The 49ers have one good defensive back: Richard Sherman.
He shut down one-third of the field by himself last season. Opponents rarely threw his direction, meaning the rest of the 49ers defensive backs had to cover just two-thirds of the field, and still couldn’t do it. The 49ers gave up an average opponent quarterback rating of 105.4 — second highest in the NFL — and intercepted just two passes, an all-time league low.
The 49ers must remake their secondary. Where should they start?
A team that plays lots of man-to-man coverage would start by adding cornerbacks, because they chase the wide receivers. But, the 49ers don’t play much man to man. They don’t chase. They mostly play three-deep zone coverage (Cover 3), which looks like an outfield. The cornerbacks are the corner outfielders, and the free safety is the centerfielder.
In Cover 3, the free safety is the most important defensive back, because he sees the most action. Any defense that plays Cover 3 better have an excellent free safety who intercepts passes.
The 49ers don’t have one. They have Adrian Colbert and Jimmie Ward, and neither intercepted a pass the past two seasons. Ward will be a free agent this offseason, and the 49ers probably won’t re-sign him.
The 49ers could sign future Hall of Fame free safety Earl Thomas. But, he’ll be 30 in May, has suffered season-ending leg fractures two of the past three seasons, and the Seattle Seahawks don’t want him anymore, despite having more than $50 million in cap space. They want younger players. Likewise, 49ers general manager John Lynch should draft a free safety.
Here is a look at which free safeties the 49ers will have to keep an eye on this week at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.
Click here to read the rest of the article.
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, S, Florida is another player in the 2nd round the 49ers could consider.
Didn’t graduate ;)
Earl Thomas declared for the draft with two years of remaining eligibility. I guess that makes him ineligible as a FA candidate, no?
To me the most important thing for a Free Safety is the ability quickly to diagnose passing concepts he sees develop in front of him and quickly react to them. Often times that looks like instincts. But knowing where you’re supposed to go because you know ahead of time what is happening makes covering all that ground much easier.
Too often we saw Colbert not understand the play in front of him or the player he was defending. Because of that he was not “the deepest of the deep” and receivers would run right by him.
I am hoping the removal of Hafley will improve the coaching of the DBs.
Running fast is not the same as playing fast. Colbert does neither. IMHO, the only players whose 40 time is critical are running backs. For others the issue is playing fast which is a more subjective evaluation that the NFL, because it is difficult to measure accurately, has kind of given up on. Ward is another example of someone who runs fast but rarely plays fast. People use statistics like a drunkard uses a lamp post – for support rather than illumination.
I like Jonathan Abram in the second round, and Zedrick Woods in the 4th round.
.
I also have mocked Nasir Adderly and Mike Bell.
IMO, Richard Sherman didn’t necessarily take away 1/3 of the field. Offenses chose to go to the other 2/3 of the field because it was pretty much a guaranteed reception with almost zero chance of an interception. They didn’t need to attack Sherman so it doesn’t mean Sherman was a shut down corner. Sherman lived off his name recognition last year. I think if the 49ers sign a competent CB in FA and shore up the Safety position you will see teams go after Sherman with some success next year.
In terms of the FS spot you had listed, I don’t know anything about any one of those college players. All I do know is Saleh and the defensive coaching staff fall into the trap of viewing players potential vs their actual production. They really liked Colbert, Ward, Tartt and others that have never really been productive. I think the 49ers need to find solutions at FS and SS. I don’t like Witherspoon at all either. They just don’t have the players to play this scheme on the roster so they will need to fill those holes in the draft and FA.
Agree.
Maybe Sherman should follow Ronnie Lott’s example, and move to safety. It might prolong his career.
.
I hope Joe Woods can sort through the DBs and find 2 starting CBs. If Woods can coach up Witherspoon to be able to turn his head and track the ball, he may keep the starting job.
Sherman is not A SS. OR A FS. He’s A CB.thats that
Ronnie Lott started as a CB, and became a Hall of Famer as a safety.
Houston,
I agree with you on Sherman… and don’t believe he’s nearly as good as looks in regards to his stats. I believe the ninernation podcast pointed out that he was beaten quite a bit but got lucky because the qb either missed the throw or threw the other way.
