The 49ers' ID
My computer problems are finally coming to a close and a new laptop is on the way. I've rented a ramblin' wreck of notebook that has its quirks (what do you expect for $6 a day) but it seems to execute the basic functions for posting on the site semi-regularly. It's as fragile as Any Whinehouse's psyche, but hopefully it will hold up and I'll be able to post more regularly.
A shout out to Del - please get well soon. Hip replacement sounds brutally painful. Gary Plummer had one a few years but you'd never know it. He plays basketball and keeps up with his maniacal workout regiment. Del you'll be back to yours in no time.
Now for today's topic, Identity. Sounds like a subject for a college level course in Sociology or Psychology. But what we're talking about here is the 49ers' identity on offense and defense, something that changes not only yearly, but sometimes weekly.
However, with the direction of general manager Scot McCloughan, the hiring of Mike Singletary and his hiring Jimmy Raye as offensive coordinator, critics can no longer charge the 49ers with rudderlessness.
On offense the team will establish the running game, quite possibly through more zone blocking. Raye's history shows he's adaptable, so he'll probably ditch much of the seven-step drops and deep seam routes characterized by Mike Martz and to a lesser extent, Norv Turner. Raye will likely keep the digital language on offense but go to more of a West Coast feel with shorter drops, quicker throws and more passes to the running backs and tight ends, which fits Shaun Hill's style.
The running game is more of a challenge. If the 49ers want to establish more zone blocking, they might have to change out players such as Adam Synder, David Baas and Tony Wragge - lumbering strong men without the peds to cut block and run laterally. The 49ers might want to do this anyway. Everyone seems to have a blind spot with this offensive line; it's terrible. Out of 32 teams, this line has yielded more sacks in the last two years than any other, and in 2007, it was way up there on hits on the quarterback and last year, it probably wasn't much better. If the line was graded on the bell curve in pass protection, they've be at the bottom. That's an "F" my friends.
However, they do have a future Pro Bowl left tackle in Joe Staley, and Eric Heitmann is probably the most under rated center in the league. Physically, Chilo Rachal is a beast, but does he have the chops to eliminate the mistakes? This year will prove if he does.
Defensively, the 49ers are all about a constantly shifting 3-4 that coordinator Greg Manusky stole from San Diego. It's a fine system, but the 49ers need to fill it out with pass rushers. Parys Haralson is emerging, but the 49ers desperately need a feared elephant-type player (a Charles Haley, Tim Harris type).
Overlaying it is the philosophy McCloughan learned under Ron Wolf in Green Bay and that's basically to go big and be tough, the same foundation Arizona constructed to build the Cardinals. Bigger players don't get hurt as often and they have other qualities such as strength, intimidation, etc. The question now is whether the 49ers have the coaching staff and personnel to make their philosophies work. Singletary will likely have a more integrated game plan every week between his offense and defense and without Martz, the entire coaching staff will be more consensual. What Raye lacks in resume, he might make up in symbiosis with the other coaches.
Singletary's best attribute in his ability to get everyone working together for the greater good. The 49ers will now heavily rely on that characteristic if they are going to be successful.
| February 03 2009 at 11:23 AM
Comments
Kevin - Thank you for the kind words. I should be back to "normal" in about a month or so. Hopefully my injury won't effect my quick wit. Remember, I only broke my hip, not my funny bone. <insert rim shot here> :)
Posted By: del_mar_dennis | February 03 2009 at 12:00 PM
Kevin, Are we having another draft contest?
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I'm on a roll . . .
Posted By: unca_chuck | February 03 2009 at 12:00 PM
Yes, Singletary is the key and the Niners should be much better for it. Now for a real good draft. That would be nice. A lot of changes have taken place since the beginning of last season and with good leadership a brighter future. Go Niners.
Posted By: Nipper | February 03 2009 at 12:01 PM
Chemistry is something that can't be overlooked and I think the 49ers are finally developing that. It's something the Cards recently found as well and that took them back to the big dance.
Posted By: dublniklz | February 03 2009 at 12:08 PM
hey nipper is right !!!! as to you mr lynch ... 6$ ? that peper of yours can't even come up with a laptop ? even i have a good one ! sheeesh !!!!
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 03 2009 at 12:13 PM
hey delmar ... "He plays basketball and keeps up with his maniacal workout regiment. Del you'll be back to yours in no time". ... um what's your maniacal workout regimen(t) ???!!! getting to the fridge more and out to the track ???? lol
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 03 2009 at 12:15 PM
i'll say this ...i wanted a more exciting oc hire too but...if raye is good enough for norv turner , john robinson marty schottenheimer and mike singletary , he's good enough for me to give him a chance ! the good news is sing is not nolan , not only does he know when something is working or not , but if not he will fix it right away !!! that inludes his coaching staff !!!! we are not in for a repeat of jim hostler here !!!!!
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 03 2009 at 12:21 PM
Now that's a new concept .... "Singletary's best attribute is his ability to get everyone working together for the greater good." Kinda like TEAM. The fact coach likes the TEAM concept is kinda like coach Walsh and the o-line cohesiveness concept. I guess if you put T.O., OchoCinco, and all the like together you would have a TEAM?!@#
Posted By: wakaju | February 03 2009 at 12:22 PM
There is some real hope in Ninerland. I think to replace 3 of our O-line is asking a little too much for this year. But, we have to start somewhere, it seems like the real good O-lines work together for around 3 years or better. The changeover will have to take some more time, but I am sure it can be done successfully. It all begins with the attitude.
Posted By: sidewinder | February 03 2009 at 12:29 PM
Hey Rob - Don't laugh. If you made as many trips to the fridge as I do, you'd be in great shape. Now if I could only build a racetrack in my backyard, my life would be complete.
Posted By: del_mar_dennis | February 03 2009 at 01:00 PM
If the Niners are going to play smash mouth football and pound the ball on the ground, they will definitely need a more intimidating O-line. In Gore's record rushing year of 2006, Big Larry Allen and healthy-at-the-time Jonas Jennings absolutely collapsed the left side for Gore. Larry Allen had his man beat before the snap because he was so intimidating. And pounding the ball with Gore also brings two other potential problems: Gore's repeated fumbling problem and his durability. Can he be an every down back? He limped to the finish line this year...and running backs have short shelf lives, to boot. A two back system is likely in order.
Posted By: RednGoldBlooded | February 03 2009 at 01:32 PM
And at defensive end, No. 94 ... Michael "One Glove" Jackson.
Posted By: primafacie | February 03 2009 at 01:36 PM
We need another RB and FB if we are to become a running team.
Posted By: sidewinder | February 03 2009 at 01:42 PM
If we could just get the same staff two f'in years in a row for heaven's sake...!
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Sorry...just venting...
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~ALOHA~
Posted By: KauaiRobert | February 03 2009 at 02:07 PM
Coaching Staff,
It seems to me that Singletary is hedging his bets on the performances of his OC and DC. He has hand-selected his own RB coach, promoted his OL coach and has a good WR coach. All can advise Raye in various aspects of the game and, if required. succeed him. I don't know much about QB coach Johnson, but Singletary obviously likes him. He has the same situation on defense. He must be the only coach in the league with an ILB coach, an OLB coach, and a pass rushing coach! I see him building a stable of coaches that can take over if necessary.
Posted By: mbniner | February 03 2009 at 02:12 PM
if big ben isnt qb pitsburgh doesnt win that game. granted the final throw and catch for a td was perfect it was defense that killed az a play or two earlier when holmes ran after a catch for 30-40 yds. if pitt just is kept in field goal range az wins. so sf get the best lb's and secondary you can , because good teams that play for 60 min and do not give up are going to burn the current team every time. holmes was open all day and ben found him regularly. it wasnt hines ward or willie parker doing the damage.both offenses were taking what was given and then the defense doing a good job of finishing aka bend dont break. media experts are already predicting az will go 6-0 in their conference in 09.time will tell. sf wont get in the playoffs with 9-7 next year.lots o work to do,I hope like hell they can do just to shut up the naysayers . go niners
Posted By: hotrodwilly | February 03 2009 at 02:20 PM
Before that last drive by Pittsburgh in the SB, I remembered how the 49ers drove into scoring position TWICE in the closing minutes vs. Arizona. The first drive ended in a odd turnover by Hill and the second drive should have been a TD with proper clock mgmt or play calling. Pittsburgh did the same thing, only they managed the clock and executed in the end...and with about the same amount of time on the clock. I hope everyone jumps on the Arizona bandwagon and picks them to go 6-0 in conference. I'd rather see the Niners underestimated as it's easier to sneak up on people that way.
