Through all the injuries and inconsistency around the passing game last season, there is plenty of talk about the need for a wide receiver with speed. Someone who can get behind a (Seattle) defense and score on big plays. The blogosphere certainly has been burning up with ideas on who to draft. Since our division rivals up north appear to be the only thing in our way of reaching the promised land, it would seem to make sense to build a beast that can beat their beast. How do we do that? Little T.Y. Hilton had himself a day against the vaunted Seattle legion of boom. He and Reggie Wayne accounted for over 200 yards on 11 catches. Houston put up big numbers as well in a game Shaub gave away. NO and Minn put up some big numbers, but that was because they were hopelessly behind. Still and all, to me a big thing missing from the Niner attack IS a deep threat.
Strictly by the numbers, the Niners were, uh, 30th in passing yards. Terrible. But Seattle was not much better at 26th. So, what does this mean? Well, beyond the fact that the Niners and Seahawks were 3rd and 4th respectively in running the ball, it means you don’t throw as much as many other teams because you burn time running. Old schoool NFL football. Throwing 15-25 passes a game isn’t going to garner most QBs big passing numbers, but both Wilson and Kaepernick rated out 7th and 10th in rating respectively, and if you look at ESPN’s Total QBR, Kappy is 7th, and Wilson is 13th. That being said, of the top 10 passing teams in the league, 7 made the playoffs. The NFL is heavily tilting toward becoming a Mouse Davis run-n-gun wonderland of 4 WR sets, flooding the field with pass catchers, whether WRs, TEs, or RBs, and heaving the rock all over the field.
Back to SF, what is our plan going forward? Can we tweak the passing game enough to matter? Are we going to stick with this 1970s style offense of ground and pound? Like the QB that preceded him, Colin Kaepernick came from a wide open system where he’s now being converted into a pocket passer. Part of Colin’s strength IS the breaking contain and scrambling for big chunks of yards (GB must be sick of him), but his development as a passer is at the point where there are questions regarding his progress. And the reasons for this are varied and manifold. The lack of viable WRs certainly played a part. As did the inconsistent pass pro. Kappy however, locked on to WRs at times, and threw some pretty terrible picks when the play obviously wasn’t there and he forced it. Then there’s the whole play calling aspect of which has been beaten to death. Without knowing the design of plays and options, it’s hard to figure if plays are designed to only go a certain way, but it was disheartening to hear Kappy repeat that he’d throw that pass to Crabs given that one-on-one coverage by Sherman 10 out of 10 times.
I’d much rather hear him say he should have looked around for other options and checked down instead of throwing the pick. Being that it’s only talk, and maybe it’s false bravado after throwing the pick and enduring the choke sign Sherman gave him, but Kappy needs to learn from that play rather than stick to his narrative.
What irks me is Sherman ALWAYS lines up on the left side and takes the outside WR. Why not put Crabs in the slot? This is also where a speed WR can help greatly. Put the speed guy outside, and Crabs in the slot. With Boldin on the other side, and VD running routes as well, you can gain some favorable matchups. You can even run better with 3 WRs out there.
Forty Niners Forever 
So Del, just out of curiosity, who do you think we should hire after we fire Jim Harbaugh and Trent Baalke?
That’s an easy one. You as GM, and yours truly as HC.
Beat us if you can!
I don’t know if I’d hire you. I don’t care if you drink during the game, but are you going to throw the ball? ‘Cause if you run ball I’ll start drinking again. That’s why I can’t hire a running HC. The world’s a better place with me sober.
Actually, you can run the ball a little after I draft Freeman, Hill and Copeland, but I’m looking for a 60/40 kinda deal. Oh, and when I cut Frank Gore I’m tellin’ the fans it was your idea.
For what it’s worth – Here’s some highlights of Dri in action –
He’s got another gear that most Defenses can’t catch.
It’s all about finding a niche within the Offense.
I thought LMJ would have brought that for us but……?
