San Francisco 49ers team needs
by Jon Dove on Jan 13, 2010 10:00 AM EST
in Mocking the NFC West
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PrintCoach Singletary has created a buzz in San Francisco 49er territory. This buzz along with 2 first round draft picks has provided a lot of optimism. However, there are still a lot of holes on the roster and hopefully those two first round picks will help. Here is what direction the 49ers should go in with those picks.
1. Offensive Tackle
- Joe Staley is entrenched at the left tackle spot, so the focus will be on solidifying the right side. Adam Snyder is a very versatile back up but that is all the 49ers should count on him for. I believe that around pick 13 we could see our 2nd run on tackles. Think Trent Williams, Bruce Campbell, and Bryan Bulaga. The 49ers could take the risk that one of them falls to pick 16 or 17.
2. Safety
- The 49ers had some issues with their safety play this season. Dashon Goldson is a good special teamer and Michael Lewis is a major liability in the passing game. This position needs to be addressed to keep the development of this defense moving forward. Someone like Earl Thomas or Taylor Mays could be available when the 49ers are picking. Earl Thomas should be around with pick 13 but could be gone by 16/17. This is going to be a tough decision for the 49ers.
3. Cornerback
- The 49ers have struggled against the pass this season. Nate Clements is being paid a lot of money to be a #1 cornerback but he has struggled a little this past season. Shawntee Spencer has shown some promise but maybe more suited for a nickel role. This position needs an influx of talent for depth and competition purposes.
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Well a safety should be a 3 down player. Coming from a Bears fan I saw the first hand affect the saftey position has on a defense.
Jon Dove
Well very few are
There’s plenty of FSs that dont come off the field, but very few guys capable of playing free, strong, and inside the box.
that really depends on the player and the other players on the roster
49ers SS Michael Lewis is poor in coverage. So he plays SS in a run support role primarily on 1st and 2nd down. In Nickel packages he drops down to play LB in the box. He is a 3 down player except in Dime packages, which are somewhat rare in our scheme.
Goldson is always on the field as FS. He needs to improve further on what he already showed late in 2009.
Some teams use the players similar to what Lewis does. Other teams have the liberty to leave the player back deep if their coverage skills are good enough. Still others will rotate a CB in for the SS in passing situations and only go with one true safety.
The 49ers aren’t strong in the secondary and arguably could use CB help however having a player like Lewis who is poor in coverage can be a liability on “run downs” then the opposing team chooses to throw the ball on 1st and 2nd down. This is why so much stock is being put into a Safety for the 49ers.
"Vernon is going to be a great tight end one day, but he's got to put the whole package together." - Thanks Sing for echoing this.
sorry, my point was
that a 1st rounder is justified on Berry (though he’ll be long gone barring a trade up) because he projects to be a 3 down safety. That said, I am in favor of waiting for a safety because most of the other prospects will take time to develop and we could likely only use them in certain scenarios to start.
"Vernon is going to be a great tight end one day, but he's got to put the whole package together." - Thanks Sing for echoing this.
Safety is the most important position on a defense in the modern NFL. To say its overrated is incorrect. Look at what happened to the Steelers D when Polamalu went down – they couldnt stop anything. Granted, he is arguably the best safety in the league – but you get a kid like Eric Berry in your backfield and it transforms your team for the next decade. Also, people underestimate the niners O-Line – they are young and improving and definitely are less of a priority, in my mind, then the safeties are.
by InstantDeath on Jan 13, 2010 11:57 AM EST up reply actions
I respectfully disagree
And I pointed out above that SSs that are good every down players are very rare. They would be the exception, and yes Troy would be in the category. But do use statical outliers to make a point.
You dont understand.