Posted By: RednGoldBlooded | February 03 2009 at 02:34 PM
sounds like a fullback we might look at... "Tony Fiammetta showed he has the toughness, size and power to develop into an effective lead blocker for a team like Baltimore. He's also a reliable possession receiver."
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 03 2009 at 02:46 PM
Raji turned in a dominant performance during Senior Bowl week. Not only was he the best defensive lineman on the field, he was the best overall player. Barring an injury or some other sort of colossal setback, he should go in the top 15 picks. Behind Raji, Jerry and Brace turned in rock solid performances .... i'd like to be able to get raji at #10 , but the other two sound like someone to look at later on if we miss out on him. i liked jerry a lot .
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 03 2009 at 02:50 PM
I would like to see Julius Peppers with the Niners. He's a free agent.
Posted By: pete16 | February 03 2009 at 02:51 PM
a couple other tidbits that i agree with ... Ayers and Sidbury both improved their draft stock this week. Ayers showed above- average quickness for his size and did a nice job of setting the edge. Meanwhile, Sidbury is a small-school prospect who has made the most of the all-star circuit. He was so impressive at the East-West Shrine Game that he got invited to Mobile, where Sidbury continued to display speed and power coming off the edge. He is now a fringe first-day selection ....
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 03 2009 at 02:53 PM
RGB, Gore did it in 06 for the whole year. 5 lost fumbles in 300+ carries is a little high, but nothing horrible. The Niners should bring Clayton up and give him a shot. He's faster and quicker than Gore, he's been on the team a while, and gives a different look. But yes they need a FB to run a 2 back set. Y'all know who I think they should get . . .
Posted By: unca_chuck | February 03 2009 at 03:09 PM
Brannan Sutherland, FB (Geo) Chuck, the latest rankings I've seen, have him going as late as the 7th rd. or possibly as a FA. What the hell do they know? Then again, what the hell do we know?
Posted By: del_mar_dennis | February 03 2009 at 03:23 PM
so do we like sutherland or not ? and what does he have to do with a geo ? i don't care what kind of car he drives even if it is a little ... you know ! oh do you mean he's from ga. ? lol
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 03 2009 at 03:32 PM
rob_deluca:
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Where are you cutting and pasting your comments from?
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~ALOHA~
Posted By: KauaiRobert | February 03 2009 at 03:34 PM
krob most of the one's here were from espn . com ...
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 03 2009 at 03:41 PM
Dennis, when I 1st started following Southerland, he was rated like the 5th best FB coming out of the draft. He has climbed to the top of the FB list. He won;t last until the 6th round. 5th round is fine. . .
Posted By: unca_chuck | February 03 2009 at 03:44 PM
here i go agian with the power rankings ... we are ranked #24 , but washington is 22 buffalo 21 and the jets 20 !!!! go figure !!!! ....we beat them this year and will again in 09 !!! this tells me we are close to being a mid pack team now, and after a good offseason we are on our way !!!! goodbye mike nolan, goodbye bottom of the barrel !!!!!
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 03 2009 at 03:51 PM
Rob, Southerland is supposedly the 2nd coming of Rathman. He;'s a great blocker, he runs well, and catches passes out of the backfield. 6'0" 245. He had 2 foot surgeries however, but recovered to play some this year.
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From walterfootball.com
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Brannan Southerland, Georgia
Height: 6-0. Weight: 245.
Projected 40 Time: 4.58.
Projected Round (2009): 5.
1/5/09: The best pure blocking fullback in this draft. He touched the ball only four times in 2008.
5/26/08: Brannan Southerland saw his production drop in 2007, as his touchdown total dropped from 10 to six, and his receptions fell from 14 to 11. He's coming off offseason foot surgery.
2007: Brannan Southerland does it all; he blocks well, carries the ball in short-yardage situations and catches passes out of the backfield. He had 14 receptions, 157 receiving yards and 10 total touchdowns in 2006.
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From Rivals.com
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The 6-foot, 240-pound Southerland, named by The Birmingham News as the SEC’s best blocking back, had 10 touchdowns in 2006 to become the first fullback to lead the team in scoring in 49 years.
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It’s easy to place value on Southerland’s touchdowns, but it was his value as a leader that was missed by an offense that had only one senior starter, receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, in the first five games.
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Southerland’s on-field leadership is restored just as Georgia will try to recover from its first loss of the season.
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“I think it’s significant in that he’s one of our finest leaders on the team,” Richt said. “He’s one of the most respected players on the team, and arguably the most respected player on the team.”
Posted By: unca_chuck | February 03 2009 at 03:53 PM
hey i was just reading walter !!! seems we have some good prospects out there at fb ! i don't have a favorite , but southerland sounds good ! so do fiametti " Tony Fiammetta caught 16 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown. He also had five carries. His strength is his powerful run blocking. "
and kettani from navy (looked good in the senior bowl to me ) "Eric Kettani rushed for 982 yards and four touchdowns as a senior. Should be an effective short-yardage back at the next level" ....... all from walters
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 03 2009 at 04:01 PM
Though I don't agree with his assessments of the Niners, Walter does as good a job as anyone can with mock drafts and info. If Raji goes before 10, Brace should be all but a no-brainer in the second round. I really don't get why so many people think they'll go with an OLB in the first. Lawson has developed into a great coverage LB on the left side, and Harralson has lead the team in sacks each of the last two seasons. Keep in mind they passed on Quentin Groves twice last year, so there's got to be something they like with those two.
Posted By: blbbawbag | February 03 2009 at 04:18 PM
Well, we have 81 days to figure all this out. And, I am sure we will.
Posted By: sidewinder | February 03 2009 at 04:38 PM
pete- I would like to see Peppers on the team too.
Posted By: sidewinder | February 03 2009 at 05:15 PM
If the 49ers signed Peppers, then found another stud DE in the draft named Salt. We would be set with "Salt N Pepper(s)" Then our defense could "Push it real good."
Posted By: del_mar_dennis | February 03 2009 at 05:53 PM
49ers will go after Suggs, Peppers, or Canty in FA and Everett, OT, safety, FB, and QB in the draft in that order. What do you all think?
Posted By: Go49ersnow | February 03 2009 at 06:01 PM
I like Southerland a lot. I would grab him sooner rather than later. maybe a 4th round compensatory pick or early 5th round at the latest.
Kettani is intriguing. But I have a question - he went to Navy; does anyone know if he has to fulfill a service requirement? Obviously if he had to do 3 or 4 years in the navy before reporting he can't help us next year. I know the policy has changed a couple of times in the past decade; what is it now?
Posted By: grumpy_guy | February 03 2009 at 06:08 PM
Is Haynesworth still out there?
Posted By: sidewinder | February 03 2009 at 06:08 PM
I really like Everette Brown because of his leadership and intangibles as much as his college production (which was very good). Sounds like a kid you can build around.
Brace high in round 2 feels too high a price to pay. He MIGHT go before we pick high in round 3, but that is probably his actual value.
We can get either a decent right tackle OR a free safety prospect in round two. Mike from MD likes Okung; there are a couple of other possibilities. Rashad Johnson is my fave at free safety but Louis Delmas was very good (smaller school though). Whichever direction we go, the other hole will have to be filled by free agency if we address it this year.
Brace would be a nice fit in round 3. Not going to pass ruch much, but he can stuff the middle once he learns the pro game.
Round 4 can be about backs. A second running back to pair with Gore (I've mentioned Rashad Jennings and Arian Foster, those are the two I'm watching) and Southerland with a compensatory pick (I'm *guessing* we'll get something like a 3rd and 4th or 4th and 5th; the actual picks are awarded a couple of weeks before draft day).
After that, its depth, special teams and a late round flyer on a QB. I like the kid from New Mexico.
Obviously if Oher or Raji fall to us and we go that direction in the first round, things get altered down the line. But I like Brown as well as those guys and think he'll be there.
Posted By: grumpy_guy | February 03 2009 at 06:16 PM
From Matt Barrows at the Sac Bee:
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/49ers/archives/019209.html
Sounds like McCloughan is looking to get both an RB and an FB in this draft.
Posted By: grumpy_guy | February 03 2009 at 06:22 PM
Haynesworth IS still out there; the signing period hasn't started yet.
2009 NFL dates:
Feb. 18-24: NFL Scouting Combine, Indianapolis, Ind.
Feb. 19: Deadline for clubs to designate franchise and transition players.
Feb. 26: Deadline for submission of qualifying offers by clubs to their restricted free agents whose contracts have expired and to whom they desire to retain a right of first refusal/compensation.