Why draft a second LaMicheal James? So we can have two guys on the bench we don’t know how to use, or don’t fit our scheme? Draft guys who fit the scheme. And don’t worry about speed unless you’re looking for a receiver in the later rounds to run decoy routes and take the top off the defense.
And don’t give me anymore smaller skill position players. Haven’t you learned anything from Kyle Williams, LaMicheal James and AJ Jenkins? And you guys want more? Sorry, but you’re pissing me off. I’ll compose myself.
I have to agree with spitblood. I like the thunder and lightning approach but we need to get a Gore replacement that fits what we already do first. Getting another LMJ means we are banking on Lattimore, which may well be a good bet, but we don’t know yet.
I think I’d wait on the RB altogether unless we pick up a UDFA or a late late rounder to look at in camp.
Spit if you land Dri, he competes in Camp and outshines LMJ, you move LMJ.
That’s all I’m suggesting.
Our KR game is non existent right now.
We have to deal with Tavon, Pussy Harvin and Tyrann Matheau in our Divison.
We’ve got plenty of Picks to get weapons with.
Tavon was a high 1st RD Pick.
If you can get a similar talent, at a reduced cost, what’s the harm?
Football is all about speed and providing options to out-gun your opponent.
LMJ hasn’t given us squat.
Nothing to lose IMO.
NoFear49er Lattimore is likely the guy they’ve identified for that role.
I’m not averse to going with another RB either.
I’m simple suggesting that LMJ isn’t giving us anything in the Offense and, next to nothing in the KR game.
I’m proposing a shot at his replacement, not another pint sized RB.
One for the other.
Sankey, Seastrunk or, another insurance RB is always a good idea.
If they aren’t convinced that Lattimore can handle the task.
I’m seeking a game changer in the field position battle, along with a bonafide field stretcher ala T.Y. Hilton.
You’ve got a top three pick in the draft and your team needs a pass rush and a QB, who do you draft, QB or DE (43 or 34 pass rusher)?
DE this year. 2 years ago, QB. Last year I don’t remember.
If you’re sold on the QB NoFear49er, it’s the QB for me.
If you’re speaking the Rams here, Bradford is making way too much money IMO.
Go after the guy you think could reduce the Cap hit and provide improvement.
If’ they’re sold on Bradford and, Clowney is there for them, the DE makes sense to me.
Purely hypothetical NJ49er & RT. My thinking is a QB is more of a gamble, maybe less dependign on what type of system he’s schooled in, and a dominant pass rusher can change a team’s fortunes for a long time despite troubles at QB. Got stuck wondering which is a better/(safer for the GM)/(better for the team) path to wander down.
I think your question, NF, requires more context. If you have nothing, draft a DE and build your defense first. If you have some nice pieces in place, and you really like the composure of the qb with some good intangibles, draft a QB. For me it depends on the team you’ve got in place.
I don’t draft a QB that high unless I’m absolutely, positively convinced he’s going to be my guy for a long time. A DE only in the case of someone like Clowney. Otherwise, except for somebody spectacular, I’d trade down. Just ceteris parabis.
NJ – For the love of Jesus and everything holy. Are you F’n with me right now? It’s not about competition for guys like AJ Jenkins, Kyle Williams and La Micheal James. They don’t fit our scheme. They’ll go on and have success else where. Either they don’t fit our scheme or Harbaugh can’t develop them, but either way you don’t draft another one hoping they’ll beat out LaMicheal James. That seems insane to me. You don’t keep slamming a square peg into a round hole, hoping it’ll fit. That’s the definition of insanity. And you don’t look for speed guys either unless it’s a take the top of the D wide receiver. You look to replace Gore, and Gore couldn’t run a 6.0 flat 40 yard dash. You look for a physical back like Freeman. Damn it, I’m still not composed.
Spit I’m not taking away your option at the RB position.
Frank is going away soon.
Is Lattimore the heir apparent?