Polamalu may be a strong safety, but really that is just a technicality. He is all over the field, he covers whatever position he is asked to cover. Ed Reed is TECHNICALLY a free safety, but he comes up into run coverage as much as he needs to, in addition to being able to cover deep – the key for those guys is that they have both the physical ability to get where they need to be and make a play, and they have the mental ability to properly read the offense. What the 49ers need is a stud safety, more than anything else – I know you are going to disagree again, but you also listed Taylor Mays as a safety the niners would draft – that would be foolish, because Taylor Mays couldn’t cover or tackle anybody – and lo and behold – USC sucked ass on defense this year. Granted they lost 3 high quality LBs to the NFL, but still – Safety is the most important defenseive position in the league, hands down. Look what an aging Dawkins brought to the Broncos – look what Sharper brings to the Saints, look what happened to the Giants after they lost Phillips, look what happened to the Colts defense two years ago when they lost, then regained Bob Sanders. Coincidence? Nope. I could go on ALL day about this – but ask anyone who knows what they are talking about and they will tell you the same thing – there is no more important position, especially in todays pass heavy NFL, than a top level safety. The end.
by InstantDeath on Jan 13, 2010 4:31 PM EST up reply actions
Again Yep Im going to Disagree
And for the 2nd time already I pointed out the three down safeties capable of playing everywhere can be counted on one hand with missing fingers. SO DO NOT USE A STATICAL ANOMALY to make a point.
You want to roll the dice on a high first round safety ok, I personally think the 9ers should think about getting a corner that can cover, and a pass rusher.
You talk about these elite gem Ss, gut fully neglect to mention that they’re on teams that actually rush the passer. Hilarious
The most important position on D is the edge rusher (then probably corner), dont believe me? Just look at the salaries bro. You think GMs are retarded?
Nice post. It must be good to be a fan of a team with only a few well defined areas of need.
Tackle – I think Williams and Bulaga will be available when they pick at seventeen. Anthony Davis might slip to here too or instead of Bulaga. I would want to take a player with the potential to play Left Tackle as well as Right.
Safety – I wonder if the Niners aren’t better off waiting until their second round pick at #49 and taking one of Chad Jones, Morgan Burnett, or Nate Allen or one of the other very talented safeties that have all decided to come out this year. I think Earl Thomas is a bit of a stretch up here.
Corner – if Haden is gone, very likely, I don’t see anyone who is worth this early a pick. Again, waiting until the second round is a good option.
I think they will have a lot of flexibility with one of their first rounders and could trade down or use it on an impact player like Dez Bryant or Spiller or take a Nose Tackle for the future.
They are in a great spot.
this
plus throw in Myron Rolle later in the draft (possibly as early as 2nd round though) and the options are there.
So no, I don’t think Safety is a #1 priority but Eric Berry is a very rare prospect and worthy of a top 10 pick much less a 13 or 17.
"Vernon is going to be a great tight end one day, but he's got to put the whole package together." - Thanks Sing for echoing this.
There is no way Berry lasts beyond the seventh pick. IMO
I could see Detroit, Tampa, KC, Seattle, or Cleveland taking him if he is available when they pick. Then Oakland or Jacksonville will snatch him up. The Jaguars in particular would love to have Eric Berry.
EXACTLY
We shouldn’t touch Williams with any of our picks because he was a HORRIBLE LT. If we’re using a top 20 Lineman pick he should be able to play LT if Staley goes down not just RT. A RT only is a pick snagged in the 3rd round.
Bulaga is a mauling run blocker and good pass blockers with a good kick slide. RT/LT. Campbell is an equally high level athlete with the build to play either side RT/LT. Anthony Davis is huge but doesn’t have an elite kickslide – RT only and he might even get moved to guard. Williams got demolished playing LT obviously he’s RT only.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Jan 23, 2010 12:15 PM EST up reply actions
49ers need a lot more than just those 3...
Although that would be a nice start.
I was always hoping that Curtis Taylor might turn into something being a 49ers fan but you’ve clearly hit our team needs.
Its really not shocking that 2 of our top 3 are in the secondary. I would expect Haden to be there at 13 for the 49ers to take and that would be a huge help over Spencer. After that its most likely going to be an OT of some kind which would be nice.
After that I’ve heard rumors of Earl Thomas falling…but then again, workouts havent happened.
Earl Thomas might be better at CB in the NFL
he’s fast and rangy but his tackling and run support skills are in question. He looks more like a CB anyways.