However, I must disagree in regards to your points on the niners not going for production. Ward and Tartt were both very productive in college. Their biggest drawback was the fact that they competed against a lower level of competition. Colbert was the athlete without production however, he was drafted in the 7th round while Ward and Tartt were late first and early second round choices.
Without adding to the safety competition, I could see Tartt at FS and Harris at SS when it’s all said and done. That’s with Ward gone, no F/A and a 3rd day draft pick. I think the wild card is if our new DB’s coach agrees that Moore is a corner and not a free safety….
Tartt shows a lot of skill when he’s on the field. The problem for him, like Ward, is staying on the field.
If they can stay healthy that combo would be fine, they just need corners that can help them.
Neither Ward or Tartt were drafted by Shanahan/Lynch so college production is immaterial. They may have been productive in college but they have done nothing as pros. Both are often injured. Tartt has been decent in run support but he’s absolutely a liability in pass defense. Shanahan and Lynch have turned over most of the roster but kept these guys around. I’m sure they wanted to give them a chance and their contracts were conducive to sticking around. At this point though there is no reason to keep either of them.
Grant’s half right about Sherman. The half of Sherman that is good is his head. His body, on the other hand, is no longer all that good.
Reminds me of that great Little Feat song, Old Folks Boogie:
1. Sherman is a remarkably intelligent human being and football player that’s never been a freak athlete. Teams don’t go after him because he identifies route concepts and jumps them. In a cover 3 system he always has safety help over the top so top end speed isn’t an issue. He is absolutely as good as his stats. You just don’t think so because you see videos of him getting burned one on one in training camp.
2. At some point he will slow down too much to be a CB1 one. He’s said he has a couple more years before he moves to FS. His ability to deduce route concepts will be an asset there too. However, it’ll be hard for him to fit into a Seattle system. He’ll be a perfect New England vampire.
Given a choice of fast or play maker, I would opt for play maker. We already have a lot of talented athletes who arrive quickly and are unable to make the play. Time to try something different. Shanahan has to work on his criteria and learn from his mistakes. CJ was theoretically a better pick than Patrick Mahomes and the other spread QBs who have made a mark on the NFL. But that theory hasn’t worked out too well in practice. Time to re-evaluate some of those theories.
I hope Joe Woods can remake the secondary. Both Jaquiski Tartt and Adrian Colbert are returning from injuries.
.
Maybe Richard Sherman as FS and Marcell Harris at SS might be a good combination.
.
The still have Tarvarus McFadden, Tarvarius Moore and DJ Reed as options, and depth.
.
With all those players, safety is not a dire need, but if a good candidate presents itself in the draft, the niners should select one.
Will be interesting to look at this draft seven years from now–the entire draft, all teams–and learn who taken in the first round turns out to be a bust (unproductive, out of the league quickly), and who in the seventh is a HOF lock. Ya know it’s gonna happen.
Any prediction for first round fails–using current 1st round mock drafts?
Quit trolling.
I wonder how the old folks are tonight.
@cassie….. a little G Lightfoot reference.
I like it.
Nick Bosa
He’s my safest prospect in the 1st round.
I actually posted that just for you. I have no idea who is going to be a bust. I actually thought Jarvis Landry would be a better pro than OBJ and Paxton Lynch was going to be a Pro Bowler so what do I know.
Landry’s career isn’t a surprise to me, but I was never sold on Lynch. Too tall to play the position. What was surprising is that Elway drafted too identical prototypes to play the position. I’d like to assume he’s learned his lesson, and won’t be drafting anymore quarterbacks over 6′-6″ tall. Just too much length for the position in my humble opinion….
Greg Little
Yea, he’s a boom or bust player. I just think whoever drafts him better have one hell of an offensive line coach.
Here’s a thought. How about drafting players and letting them play their natural position that they played in college. Tavarius Moore should be playing FS. He has good ball skills, runs a 4.32, is 6’2, 200. Plus he plays better in space.
Colbert is a hard hitting, physical corner. He loves contact and has decent ball skills. He would be the ideal corner opposite of Sherman, because of his physicality.
Harris/Tartt are Strong Safeties all day.
And Ward is a FS. Dude was a ball hawk in college. He should have stayed at that position and grew there.
Side note, Thomas would be much better today if he was allowed to play DT, add some weight, use his first step to beat guards vs tackles that are quicker to recover.
I totally agree….and this has been my view for sometime. Too much experimentation going on with these guys. Classic case of fitting a round peg in a square hole.
