Toon was a great player, but he had head problems that made him retire early...no Rice though, but still a very far from a bust. I don't see Baas at center. I would like to see us draft a center in the later rounds. They are typically undervalued, so we can get great value. Heitmann was very slow to recover from injury. If we draft a C that could start, Heitmann could go back to guard and we would have more depth with Heitmann, Baas and Wragge at OG. Staley, Snyder, Duckett (hope he produces), maybe Jennings at OT. Add a FA for competition or a young draftee who projects to start in 1 to 2 yrs and we have a pretty solid unit.

Posted By: Frank (22/02/2008 11:29:04 PM)
Comment: Briggs is a terrific player...but, I'm hoping McCloughan spends some of the cap on Berrian, instead. That would give Martz his downfield receiver, plus it'd allow McNolan to take OL & DL with their first two picks. Martz could still get a very good slot receiver in the 3rd round.

Posted By: Medford (22/02/2008 11:21:08 PM)
Comment: Matt any free agent WR's catching the 49ers eyes? Stalworth etc..

Posted By: Marc - NJ49er (22/02/2008 11:05:01 PM)
Comment: Me too Oneniner, keep Soap at the right price, can't overspend at that position, we need edge guys.

Posted By: AthensGaNiner (22/02/2008 11:04:10 PM)
Comment: NegotiGate! I had to laugh at that. Matt, any chance we'll be seeing you at the Improv?

Posted By: Marc - NJ49er (22/02/2008 11:01:45 PM)
Comment: Razoreater, He's a keeper for me as well. Wondering if a guy like Merling or Groves would get graded for Day 1 by Scot also. Several guys would certainly project as starters right away, so I'm hoping for Albert,Calais Campbell,Rivers (USC), DRC, and a host of others to be hanging around late in Rd 1. The big question is whether Scot grades these guys as highly as we do. After all, he gets paid to get it right,(LOL), I just love trying to figure it out before it happens. I think we'll have some very good options to nail 2 excellent players being 10 picks apart, I'm not one of those that is upset about the 7 pick, I'd probably like it more to use for extra picks anyway, we need lots of help no matter how you look at it, so why spend 7 money?

Posted By: oneniner (22/02/2008 10:59:47 PM)
Comment: Looking at the roster i don't think we need Sopoaga, not only do we have 334 DT Franklin, we have Joe Cohen DT 6-2 315 and Ronald Fields DT 6-2 321, Matt any thoughts on those two players?

Posted By: Marc - NJ49er (22/02/2008 10:51:54 PM)
Comment: That's what makes the Draft so hard to nail. Guys like Al Toon got Drafted ahead of Jerry Rice etc. Evaluation and system fits are so important. It almost looks like the trend is to take a shot in the mid rounds and develop rather then overspend on 1st rounders that miss more then they succeed. Ask Matt Millen if he'd spend another top 5 pick on a WR? Give me the Big Nasty Linemen or DE/OLBs before WRs and RBs.

Posted By: Razoreater (22/02/2008 10:43:50 PM)
Comment: we r taking branden albert at #29, watch & pray!trevor laws with our 2nd!i would be a happy niner baby, Yea!

Posted By: oneniner (22/02/2008 10:14:08 PM)
Comment: I would luv if the niners bring this guy Van Zant in after the draft. 6'1" 210 lbs CB with 4.4 speed...great story....... http://www.youtube. com/watch?v=yqLnFkhp DNs ...."If Clarett with all his baggage got a shot with Denver; Van Zant should definitely be given a chance as he has none of the baggage of Clarett and all the heart and smart's that were lacking in Maurice."

Posted By: Marc - NJ49er (22/02/2008 9:42:23 PM)
Comment: Rich, DE, I agree completely on Lavelle and add Andre Caldwell to the list. I can't see burning a Day 1 pick on WR. We've demonstrated no proficiency in obtaining a No.1 WR, and Martz typically covets those 6' 185Lb burner types with good hands. Is Jason Hill that guy? I never saw his college play, but his bio suggests that he's that type of guy? We need OL and OLB help, but I'd say the class is deep for OLB, so unless we covet a specific guy, we may wait for Day 2 on that position also. We've got 1 pick in each Rd right now, so 29 & 39 are the most demanding and WR for me just doesn't factor that much? We'll see where the FA moves go and that should help determine Scots' intentions for Draft preference. At this moment, OL is pretty shaky with Big LA and Smiley in limbo. Need those interior maulers to counter Seattle and Arizona in this Division. I see Baas sliding to C and 2 younger Guards joining the ranks. Someone like Mike McGlynn is also a college ROT that plays all along the OL including LS duties. Very versatile guy, and no, I'm not his agent or related, just think he's a great option for us. I think we'd all agree, our OL was the glaring deficiency last year, and needs big time help right now. Pass protect and suddenly the WRs look like world beaters perhaps.

