Well, the once overabundant amount of running backs has been waylaid by the injury bug in 3 short days. First, Marcus Lattimore was placed on the PUP list last Wednesday, due to a combination of his previous knee injury, and a more recent hamstring injury. Then on Thursday, Kendal (endzone) Hunter blew his knee out in a non-contact drill. Then of course, on Friday, LaMichael James, a guy who would have likely gotten more looks with the other injuries, turned his good fortune into a dislocated elbow, and he’ll be out for a month.
Other than that, C Marcus Martin, Bruce Ellington, OLB Aaron Lynch, and DL Kaleb Ramsey were also PUPed. Martin and Ellington both suffered minor ankle injuries, and they should be back pretty quickly. No idea ’bout the other guys. I really want Ellington on the field as much as possible.
Anyhow, who among you think this is a bit of a blessing in disguise? Sure, Gore looks to be the starter, and Hyde the backup, that was pretty much set in stone. But Hunter was a good change of pace guy, but not as elusive as LMJ, but that’s a different can of worms. Either way, the lack of depth could force the coaching staff to look to the passing game more than they might have. Having a healthy corps of WRs certainly is a change from previous years when we had scrubs and decoys.. This could be looked at as the next step in the growth of Colin Kaepernick as quarterback as well. Give him more options to evaluate, and have him read the field more rather than the one-read-and-run that was apparently the usual play design.
I’m not too concerned with these injuries, other than Hunter. For his limited role he brought a different skillset than Gore. Either that, or we have a Jewell in the rough . . .
Forty Niners Forever 
Hate to go back to holdouts and contract squabbles, Michael Crabtree is apparently unhappy with his current deal (no surprise), but he’s on his last year. He wants to cash in big time (no surprise) and is grumbling because the Niners aren’t going to go anywhere near what Crabs wants. They want a team-friendly deal like Kappy signed. Good luck with that.
Looks like a holdout next year . . .
Hard to determine his true value since Boldin is the same kind of guy, and he puts up solid numbers, but he isn’t a speed burner who can take the top off a defense. He’s a possession WR. He’s no DeSean Jackson or Dez Bryant. Then again, how many deep balls do we throw?
Again, this goes back to offensive philosophy. Yadda yadda yadda. Which is why I REALLY want to see Ellington out there.
This Crabs thing has the potential to blow up into a big issue, as Kappy signed HIS deal to make money available to keep Crabs. If the Niners don’t keep him, what will that do to Kaepernick?
The Niners very well could lose both Crabs and VD after this season, and his team-friendly deal doesn’t help keep those guys? He’d be pissed I’d think.
This season certainly has more than it’s share of off field and front office drama when you throw in all the Harbaugh hoopla from earlier.
This may be their last best shot depending on how everything goes.
With Stevie Johnson here Crabtree’s deal is no longer the “all important” deal I was once saying it is. Stevie looks to me to be just a cut below Crabtree. And while I’m sure Kaep isn’t thrilled to be potentially losing targets in VD and Crabs, nobody thought a by-product of the team-friendly deal Kaep signed would be enabling him to dictate who stays and who goes.
I don’t think it’s a holdout situation next year for Crabtree. If the 49ers aren’t re-working his deal now, they’re either letting him go or they’re anticipating using the franchise tag to create leverage so they can negotiate with him after the season is over. In my opinion, Crabtree’s stuck. Kick ass this year for a big payday next year, or be a malcontent and watch your stock plummet. It’s doubtful Crabtree becomes a malcontent even considering his rocky beginnings.
The big, more underlying issues is, with all these players not happy with their current contracts, whether or not the team will continue to be a contender for the Super Bowl. If players aren’t as motivated, it’s hard to compete for Super Bowls. It’s great that Baalke has created leverage behind Boone and Crabtree; however, you never over-leverage or the whole thing falls apart.
Well the guy moving up to get a big dose of action is gonna be Hyde IMO.
With Hunter out for the year, .James atleast a month are longer, and Lattimore obviously not ready physically and mentally,Hyde’s gonna see a lot of action spelling Gore( keeping him fresh as possible) as a receiver and tough yardage plays.
I’m fine with that, AK. The big issue for Hyde is to not turn into Dr. Jeckyll when he’s blocking.
As long as Hyde doesn’t turn into Lawrence Philips,Kappy’s season are career won’t end as well!!!
Jesus….running back blocking, blocking, blocking….. so overrated.
What did I tell you knuckleheads in the weeks leading up to the draft? I said the 49ers should consider taking two running backs. I’d much rather we drafted another running back than the sure-fire bust waiting to happen, Aaron Lynch. He makes Johnny Manziel look like Peyton Manning. (What I’m implying here Unca is that Aaron Lynch is a problem child). Just FYI.