Time is ticking for Shanny. If I was the 49er GM here’s who I would draft–all in the same year !
Ronnie Lott, Rd 1, # 8; Eric Wright, Rd 2, # 40; Carlon Williamson, Rd 3, # 65, (Strong Safety–Nickname “The Hammer”)–In 1981 knocked Lynn Swann and Jolhn Stallworth out in the same game. They did not return.
49ers vs Pittsburgh, Nov. 1981—Full Game!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU9W7aCDjF8
I must admit Adderly scares me, after watching Ward and Tartt’s nfl careers.
Our small school safeties have struggled to stay healthy with the physicality of the NFL, so I would lean towards safeties that have played well against the bigger, faster players found in the major college conferences so I would lean to Thornhill or Savage without watching film on them.
I like CGJ better than Adderly.
I havent watched the tape but TDN states he doesn’t have great instincts and had several blown coverages due to mental lapses. If true, that would rule him out as a single high safety. He would have to play as the strong safety, which I don’t think is nearly as hard to find.
I disagree. He’s not a perfect player, but who is? I think he’s the best in the class to be our center fielder. He made great strides in his tackling technique from last year, and that gives me reason to believe he has room to grow. His oily hips, coverage skills and route recognition are excellent. He’s got enough speed too. The one thing that stands out to me that will make the 49ers excited is his versatility….
https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/2019/02/15/floridas-chauncey-gardner-johnson-is-top-safety-for-cowboys-in-2019-nfl-draft/
Earl Thomas was as close to perfect as a FS gets, and for a very, very long time.
Based on recent drafting history, the FS the Niners draft is likely to turn out to be more of a Solly Thomas than an Earl Thomas (or an Aaron Donald, to not mix positional metaphors).
Earl Thomas is damaged goods. After 2 broken legs, he is far from perfect.
.
It is not beyond the realm of possibility that he has lost a step. Major injuries will do that.
I dont see the 49ers taking a S in the 2nd rd unless they manuever
a trade that gives them another 2nd rd pick.
After Dionte Thompson (1st rd pick) the Safety position has a big drop-off.
The talent level at Safety’ in this years draft is mediocre at best.
There are no Dewin James’ or for that matter, no Earl Thomas’ in this years crop.
If we don’t make a deal our 2nd pick will be a WR.
The 49ers drafted Tarvarius Moore, DJ Reed and Marcell Harris last year to add to an already crowded D- backfield.
I’d rather have these guys coached up then selecting another player to add to the glut.
If we are going to play Cover 3 then signing Earl Thomas makes the best sense.
Niner secondary.
.
LCB- Tarvarius Moore, Tyvis Powell, 2019 Draftee
SS- Marcell Harris, Tarvarus McFadden, Tyree Robinson
FS- Richard Sherman, Godwin Igwebuike, Terrell Williams
RCB- Akhello Witherspoon, Emmanuel Moseley
NB- K’waun Williams, DJ Reed
NLB- Jaquiski Tartt.
Seb,
Colbert is missing from your list, but the fact that a former outside the Org player like Sherman is our best secondary person sadly paints Lynch in a bad corner.
I’m not a big fan of Earl Thomas because of his age and injury history, but he would be an instant upgrade over any draft pick coming out this year. And hopefully drain the swamp of the glut in the secondary as well.
Sorry, put Adrian Colbert after Richard Sherman. Sounds like Colbert would do well to sit behind an All Pro and learn.
.
I was going to agree with your comments, but only disagree with your last comment. I truly believe Thomas is going to Texas. He wants to be paid, and California Taxes may be too high for him.
I agree they need to find a FS, but I would rather go the FA route this year. Not a big fan of the FS class in the draft.
Other than Earl Thomas, which free-agent safety do you like?
Tre Boston or even Adrian Amos despite playing as more of a SS with the Bears. Amos is a great athlete and excellent in coverage – I expect he would be fine at FS. Pretty sure he played FS in college.
Those would be good pickups, although I’d rather sign Boston. He intercepted five passes in 2017 as the Chargers’ single-high safety.
That said, Boston was a fourth-round pick. Amos was a fifth-round pick. Eddie Jackson was a fourth-round pick. Tedric Thompson was a fourth-round pick. The 49ers should be able to find a quality FS in Round 4.
