And not a moment too soon. Some folks are losing their collective shit regarding the delay around the 2014 draft. Apparently there was a scheduling conflict with some bumb-ass show that somehow already shut down because of shitty ticket sales. That’s what you get for screwing around with the draft. Personally, I think Jolly Roger Goodell was staging this as a test-bed for moving the draft later in the year to build his grand design of a year-round football season. Start free agency (and thus the new season) in early March to keep the fires stoked for all things football. As much as everyone including Spuds MacKenzie loves everything football, turns out a little down time isn’t so bad either. I don;t think Goodie Goodell will get his changes any time soon.
I don’t know or care if the delay is a big problem in the real world, but in Bloggoland, you’d think they were moving Christmas to July.
All the extra two weeks brought us was two more weeks of Mel Kiper’s unholy head of hair plastered across my big screen TV. Two more weeks of bizarre NFL Network programming of strange-but-true draft stories. Who knew the draft of 1964 (which netted the 49ers one of my favorite players to wear the red and gold, Dave Wilcox) would produce 10 NFL Hall of Fame players, and one Hall of Fame coach?
I didn’t. I think we all know what the 49ers needs are in the draft. CB, WR, CB, SS, DT, QB, G, C, RB, QB, DE. Something like that.
Forty Niners Forever 
Spitty, taking blog advice from you is like taking swimming lessons from Leon Spinks. If you think I care about blog hits, you aren’t paying attention.
Welcome back, NoFear. I beg to differ on why Frank gets stuffed behind the line so much, but most fans aren’t blaming Frank. Or the line. It’s the play calling. It’s trying to run against 8-9 guys crowding the line. The same philosophy that Singletary especially liked. As in “we are running Frank 22 times. Pack the box.” Against weaker teams that works. Especially under Harbaugh as he has a better grasp of a passing game than either Hostler, Nolan, Jimmy-Hat, or Singletary ever did. Against better teams? Not so much. Harbaugh at this point knows he needs to show more 3 WR sets to loosen up the run game.
And yeah, I’m with NJ. I think Crabs is a cap casualty. Dashon Goldson style. Which is why Davante Adams from Fresno looks good. They could very well go WR in the 1st, but I still lean torward them taking a CB.
Kappy? Well, the FO needs to shit or get off the pot. They don’t really have the luxury of a wait-and-see approach. We’ll see who they draft at QB (and they will), but the onus is to keep him at a (fairly) reasonable price, as he’s the future.
I don’t think there is any doubt that Frank is not the force he once was despite the line not blocking well enough or that the play calling says bring 9 guys into the box cause I’m running it anyway.
I think signing Crabs and Iupati is a less than 50% proposition given that the Niners have a number and that neither has been re-upped as of yet, something the Niners routinely do with players they are keeping. Those players trade the possibility of getting more money elsewhere for secure money for the next 3/4 years on a winning team.
Niners need a CB or perhaps 2, S, WR, DL, RB, QB. Good options are NT, ILB, and a return specialist. I hope to see BPA in round 1. The draft has depth at the most critical needs for the Niners so lets hope Baalke picks healthy players this year instead of projects.
Swimming lessons from Leon Spinks? I’m usin’ that one….
Hah!
I haven’t seen or heard much about Shazier. Got to read up on the guy . . .
Thanks.
NJ, this is why I think KC is up to something. Throw the red herring out there that they are looking for a QB due to stalled negotiations with Alex. Maybe force someone behind them to trade up to pick someone KC doesn’t want anyway and free up their guy in the process.
Yeah it could be. Disinformation season is well under way. It would surprise me to see Alex get more than 12 mil real money though.
Chuck we’re now holding Gabbert of course, so IMO, Baalke nabs Logan Thomas or another project guy.
Gabbert could be held of course, for at least a year as insurance.
As for Shazier, he’s only 6’1″-ish and played both LB positions at Ohio St.
Kid turned in a 42″ vert and a 4.38 at his Pro Day.
Quite a freak IMO.
I always lean toward Defense in a Draft toss up.
Wouldn’t mind him if they went that way.
For me, he’s an ILB with enough athleticism to consider at SS perhaps?
My feeling about a WR in RD1 is, we don’t throw enough as it is.
Sure, it provides another option but, Kaep isn’t a pocket passer yet anyway.
Beckham makes sense because he could provide KR ability right away.