My guess is, Baalke had that idea in mind when he Drafted him, at a reduced price last year.
Dri is my suggestion for improving the Slot and KR game.
We’re going to get at least 2 WRs from this group IMO.
Someone to learn the ropes as a 1 and/or the 2.
It’s Dri for LMJ.
We have seen nothing from LMJ.
Therefore, we have nothing to lose.
Bad Pick? I’m beginning to think so.
Did Harbaugh want LMJ? Because he was such a pain in the rump to contend with while he Coached at Stanford? Who knows?
Maybe Baalke was coerced into selecting him for Harbaugh, I don’t know.
Let’s think about improving the KR game and, perhaps adding a weapon that could find some ways to contribute to the Offense, which LMJ hasn’t figured out yet.
All I can do, as a Jr GM is, crunch numbers and compare video clips.
I see a kid that pops off the charts and, I would hope he has something to offer us, in terms of production.
We’re always trying to improve.
Offense/Defense/STs.
T.Y. Hilton smoked Seattle’s Secondary for one simple reason.
They couldn’t keep up with him.
If there’s other WR options, offering 4.3 speed, I’m going to lobby for their services as well.
5’8″ isn’t ideal, in terms of an every down player.
Having him for some special areas, is something I think they could afford.
You can see, just from watching LMJ, that he has talent. He’s good. You don’t remember his run for a touchdown in the Super Bowl? He might not be the best PR guy (because of his size), but LMJ has talent. I think he got black balled because of his size and his fumble in the Super Bowl, but if you draft smaller guys who can’t hold onto the football as well as bigger guys, trust me, fumbling will be a problem with any smaller dude. It’s not James. It’s the scheme and Roman leaning too much on Frank Gore with his tired legs. Why do you think Vance McDonald lined up in the slot so much? It’s because he blocked from it a lot. That’s the scheme. The 49ers don’t use the slot that much to run pass routes out of with first or even second read guys. If they did, they’d use other guys in the slot and not Vance. So drafting for the slot, or drafting smaller guys (again) is really a waste. And Quinton Patton can play the slot just fine if the 49ers decide to utilize the slot more.
Sure Spit, it’s always about scheme in any Offense.
We’ve debated the Roman/Harbaugh philosophy endlessly.
It’s also possible that good players can be under-utilized certainly.
6 of one, half-dozen of the other.
I’m simply advocating for play-makers.
If they don’t see potential from someone like Dri, so be it.
I’d simply state that the kid offers upside from my vantage point.
You liked Ace Sanders last year.
Another kid I lobbied for prior to the Combine.
Same scenario, a specialized feature weapon, that might change the complexion of a game.
LSU WR Odell Beckham offers some good numbers as well.
He’s done some PR/KR duty too, from what I’ve been able to locate.
I’d take him as well, since he’s a more polished WR from a Pro-style Offense.
Let’s not confuse Dri Archer with Wes Welker just yet.
I’m seeing him as game changer, not an every down feature.
Spit –
Would you have considered TB RB Doug Martin from Boise St when he was coming out?
I loved him too, all 5’9″ 223lbs of him. The Muscle Hamster.
Compare –
Frank Gore
5’9″ 217
Marshawn Lynch
5’11” 215
Marcus Lattimore
5’11” 221
It’s not always about the size of the dog in the fight.
It’s more often about the size of the fight in the dog.
GMs have to evaluate the College stats with the kid they have interest in.
How he fits, what’s in his head.
Always a crap shoot. A measure of desire to succeed.
Never is it about a sure thing, between College and the NFL.
Lattimore possesses a very similar bio to Lynch, coming from a horrific knee injury, just like Frank.
No guarantees that Marcus will succeed as Frank did.
Nice try. Dri Archer is not Doug Martin. And neither is Marcus Lattimore a Doug Martin. I don’t know where everyone comes off thinking Lattimore is a power back.