Feb. 26: Deadline for clubs to submit offer of minimum salary to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with fewer than three seasons of free agency credit whose contracts have expired.
***Feb. 27: Veteran free agency signing period begins.***
Feb. 27: Trading period begins.
March 22-25: NFL Annual Meeting, Dana Point, Calif.
April 17: Signing period ends for restricted free agents.
April 24: Deadline for old club to exercise right of first refusal to restricted free agents.
***April 25-26: NFL Draft, New York City.***
May 18-20: NFL Spring Meeting, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
June 1: Deadline for old clubs to send tender to unsigned unrestricted free agents to receive exclusive negotiating rights for rest of season if player is not signed by another club by July 22.
June 1: Deadline for old clubs to send tender to unsigned restricted free agents or to extend qualifying offer to retain exclusive negotiating rights.
June 15: Deadline for old clubs to withdraw original qualifying offer to unsigned restricted free agents and still retain exclusive negotiating rights by substituting tender of 110 percent of previous year's salary.
June 28-July 1: NFL Rookie Symposium, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Mid-July: Training camps open.
July 22: Signing period ends at 4 p.m. ET for unrestricted free agents who received June 1 tender.
Aug. 9: Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, Canton, Ohio.
Aug. 13-17: First preseason weekend.
Sept. 1: Roster cutdown to maximum of 75 players.
Sept. 5: Roster cutdown to maximum of 53 players.
Sept. 10-14: Regular season kicks off.
Posted By: grumpy_guy | February 03 2009 at 06:29 PM
Good one, Kevin. We definitely need to draft another RB to back up Gore. Were it not for the glaring weakness at receiver over the last few years, I think you would've seen McCloughan draft another couple of RBs. I'm hopeful he'll lean that way this year. And beyond adding another dimension to the offense and being an insurance policy for Gore, RBs tend to be a good value on the special teams side.
Whatever the case is at RB, however, the line definitely needs some work, and here's where I'd sign a FA.
And any chance Boldin will leave AZ? He's unhappy...Fitzgerald is the start now... Boldin would look good in Red and Gold.
Posted By: riceandbeans | February 03 2009 at 06:32 PM
Damn... that's funny.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Matt-Millen-s-NBC-commentary-comes-with-a-warnin?urn=nfl,138326
Posted By: grumpy_guy | February 03 2009 at 06:37 PM
Singletary was on KNBR with Mr T and the Razor today.
He insisted that he didn't SETTLE for Raye as OC, but in fact Raye was the best fit willing to work what the roster had and not be stuck to a set type of offense.
Singletary also said his comment was misunderstood when he was hired. He did not commit to a run first offense. He committed to an offense that could run the ball when the game was on the line and do so effectively. What he committed to was with a 2 point lead and 5 minutes to go, the Niners will be able to hold onto the ball and get first downs to seal a victory. No 3 and out and punt.
Sing also said that Hill was the starting QB at this time but they would also look at other QBs, That other QB would have to totally outplay Hill to win the job.
I do think we have a good head coach who has the potential to be a great head coach. Give him a chance. Go Niners!!!
Posted By: meanfreddean | February 03 2009 at 06:40 PM
He may be a "Grumpy" dwarf, but he surely isn't a "Dopey" one. Like I've been advocating for many weeks now, Everette Brown is the player the 49ers need to draft first and foremost. Sure other guys like Raji and any of the great OT that will be available would be fine choices, but Brown will make the most immediate impact from day one. He has a special mission in life...Kill the quarterback! The pressure that he will generate, will make our back 7 look 10x better. Please draft Everette Brown. I'll grab a shovel and start digging the graves now. Kill the quarterback!
Posted By: del_mar_dennis | February 03 2009 at 06:44 PM
I think if Everette had played LB in college, he'd be a top three pick, maybe #1 overall. He has that much playmaking ability, leadership and character. The only reason he drops a little is, he'll be making the transition to OLB from DE. To me, he reminds me of Derrick Thomas. A devastating pass rusher and a guy everyone else will follow into battle.
Posted By: grumpy_guy | February 03 2009 at 06:48 PM
I agree that Sean hill should be the starter going in to the '09 season. When MS says that they will look at "other QB's" my real question is - "Who are those QB's?
It's likely that a "prospect" guy will be taken in the draft and positioned as the #3 QB. I can't believe that Sing is talking about a re-hash of Hill vs Smith for the starting spot. If that's the plan, I'll be very disappointed. If Hill is going to really have to be "beaten out" to lose the job ,then who is the new free agent QB acquisition going to be?
Posted By: quickkick | February 03 2009 at 07:09 PM
Not to mention, Everette also bench presses 480 pounds.
Not bad for a 'speed' rusher, LOL.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2008/08/28/0828everettebrown.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc;=7&cxcat;=46
Posted By: grumpy_guy | February 03 2009 at 07:12 PM
grumpy- thanks for posting those dates.
Posted By: sidewinder | February 03 2009 at 07:36 PM
As for the draft.. I agree that both Brown and Raji are great choices, more so than a OT( which is also a big need) but as I've stated before, I think that OT is a good place to go FA because of the already very young group we have on the O line.
Maybe Raji over Brown in my book, simply because of the critical dimension that a dominant nose tackle gives to a 3-4. You look at Casey Hampton and realize that he really makes that Steeler 3-4 work.
Another player who would be awesome in the 3-4 next to Willis for years to come is Ray Maualuga.
So I say Raji, Brown, or Maualuga. One of those dudes has got to be around at 10 right?
Of course my original pick from months ago, Taylor Mays is long out of the picture. Tough thing about that is that the 9ers will have to have a big set-back year to have a shot at him in 2010.
Posted By: quickkick | February 03 2009 at 07:39 PM
i have to agree with del on this one if Stafford doesn't fall, then we have to go with E.Brown
Posted By: sahai49er | February 03 2009 at 08:03 PM
I believe we would have to go Brown over Raji if they were both still there at #10. I heard Raji had a really good week leading up to the senior bowl, but just didn't show up for the game. Apparently Brace had a much stronger performace.
Posted By: sahai49er | February 03 2009 at 08:08 PM
Brown has been my guy after seeing Orakpo not play nearly as well as Brown down the stretch this season. . .
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Give Clayton a shot. They don't need to draft an RB.
Posted By: unca_chuck | February 03 2009 at 08:17 PM
if there is one thing that any good 3-4 team needs is LBs, and more pass rushing LBs to be exact. I would like to see us get another one or two in the draft, or another DE one with size, and strenght, and if we're luck speed...Heck if Tyson Jackson is available in the 2nd round we should consider taking him.
Posted By: sahai49er | February 03 2009 at 08:24 PM
Our offensive line is the weakest link. If that doesn't get addressed in free agency or the draft then our offense will return to the gazillion sack year. Jason Smith Jason Smith Jason Smith PLEASE. And we need another "guard"....Kevin is right about Bass, Snyder, Wragge.
If Singletary wants to "smash mouth" with the run then a solution to Frank Gore is necessary. Someone with "hands".
However, our second critical need is a defensive pass rush. That needs to be addressed in free agency and or the draft as well. And our third area of glaring weakness is free saftey.
It appears that the pass rush expected in Balmer.....wasn't/ isn't there. Rachal is a far better prospect to improve at his position than Balmer is at his. What a waste of our 1st pick in the first round.
As far as Lawson is concerned....he is a major disappointment. Drafting another linebacker in the first round is an acknowledgement of that "mistake". He's not a cover guy and the coaching staff was reluctant to even consider him in that role. He's average at best.
Just thinking about the continual weaknesses of our team supposedly being addressed in the draft and or free agency year in year out is consistently frustrating , annoying, and indicative a long standing problem...shitty evaluation of "talent". May the spirit of Bob Mckittrick be with our niners as I keyboard this post.
Posted By: twista2121 | February 03 2009 at 08:26 PM
grumpy- I don't believe Brown will have any trouble playing OLB-DE hybrid as long as it as predominately as a pass rusher(Elephant). On one hand I want Raji more than Brown because he is such a good NT prospect and we badly need a dominant NT, plus we have players that can play OLB/DE. On the other hand I want Brown because he looks like the perfect Elephant and we can get a decent NT in round 2. Then, of course, we need to see what happens in FA? Priorities for the draft can change.
Posted By: renoberger | February 03 2009 at 08:30 PM
wow ! look who the raiders got as coordinators !!! hey twista ... lawson was a lucky mistake , because even tho he isn't a great pass rusher , he is a very good lb. . i love him in coverage , and he made a lot happen last year when given a chance in the second half... same with balmer to a degree.