Shit Spitty , How many backs is enough?
Gore,Hunter,James, Miller,Lattimore,Hyde,Dixon,Hampton that’s like that old show Eight is enough!
Shit should we go get McFadden,Charles, McCoy and maybe the fridge for belly dives at the goal one as well?
I told you before and I’ll tell you again – Our running backs suck! Lattimore is only 18 months away from a gruesome injury. I think he needs more time. Gore is done. James is too small. We need more all purpose backs. Bruce Miller, in my opinion, sucks. I’m seriously hoping Trey Millard beats Miller out. And Dixon, btw, is in Buffalo. Trust me… the 49ers’ biggest weakness is we don’t have a good backfield. Baalke didn’t do enough this off season to improve that. And that’s not hindsight. I was saying it before the draft.
I’m ready to jump from the Bridge this situation is so dire. Damn after the Giants debacle this weekend what’s a guy to do? I’d scream out “Mommy!” but alas…. she’s gone too.
They did draft 2 RBs.
They drafted a running back and a full back. They needed two running backs and a full back.
Chuck a minor blessing in the Crabtree situation could easily be found in VMcD.
If he shines well enough as an all-around TE for us this season, you could consider moving Vernon and his Contract $$$ next year, to free up Cap space for the Iupati/Crabtree extensions.
If they re-up VD, it too will be done with Cap restructuring in mind for the same reason.
I agree with Spit on Stevie too.
I feel Baalke made that deal as an insurance move against Crabtree’s possible departure as a FA to begin with.
And there’s always the consolation prize with both Iupati and Crabtree.
Being as we aren’t known to overspend, Comp Picks for 2 former 1st RD Draft Picks wouldn’t be too hard to swallow.
Yeah, I think that has a lot to do with Boldin getting a couple years. They are the same guy, but Boldin is stronger. Crabs is younger, yeah, but he ‘s going to want in the $12 mill per year area. Thing is Kappy likes Crabs, and his whole reason for the weird-ass deal he signed was so Crabs could stay. Both Crabs and VD are looking to make big bank. The Niners could very well balk on both of them if Patton becomes a viable player, and Ellington provide some deep threat.
For as tough as this team is, there’s a big feeling to me that there are cracks in the foundation among the players, and in the front office. I don’t think it’ll take too much to get this shit wobbly in a hurry. A slow start could be disastrous.
True Chuck.
Guys have tasted the Playoffs and SB but came up short, so there could be some dessension brewing.
No doubt the hope would be that both Patton and Ellington become viable real soon too.
No matter what Kaep did for Crabtree, Crabtree will be looking out for himself, Iupati too.
Can’t blame them, I would.
It’s also pretty clear that the FA $$$ isn’t being tossed around too lavishly since the Rookie Cap came into play.
I think more Teams are concerned with Drafting smartly and, trying to retain their own.
We’ve done a pretty solid job in that regard with Baalke IMO.
Much better to gamble on Draft Picks and lose, than to take the Dan Snyder/Albert Haynesworth option with fat FA deals.
Draft Picks are the coins most GMs prefer to stockpile, which is why it wouldn’t kill Baalke to accept Comp Picks if necessary.
IMO, we’ll probably keep one or the other.
See where it goes……
Interesting stats from ESPN –
Reasons why Jerruh can’t get out of his own way – DEAD MONEY –
2014 NFL Salary Cap Information
Team Cap Space Dead money Committed cash
Jaguars $28,477,802 $10,270,165 $106,925,589
Browns $25,894,925 $16,955,359 $146,289,905
Bengals $24,595,254 $2,939,283 $111,111,551
Jets $22,485,969 $11,053,958 $111,216,927
Eagles $20,201,083 $9,453,783 $143,038,022
Titans $19,595,426 $8,074,725 $119,871,068
Dolphins $16,251,441 $5,909,630 $137,344,580
Packers $13,958,808 $2,663,213 $134,902,476
Colts $13,804,691 $1,871,402 $122,140,719
Bucs $13,311,919 $901,763 $129,795,161
Cardinals $11,532,210 $13,114,078 $131,311,330
Raiders $10,720,023 $11,933,709 $131,670,248
Cowboys $10,196,756 $23,199,516 $106,037,627
Seahawks $9,329,428 $8,475,035 $151,596,368
Falcons $9,167,571 $8,973,937 $152,682,276
Texans $8,905,819 $17,898,841 $119,664,447
Bills $7,913,052 $22,702,604 $140,633,488
Vikings $7,720,258 $5,243,455 $132,718,482
Patriots $7,351,320 $10,724,724 $114,884,937
Giants $6,952,272 $6,058,141 $136,065,925
Steelers $6,517,314 $10,947,900 $121,605,681
49ers $6,422,157 $3,518,288 $149,978,160
Bears $6,302,462 $12,576,989 $150,017,478
Panthers $6,067,076 $18,974,241 $124,458,233
Broncos $5,310,416 $5,708,186 $142,507,298
Rams $5,054,304 $6,331,753 $117,999,328
Ravens $4,649,136 $6,203,216 $159,973,035
Chiefs $3,173,106 $3,306,490 $125,863,379
Redskins $2,551,306 $10,635,233 $145,566,854
Chargers $2,527,164 $12,546,651 $129,437,660
Saints $1,940,911 $13,314,461 $129,346,457
Lions $1,068,918 $4,065,738 $113,185,798
Source: ESPN Stats & Information
Sorry about the formatting Chuck –
Looked nice, neat and organized when I copied it over –
Got hosed at the post –
Jerruh is in 1st Place in 2014 for one thing – Dead Money Leader.