Hell yes, I’d want Doug Martin. But not in the first round. You know what I was saying about Doug Martin when he came out? I was saying the Browns were foolish to trade up for Richardson (I think it was Holmgren’s idea) when Doug Martin would have been available to them at their original pick. I was right. The trick to finding a running back is finding one in rounds 2-5. That’s where you get your stud, big, strong, running backs. And if you start worrying about speed, no offense, but you’re not paying attention. Frank Gore might not even be able to run a 6 second 40.
I’m not running Archer between the tackles. Playmaker in space – Bill Walsh.
I want to run successful toss sweeps. I want to be able to go 3 or 4 wide when I want. Now it’s a joke. If you want to keep the status quo run only attack, why bother drafting O at all? NF’s right, the offense as is has gotten the Niners deep into the offseason three years running.
We have two play makers in space – Kendal Hunter and La Micheal James. If this is your draft philosophy, why not also draft a slower possession type receiver to go along the two we already have in Crabtree and Boldin?
I want a BIG possession receiver as my second receiver pick. Quick, not nearly Vance size. A poor man’s Megatron.
RT I’m high on Odell Beckham, Donte Moncrief and Jordan Matthews.
All 3 can run well enough and make catches.
Several of the taller guys, 6’5″ area, are Brandon Cooper, Martavis Bryant and Kelvin Benjamin.
The tall guys are obviously slower.
Need a mixture.
Each ingredient has to produce when needed.
Moncrief is a 6’2″ 220lb guy with 4.4 speed and a 39.5″ vert.
Great numbers, excellent size.
Would love to have him.
Brandon Coleman, not Brandon Cooper.
My error.
I’ll read your reply tomorrow. Now it’s time to feed the dream ducks. Or Emma Watson. Hmmm…
And, we could have had Martin.
When we passed, TB jumped up to get him.
Point I’m trying to make is, GMs have other needs they feel are more important.
Doesn’t mean they weren’t interested or, that Martin wasn’t worth it, they just addressed other areas.
It’s never an exact science.
Roll of the dice.
Not comparing Dri to any of them Spit.
It’s about heart and desire.
Frank battled knee injuries in College and he made it.
Lattimore is a huge question mark but, he’s stayed driven to get here and, hopes to prove himself.
Martin is productive. Smaller school product in comparison to places like LSU for example.
Lynch had off field issues in Buffalo and got dealt.
It’s about the individual.
Are you a football player?
Or just happy to make it?
I’m saying the same for Dri.
Mid to later RD gamble, no pressure, no crazy cost involved.
Again, the Draft slotting process is where the money is made or lost.
Here’s the numbers from the Combines.
Just something to compare the measurables.
No one is guaranteed to make it because they are selected higher.
Just something to use for evaluation purposes.
http://walterfootball.com/combine2014RB.php
Some guys in the RB group will easily be had in RDs 2-5 and beyond.
It’s about addressing the the more pertinent needs, Contracts that will be moved etc.
A monumental juggling act.
Jewel Hampton was a pretty productive RB who’s now learning the ropes behind a crowded RB stable.
Our blindspot is the WR group.
We’ve whiffed in the Draft at the position ever since Crabtree.
DHB got selected ahead of him. Big deal. Where’s that gotten him?
It got Al Davis a Cap hit and no significant ROI.
Same with JaWalrus.
Makes the argument that we either got lucky by Drafting higher that year or, McCloughan was better at it then Baalke.
Plenty of guys were Drafted ahead of Montana and Brady too.
If the GM sees something that fits, he’s obviously had good reason to make that assessment.
Al Toon was Drafted ahead of Jerry too.
On and on it goes.
You hope to find play-makers with every Pick.
Odds are stacked against you in that regard.
Having extra Picks, as we do, always improves your odds.
They cut bait with AJ.
Realized he wasn’t going to make it, moved on.
Same could occur with LMJ.