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 03 2009 at 08:34 PM
renoberger , a decent nt. in round 2 ? are you thinking brace or jerry ? or someone else ? i think there is no way i would let raji get away if he is there at 10. remember we have free agency too (haynesworth,suggs,peppers)
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 03 2009 at 08:38 PM
Anddddd after reading the Niner Nation article on full backs it should dawn on niner fans that names like Zak Keasey, Michael Robinson, and Sean Ryan are maddeningly the stamp of crappyness in "motion". Add to that names like Tully Banta Cain, Ronald Fields, Mark Roman, Bass, Wragge, Snyder, Jackson, JTO, Alex Smith and some others and well......As Henny Youngman once said....."take them, Please!!!!"
Posted By: twista2121 | February 03 2009 at 08:40 PM
rob-you can get a big bodied run stuffer in the later rounds, but if a football player like E.Brown is there it would unwise to pass on him
Posted By: sahai49er | February 03 2009 at 08:40 PM
rob- I'm thinking Brace. But he is only a two gapper. He's not as dynamic as Raji but how does one pass on Brown? Maybe by getting Peppers in FA! If they are both on the board at 10, which I highly doubt, it would be one of those tough, but good, choices that has to be made sometimes. Personally I go Raji becaus a 3-4 must have a couple of good NTs and one needs to be very good or great. Look at what happened to the Jets when their NT hurt his hip. He still played but not as well. The Jets went from Super Bowl favorite to out of the play-offs.
Posted By: renoberger | February 03 2009 at 08:58 PM
twista ... we ARE going to upgrade at the positions you named this offseason don't forget ... fs. o-line and d-line were the positions singletary named when asked , and we WILL get a fullback because to run the way he wants you need one ! don't wory !!!!
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 03 2009 at 09:11 PM
how about jerry ? he had a good senior bowl ... (they say he is a one gapper ) i wonder if we could use him !
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 03 2009 at 09:13 PM
rob- Jerry is not a NT. He is a 3 technique D-lineman. This means he could probably play DE/3-4 or DT/4-3. I like him a lot, but he is not one of our first round needs.
Posted By: renoberger | February 03 2009 at 09:30 PM
Good evening Twista. I love Henny Youngman jokes. Some of my favorites have to deal with my love of the horses. Here's a sampling.
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I played a great horse yesterday! It took seven horses to beat him.
The horse I bet on was so slow, the jockey kept a diary of the trip.
My horse's jockey was hitting the horse. The horse turns around and says "Why are you hitting me, there is nobody behind us!"
That was the first time I saw a horse start from a kneeling position!
My horse was so late getting home, he tiptoed into the stable.
I don't mind when my horse is left at the post. I don't mind when my horse comes up to me in the stands and asks, "Which way do I go?" But when the horse I bet on is at the $2 window betting on another horse in the same race...
Posted By: del_mar_dennis | February 03 2009 at 09:32 PM
I can't hang, must go to bed. As usual, nice talking to you guys.
Posted By: renoberger | February 03 2009 at 09:33 PM
del- I bet on a horse that went off at 15 to 1, problem was he came in a 2:30!
Posted By: renoberger | February 03 2009 at 09:37 PM
funny jokes delmar ! i guess we have bigger needs than jerry , too bad , i think he will be one of the better d lineman this yr. and could last till the early 2nd rd> ....
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 03 2009 at 09:43 PM
A pass rusher with killer instinct can lift a team up single handed. They are few and far between. Arizona did not have one or they would be SB Champs right now. They could not get close to Rothlesberger when it counted. They did not FINISH. The Niners need that kine a defensive player. I haven't seen E.Brown but brother Dennis seems to think he is the real deal. Then on to the OL. Working with a FA there seems a good idea. Southerland sounds like a good pick at FB. In an earlier post a couple days ago, I said I thought Raye would be the guy to fit the system to the personnel, not the other way around. It will be Singletary's vision of the personnel that will determine what the offense can do. Raye has seen it all.The trick is to have an offense the players can execute, instead of an offense that executes them!I like Uncle Fester! 49er's Best In the West 2009!
Posted By: ninerdog | February 03 2009 at 09:50 PM
Chuck, Link Wray was very impressive…
Posted By: flyingv68 | February 03 2009 at 09:51 PM
oh and just so you know ... i think this yr. super bowl was a showcase for great wr. ... they are capable of being the difference in the game ...the only problem is finding one nowadays who is not an egotistical headcase who is just as likely to tear your team apart ala owens and 85 !!!!
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 03 2009 at 09:52 PM
hey niner dog... your point mirrors mine ! part of the problem was that on a very important play the tards pulled their best d lineman (all game) , and madden and micheals called em out on it, just before pissburg won the game !!! kind of reminds me of a martz kind of move !!!
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 03 2009 at 09:56 PM
v..... now i can die a happy man !!! you and unca chuck found some common ground !!!! lol . i was blown away by that link (pun very much intended) that unca left !!!!!
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 03 2009 at 09:57 PM
ninerdog ... i've been told i look like uncle fester !!!!
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 03 2009 at 09:59 PM
Rob, it is quite the look, you are a lucky man...I missed that DL move by the "house of cards"...that IS a fartz move!
Posted By: ninerdog | February 03 2009 at 10:03 PM
More thoughts on Uncle Fester...imagine him doing bed-checks during double sessions next summer? Scary! Anybody got a picture of him from '77? I don't want to rag on him too much I'm no 10...besides Fester always got the chicks!
Posted By: ninerdog | February 03 2009 at 10:09 PM
Good evening, Dennis. I'm hoping you're progressing at break "hip" speed.....I bet you're just sore as can be. My thoughts are with ya, Dennis. And thanks for "cheering" me up with those Henny Youngman "bits".
Rob.....I'm gonna take you at face value when you say we'll improve at those positions....you'd better damn well be one of the coaches to know that information****
Posted By: twista2121 | February 03 2009 at 10:18 PM
Keep an eye open for the DT from Miami (FL) Antonio Dixon.
If he comes back from the knee injury and flies under the radar, he's a big body from from a respected program and certainly could be had in the mid rounds if he's got anything to bring to the NFL.
Comes down to scouting, and the kids' desire to succeed.
Seems like the DE/OLB - OT - NT option works for the masses at pick 10.
What works for McSing?
Agreed Reno, the Fat Man in the Middle can be selected later if choice 1 disappears before we can get him.
All about stocking the board with multiple options.
2 teams, Detroit and Philly, have hold extra 1s this year.
I've wondered about swapping with Detroit, our 10 for their 20 and 33 for 43? I haven't done the point comps yet, but if we completely miss on the WANT guy at 10, I'd look into it.
As much as I want the NT, an OT/OG could be very important too.
I've said all along that Baas is a Comp pick in waiting, no ability to hit moving targets in space IMO. He's a straight ahead guy, more of a C.
Posted By: NJ49er | February 03 2009 at 11:09 PM
Dennis, great jokes. Only funny thing I've seen on a boring Tuesday night.
Posted By: sam_owen_giants | February 03 2009 at 11:15 PM
Hey Del, good to have u back man! We need that wit right here. Looking forward to that combine, although we all know that E. Brown is the answer on the outside. Kiper jr. has us taking Aaron Maybin in his Mock draft, but I just dont see the explosion I see with Brown. Maybe he's better in coverage than brown, but we have enough of those "coverage" D-ends on our team. We need a sack machine. Lets also try to get William Moore at Safety, or that kid from Alabama would be good
Posted By: WD50 | February 03 2009 at 11:18 PM
Hey Kevin, whatever happened with Baas and Snyder. They were both studs in college. I remember thinking that the team had a couple of mainstays when they drafted them. Bad scouting? Underacheivers? What's the deal?
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Man oh man, Peppers would change this defense quickly. When you think of a perfect guy for the elephant position, there aren't a lot of guys better than JP.
Posted By: sam_owen_giants | February 03 2009 at 11:20 PM
Hey that fantasy league was awesome. It was nice to have that fun competition during the season. We should definitely do that again. And I seriously am dying to know the origin of the "stinky nightgown."
Posted By: sam_owen_giants | February 03 2009 at 11:24 PM
nj hey . who are those nt in the later rds ? usually they might be there because nt. is not usually a position that goes all that high , but this year as hard as i try , i really can't find a real hot nt. prospect (behind raji )?!!
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 03 2009 at 11:35 PM
A "ramblin' wreck"?.... able only to "execute the basic functions?.... and "as fragile as Any (sic) Whinehouse's psyche"? Kevin, it sounds like you're not talking about a computer but about the Niners' offense the last six seasons! ;-/
Posted By: geraldo | February 03 2009 at 11:53 PM
Rob there's stud NTs and there's Fat Guys in the Middle IMO.