Other guys can do that too, ala Jalen Saunders.
My pocket rocket Dri Archer could probably help there too and, be obtained further down the Board.
It’s all about Board movement and value at every Pick for me.
If they feel Beckham is the guy, go for it, I’ll have to trust that they all agree if the card is turned in for him.
I’ve watched him play many times, nothing wrong with what I’ve seen from him.
The rumor mill is apperently making the NYJ nervous.
Hearing that they covet Odell and might be looking to climb up higher to secure him before we do.
What typically occurs in the Draft Smokescreen banter is simply to get the order at the top jumbled.
Make people panic a little and disrupt the expected order.
All I want to see is Johnnie Football on the clock when Dallas Picks.
Jerruh is feeling the temptation to make a marquee pick I’m sure.
He’s all about the jersey sales.
I think Clowney will disrupt it on his own if Houston passes.
StL could easily sell off the 2 Pick for additonal ammo and still stay in the Top 10.
Atlanta is always figuring they’re one guy away from striking it rich, ala Julio Jones.
Quite the entertaining affair in RD1.
Someone will blow it up.
I’ve got a fun game. Let’s pick the Trent Baalke first round curve ball. Jenkins was a surprise… and a reach. Aldon was a little-known prospect Baalke surprised everyone with. Last year was an easy, slam dunk – we needed a safety, we got a safety. And this year we need a corner, and we could get a corner in the first. However, like my boy, CB Stanley Jean Baptiste, there’s second round cornerback gold in ‘dem dar hills. If that’s the case, and Baalke’s confident he can grab some of dat ‘dem dar second and third round corner gold to supplement Brock, Culliver, Cox, Wright and How (Culliver, Cox, Wright and How – not the law firm, but the, “We need a law firm…. and How), Baalke then has a first round free hand and that’s a scary thing…. or a fun thing to try and predict.
So that’s the game. Process of elimination to select the Baalke first round surprise. Here’s my take…
Todd McShay has us going after another pass rusher in the first round, but that was while word was being leaked we wouldn’t exercise Aldon’s option. Cory Lemonier was awesome and didn’t get to play much last year. That’s wasted talent. I don’t think the 49ers can afford to stockpile more pass rushing talent if they’re going to stack it like cord wood behind Lemonier. Brooks and Lemonier can man the battle stations while Aldon is suspended with Dan Skuta backing them up. When Aldon comes back, there’s a ton of depth there. And I almost believe Lemonier was drafted just because Aldon’s not dependable. I think we have enough depth there with Aldon’s troubles not to go OLB in the first.
If it’s me, I don’t use a first round pick on any offensive line position other than tackle, and we have two, maybe even three good ones on the team. Baalke won’t go O lineman in the first.
QB? No chance. RB? The shelf life of a running back is too short to draft a running back in the first. We definitely need a running back to kick Frank to the curb and allow Lattimore to be a specialty back for a few years. As much as I believe a running back needs to be drafted in the later rounds, a first round 49er running back wouldn’t bum me out at all. In fact, I’d actually be pretty pumped because Harbaugh is addicted to Gore. It would be like having Del buy O’doules. Who wouldn’t love that? The blogosphere would be tickled pink. Harbaugh needs a 12 step Frank Gore Program. “My name’s Jim Harbaugh and I’m addicted to Gore.” “Hi Jim!!!!”
TE? Vernon and Old McDonald? Nope. Enough talent there. On the offensive side of the ball, logically speaking, the only first round offensive pick we’re gonna get is a wide receiver and Baalke’s probably still having nightmares about Jenkins while seeing real draft value in Quinton Patton. Once bitten, twice shy…guy.
So I’m thinking the first round surprise is going to be from the defensive side of the football.
DE? I don’t think so. We have Cowboy in his final year. Tank to replace Cowboy. We have McDonald and Dial. I think we re-signed Dobbs. I know some are saying Dial’s a NT, but I think Dial’s more of a DE. I could certainly be wrong, but Dial doesn’t look like a NT in a 3/4 to me. He looks like a DT in 4/3 or a DE in a 3/4. Again, I could be wrong. But if I’m right, Baalke won’t go DE in the first even with Smith retiring.