Jason La Confora just wrote that there’s a huge rift between Harbaugh and Baalke, and that the two are barely speaking – communicating mostly by email. Maybe Chuck was right when he suggested that Harbaugh wants more say when drafting. I think this all works out with Harbaugh getting paid and Baalke and Harbaugh once again getting along (if La Confora is right). But maybe Baalke and York (even Paraage) were considering trading Harbaugh without Harbaugh knowing. La Confora suggests that Harbaugh has rubbed a lot of people the wrong way in the organization. If this is the case, a “behind the scenes trade,” would piss Harbaugh off, especially if he didn’t know about it. Jed York better start realizing where his bread is buttered. It’s Harbaugh who should win a power struggle because Harbaugh is the hardest to replace. He also proved at Stanford he can not only evaluate, but he can recruit. It was definitely Harbaugh who wanted Eric Reid.
I don’t know if La Confora is right, but I do believe this situation can be resolved without anyone leaving. For my money, Trent Baalke is on thin ice … if it was my team.
Hard to know what the real story is.
Seemed to me Baalke was instrumental in getting Harbaugh away from Stanford?
Wouldn’t surprise me if Harbaugh is the lightning rod either, it fits his personality.
Is it the roster or the Coaching?
GMs aren’t growing on trees either.
Stay tuned, this could get ugly.
Something upset the apple cart with McCloughan too.
New stadium, new start, potential problems brewing.
Go figure?
If anyone but Jim Harbaugh is the coach of the 49ers next year, when that new stadium opens, all the momentum the 49ers have built going into Levi Stadium will be gone. Luxury box sales? Forget about those. High demand for tickets from Silicon Valley execs? Not a chance. You open Levi Stadium with Jim Tomsula as your head coach, and hello 6-10. The 49ers will play for Tomsula, but they won’t believe he has the chops to win a Super Bowl with. And even if it’s someone like Norv Turner or Bill Cower, nobody will be enthusiastic about 49er football with Harbaugh gone. The Nolan / Singletary years are all too familiar in the minds of plenty of 49er fans. Jed York is (a lot like Alex Smith) being saved by Jim Harbaugh. And then next thing you know, players like Colin Kaepernick will be looking for bigger paydays or other winning organization to play for. Kaep would get the franchise tag, but you can’t franchise everyone. You don’t get rid of Jim Harbaugh.
Tom Brady? Local kid Walsh had in for a workout? Yeah, even the genius and QB whisperer doesn’t always get it right. Especially on the comeback trail.
NJ49er, I don’t think any one guy gets everything they want without compromise. Imagine four, five, six guys in a room. GM, HC, Coordinators, Position experts, retired personnel guys, whatever.
Take turns making a pitch for every guy they consider for their draft board. GM shoots it down because they want to re-up the guy starting in his position and they won’t have money to sign another one. HC says I can work with this guy, he’s all motor, the best I’ve seen. etc., etc.
Somehow all these guys come to consensus on a draft board spot for each and every guy in the draft. Even the ones they think they have no chance to draft. Naturally they change daily and hourly as the clock winds down.
It’s amazing that anybody ever gets it right in the draft really. Although 1st rounders are pretty much slam dunks nowadays
Spitblood, re my hypothetical, if I give too much context it would lead to an answer. I expected an offense vs defense approach.
You’re right NoFear49er.
Always a round table, Scouts, Coaches, GM etc.
Like juggling with machetes at gunpoint I’m sure.
What’s surprising is this suggestion that Harbaugh is dividing the status quo.
Harmony isn’t the order of the day apparently?
Even the 1st Rounders aren’t so much guaranteed anymore.
Mistakes happen at all levels.
It’s just that the value of the higher Picks is always magnified.
Need we be reminded of guys like JJ Stokes, Chilo Rachal, Kentwan Balmer, Mike Rumph, Rashaun Woods or Jim Druckenmiller?
Never an easy process.
No I didn’t want to reminded! Still don’t get Rachal. Big guy, just lost when big wasn’t enough.
