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 
Not-so-good news regarding Navorro Bowman:
http://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/49ers-Bowman-likely-to-miss-big-part-of-2014-5253705.php
Just a terrible injury.
Too bad.
Baalke intimates the team is good at RB. I still expect them to take a RB in the draft but reading what Baalke had to say at the combine confirms my own thinking that the team will basically stay pat. Less carries for Gore as they transition from him to whoever steps up in camp.
Revisiting the question of how many picks this year it is 12 including the comp pick. Unknown as yet what round the comp pick is but expected 3 or 4.
My take on the run or throw question is that the top 2 teams in the NFL were without doubt the Niners and The Squawks. IMHO (ok not so humble) is that the Niners are just a bit out of balance and needed a few more opportunities from the passing game. Had Crabs been healthy I think the Niners would have been the top seed.
I agree they need a fast WR, especially a slot guy for Kap to have some underneath to throw to.
A field stretcher would also be good but Patton has speed so a quick slot guy is where i see the greatest need.
On another subject. Boldin has transformed the free agency prospects for the Niners. Before him the Niners were where you go to wither on the vine. Moss, Ginn, Westbrook, Jacobs etc. Skill players have been underutilized in this O and it’s hard to argue with the notion that it is because of how conservative the O is. The design is so narrow that players have difficulty finding an effective role. Until Boldin that is. Maybe his success with the Niners encourages other FA to believe they can be successful too? Better yet maybe the coaches are willing to expand the way they play on O?
Nah, it’s Roman and Harbaugh we are talking about.
I’m not convinced those two can or will Change and grow. Hope so but it’s the same doubts I have about Kaepernick
12th, here’s the 49er draft pick list I got a few weeks ago. I have no idea where I got it, but it shows 12 picks, how we got them, plus the comp pick for Goldson:
1. 1st round: own – No. 30
2. 2nd round: Chiefs (Alex Smith trade) – No. 24
3. 2nd round: own – No. 29
4. 3rd round: Titans (2013 draft trade) – No. 13
5. 3rd round: own – No. 30
6. 3rd round: Compensatory (Dashon Goldson)
7. 4th round: own – No. 29
8. 5th round: own – No. 30
9. 6th round: own – No. 29
10. 7th round: Colts (Cam Johnson trade) – No. 26
11. 7th round: Saints (Parys Haralson trade) – No. 27
12. 7th round: Panthers (Colin Jones trade) – No. 28
13. 7th round: own – No. 30
There you have it., A bakers’ dozen of picks. I sduspect anopther trade up- in either round 1 or 2. Then some flopping around to get picks for 2015.
What a meat market.
WOOF!
One of the picks is a 2015 not 2014 pick, the panthers trade IIRC.
No I was wrong, the 2015 pick was from the Colts. Here are this years picks minus the Goldson comp pick yet to be announced. This list is off the Niners site.
1. First round – No. 30 overall
2. Second round – No. 56 overall (from the Kansas City Chiefs)
3. Second round – No. 61 overall
4. Third round – No. 77 overall (from the Tennessee Titans)
5. Third round – No. 94 overall
6. Fourth round – TBD
7. Fifth round – TBD
8. Sixth round – TBD
9. Seventh round – TBD (from the New Orleans Saints)
10. Seventh round – TBD (from the Carolina Panthers)
11. Seventh round – TBD
Huh. We would have gotten a shitload more picks if this happened. Jim Harbaugh to the Browns?
Hmmm. Harbaugh, not the 49ers, nixed the deal. That’s one way to get rid of Greg Roman!
that came out of left field.
Got to wonder if Harbaugh is playing head games with the front office to get a better deal?
Did Harbaugh engage with Cleveland while his buddy Mike Lombardi was still there? Throw in the U of Texas shit, and you have the makings of a little gamesmanship at least in preparation for the contract negotiations.
CSN Bay Area is saying Jim Tomsula would have been given the nod as the new head coach had Harbs left.
I’d hate to see Tomsula sully his perfect winning percentage of 1.000.
Cleveland’s first 2 picks in 2014 plus Josh Gordon was the apparent offer.
Is Baalke getting tired of Jimbo?
Spitty must be in a coma. A comma induced coma.
He said he has some nasty virus and is laid up seeking inspiration fer his next novella
Nobody, and I mean NOBODY in their right mind, would willfully and with forethought go to the Browns if they had any alternatives.
The Browns are among the worst run franchises, top to bottom, in all of sports.
All smoke and mirrors methinks.