OT and Safety are the biggest need. If you were to add a better RT and a better Safety than Lewis into the mix this past season I think you’d agree we would have fared much better. That being said, I think we can live with Spencer and Clements at starting CB spots while we draft for depth and competition for the future.
"Vernon is going to be a great tight end one day, but he's got to put the whole package together." - Thanks Sing for echoing this.
I hate Spencer
Its really that simple.
Before Bruce joined the 49ers…so like…07, Spencer and Bruce went against each other in SF. Bruce I believe had 10+ catches and 100+ yards and I’ve hated him ever since that day. He was always out of position and teams really seem to pick on him…
However, he is better than Dre Bly (who doesn’t love seeing that play on SC’s not top 10 of 2009).
The OT is our biggest concern and yet I get this feeling we won’t use our first pick with that choice.
he pretty much took away his side of the field
since Clements went down. He’s a technique guy. It takes longer for those guys to overcome their athletic inability. He’s also better in press coverage so they may have been playing a lot more zone back in those days in 07…i dunno.
"Vernon is going to be a great tight end one day, but he's got to put the whole package together." - Thanks Sing for echoing this.
S. Spencer
Is definitely more than just a nickel back.
He played incredibly well as the No.1.
Worst case scenario he’s a No.2.
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
this
the only real need in the CB corps is to get younger. Spencer is only 28 this year though. Brown is still sort of a question mark, but good enough for Nickel at this point. Clements probably isn’t coming back after his current deal is up though and Bly is a year by year guy who’s too old to be any kind of future.
I’d love a Javier Arenas type kid who can return and work his way into the defense.
"Vernon is going to be a great tight end one day, but he's got to put the whole package together." - Thanks Sing for echoing this.
Niners will be able to address RT as late as the 26th pick.
Of course you would want to shore up the T position, if Berry were to fall to 7 watch the Niners tradeup. I personally wouldn’t take a T to be a RT at 13 but if it is Bulaga he can play both very well, I think there are 3 T’s worth the 13th overall.
I don't need an Educashun............................................................-W Paige
this
I am starting to agree with you on the uber-early Tackle pick. The guy has to be able to play RT. Staley might be able to play the right side, but he has no mean streak and isn’t big and ugly enough to really run block on the right side. I still think if the 49ers find themselves not wanting to reach at 13 or 17 they should trade back and pickup another second rounder then take the best true stud RT in the end of the 1st.
"Vernon is going to be a great tight end one day, but he's got to put the whole package together." - Thanks Sing for echoing this.
Incorrect information on this blog
Thanks for the effort, but I can tell the writer of this blog is not a 49ers fan. I’m a HUGE 49ers fan, watch all of the games, read all of the articles, and listen to the radio too.
You said Dashon Goldson is a good special teamer.?. Goldson was a starter all season long and was extremely effective in the last third or quarter of the season… with around 4 picks and 3 forced fumbles for the season. As long as he’s healthy, he’s a starter and keeper! He’s a playmaker!
You said Shawntae Spencer is more suited for a nickel role. Did you watch any of the 49ers games this season? Spencer was very good! He is easily a solid starter in this league!….and on this team!
Also, you missed this. Probably the Niners #2 need is punt/kick returner! The Niners have none right now.
Michael Lewis is a fine SS! He plays in the box against the run game. He just has concussion issues now, so that will force the Niners to draft a safety at some point.
You were correct on OT being their #1 need. You were correct in saying Clements struggled this season.
completely agree
I was going to make the same points about Goldson and Spencer – They are playing great, and are far from a concern considering…We Have No Returners!!
For me, the ideal draft would consist of a solid RT, and CJ Spiller in the first round. Any mock draft I make will try to force this scenario.
If we address the guard position it should be late. Chilo is coming along, and Snyder would be a fine backup if Chilo starts screwing up again.
Agree, OG needed too
Thanks. I agree the Niners also need a guard! If Baas and/or Chilo don’t improve, then we could have one of the backups, possibly a rookie, step in to see what he could do.
I wonder how Boone will look at the end of this offseason.
He may not be ready for RT, but throwing him in as a RG, or even an additional RT in goal line situations may give us a nice size advantage on the outside.