I don’t like all the “insider” specualtion because most of it just isn’t based on anything but some writer’s attempt to stir things up. Nolan’s last couple years and Singletary’s last was like that every day.
Harbaugh wants something he’s not been offered apparently since they can’t seem to get a deal done with him. More money, more authority, who knows. I believe there is something to the old Bill Parcells notion about having to cook the meal and not being able to shop for the groceries. If that’s the issue maybe there is something to it. Hard to believe Harbaugh doesn’t have big influence when it comes to players he wants, though. If he wants it all to be up to him, I don’t think that’s the best way to go either.
I don’t think Harbaugh’s done enough here to be the one and only. It’s like Seifert. He was a great and proven defensive guy. But was he the head coach his record suggests?
La Confora did write, “The Browns didn’t get very far,” so from a “trading Harbaugh” perspective, I doubt that’s what stirring things up. However, it couldn’t have helped, not on any level.
I don’t agree with you about one thing: Harbaugh is the one and only. Can someone, anyone, please tell me who’d they have coach the 49ers while also explaining to me your thoughts about how they’ll do in the post season. Anyone? There’s nobody out there, and if you bring in a flop, the 49ers go right back to the Mike Singletary years … and those were miserable. Just give me a name. Anyone?
People are complaining about Harbaugh not winning the Super Bowl in three attempts but nobody is offering any ideas about his replacement. The Browns and Dolphins would kill to have Harbaugh. So would about twenty five other teams. Harbaugh hits the market and everyone lines up for him. And you guys think Harbaugh is replaceable? Have you seen the recent hires this go-’round? Jim Caldwell? Mike Pettine? Whizzerhurts?
Are you guys insane? Jim Harbaugh is a top 3 head coach in the NFL. You don’t get much better than Harbaugh. You get rid of Harbaugh and this team crashed and burns like the Led Zeppelin. THE NFL IS ALL ABOUT COACHING!
Spit the dynamic here is going to be measured between McCloughan and Carroll vs Baake and Harbaugh isn’t it?
Bring in Harbaugh to counter Carroll?
Now that dynamic came head to head for the right to advance to the SB.
Harbaugh lost.
Possible that this brought out the knives?
Harbaugh wants more control?
Baalke suggests that he didn’t uphold his end of the bargain?
Carroll bested Harbaugh when it mattered most?
It’s got plenty of motive.
I’ve gone on more about it below.
I hear you on that opinion NoFear49er.
Something is creating the rift within, can’t all be the media.
Always comes down to personalities and harmony between the GM and HC in any NFL front office.
Interesting take on the ‘Philosophy’ being initiated in SF from the Bleacher Report ranks –
http://tinyurl.com/pyny5wl
Interesting take on the direction ( spread) the O is heading towards…
Here’s a theory I’ll throw out there, in conjunction with the Bleacher Report/Browns ingredients as my basis.
Could it be possible that Lombardi was rumored as the replacement to McCloughan as a means to obtaining Harbaughs’ services?
Did Baalke wrestle control of that situation by delivering Harbaugh?
Could the Cleveland reports have been generated by Lombardi suggesting he could, once again, deliver Harbaugh for Haslam?
In that vane, could Chud have been let go as a precursor to creating the HC vacancy?
With Lombardi not able to deliver Harbaugh, could he have written his own termination as a result?
As Bleacher Report suggests, is the Offensive philosophy driven by Baalke’s roster engineering?
I have believed in the idea, that this Offense has been driven by personnel.
A building blocks mentality that makes sense to me.
With Harbaugh not succeeding in 3 visits to the NFCC Game, to deliver the SB Hardware, are fingers now being pointed in both directions, HC to GM, GM to HC?
It seems very plausible to me, that Harbaugh feels he’s done everything he can to prove his worth and, is likely asking for more then Jed and Paraag are willing to commit without the hardware to show for it?