However, the one surprise pick Baalke could lay on us in the first round is a NT. The Seattle running backs were coming back to the sidelines in the NFC Championship game claiming our D line interior was “soft.” I agreed. In that game Lynch pounded and won. Gore got pounded. That was the game. I also thought Ian Williams was soft in the game he played in the beginning of the year. Dorsey was good, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Baalke go NT in the first.
That only really leaves two other positions on the defensive side of the football Baalke could surprise us with in the first round – inside linebacker and safety.
Even with Bowman’s gruesome injury, I don’t think Baalke’s going inside linebacker in the first. That would be a slap to Bowman’s rehabilitating face, AND I’m tellin’ ya’ll right now, Nick Moody is going to be an NFL stud…. maybe even an All Pro if he ever gets his chance. With Moody and Wilhoite on the roster, I’m sure Baalke will bring in more inside linebacker help for competition, but it won’t be in the form of a first rounder.
Safety, however, could be a surprise first round Baalke pick, and like running back, I’d love to see Baalke go there. I think Pryor and Clinton-Dix are far superior athletes to Kyle Fuller. Antoine Bathea is ancient. He’s a leader, but his teeth are longer than Aldon’s rap sheet.
So, the three Baalke first round surprises in order of most logical to biggest surprise are… drum roll, please…..
1.) NT
2.) Safety
3.) Running Back
All that said, I still think Baalke goes CB in the first round…. and trades up to do so.
I have no problem with the Fat Man in the Middle either Spit.
Question for me is, is Louis Nix the next coming of Haloti Ngata or Vince Wilfork?
If so, take him.
If not, get a difference maker, at whatever position they feel he can be had.
I’m down for Calvin Pryor too.
Only knock I’ve had on Ha-Ha is, his tackle production and, he’s more of a FS.
Could we move Reid to SS? I’m not so sure he’s that durable.
For me, a SS has to be a body rocker and have some coverage skills.
Deone Bucannon fits, as does Pryor, maybe Jimmie Ward.
We’ll find out soon enough.
I like the guys that accrue a ton of tackles at the SS position.
For that reason, Shazier intrigues me.
Can’t argue with speed and tackle production.
Nix sure hasn’t been linked with the Niners, but it could very well happen. He’s possible, possible at 17 . . . He could very well be gone as well. Thing is. they trade up they’ll get someone real good. Even if they don’t they still will. .
The 3 guys I’d love to see on the team are ODB, Stanley Jean, and Logan Thomas . . .
Spit, the national guys have it mostly wrong. . . .
DT Aaron Donald is a menace.
Small but feisty.
I’d consider him a surprise option that no one is thinking about for us as a target.
He’d be a nice answer to Justin, more of a DE in terms of size.
Ryan Carrethers from AR St is another guy that looks interesting.
6’1″ 337
You’ll find him late.
He’s not an immediate starter and would need time to develop.
So many variables to consider. Hard to predict what Baalke has up his sleeve.
I’m more than well aware. I was just using McShay to start the topic. So you’re a Stanley Jean fan, too? Kid’s got game. Definitely a great option in the second if we can’t get Fuller in the first…. and hell, even if we can. No harm in drafting Griffin and McKyer.
My concerns for Louis Nix is that he isn’t exceptionally strong and didn’t get a lot of tackle numbers.
I think we could get value with an interior DT later down the Board.
For me, an interior DT has to occupy blockers while keeping the LBs clean.
Need a channel marker if he isn’t producing tackles.
Someone you can’t rout out of the middle.
Several guys fit that bill for me and wouldn’t cost much. Wait on them.
Hageman is intriguing. He’s athletic and can carry more weight.
Another concern with him is what’s between his ears.
Is he dedicated enough?
He’s certainly strong enough and, large enough to consider in RD1, if he’s got the stones to handle the interior responsibilities.
Hey NJ49er, as for the SS candidates, can he line up over the TE and take him on, defeat his blocks, disrupt his release, cover and tackle him? Takes a pretty strong DB-type, tough and strong enough to go sixty minutes.
Have you worked up a simulation of Baalke’s top 100? I can’t see him sit with all the ammo he has and watch 29 of them get taken away before he gets one. Who do you think he wants bad enough to trade up to get and what do you say he’s willing to give up for the move? I think we need to score a decent contributor in every round, as opposed to so many projects a la last year.
I agree NoFear49er.
Shazier seems to have those characteristics from everything I’ve researched.
Plays the slot fairly well and defended TEs.