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (22/02/2008 9:02:00 PM)
Comment: Danny: The Bengals have said that they are not going to trade CJ and Chad and his agent have said they're not going to hold out to force a trade.

Posted By: Marc - NJ49er (22/02/2008 8:52:36 PM)
Comment: I'm thinking we need some of those 'split the blinds' photo shots from Santa Clara HQ next week for the Runnning of the Free Agents? You're our guy Matt! Our 49er Undercover Brother with the News that feeds the Media. Besides, where would Len Pasquarelli be without all your diligence and dedication to your craft?

Posted By: Rick (22/02/2008 7:15:28 PM)
Comment: Hi Matt, I see you have responded to Bob saying Justin Smith is a DE in the 3-4, but when you look at it, he is much better suited as a OLB in the 3-4. First of all, he's too undersized to be a DE in a 3-4. He's listed as 6'4" 275 lbs, which is at least 15 pounds too light to play DE. Most DEs in the 3-4 are former DTs in the 4-3 (Bryant Young); Most OLBs in the 3-4 are former DEs in the 4-3 (Manny Lawson). Secondly, Justin Smith ran a 4.55 40 yard dash at his pro day prior to the draft. He's an undersized DE in the 3-4, but with his skill set and athleticism, he should transition extremely well into an OLB in the 3-4. If the 49ers are considering him as their big FA pickup, I would assume it would be to take over for the extremely underperforming Tully Banta-Cain.

Response: Rick, have you seen Smith play a lot? (I'm not being a wiseacre; I'm asking a sincere question.) The reason I ask is because he sure looks bigger than 275 pounds to me. Do you agree? I'm not sure how old that weight listing is. That said, I just read an article on Bengals.com in which Smith said he thought he could play OLB in a 3-4. If that's the 49ers' intention, then they shouldn't go after him. Why pay the guy a whole lot of money to do something he hasn't done in his entire career? I happened to have the Bengals game against the Rams from last season. I watched it after your response. He lined up as an OLB once the entire game. Every other snap (he played every snap in the game), he lined up at RDE in a four-point stance. In third-down situations the Bengals used a 3-man front and Smith was still at RDE. --Matt M.

Posted By: dcsham (22/02/2008 6:23:15 PM)
Comment: Matt, I just don't think that your reporters instincts are serving you well on the Briggs situation. You seem to be the only person who doesn't think there's much going on with a signing, but my God, how much smoke do you need to see a fire? This talk has been going on for over a year, and now even the NFL investigative arm is in the mix. The 49ers are flat interested in Briggs, and vice-versa. Teams aren't "used" to talk up free agent value. Briggs is highly coveted, and the 49ers will sign him. Mark my words.

Posted By: Danny (22/02/2008 5:29:59 PM)
Comment: Matt, do you really think the team can find an answer at WR in the draft? Do you think they'll go after one in free agency, and/or do you think they SHOULD try and pry Chad Johnson away from the Bengals? Thanks...

Posted By: pootie tang (22/02/2008 5:24:56 PM)
Comment: Matt do you think the 49ers have any interest in Shaun Rogers? Should they?

Posted By: Bob (22/02/2008 4:26:00 PM)
Comment: Would Justin Smith be a DE or OLB in 34 formations?

Response: He's a DE. He would not solve their pass-rushing needs but at least he would give them a high-energy lineman who is an every-down player and a threat to get to the QB. --Matt M.

Posted By: jbeezy (22/02/2008 4:19:11 PM)
Comment: Matt are you going to do the same thing you did last year during the start of free agency? That would be so cool.

Response: I plan on being there. Will Lance Briggs or Justin Smith be joining me, though? That's the big question. --Matt M.