If the stud is there, Wilfork/Ngata were, we passed.
This year, if Raji is there, I say pull the trigger.
If not, I believe in the BPA mentality ONLY if the BPA is something you need immediate production from.
Nolan collected pieces, nothing seems to fit?
3-4 or 4-3? Never defined.
Sing has a plan, hence NoPlan is a coordinator again.
Posted By: NJ49er | February 03 2009 at 11:54 PM
Recall the impact the Michael Carter Ted Washington years had.
The Elephant was able to STAMPEDE.
Tie up the middle, collapse if possible, OLB has 1 on 1 or RB matchups.
We need a scheme as much as we need the players to execute it.
Manusky wants his next Merriman, Everette or someone like him works for me.
It'll be fun to see the Singletary vision being built.
No suit required, it's an attitude.
Posted By: NJ49er | February 04 2009 at 12:00 AM
nj the thing about ted washington that messes me up is when we drafted him i was like ???? after that he was extremely mediocre for us for about 4 years. as soon as he went to buffalo he became some kind of hall of fame game changer and played that way for about 10 frikkin years after he left here !!lol
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 04 2009 at 12:25 AM
Ted wasn't shoved around alot Rob, granted he got HUGE after the left SF so that certainly changed the laws of physics some.
My frustration came with all the high picks that Nolan squandered.
Granted Scot was there, but I believe Nolan made the calls.
I can only hope McSing can agree on the model being built and find the parts that fit.
I'm old school too, the game is made in the trenches.
Hold control on the LOS, and you tend to have a better chance of winning the close games at the end.
That is what Sing seems to have in mind, until you can score at will, which requires a much better QB then we currently possess, you need to control the clock and run when you have to for the tough yards.
Posted By: NJ49er | February 04 2009 at 12:37 AM
V -
Here's one just for you - Michael Burks and the Flying V
http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql;=10:fxfwxqraldae
Posted By: NJ49er | February 04 2009 at 12:45 AM
Weird,I always thought that Snyder was the "tweener" type made for zone blocking, hence his borderline G/T status. On one hand, zone blocking linemen are supposed to be easier to find, as many teams pass on smaller guys. On the other hand, the Raiders have been trying and failing to get the system in place for quite some time now. But perhaps that's because their idea of "fleet-footed" is Robert Gallery and Barry Sims.
Posted By: blbbawbag | February 04 2009 at 01:41 AM
I agree that Clayton should be seriously considered for next season's roster. He has been impressive the last two preseasons. Of course we would have to dump Robinson who has been a good special teams player. But I think Clayton has the potential to be the man in a few years.
Posted By: pete16 | February 04 2009 at 02:44 AM
V-
As long as your going Old School, gotta get a listen to Gary Moore and Mott The Hoople.
Hoople's more glam, but the music smokes.
One of the best songs they did was 'You're a Bastard', but it's all good stuff.
Take a look for the Kinsey Report too.
Posted By: NJ49er | February 04 2009 at 03:33 AM
Not to mention, 'Cleveland Rocks!'
Ian Hunter/Mick Ronson and the Hoople years are good stuff.
Posted By: NJ49er | February 04 2009 at 03:36 AM
if 9 ers had recievers that required some double coverage, it sure changes how the defense sets up,if not d can load up on the pressure. I am sure a wr will get picked but late choices will be mediocre at best. maybe fa is a place to look for a stud reciever. and if the new oc is successful at unleashing vd so be it,seems a stretch, vd hasnt displayed the good hands so far.of course if, if ,if ,if...... I just want to see a sharp football machine on the field and get the swagger back.
Posted By: hotrodwilly | February 04 2009 at 03:59 AM
from the sac bee...
One of the 49ers he'll be most interested in is Vernon Davis. Raye has coached some truly gifted, Hall-of-Fame-type offensive players over his 32-year career. One of them was Rams running back Eric Dickerson. Another was Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez. In his three seasons as Kansas City's offensive coordinator, Gonzalez caught 228 passes and scored 22 touchdowns. He was the quarterback's first choice when the Chiefs needed a first down and created all sorts of mismatches with defenders.
from the sac bee.....
This is where Davis' greatest strength - his powerful frame - becomes a hindrance. The very thing that makes him a nightmare to tackle also constricts his agility. The pass has to be perfect in order for him to catch it, and indeed there were instances in games and in practices where Davis didn't make any effort to stretch for balls that were just out of his reach. An acrobat, he is not.
from the sac bee....
Which isn't to say that Davis is useless in the passing game and is incapable of big plays. His first NFL catch, for instance, was a simple toss in the flat that he was able to turn up field for a 31-yard touchdown against the Cardinals. He's faster than Gonzalez and he's harder to bring down in the open field. He can turn the corner and race up field and he can bowl over smaller defensive backs. What Davis needs most is an offensive coordinator who recognizes his strengths - and perhaps more importantly, his weaknesses -- and puts him in a position where he can succeed
from the sac bee...
New offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye said last week that he thought that Frank Gore was capable of handling 25 carries a game, an indication that he at least feels the one-back approach is feasible. On the team's web site, however, general manager Scot McCloughan seemed pretty gung ho about having a two-pronged attack: "A two running back system will work," McCloughan said. "I think nowadays you have to have that type of system in the NFL, especially with our approach on offense - being a physical running team. You don't just need a change of pace guy, but you need two backs that can have production. If you just have one, you're going to where (sic) him down. It's a long season so if you want to be a playoff contender and get to the Super Bowl, you're going to need two backs to get there."
from the sac bee....
One position that is certain to change is fullback. The 49ers ended the season without a true fullback on the roster. Zak Keasey could be back in training camp, but the former college linebacker is not the "square-backed" thumper that Raye described last week. Here's a list of the fullbacks who are available both through free agency (which is subject to change) and the draft:
Free agency:
Heath Evans, UFA, New England Patriots
John Kuhn, RFA, Green Bay Packers
Corey McIntyre, UFA, Buffalo Bills
Lorenzo Neal, UFA, Baltimore Ravens
Moran Norris, UFA, Detroit Lions
Montell Owens, RFA, Jacksonville Jaguars
Tony Richardson, UFA, New York Jets
Terrelle Smith, UFA, Arizona Cardinals
Naufahu Tahi, RFA, Minnesota Vikings
Leonard Weaver, UFA, Seattle Seahawks
Draft:
Jason Cook, Mississippi
Tony Fiammetta, Syracuse
Quinn Johnson, LSU
Eric Kettani, Navy
Marcus Mailei, Weber State
Brannan Southerland, Georgia
Posted By: hotrodwilly | February 04 2009 at 04:13 AM
mock drafts...
San Francisco 49ers: Everette Brown, DE/OLB, Florida State
Manny Lawson has been a bust in terms of his ability to get to the quarterback. While Parys Haralson evolved into a dependable pass-rusher, Lawson has compiled six career sacks in 32 games. Terrible.
It's time for the 49ers to move on in terms of finding a dynamic sack artist. Everette Brown would be a nice solution; he fits the scheme and he finished the year with 21.5 TFL and 13.5 sacks.
mock # 2
10. San Francisco 49ers: Mark Sanchez, QB, USC
The 49ers get a great QB who could be the top pick in the NFL Draft with the 10th overall Pick. They don’t have a QB for the future but Mark Sanchez is at the top of his game right now and looking to be a top 15 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. I have him as the second best QB in this 2009 NFL Mock Draft.
mock #3
10 San Francisco Aaron Curry OLB 6'2" 246 Wake Forest
mock #4
10 DT, B. J. Raji, Boston College Raji is a monster at 6' 1" 330 pounds. He gets a great push on the inside and in 2008 he recorded 11 tackles for loss (TFLs) and 6.5 sacks.
mock #5
10. San Francisco 49ers - Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas
Mark Sanchez is still available with the 49ers on the clock, they should definitely grab him! Well, not if Mike Singletary and his new coaching staff has anything to do with it. Singletary is a defensive guy, and he just hired an offensive coordinator that prefers to run the football. And with that in mind, I don't think the 49ers want to draft a quarterback with only 1 full year of experience when they could add to their defense or offensive line. The 49ers have an option between Orakpo or Baylor star (Singletary's school) Jason Smith. I think the 49ers decide to booster their defense and take college's biggest award winner this past season in Brian Sack-po. He will be a pass rushing specialist at OLB in the 3-4.
check out the following link
http://dcprosportsreport.com/MockDraft.htm
Posted By: hotrodwilly | February 04 2009 at 04:48 AM
Fox Sports Peter Schrager's "early" draft prediction for the first two rounds has us taking Michael Oher with our first pick and Josh Freeman with our second pick. Oher may indeed fall to us with the 10th pick in the first round......Freeman is such a reach I want Dennis to place a 1000.00 dollar bet in Vegas that that will not happen!!!!!!Jason Smith Jason Smith Jason Smith.......