Dead money from Ratliff and Ware no doubt. It hurts but with the new CBA and teams having to spend essentially all the cap money it might be made up in some part by not allowing Jerry to overpay as much as he might and it might have saved him from pulling the trigger on Johnny Football. Some may think that’s a bad thing I guess.
Manzeill’s the big ??? He’s either Steve Young or Tim Tebow. Hot Tub Matt Leinart or Purple Drank. RG III or RG III-XIII. His family history is pretty wild if you haven’t read about it. But the Browns? They have talent. But I think they’d be foolish as hell to rush him into the starting spot.
I really thought Jerry could not resist the urge to grab him in the draft. Woulda been quite the circus.
Jerry has gone out of his way hundreds of times to keep Tony Romo all warm and fuzzy, though. Would Manzeill have provided too much competition?
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In 49er news, they signed FA RB Alphonso Smith from San Berdoo. Played the last few years at AZ.
Yeah, I’d never heard of him either. 6’1, 209, 27 years old. 48 carries for 156 in 4 years.
San Berdoo? You’re not makin’ that shit up? I wish I was from San Berdoo.
I wish I was “Five Little Miles From San Berdoo.”
Nobody wishes they were five little miles from San Berdoo. Except on their way out of San Berdoo. . .
Got to tell you, though that’s pretty deep in the obscure-song-of-the day category.
Lucky for Jane she isn’t best remembered for her singing voice. She did that little number from “His Kind of Woman” (1951) also starring Robert Mitchum. Who we all know was the original Max Cady of “Cape Fear” long before Bobby D. played the part.
Bottoms up!
Mack the Knife? Oh, DeNiro . . .
Mitchum spent that whole movie sucking in his gut. It’s amazing he could get lines out.
Looks like Jimmy Ward’s getting sold to us by the 49er marketing juggernaut. He does “look” the part. I’ll give him that. But he better not be A.) injured a lot. B.) lost in real games. C.) a tackle missing machine. I still don’t like the pick, but at least the 49er marketing juggernaut realizes the pick was a stretch so they’ve gotta sell. But then again, most 1st rounders get publicity. Not everything can be a conspiracy. And that’s unfortunate. Right, No Fear?
What’s unfortunate is checking the blog for interesting posts and finding yours instead.
You’re like a fine wine… funnier with old age….. in the cellar……. and sometimes we need to put a cork in you.
Ward, Bethea, Reid, Brock and Culliver. That’s my kinda secondary!!! Very little experience. I love it. Cook sounds like he’s playing well. This will be one unit of the team I’m excited about watching play together. Hope they don’t disappoint.
Chris Cook might actually survive the process and stick too Spit.
Many believe he was miscast in MN.
He apparently prefers the press game which is something we could benefit from.
See where it goes over the next 6 weeks or so.
I think I heard somewhere that Cook was a first round pick back in the day. Miscast is probably right considering Minnesota coaches. Leslie Fraser and Mike Singletary? “Is it any wonder [they’ve now] got tooooooo much time on [their] hands….?” I think Singletary was hired by the league to fuck something up at the upper management level.
Either way, I’m betting Cook not only makes the team but gets significant playing time. Interesting to hear that Fangio and Donatell are working on Cooks’ ball skills and him locating the ball in flight. You’d think Minnesota covered that. Just goes to show how many bad coaches their are in the NFL… or put another way, how hard it is to find good coaches. Charlie Weis? My ass.
there*
High 2nd RD Pick for MN in 2010.
Good size though.
Knock on him is no INTs as a Pro.
So yes, ball skills could certainly be improved.
From what I’ve read on him, he was asked to be a Zone guy in MN, something he obviously didn’t fare too well with.
For what it’s worth, he’s been suggesting that our style of Defense gives him a better opportunity to succeed.
Again, we’ll see how it goes but, I do like the idea of getting a tall Press CB into the fold.