Could this ultimately have resulted in media leaks, suggesting that Tomsula could handle the HC duties, as a way to let Harbaugh know he’s not indispensible?
Power struggle for control of the Roster easily explains what could likely become the defining tactic for who stays and who walks.
As Parcells is famous for his declaration regarding shopping for the groceries, it opens the divide between GM and HC, as to who is doing the proper evaluations on personnel.
‘I can’t win with your personnel’ vs ‘My personnel are solid, you’re not coaching them thoroughly enough’ as NoFear49er eluded to.
In this arena, Paraag, Jed and Baalke hold the point IMO.
Harbaugh could be abrasive, devisive, and caustic to the harmony of the front office.
As Chip Kelly has shown in Philly, new blood can work if the GM makes the HC decisions.
Harbaugh could easily be expecting more then he’s likely to get, in terms of control or compensation?
What the Bleacher Report is suggesting is, that the Offense is a Spread variation, waiting on additional pieces to see it to fruition.
Complimentary pieces, sought via the Draft, awaiting completion.
Makes sense to a degree.
We’re not a WCO.
We’re a hybrid prototype, without it’s final production trial certified?
Test track tested, modifications applied and removed.
Interesting dynamic.
Let’s hope this doesn’t hit the wall in turn 4, as it did with McCloughan weeks before the Draft.
I’d say Yes there is a power struggle between Baalkebaugh on the personnel acquired to fit “what?” O scheme. Evolution is never easy and clearly McLoughan lost one power struggle (with Baalke) over future direction of this team. It’s still not resolved with Jimi on board. This goes way back to trying to answer the question: Who are we on O since Garcia / Mariucci? Acquiring Kap, LMJ, Hunter even Manningham point to Jimi having a plan to make the O some kind of spread attack, agree. But who calls the shots on player acquisitions? Baalke sez it’s himself. Losing 3 big games in a row has brought this to the forefront.
Meanwhile “none” of this is going on with the D. None. Agree the HC Jimi (so unlike Hendrix, lol) is More important than the GM. This may be one power struggle Baalke will lose. It better Not be Jimi or we’re fucked.
So Jed cans Trent who do you nominate for our next GM? Me, I dunno.
Mike Lombardi?
Spit – from the Walterfootball/Combine site link I posted earlier –
Check the stats for WR John Brown from Pitt State –
He’s a relative nobody, except that he amassed 4000+ yds and 41 TDs.
5’10” 179 4.34 40 / 1.50 10 yd split with a 36.5″ vert.
Better yet, he’s got game as a returner –
2013 MIAA SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: John Brown, KR/PR, Pittsburg State…Brown caught 61 passes for 1,198 yards (19.6 ypc, 99.8 ypg) and 14 touchdowns during his senior campaign. He also rushed the ball 17 times for 100 yards (5.9 ypc) and two touchdowns. In special teams play, Brown averaged 32.4 yards per kickoff return with one touchdown and he averaged 11.5 yards per punt return on the season. Brown finished his decorated three-year Pitt State career with 185 catches for 3,380 yards and 32 touchdowns – all school records. – Pittsburg State football
You want a late RD / UDFA option, here’s another possibility –
Funny to me the blog has gone from “bullshit made up story” to explaining it away in various ways.
My thoughts on why it is happening.
Baalke stays, signed through 2016. Harbaugh is wearing his welcome out by being abrasive and the FO is weighing its options as it should. Harbaugh wants top money and the FO says earn it first, Harbaugh is making waves and suggesting he may go to Texas or USC etc, so they listen to an offer for him from the Browns. That offer is made because it is known in ownership/GM circles that there is a rift between HC and FO. Harbaugh understands the FO has called his bluff and nixes the deal since he wants to stay in SF with this level of success but on his terms.
The Browns didn’t leak the story. They had just hired a new coach who was the last girl standing on the dance floor, the last thing they needed was this story. My guess is it came from Lombardi who was not chosen by the Niners to be the GM during the “league wide search”.