Posted By: twista2121 | February 04 2009 at 07:00 AM
I'd be completely satisfied with Brown, or Raji, or Oher. I think they'll all be high quality players who will fill an important position of need on the Niners for the next decade. It's the second and third rounds where Trigger better earn his money. We need to get quality players who can come in and contribute quickly there too. And since we have more holes than high picks, free agency becomes important too. Tony Richardson at fullback might make sense if we draft Southerland as well; the kid can learn the offense and the pro game for a year instead of being thrown in right away.
Posted By: grumpy_guy | February 04 2009 at 07:50 AM
NJ, I haven't heard that song in 30 years . . .
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Anyone listen to Come Taste the Band? Tommy Bolin's one album (I think) with Deep Purple after Richie Blackmore left . . . I have to dig that album out of my collection . . .
Posted By: unca_chuck | February 04 2009 at 08:34 AM
NJ49er, I love Gary Moore with Thin Lizzy, I’ll check out Mott The Hoople. In the mean time you should check out Robin Trower, you only need one CD but it’s a great one “Bridge Of Sighs” and since your so into the blues I was wondering if you heard of Jeff Healey if you haven’t check him out he’s great.
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When it comes to music Chuck and me have similar taste but it’s 49er football and politics that we think completely opposite but it’s all in good fun.
Posted By: flyingv68 | February 04 2009 at 08:42 AM
Good stuff there Willy. Get some sleep!! My take has been Brown all the way, but if Raji is there, they should take him. I don't think he will be, but you never know . . .
Posted By: unca_chuck | February 04 2009 at 08:43 AM
Yeah, i saw Robion Trower probably about 15 times whever he played in the city in the 70;s. Just crazy stuff. Long Misty Days is another good album. As is the live one . . . The pic on the front is from the Oakland Coliseum...
Posted By: unca_chuck | February 04 2009 at 08:49 AM
I have Mott the Hoople, Bridge of Sighs, both Tommy Bolin Albums, and have heard Jeff Healey. All good stuff.
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I really enjoyed the Link Wray song. I've never heard of him.
Posted By: renoberger | February 04 2009 at 09:17 AM
I like Oher, but I don't think the Niners will take him because they would have to pay him top 10 left tackle money, and they really only want a guy who can play right tackle, which they should be able to get in the 2nd round. Raji would be another good one, and I thought we'd have a chance at him until I read that Green Bay has decided to switch to a 3-4 and has no credible NT candidates on their roster. I would be shocked if they didn't scoop us right before our pick. So Everette Brown is probably the most realistic and valuable guy that we can expect to get.
Posted By: saltpounder | February 04 2009 at 09:20 AM
Good posts by many on the draft. I don't think Raji will be around at #10 given needs of other teams before #10 and sparcity of great NTs. Should go after Haynesworth in FA. Who else can 9ers afford? Would love to get Suggs and Jordan Gross too! E. Brown and Suggs and new safety would make 9ers top 5 defense?!
Posted By: Go49ersnow | February 04 2009 at 10:05 AM
Be good guys. Doctor says I MUST stay in bed. No computer. Hope to talk to you in a few days or so. I need my rest. Go Everette Brown! :)
Posted By: del_mar_dennis | February 04 2009 at 10:46 AM
I'd be thrilled with Jordan Gross and a decent QB capable of competing with Hill (Derek Anderson?) for the starters spot in FA. And maybe another WR if we lose Bruce. The rest I think could be done in the draft.
It's going to take at least one more draft after this one before the Niner's are serious playoff contenders.
Posted By: quickkick | February 04 2009 at 10:53 AM
it should be interesting, all those with 1-9 picks have a lot to choose from especially if anyone takes a qb, wr, or rb before #10. if some one takes raji before #10 it will be pretty expensive. case in point the oakland qb who didnt play the first year much, 30 mil signing bonus for zip, and then proceeded to not even qualify for a niner qb in the second year.....el busto for 60 mil. if the 9 ers take josh freeman with the 43 pick some one needs to die . at #43, still in the top 100 picks josh freeman isnt on anyones radar, peter schrager HAS BEEN DRINKING HIS BATH WATER!!! there must be 5-6 mocks having sf pick sanchez at 10. while he would not be bad to have on the roster theres no way the 9ers will take him at #10. i guess an expert now a days is a twenty something college grad working for newspaper or magazine , big deal. my dad took me to my first 49 er game in 1959 with y.a. title and Hugh McElhenny etc, which i remember well,hell after 50 yrs of following them , its sad to see jed and group make blunder after blunder and hear how good jed is plzzzzzzzzzzz gimme a break.
Posted By: hotrodwilly | February 04 2009 at 10:56 AM
now i KNOW why pissburgh has more titles than we do ... they had a parade for the squealers and more than 300,000 turned out
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 04 2009 at 11:13 AM
now i KNOW why pissburgh has more titles than we do ... they had a parade for the squealers and more than 300,000 turned out (oops to continue my drunken post).... the funny thing is, that even tho 300,000 doesnt sound much more impressive than say
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 04 2009 at 11:14 AM
300,000 parade fans and one real owner committed to winning.
Posted By: quickkick | February 04 2009 at 11:17 AM
omg im so drunk i had to try 3 times just to post this garbage,...now i KNOW why pissburgh has more titles than we do ... they had a parade for the squealers and more than 300,000 turned out (oops to continue my drunken post).... the funny thing is, that even tho 300,000 doesnt sound much more impressive than say new england , the funny thing is no more than 300,000 live in the whole town of pissburgh (can you blame em ?)... but it does say and explain a lot !!!!!
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 04 2009 at 11:17 AM
and quick , you are one of my top guys on here ! cuz you never go astray. however you know what ? jed is as commited to winning as uncle eddie !!! so as long as he is heir to the debartolo fortune , we have as good a chance as any body at a super bowl...(after all if the tards can do it , so can we !)
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 04 2009 at 11:20 AM
What do you all think of trading down to possibly acquire an extra middle round pick or two? Gets the team out of paying top 10 salary and this is a very deep draft at some of our need positions (which are plentiful). Or do you guys think that the players around the top are too valuable to pass up on? Staley seems to be a great late 1st rounder though.
Posted By: sam_owen_giants | February 04 2009 at 11:22 AM
Amen Kick! Damn Yorks.
Posted By: sam_owen_giants | February 04 2009 at 11:24 AM
Thanks rob- But I don't think it's right to mention Jed and Eddie favorably in the same sentence.
Posted By: quickkick | February 04 2009 at 11:27 AM
If you are talking fullbacks the guy I remember is Leonard Weaver of the Seahawks. He scored 2 TDs against the Niners with a memorable 62 yd TD catch.
He might also be a decent backup to Gore at RB and he's a unrestricted FA.
Pread that Suggs is likely to either be franchised or will reup with the Ravens.
Should we go after Asomugha at CB? He's probably looking for a Clements type contract. Can we afford him?
Posted By: meanfreddean | February 04 2009 at 11:38 AM
quick ,dont be too hasty to damn york(jed) ! mean fred dean (you have the best effin name on the whole blog !) and A good idea is to watch the enemy team for a player who can do well against you for future help. the only prob is , that when your team sucks , any one can succeed against you !!!! as so many found out while our team prospered ! get it ? not sure however about weaver as i'm only an arm chair qb, and not walsh lol
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 04 2009 at 11:51 AM
The thing about FA is that we'll be lucky to get two "starting caliber" players out of it and still be able to sign the guys we need to keep like Takeo Spikes. So all this talk about Haynesworth, Asomugha, Suggs, Sproles Gross, JP...it's like..pick ONE. (If you're lucky) That's not even considering the Franchise Tag that some will get if they're still eligible for that. You can reasonably expect to get one big FA signing.
That's why I'm saying that I'd be happy if we could get Gross (although I heard he wants to stay at Carolina), and maybe a lower tier guy like D. Anderson because if we don't get a solid #2 QB capable of starting we're potentially f##ked in '09.
And maybe a good, but not great WR if Bruce is gone.
That's about all we can really expect from FA.