That’s the reason I’d be curious to see if he can be a Chancellor-type enforcer as a SS.
I’m with you regarding a move up.
Can I get into Baalkes’ head? I did last year with Reid.
If he’s shopping for a DB this time around I’d be OK with it.
If he goes up the Board in RD1 again tomorrow I wouldn’t be surprised.
Calvin Pryor makes sense to me there.
CB Kyle Fuller too.
I wouldn’t eliminate a WR, though I’m not big on risking much on that position.
Too often they flame out, ala AJ.
One thing I’ve learned from doing this stuff with my Son for 25 years, it’s damn near impossible to predict specific players in each slot for me.
I stick to stacking a Board with guys I think would fit at every position I expect the GM to be shopping in.
This year, I’m going heavier with DBs and WRs.
My gut says we could be grabbing a pair of each.
Here’s this years’ attempt at what I think might happen –
DBs –
Kyle Fuller (CB) – VA Tech (Trade up option Only)
Jaylen Watkins (CB) – UF
Jason Verrett (CB) – TCU (Good speed but small)
EJ Gaines (CB) – MO
Phillip Gaines (CB) – Rice
Shaquille Richardson (CB) – AZ
Pierre Desir (CB) – Lindenwood
Walt Aikens (CB) – Liberty
Take a chance?
Aaron Colvin (CB) – OK (Injury Redshirt ala Tank/Marcus/Dial)
FS – Posted
Calvin Pryor (FS) – Louisville (Likely won’t see him without Trading up)
Dontae Johnson (FS) – NC St
Marqueston Huff (CB) – WY
Ty Zimmerman (FS) – KS
SS – Posted
Deone Bucannon (SS) – WA State
Jimmie Ward (SS) – No IL
Eric Pinkins – (SS) – SDSU
Tre Boston (FS) – UNC
WRs –
Jordan Matthews – Vandy
Donte Moncrief – MS
Odell Beckham Jr – LSU (Wish but miss)
Paul Richardson – CO
Marqise Lee – USC (Injury concerns?)
Davante Adams – Fresno St.
Allen Robinson – PSU
Brandon Coleman – Rutgers (TE option?)
Slot WRs –
Brandin Cooks – OR St – (Slot) (Wish but miss)
Tevin Reese – Baylor (Slot)
Chandler Jones – SJSU (Slot)
Jalen Saunders – OK (Slot-KR)
Bruce Ellington – SCAR – (Slot-KR) Odell-light
TE –
Larry Webster – Bloomsburg (Convert from DE)
Marcel Jensen – Fresno St
Crockett Gillmore – CO St.
ILB –
Kevin Pierre-Lewis (OLB) – BC
Ryan Shazier (OLB) – Ohio State
Preston Brown – Louisville
DT –
Ra’Shede Hageman – MN
Jay Bromley – Syracuse
Zach Kerr – Delaware
Justin Ellis – (NT) – LA Tech
OLB –
Trent Murphy – (OLB) – Stanford
Kyle Van Noy (OLB) – BYU
Jackson Jeffcoat (DE) – TX
Chris Smith – (DE) – Arkansas
DE –
Kareem Martin – UNC
Howard Jones – (OLB) – Shepherd
Stephon Tuitt – ND
Demarcus Lawrence – Boise St.
Jake Metz – Shippensburg
C –
Corey Linsley – Ohio State
Marcus Martin – USC
Russell Bodine – UNC
Travis Swanson – Arkansas
OT –
Antonio Richardson – TN
Jack Mewhort – Ohio State
Cameron Fleming – Stanford
Justin Britt – MO
OG –
Gabe Jackson – MS St
David Yankey – Stanford
Cyril Richardson – Baylor
Spencer Long – NE
RB –
Damien Williams – OK
Charles Sims – WVU
Bishop Sankey – WA
FB –
Lorenzo Taliaferro – Coastal Carolina
J.C. Copeland – LSU
Trey Millard – OK
QB
Logan Thomas – VA Tech
Jimmy Garoppolo – E. IL
David Fales – San Jose St
Small School – Late RD/UDFA –
Dri Archer – Kent St (PR/KR/WR/RB) All around Joker –
Jerick McKinnon – (RB) GA Southern
Terrance West – (RB) – Towson
Mo Alexander – (SS) – Utah St
LJ McCray – (FS/SS) – Catawba
Kendall James – (CB) – Maine
Sammy Seamster (CB) – Middle TN St
Josh Walker – (OG) – Middle TN St
Matt Feiler – (OG/OT) – Bloomsburg
Jeff Janis – (WR) – Saginaw Valley St
John Brown – (WR) – Pitt St
Albert Wilson – (WR) – GA State
Willie Gibson – (WR) – Cumberlands
Jordie Tripp – (OLB) – Montana
Ryan Carrethers (DT) – Arkansas St
Here’s a little write-up on DT Ryan Carrethers –
Big and thick with outstanding weight-room strength — maintains low body fat, squats a small house and bench-pressed 225 pounds 32 times at the combine. Has sheer mass and natural girth to dig in and hold his ground vs. double teams. Has a wrestling background and understands leverage. Has two-gap ability. Heavy tackler. Nice effort for a big man. Tough and durable. Solid personal and football character — is devoted to his craft and has a professional approach to the game.