Boone
Sounds like Boone is raw. Maybe towards the end of next season. I have not heard much about him. If there is no buzz about him in training camp, then he probably won’t play until the end of 2010, 2011, or never.
He went to Ohio State? Has potential but I wonder if he has slow feet.?
Chance to get Berry
If I were a 49ers GM, I"ll throw in 2011 first-round, second-round and possible third-round picks to select Eric Berry (Safety). I don’t care about the 2011 draft because the 2010 draft is more talented than the 2011 draft because they have a tons of talented juniors. Also, I will trade Kentwan Balmer (DT) and Jason Hill (WR) for a 2011 second round and maybe, fouth round picks. Since David Baas is a restricted free agent, let any team to sign him to compensate the 49ers with a second round draft pick equal to the round in which Baas was selected in 2005. Then use these two second- round picks to trade to get a low 2011 first round back.
The Niners biggest need by far is the offensive line. In fact, probably the two surest ways to improve the 49er’s defense, especially the secondary, is to improve the offensive line so the offense stays on the field and the pass rush stays fresh, and improve the pass rush up front in the draft and free agency (The Niners have plenty of cap space). The current secondary is good enough to make more plays with a better pass rush, and should be brought back for the most part.
The offensive line needs the best tackle, left or right, available with one of the first two picks. Get a free agent guard and a guard in the draft – they need help now and need to groom someone for competition and depth. Maybe even Snyder can start at guard or at least give a lot of depth and versatility but he’s no answer at tackle. Move Staley to RT if you get a great LT and keep him at LT if you can get a great RT without reaching. Sims, Pashos, and Snyder would make great backups, maybe Pashos can be kept for RT and start until the drafted tackle is ready in a year.
Get a pass rushing 3-4 defensive end with the other first round pick if you can’t trade down. Get a speed cover corner and a pass rusher if you can trade down. They need more corner depth than safety. Go for PR/KR WR/DB/RB in the 2nd or 3rd round. With this draft and their picks, I would definitely try to trade down if possible.
A.Smith, J.Hill, Ziegler, Jones,and young safeties need to step up and allow other areas to be addressed in the draft. But concentrate on the offensive and defensive lines!! It doesn’t matter who the quarterback is if he can’t step up, stay off his back, survive uninjured or shell-shocked after half a season of pounding. Especially offensive line for upgrade, depth, and time to grow together. Evaluate the QB situation after next year but don’t waste a pick on a QB until the line is addressed.
Well…its like this…I agree wit some of the comments..San Fransisco needs Offensive line help wit one of the first round picks…the defense gets worn down over the season cause the offense does not possess the ball enough to give the defense enough time to rest. San Fransisco needs to upgrade the O-line cause the only way they can be successful right now is to grind the clock and control the ball…let Gore and Coffee run the ball to open up play action…Smith will be much more effective against defenses if he doesnt be in 2nd and 3rd and long all the time facing the blitz. He has very good targets outside like Davis, Crabtree, and Morgan who will all be better this season…Offensive line addition also means that they can put Smith in the shotgun a little more where he feels more comfortable being from Urban Meyers’s spread offense that made him #1 pick yrs ago…but not too much…just to give the defense a different look once and a while….with the second first round pick im up in the air about what they should do with it…Niners have holes everywhere so they should go for best player on the board…one of the most urgent is the lack of a kick returner….they need someone to give them a short field so they dont have to go 60, 70yds or longer to score…C.J. Spiller might be available to help them on special teams to give them good field position and be a change of pace back from Gore and Coffee…he could be there version of Reggie Bush to make offense more dynamic..they also have holes in secondary and they desparately need a pass rusher…Taylor Mays can be a good fit to upgrade secondary in pass defense and press line of scrimmage against the run….he can be a real enforcer behind Patrick Willis…on the other hand Sergio Kindle will probably be available to provide pass rush and is effective against the run…Niners need to get active in free agency also…i think thay can fill in some holes and they have the money to do so…with the rest of there pick they can fill in holes cause this is a very deep draft….if they make good picks dont sleep on the Niners
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