Jeff Ulbrich’s name seemed to come out of nowhere as our lead candidate for DC. He’s currently the Jets DC, so this would be a lateral move, but I guess it is something that is possible given his ties to the Niners, and our need to fill the spot. I’d be fine with that. Shit, I’d be fine with Riverboat Ron Rivera. He’s a known commodity and frankly I want a gambler on defense. As Vanilla Wilks proved, a soft defense gives up yards and points. But I have no idea if Ulbrich wants to make a lateral move. Albeit for more money.
The name I completely don’t even remotely get is Brandon Staley. He made bad decision after bad decision for 4 years in SD and should have been fired 2 years ago. Sure, he was a hot young DC for the Rams, but that defense was stacked. As this one is, but as proven by Wilks, coaching matters. Saleh and Ryans got much more out of this defense with lesser talent. Yeah, those were solid players, but Wilks had the best team to work with.
Which is why Staley should not even be in the convo. Belichick or Carroll? Too funny. Neither would want to go back to being an underling. Vrabel could, but why bother? He would be more likely looking for an HC spot as well.
The only other guy that makes sense to me would be current LB coach Johnny Holland. LB play was God-awful in these playoffs, and Holland, despite this year’s regression, has built an excellent LB corps. Greenlaw and Warner are top-notch, and Al-Shaair was excellent in his time here. Would love to get him back.
Other than that, the Warriors? They should open up a laundromat as they are the kings of folding.
The Giants? Well, they have 3/5 of their starting rotation already on the IR or undetermined, and have done little to add a 30 HR bat. Lee Ho Fook may very well be a star, but that isn’t a certainty, as well as all the marginal guys like Luciano, Harrison, Schmitt, and the rest.
Looks like a fight to be over .500 and a scramble for the last play-in spot. Huzzah. Shoot me now. I mean, the Dodgers, Padres, and Diamondbacks look much better than we do now, after hearing all about how aggressive Farhan will be. Blah blah blah.
Forty Niners Forever 
For as far as this team got, it is apparent that the pass protection leaves a lot to be deisred. It is imperative that they build the O line over just about everything else.
Purdy has proien he can hit his targets given time, and even without it most of the time, so naturally, figuring that out is job one for these guys.
New thread is uup.