He could an interesting option late?
The only reason I didn’t put Aaron Donald on my list is, I expect him to be gone, because I figure Dallas should snag him, at the very latest with Pick 16.
That’s the reason I’d love to see Johnnie Football there when Jerruh makes the decision.
If he’s there at 17, the rumored deal with Baltimore could make him an option.
To Spit’s point, he’d be a surprise no one would be expecting.
Damn!, NJ49er, that’s a heap of work. I take it these are the NJ49er’s top rated prospects, how do you think your number 1’s by position stack up as far as who’s the most to least valuable to the Niners, or which are the game changers among them?
HARK! THE DRAFT!
Wow. You really do get into this, NJ. How old is your son? My son has been watching all this draft coverage for weeks now. I’m frankly getting a little tired of it. That being said, I can’t wait to see what happens. I’vew avoided ESPN like the plague so i don’t have to see Mel Kiper and his bulletproof hair.
I’m of a mind that we definitely trade up. Balt is the likliest case as well. Brrrother John will hedge his bet with Rice and take LMJ off our hands. I just hope we don’t lose too much pick-wise to get to 17.
3 draft day no -no’s for Baalke that will result in a temper tantrum of immense proportions by me if they happen. I’ll either shit my pants in protest, burn down a city or kick people in the nuts in protest.
#1.) Drafting a small receiver. If we go with Brandon Cooks or Archer, they’ll be hell to pay.
#2.) Pull a Jerry Jones and trade out of the first round. If anything, we need more first rounders, not less. Our time is now.
3.) Draft someone who fits the following category – speed freak, combine warrior, or one year college wonder (Balmer). If Baalke avoids these things, I won’t burn down SF.
3 Draft Day no-no’s for Baalke that will result in a temper tantrum of immense proportions by me if they happen. I’ll either go shit in my neighbor’s pants (I just did laundry today. Not wasting all my time and effort.), use a chemical pathogen which leads to a city-wide pandemic (I don’t play with fire) or punch people in the goddamn throat (I respect the privates. You down wit’ OPP?) in protest.
1. Drafting a WR in the first round.
2. Trading up and drafting a WR in the first round.
3. Using our first two picks on a WR.
Pretty much any combination of “WR” and the word “first,” and it’s DEFCON 2.
Speaking of 2, best pray the Rams don’t take Johnny Football with their second overall pick. Johnny will be kicking our ass for the next 10 years. I think they just might. He won’t be there at 13, and they have to know Bradford isn’t the answer. It wouldn’t be a complete shocker to see Manziel wearing horns.
I ain’t sold on Johnny Football by any means, but I’m with NJ. If he goes to Dallas I’ll laugh all the way to the corner bar.
You said the same thing about Colt McCoy, Dennis.
Mayock’s mock had Johnny going to Dallas at 16. No way in hell he lasts to 16.
Johnny draft position: UNDER 5.5 (-160) OVER 5.5 (+120)
Lay the 8/5 on the UNDER.
I could see Manziel falling like Aaron Rogers. He won’t, though, because owners are like moneys…. “Oh look shiny stuff.” If he can get past the owners who want to make a quick buck and put butts in the seats and it’s more up to the talent evaluators, Manziel will slide. If an owner like Daniel Snyder falls in love with him like Snyder has down with RG2.5, all bets are off. Manziel’s a bust.
Right!