Jed’s in full denial mode. Hey, Harbaugh’s raisin de eaterie is to revive floundering players and teams. Pulling them out of the Dwight Clark/Carmen Policy-induced cesspool of mediocrity would be quite the accomplomish.
For that you need an owner or a GM with a brain in his head. That leaves out the Browns.
Look at how fucked up the Niners were before Harbaugh.
Baalke’s mouth musta been watering at the thought of Cleve’s 1st and 2nd picks + Josh Gordon.
Harbaugh nixed the trade to Cleveland? Sure he did. i.e., the Browns weren’t going to back up the Brinks truck to complete the deal.
Fuck Jim Harbaugh. Fuck the 49ers. Fuck you, Spit for already giving Jimbo multiple SB wins already. And fuck any of the rest who still want Jim Harbaugh as their head coach.
Did we fire Jim Harbaugh yet? This organization makes me sick. Go Rams!
Take it easy on the vicodin dude.
Florio has stuck his neck out pretty far with this Harbaugh trade story and the young Prince York has taken a hatchet to it. It will be interesting either way.
WTF did you expect Jed to say? “We gave trading Jimbo away our best shot but now we’re stuck with ’em.” Goddamn embarrassment.
I didn’t expect him to say anything, but since he did obviously one of them is wrong or lying, so it will be interesting either way.
It’s just negotiation maneuvering and posturing = Psy War head games. Don’t believe it
I hope to hell you people fully understand just how Mickey Mouse this makes us look. Please don’t misunderstand me, I would have driven the SOB all the way to Ohio if the deal went through. But it didn’t. And when deals like this don’t go through, this info can’t be leaked.
But it did. And you know what happens next? Within the next two weeks the Niners will extend Harbaugh’s contract for 5 yrs/$40M. I couldn’t despise Jim Harbaugh or this organization any more at this moment if I tried.
Go Rams!
Put the pipe down and make a reservation at “Bridges.”
Did we sign Peyton yet Denny???
Oh yeah Mr Choke,thank god,didn’t want to come here, and your the only one who wanted his sorry ass here!
Yeah we heard you 100X singing the same song DM
I have to say I believe Jed York. If I’m York I don’t let Jim get out of town for anything. And why would Harbaugh leave the 49ers with Kaep to start all over with …. Weeden? From my perspective, I wouldn’t do it no matter how much money they offered. Move the kids and family and start all over with more money in my pocket? Move from beautiful SF to Cleveland? Move from Kaep to Weeden? Hell no. I’d be preaching to my players not to jump for more money as well, so I wouldn’t even entertain the idea if it was presented to me. This looks as though someone’s trying to hurt the 49er organization. Right now, I believe Jed.
From Jed and Trent’s perspective, you don’t entertain a million picks in trade because 1.) the 49ers’ roster is stacked, and 2.) there’s nobody to replace Jim. And money isn’t an issue either because the new stadium is going to rake it in. The only really valuable thing the entire NFL doesn’t have much of is coaching talent. The NFL has money and the 49ers have all the picks they need. So I don’t see merit in these trade talks. I think it’s a real possibility the Browns contacted the 49ers, but Del can ask pretty girls out all he wants but at the end of the day he’ll still be feeding ducks. The Browns are now feeding ducks.
I will say this – Jed, Trent and Harbaugh should hold a press conference and explain this because Colin Kaepernick (in the mist of a contract negotiation) needs to hear publically that Jim didn’t consider leaving or Colin’s price just got a lot more expensive.
Maybe this is why the Browns did this – to see Kaep’s contract sky rocket. Who’s the new GM in Cleveland? That bastard’s not making friends quick.
I believe Jed too, but something stinks here.
Harbaugh is not happy about his contract and wants more cash. They agreed to let him do Visa commercials to pick up another mil in total from sponsorships. You don’t see many current coaches doing that. The negotiations broke down once already when Harbaugh made plain he wants to be paid like a SB winning coach and the team has balked (pun intended) at that since he hasn’t actually won it.
It is reported that the team has offered a shorter term extension paying more than he gets now but not SB winning money but with the proviso that he gets that type of money if he wins it. Harbaugh has not agreed to that and I do think he is weighing his options and/or increasing his leverage.
I also don’t believe Harbaugh feels he owes anything to anybody be that players or anybody else. He will take care of himself and honestly that is how it should be. He took over a very good team personnel wise that was underachieving and turned it into a winner. That makes him one of the few turn around specialists in the NFL and highly sought after at the right time.
Tough to get a new gig now though so he is the Niners coach for at least this season.