Before: Tedd Ginn Jr. and Kyle Williams. Grade: B- Why: Until December, Ginn was one of best punt returners in the league and Kyle Williams was a talented backup. Then Ted Ginn Jr. injured his ankle and Kyle Williams sustained a brutal concussion, and punt returner became the Niners biggest weakness. Williams recovered and Ginn didn’t, so Williams had to return punts in the playoffs. The Niners forgot that Williams…
Before: Alex Smith, Vernon Davis, Michael Crabtree, Delanie Walker, Kyle Williams and Frank Gore. Grade: F Why: Vernon Davis is a monster red zone target, but he got double covered constantly last season. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman wanted to establish his red zone offense with Braylon Edwards at the beginning of last season – force feeding him fade passes in the corner of the end zone. Edwards couldn’t catch a single…
Before: Vernon Davis, Michael Crabtree, Delanie Walker, Kyle Williams and Kendall Hunter. Grade: F Why: Double-cover Davis and the Niners were dead on third down. Crabtree was rarely open enough for Alex Smith’s taste, Kendall Hunter didn’t have reliable hands and Smith rarely even considered throwing to Delanie Walker. Now: Subtract Walker, Williams and Hunter. Add Mario Manningham, Randy Moss, LaMichael James and A.J. Jenkins. Grade: B+ Why: If teams…
Before: Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick and Scott Tolzien. Grade: C+ Why: The Niners rolled the dice with two rookie backups last season – Kaepernick and Tolzien – who probably couldn’t have led last year’s team to the playoffs. So the Niners lucked out Alex Smith played all 18 games, even though he was inept on third down and in the red zone. Despite those iniquities, he still helped the team…
Before: Joe Staley, Mike Iupati, Jonathan Goodwin, Adam Snyder, Anthony Davis, Alex Boone, Chilo Rachal, Daniel Kilgore and Mike Person. Grade: C+ Why: LT Joe Staley was a Pro Bowler and LG Mike Iupati was very good, but the mere presence of RG Chilo Rachal in the starting lineup at the beginning of the season nearly sunk the entire offense. Harbaugh benched him for Adam Snyder, who upgraded the right…
Before: Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter and Anthony Dixon. Grade: B Why: Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter were one of the best rushing duos in the league last year. They got the bulk of the Niners’ carries, and the offense finished eighth in rushing. However, the trio was collectively bad in short yardage. Anthony Dixon was supposed to be the goal line guy, but he failed. Now: Add Brandon Jacobs and…
Now that the draft is over, I’m going to grade each area of the Niners offense, starting with the pass catchers. Before: Vernon Davis, Michael Crabtree, Delanie Walker, Kyle Williams, Ted Ginn Jr., Brett Swain and Joe Hastings. Grade: C- Why: Vernon Davis is a stud, so this group couldn’t have a failing grade. But everyone else is ordinary at best. Swain and Hastings probably won’t be in the league…
The Niners needed to upgrade their offense this offseason, and that’s exactly what they did. They signed two proven deep threat receivers in free agency – Randy Moss and Mario Manningham – and they drafted two explosive play makers this week – A.J. Jenkins and LaMichael James – and Jim Harbaugh just can’t stop raving about them. The Niners should have a much better offense this season. That is if…
The Cohn Zohn is back up and running. He’s writing a blog right now on Jim Harbaugh’s unique charm. I suggest you check it out.
My dad’s blog has been down for about an hour. He apologizes for any inconvenience. The PD is working to fix the problem right now.
SANTA CLARA — Here’s the live blog for Day 3 of the NFL Draft. The Niners pick second in the upcoming fourth round, so they should announce the pick shortly. 8:58 One thought on the Niners’ first two picks before the rest of the picks happen: Clearly, the No. 1 priority for this draft was to give Alex Smith two 4.3-speed underneath check-down options on third down. Trent Baalke signed…
SANTA CLARA — The Niners just drafted Oregon running back LaMichael James with their second round pick. I love the selection. I give it an A, and here’s why. James could end up one of the best players in this draft. He was a great college running back, and he’ll be a better pro than Kendall Hunter. So, the Niners have two good running backs for the future. What’s more,…
SANTA CLARA — Here’s the live blog for rounds 2 and 3 of the NFL Draft. I’ll be updating frequently from the Niners press trailer. 4:07 The Rams draft WR Brian Quick with pick No. 1 of the 2nd round. I’m shocked how many receivers are getting drafted ahead of Rueben Randle, Stephen Hill and Alshon Jeffery. I find it hard to believe that Quick will be better than those…
SANTA CLARA – The Niners first round pick A.J. Jenkins spoke to the Bay Area media in person for the first time this afternoon. He’s warm, talkative and humble. Also, he has huge hands. After the interview I told Kevin Lynch that Jenkins’ hands looked like E.T.’s hands. In a second interview a few minutes later Jenkins told the media this: “They used to call me E.T back in high…
SANTA CLARA — I give the Niners an F for their A.J. Jenkins pick at No. 30 in the first round, and here’s why. We all know the Niners’ biggest weaknesses are third down and red zone offense. They will not win the Super Bowl this season unless they improve those two areas. So, they needed to spend a first round pick on a player who would help the cause….
SANTA CLARA — This is the live blog for the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. I’ll update this frequently from the 49ers media trailer. 4:05 This just in from Jay Glazer: “I’m hearing we have our first trade; Cleveland moving up from #4 to #3 w Minnesota. Giving up 3 picks to move into the 3rd spot.” 4:13 Jason LaCanfora on the trade: “Browns trade a 4th, 5th…
This is exactly how the draft will play out. 1. Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford. 2. Washington Redskins – Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor. 3. Minnesota Vikings – Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU. The Vikings think they’re drafting the next Champ Bailey. 4. Cleveland Browns – Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama. The Browns replace Peyton Hillis with the best running back prospect since Adrian Peterson. 5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers –…
Greg Cosell just posted his mock draft and it’s very interesting, so I’m linking it for you here. Here are the highlights: 1. Cosell says Robert Griffin III is a better prospect than Andrew Luck. 2. Cosell says Stephon Gilmore is the best cornerback prospect, followed by Janoris Jenkins and then Morris Claiborne. 3. Cosell says Matt Kalil will slide to the Cardinals at pick No. 13. 4. Cosell calls…
Here’s my list of the top-10 pass catchers in the draft. Feel free to tear it apart and make your own list. 1. Coby Fleener, Stanford, 6-6, 247 lbs., tight end, h-back, slot receiver, split end, flanker. Fleener has the potential to be a faster Tony Gonzalez. As a pass catcher, Fleener’s the total package. He’s big, he’s fast, he’s quick, and he has good hands. As a blocker, he’s…
I just got home from Trent Baalke’s pre-draft press conference at which he didn’t say much of anything. That’s OK – I expected him to say nothing. What was he supposed to say? Who he’s hoping to draft? If you’re interested in what he had to say about his first round pick, I transcribed that part below. I pass it along without comment, and if you guys would like to…