Posted By: Rich, DE (22/02/2008 3:46:29 PM)
Comment: illini49er, I liked Lavelle Hawkins' performance at the Senior Bowl. A TD, a couple of nice catches, and a nice kickoff return. Last I saw, he was projected 3rd round (NFLscout.com maybe).

Posted By: Berger (22/02/2008 3:24:03 PM)
Comment: The 3-4 was run in the 70s. It didn't use a Ted or an Elephhant. Bum Phillips ran it, and I think Shula and Stram, and he used to shoot gaps with the linemen and use fast agile LBs. The 3-4 does not have to have a Ted, but today, that would be the normal way to run it.

Posted By: Os from NJ (22/02/2008 2:16:31 PM)
Comment: Matt, the reports are saying that the tampering occured many months ago. That would leave me to believe that this was when they were considering trading and wanted the 49ers to back off because they hoped to retain Briggs. All this before Willis.

Posted By: illini49er (22/02/2008 2:14:28 PM)
Comment: XL, I think Lavelle Hawkins of Cal could turn into a very dangerous slot receiver. He has speed and can turn the ball upfield after the catch. I would like to see the niners pick him up if he was available later, round 4 or so.

Posted By: Wes (22/02/2008 2:14:21 PM)
Comment: Any word on whether the team will really be changing up the uniforms for next season?

Response: Don't think so -- not for 2008. But look for a change back to something sort-of retro for 2009. At least that has been the thinking all along. --Matt M.

Posted By: fcadmus (22/02/2008 2:08:31 PM)
Comment: Matt: To expand on Cyrus' comment, what would preclude the 49ers from signing Lance Briggs and having him take over Manny Lawson's WOLB position. This would free Lawson to move over to Banta-Cain's position (SOLB) where he can be a greater force in coverage and as a pass rusher? Banta-Cain then can move inside, next to Willis.

Posted By: Cyrus (22/02/2008 1:33:52 PM)
Comment: Matt-- I've seen you and other writers comment that it wouldn't make sense to sign Briggs when the team already has Willis. This relies on the supposition that ILB is just not that valuable to a 34. In my opinion, these statements are simply not validated. Nolan may very well have other thoughts on the type of 34 he likes to run, which wouldn't blend with what their ILB personnel has been capable of to date. Further, they may be trying to implement more of a 34/43 hybrid, in which case their purported interest in Briggs Justin Smith would make more sense.

Posted By: Bud San Jose (22/02/2008 1:06:14 PM)
Comment: Matt do see Justin Smith in Santa Clara next friday? I know your the man so you might know a little something ha!

Posted By: XL (22/02/2008 12:45:54 PM)
Comment: Matt, is there any mike furrey or wes welker WRs in the draft this year and with Martz at OC could we see Arnaz Battle fill that role and turn into a 6-10 reception a game WR or do we not have anyone on our roster like that? And los tampering could cost the 49ers a draft pick or a fine.

Posted By: Parker (22/02/2008 11:48:48 AM)
Comment: Not comfortable with Scot's response on our D - sounds like a defensive identity crisis to me. Obviously gameplans require that you mix it up in coverages and schemes, but at the end of the day, either your base defense is a 3-4 or a 4-3. This will impact whether we take (assuming these DEs are still on the board at #29), Quentin Groves or Lawrence Jackson.

Posted By: Nate (22/02/2008 11:42:33 AM)
Comment: Matt, any confirmation on SI.com's blurb that the 49ers are interested in Jevon Walker? I say bring back Bernard Berrian. The local kid.

Posted By: Alex (22/02/2008 11:27:13 AM)
Comment: First, thanks for the update as always

Posted By: los (22/02/2008 11:26:15 AM)
Comment: First. Matt what penalities if any could the Niners occur if they are found to have tampered with Briggs.

Response: Carmen Policy was fined $10,000 when he was with the Browns for comments he made about the team's potential interest in coach Mike Holmgren. The Dolphins had to give up a first-round pick in 1970 for tampering when they hired Don Shula. My guess is any penalty would be somewhere between those two extremes. --Matt M.

Posted By: JB (22/02/2008 11:24:23 AM)
Comment: Thanks for pulling those tidbits out of the press conference. I got a massive headache trying to sort through them earlier.