But how long before they are good? 49ers need an immediate upgrade. Its rare that a mid round rookie comes in and plays well straight away. And finding the ones that will be good is its own challenge – at least with Boston and Amos they have shown it in the NFL already. I would just go that route to fix the issue in this instance.
Amos and Jackson were good right away. I think Juan Thornhill will be good right away. But if Boston is available, I don’t see why the 49ers shouldn’t try to sign him.
If they take Thornhill I certainly won’t be mad.
Thornhill, Amos and Jackson are all very similar to me. If he’s there in the 4th round, I’d be onboard as well.
Grant,
Maybe they found one, but he/they just need to be coached up.
Carlos Rogers and Donte Whitner were never as good playing with another team as they were with the 49ers.
We may have our S already in-house with Colbert and Harris. They (along with other young secondary) need better coaching and more overall talent on the defense to fully manifest their abilities.
We could hope and wait for this possibly or sign a productive FA until we find our long term S.
I’d take Amos over Boston, and Houston over Fowler.
I wouldn’t take Fowler unless he was going to be used as a rotational guy.
That’s exactly what he is — and a good one.
In order for the 49ers to use him as a rotational guy they need to add two other edge players. He wouldn’t be a priority signing for me.
I don’t see it that way. The 49ers use run defenders in their base defense and pass rushers in their Nickel defense. It’s likely Thomas and Armstead will be the starting ends next season in the base defense.
Me either.
In that case you are saying he should be a starter in nickel. I disagree. He isn’t that good. I don’t mind him as a rotational pass rusher, but as one of your top two edge rushers… I hope they do better.
He would play in all passing downs, which is how the Jaguars used him. He certainly would be one of the top two edge rushers. He has the speed and explosion the 49ers want from that position.
“He would play in all passing downs, which is how the Jaguars used him.”
Yeah… until they traded him. If he comes relatively cheaply I have no problem with it. But if they make him a priority target they are not evaluating players well.
Personally I would prefer Preston Smith, who I expect can be had for cheaper.
It made sense to trade him to a contender and get something for him.
It was also pretty well reported that the team wasn’t overly excited by what he produced for them or his attitude.
Playing with Blake Bortles is tough. Fowler was excellent with the Rams.
“Fowler was excellent with the Rams.”
He was? He played 8 games and came away with just 2 sacks, while playing outside Donald and Suh. He was ok. That’s what he is – an ok player.
Sometimes it’s hard to get to the quarterback before Donald. Fowler made McGlinchey look terrible Week 17, and played very well in the playoffs.
Bears will likely re-sign Amos, since they do not have many draft picks to replenish their roster.
Razor,
With Vic Fangio gone, the Bears will likely keep Amos in order to provide stability going forward.
Shaking things up during a transition time for the Bears may not be in their best interest.
Zedrick Woods runs a 4.45 forty, according to Walter football. Sounds like he had a decent showing in the East-West practices.
.
He might be a good draft candidate.
Not much of a playmaker, though.
Thornhill would be my pick at the position but it’s going to a 2nd rounder to get him.
I think I’d take a cb over the safety in round 2, and I’ve got just the one. Justin Layne, CB, Michigan St.
https://steelersdepot.com/2019/02/2019-nfl-draft-player-profiles-michigan-state-cb-justin-layne/
He had 15 pass break-ups, tied for eighth most in an MSU single-season and enough to tie for first in the Big Ten and 10th in the FBS. His 16 passes defended also ranked tied for first in the Big Ten.
Layne recorded a career-high 72 tackles, including 2.5 for losses, and had at least one pass break-up in eight of 12 games while also getting a handful of snaps on offense at wide receiver.
“Justin Layne I have kind of in that second-round conversation,” David Jeremiah said. “No wasted movement. He’s smooth, he’s patient, he can play the deep ball, he’s got outstanding instincts. You see him, he’s got nice plant-drive to get a little burst there. Obviously, the size you’re looking for at the position.”
Looking at him chasing McLaurin, I’d guess he’s going to run the 40 under 4.5 and at his size, that’s impressive.
AOL is an email service. So we can say that we can chat with AOL. Email is an email service through which we can exchange test video audio sets. Through this, we can use the wallpaper on our email. AOL was developed by an American company. Mailer is very easy to match. Using it is very simple and profitable.
https://usasupportphonenumber.com/aol