Posted By: quickkick | February 04 2009 at 11:53 AM
hey quick im wasted but you know what you said it all ! if we get 2 star ters in free agency we'll be doing good. (any team would imo)... but don't forget , thanks to scott m , we are only 4-6 guys away from being a top 10 team imo. .... !!!!! wow , to grab 2 starters in fa , and 2 in the draft , imo , we beat the cards this time , and win the division ! ( never thought you'd see that with york owner ship, did ya !!!?????
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 04 2009 at 12:02 PM
Argee on FA, Kick. My personal idea is to focus on safety and fullback (they won't break the bank). Only consider Gross, Haynesworth, etc. if something falls in our lap. Build at the costly positions (OT, elephant, QB) through the draft.
Posted By: grumpy_guy | February 04 2009 at 12:02 PM
Last year the Niner's actually wound up with 5 starters through FA (if you count Barry Sims), so I'll amend that part of my last post , but still the only "big name" signing we had was Justin Smith.
Posted By: quickkick | February 04 2009 at 12:07 PM
rob- You might see things differently when you sober up... Sorry, I had to say that :)
Posted By: quickkick | February 04 2009 at 12:09 PM
To the people still talking about Mark Sanchez at #10, we already got a QB! His name is Shaun Hill
Posted By: WD50 | February 04 2009 at 12:15 PM
Oh....I forgot...The lead guitarist for The Pretenders has one of the best solos I've ever heard on the cut "Private Lives". He couldn't duplicate that again if he tried.
I've seen alot of crap flow into the "49er corral" over the years and I must admit this isn't the longest stretch by any means of "lean times". What makes this "short" stretch(at least in geologic time) so annoying is that I'm not getting any younger and for me there's an urgency.....like, win soon, damn it!
Posted By: twista2121 | February 04 2009 at 12:16 PM
As much as we need RT and FS help, we can't pass up an explosive player like E. Brown. The other ends might seem better to draft analysts, but none are as explosive as this kid. And if we were smart or bold enough, we could trade up to the end of the first round to get that RT.
Posted By: WD50 | February 04 2009 at 12:19 PM
Rob
It's noontime Wednesday. Isn't it a little early to be on a bender? But then again I should know better than try to be rational with a drunk.
Posted By: meanfreddean | February 04 2009 at 12:20 PM
SAM, I think the Niners have to go after Brown with their 1st pick. The way things are shaking out in front of them, he'll likely be available. Sure, it's a gamble, but if he's not there, then someone else will be. Whether it's Oher for the O line, Brown as a DE/OLB/Elephant or Raji as the NT. They can't go wrong with any of those pics. . . If Raji is there, he'd be hard to pass up . . .
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Here's a pretty good mock draft. It has the Niners taking Jarron Gilbert from SJ State (6'5" - 280) as a DE/DT.
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http://www.nfldraftdog.com/Mock_Drafts/2009_mock_nfl_draft_2nd_round.htm
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Funny thing is, they have Sanchez going as the 34th pick in the draft . . .
Posted By: unca_chuck | February 04 2009 at 12:39 PM
If the Niners could draft Raji and Gilbert I'd be ecstatic.
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Dennis, take care of yourself. We'll all be here mentally masturbating when you return . . .
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I think spit is on a sabbatical as well . . .
Posted By: unca_chuck | February 04 2009 at 12:41 PM
Raye's hiring I believe is as uninspiring as the lackluster offenses he's run in the past. Singletary needed someone who will run a dynamic and creative offense in order to create a strong identity.
I suspect that hiring will be Singletary's undoing and both will be gone after next season.
Posted By: essay | February 04 2009 at 01:06 PM
Essay
First everybody deserves a chance. You have Sing fired in the offseason. They didn't hire a coach to entertain you. This isn't a 3 ring circus like Oakland where they change coaches like you change your underwear. The bottom line is winning. Some of you guys are unbelievable. Singletary will get at least 2 full seasons to prove himself unless they do a Detroit Lions or the team quits on him.
Posted By: meanfreddean | February 04 2009 at 01:19 PM
Essay, Singletary needs a solid experienced guy to run the offense. ALL their coaches that interviewed the candidates agreed that Raye was the way to go. That's exactly what he got. Sure, he ain;t flashy or a hot commodity, but he;s coached a boatload of great players and has had success in the NFL. That's good because he won't run for a head coaching job next year, and the Niners will get some continuity with their offense. If the team can build a good defense, the O will be fine. . . .
Posted By: unca_chuck | February 04 2009 at 01:23 PM
Essay...nipper....what next? Skeebers and Marcos???
Posted By: twista2121 | February 04 2009 at 01:34 PM
Twista, Skeebs is hiding on Jenkins blog. It's safer over there!!!
Posted By: unca_chuck | February 04 2009 at 01:39 PM
Here is Matt Barrows' Sac Bee take on the 49ers offensive line situation:
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/49ers/archives/019267.html
Posted By: grumpy_guy | February 04 2009 at 01:50 PM
ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.................
Posted By: unca_chuck | February 04 2009 at 04:08 PM
guys, even tho i have wierd days off being in the retail bizz, that does NOT mean my last 2 posts are not rite on the money !!! although it doesnt mean they are on the money either lol
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 04 2009 at 04:09 PM
o well chuck and mean fred , all i can say is zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ! and go niners lol
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 04 2009 at 04:13 PM
Good posts by quick,grumpy, and unca. Does anybody have opinion or info on which FAs will likely get franchise tag??
I'm thinking the 9ers will get E. Brown, an OT, safety, FB, RB, QB, WR, CB from the draft in that order. I think Johnson from Tulsa might be good in the 6th round. Any others??
2 of the following FAs would be great: Haynesworth, Suggs, Peppers and/or Gross; and a FA quarterback is a high priority. In addition to QB, other important positions needed in the long injury frequent NFL season are pass rushers, RB, OL, and DL
Posted By: Go49ersnow | February 04 2009 at 04:48 PM
What about Teel from Rutgers and Harrell from Tech as 6th round QBs selections??
Posted By: Go49ersnow | February 04 2009 at 05:07 PM
Go49ers - I think you've been peeking at my draft board. I have those exact positions as 49er needs. Especially Everette Brown with our first pick. Harrell from Texas Tech has a throwing motion reminiscent of the old Pirate pitcher Kent Tekulve. No thanks. I've been on the Curtis Painter (Purdue) bandwagon for quite sometime now. I think he'd be worth a flier in the 6th round. You didn't hear this from me, I'm supposed to be resting in bed. Posted By: Frank The Cat| February 04 2009 at 06:18 PM
Posted By: del_mar_dennis | February 04 2009 at 06:18 PM
Hi Mr. Delmar,
My mom has gone through hip surgery this Monday. She is doing well.
A learning note: i have researched that soy milk has substantial favorable potent properties to our bones than regular milk has. Surely my mom is a bit too late for that by now, but it surely can be beneficial to you Mr. Delmar.
Hope for the best.
On Niners: yup the central winning or losing season would start and end with Mr. Singletary not Mr.Raye next season. We are all voted him during his interim period. Now, let's give him space to do his job. It is Mr. York initiatives we should listen to build this franchise: I hope his priority is building the team that win Superbowl. Once we did that everything else will come in place. I rarely hear what his 100 days actions (sort of to say..) from his President of office
Wet (rainy-flood) Regards,
Surja
Indonesia
Posted By: surja | February 04 2009 at 06:23 PM
Surja - Thanks for the info. I've never been a big milk fan myself. I've found Oxycontin and Budweiser to have nice healing properties as well. :)
Posted By: del_mar_dennis | February 04 2009 at 06:30 PM
Chuck should be on the floor by now. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. As for Raye, if Singletary likes him so be it. Quit complaining you dopes.
Posted By: Nipper | February 04 2009 at 07:00 PM
Hey, Steve Young likes Jimmy Raye..
Posted By: WD50 | February 04 2009 at 07:24 PM
Tauscher is an OT from GFreen Bay that is a FA. I keep reading how good this guy is. Anybody out there familiar with this guy?
Posted By: renoberger | February 04 2009 at 08:07 PM
Vaguely. Tauscher seems fine from the little I've seen.
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Go49ers, they can wait til the 5th (or late 4th compensatory?) for a FB. The top rated one won't go til then according to almost all the mock drafts. . . I'd give Clayton a shot before drafting an RB. . . .
Posted By: unca_chuck | February 04 2009 at 08:13 PM
clayton !!!!!go49ers etc ... the most likely franchised player we care about is haynesworth ...{my man fischer(seiforts favorite whipping boy) is smart enough to lock him up )} , but we still can grab peppers or suggs as our passrusher this offseason...(if not a.h.)