Jed made a denial that gives him a back door out but won’t answer questions about it and now that Haslam answered questions and confirmed there was an offer he is wriggling as is Harbaugh.
Harbaugh often uses the phrase “pay the man” in response to questions about good players facing free agency. It is not his place to say it, he should defer to Baalke, but chooses to put pressure on Baalke instead. None of those guys have been signed to date. The phrase also shows his mentality in so far as he feels if its earned you deserve it. He thinks its been earned for himself and he wants paying.
Harbaugh began his NFL head coaching career with lies and has continued it till now. He has been caught several times lying and he is lying now. Jed is simply hiding behind semantics meaning that the entire story as presented was not true, allowing him to say its not true, but also without allowing any questioning of it because he would have to reveal what exactly did happen.
Harbaugh is a good coach and the Niners should try to find a way to keep him but if it has really become toxic in the building (no longer speaking with Baalke?) something has to give and that is likely to be Harbaugh. I think Harbaugh coaches this year either way and hope that some of the ego’s that have brought things to the point that other teams feel there is an opportunity to sign the Niners head coach have learned some humility and that if there is finger pointing as to who is to blame for the lack of winning the SB it needs to stop. But with guys this powerful ego is not something that can be set aside easily.
Feel free to disagree.
No one gives a shit what the Browns said or the Niner denials. The story wont go away until the power struggle between Jimi and Trent is resolved. Thats real and is not resolved. New contract for Jimi = evidence it is. Absent that the longer it goes w/o the worse it is for 9ers on all levels.
Dont screw this up Jed. Only one of these 2 hot shots is irreplaceable. = Hendrix
I don’t agree really Phil. The part I agree with is this story is a symptom of the apparent conflict but I think the parties involved absolutely give a shit and are each using the court of public opinion (fans) to push their agenda.
The general fan reaction to it I find hilarious. This stuff is pretty common in the sports business yet there is this sense of outrage and denial of a story that obviously had some basic truth to it.
Jed told the truth in absolute terms but lied all the same. Dumb.
RB! Why have the Niners not used LMJ except in emergencies for injuries? Ditto other backs have sat on the bench like Westbrook and Jacobs.
My thinking is it is because blocking and blitz pickup are more important in this O than running. The tight formation schemes the Niners primarily use mean there are a ton of D at the LOS. NF said the D will never allow the O to outnumber them and he is right. However, the formations currently allow overload, so the QB absolutely must have the second TE and RB block for him on pass plays.
It has been written that LMJ, Dixon and Hampton are just not as adept at blocking/blitz pickup as Gore but who is? Gore is a monster in those areas. Hunter is good also but not in Gore’s league. So the question is should the Niners adjust the scheme to utilize the skill set’s of these other talented players or stick with the tight formation stuff? So far we have seen the answer.
Baalke said at the combine that LMJ was intended to do more in games but it didn’t work out that way and that his time will come. This leads me to believe that scheme under Roman and Harbaugh is the reason LMJ has barely played.
Baalke has taken the players he believes can play at this level and it is up to the coaches to use them. I think there is somewhat of a conflict of philosophy between the Coach and the GM.
I don’t see Baalke taking a RB before the 4th round as I don’t believe he feels that is necessary. He seem’s to think the Niners are probably set at RB this year. Sorry Spit but they ain’t taking 2 RB and a FB this year, at least not to use in those roles.
Westbrook was a Singletary deal. But I get it. The biggest difference with Gore pre- and during Harbaugh is the fact that Gore used to catch 30-40 balls a year as a checkdown with Nolan/Singletary. That option dried up under Harbaugh.
Yeah, I thought the same thing, 12th. I was going to ignore the whole thing until I heard this morning on the way to work that Harbaugh and Baalke are at apparent odds w/each other. Throw in the play calling issues with Roman/Harbaugh, and you have the makings of a power grab.
New thread is up.