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 04 2009 at 09:00 PM
wd ,,, how do you know young likes raye , and are you sure ???.... also is there anybody out there ??????????
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 04 2009 at 09:14 PM
Go49ersnow-
I propped Teel and Kenny Britt from Rutgers awhile back.
I really am impressed with Britt, big target and plays very well in traffic. Problem is he'll likely go early because of a weak class for big target guys, but if he's hanging around in Rd 4 I'd be jumping at the chance to select him.
Teel is a FA and I'd model him as a Cassel-type, mobile enough, accurate enough and plays big.
Posted By: NJ49er | February 04 2009 at 09:51 PM
jesus h nj 49er .... teel and britt? i know them less than i know brit(ney )spears) lol ! wow! if you found a mid round gem then you should be hired by an nfl team asap !!! i try to do that every year !!! britt sounds pretty good tho !!!! although i would never recommend playing in traffic... always better to try to keep off the street lol ! here however is a interesting tidbit i just read for you... dan reeves and dallas are NOT going to agree to a deal !!! how would any body here feel now (in light of the raye hire)about us stepping in and hiring reeves as either a front office guy or as "assistant head coach -offense ", ??? (i btw was kind of happy to see we weere thinking of hiring him a while ago)!!!!
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 04 2009 at 10:01 PM
Assistant to the assistant regional manager maybe . . . Ramses would be a good get if he's around in the late 3rd . . . WR from Cal Poly, of all places.
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Dennis, ain't you suuposed to be out of action for a while?
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Slow around here. Spit ain't raising hell / / / . . .
Posted By: unca_chuck | February 04 2009 at 10:19 PM
V-
Trower is already in my collection, solid stuff.
Other's I recommend highly, Rory Gallagher, 10 Years After, Robben Ford, Sonny Landreth.
A KILLER album I owned as a bootleg on vinyl (back in the day), was remastered on CD.
Fleetwood Mac LIVE at the Boston Tea Party Vol 1.
Has an A$ jam (24+ mins), Rattlesnake Shake.
Not the Fleetwood Mac you younger guys from the Tusk and Rumors era will recognize, but Bassist John McVie started with my original Blues God John Mayall.
From Mayall came Clapton and many others, but if you'd like a copy of it, I'll be happy to share.
Just need to exchange the email info.
But, F/Mac was an extraordinary group early on. Boston Tea Party was a sentimental favorite of mine and that Rattlesnake Shake alone is almost as epic as Radar Love/Free Bird/Stairway to Heaven/Green Grass and High Tides/Mountain Jam (Allman Bros) for me.
Forgive me, 9ers and music? I need some friends and some beer to share.
Posted By: NJ49er | February 04 2009 at 10:23 PM
good stuff guys ... dont 4 get dan reeves ... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 04 2009 at 10:29 PM
"Veteran NFL coach Dan Reeves told ESPN on Wednesday that he believed he had successfully negotiated a multiyear contract with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones that would have created a senior management position in Dallas. But the partnership dissolved when Reeves became uncomfortable with changes Jones insisted upon "... the guy coached in 4 super bowls with 3 or 4 different teams !!! and was coach of the year twice !!! not a bad guy to have in your corner !!!!!!
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 04 2009 at 10:34 PM
but not as epic as smoke on the water or highway star or child in time etc.
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 04 2009 at 10:36 PM
or more to the point (or to piss more people off lol) to follow your statement the 85 bears or the baltimore ravens are the greatest franchise of all time !
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 04 2009 at 10:38 PM
"Raye already has mentioned Eric Heitmann. A year ago at this time, Heitmann was one of the lowest-paid starting centers in the league. Now observers, including outgoing offensive coordinator Mike Martz, are calling him one the league's best at his position."
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 04 2009 at 10:49 PM
Rob -
Rutgers is in my backyard here, local exposure.
Schiano came from Miami, the Rutgers program is respectable now and Teel/Britt put up some decent numbers here.
I've seen Britt rated as high as Rd 2 already, so we'll see.
He's an early entry Jr, won't see him at the Combines, but I guarantee the Scouts know him. Jets/Giants/Eagles are familiar with these guys because they're local to us.
Kinda getting hooked into music mode lately here too, good stuff.
If you're gonna talk D/Purple, you gotta talk 'Burn' and go farther with Blackmore/Coverdale and their extended stuff.
When you go back over the years, the British Blues invasion spawned a music revolution. Southern Rock alone was a movement here.
Posted By: NJ49er | February 04 2009 at 10:56 PM
hey nj , good !!!! the nfl teams seem to find local kids more often than not. consider how many good players from florida are in the nfl , vs. how many play for us !!!!(kinda interesting to think about !)... as for my beloved purple ,(lol)the brits are the best at quite a bit ... ie. beatles stones purple and many more are all from across the pond !inc. genesis ,floyd ,sabbath etc etc some of the guys in zeppelin ! wow !!!!
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 04 2009 at 11:05 PM
oh, now for purple ... if you want extended , the best of that (with them) imo. is from 69-72, with blackmore, lord etc and their 30 minute long live songs extended versions of 4 minute studio versions !!!! and of course the incomparable ian gillan on vocals (the tonal quality of his voice alone is at the top of the rock genre imo.)
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 04 2009 at 11:09 PM
Tell me about it, I go back to the days of copying vinyl onto cassettes, now you download whatever you want by the song.
I'm attempting to replace many of my favorites onto a Hard Drive library now, just been too damn busy to play around with it.
Another classic was cleaned up and sounds better then it ever did in the 'Old' days.
Mayall/Clapton's Beano album from '66 -
There's a blast from the past!
http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql;=10:39fixqq5ldae
Posted By: NJ49er | February 04 2009 at 11:17 PM
hey , before you do the hard drive , remember , that's old news now !!! (all my favs are on cd or dvd still!!!) now you gotta have mp3 lol ... by the time we catch up , they'll have some other new technology ! like holodigital or whatever lol
Posted By: rob_deluca | February 04 2009 at 11:22 PM
For anyone looking to enjoy a good 'Indoor' concert on DVD,
I highly recommend the John Mayall 70th Birthday DVD too.
Great show and the 'Old Crew' got together for him, including Clapton.
Great for a winter evening get together with booze and friends!
Posted By: NJ49er | February 04 2009 at 11:25 PM
That's the play Rob, 250gig HD and move the Tunes in and out of playlists to the iPod.
You leave the CDs on the rack and plug into your head or the vehicle.
Can't beat it!
Posted By: NJ49er | February 04 2009 at 11:28 PM
Nj49er, I heard about old Fleetwood Mac being good. Your favorite song list was excellent I didn’t know you like Southern Rock besides UFO, Lynyrd Skynyrd is one of my favorite bands. Outlaws, Marshall Tucker, Allman Brothers, Charlie Daniels, 38 special. I also love Black Oak Arkansas and it cracks me up when Jim Dandy starts signing on a song on my Ipod and seeing people reaction as they ask me “Who the hell is that?” Their first album and “Aint Life Grand” is fantastic! But Zeppelin’s “Physical Graffiti” makes me not want to record my original music anymore and my producer always gets a good laugh about when I tell him that.
_
One great songwriter is John Kay from Steppenwolf along with Cat Stevens.
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You know one badass album is Alice Cooper‘s “Billion Dollar Babies” and Scorpions “Virgin Killer” and “In Trance” with Ulrich Roth was killer!
Posted By: flyingv68 | February 05 2009 at 12:34 AM
V-
I'm in ALL those categories, music is reborn now with the way they can clean up the old stuff.
I tried some newer stuff, sort of Skynyrd tribute guys, 'Drive By Truckers', they aren't bad, a little different, but entertaining.
But yea, can't do without Allman Bros.
Cooper is excellent as well, too many to list.
My first fave was Magic Carpet Ride and CCRs Cosmos Factory.
But I enjoy the Blues Rock above all.
Let me know if you're interested in the F/Mac LIVE, it's even got them doing Black Magic Woman.
Too bad the recording industry couldn't deliver the technology back then that exists today, but lots of stuff has been released as remastered digital now.
Old Stones especially. Company called ABCO cleaned up some of their earlier classics, did a very nice job too.
Posted By: NJ49er | February 05 2009 at 12:56 AM
NJ, It was funny when I was really into the Scorpions when me and my brother went on long trips would always make me listen to the Allman Brothers all the way to our destination and I would have all my CD’S ready to go into his player but he would mess with me all the way. Then I started liking them and him playing them was cool with me, now he makes me suffer with someone else.
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The Allman brothers were great live and I seen them many times. I was just reading in a magazine I got for Christmas that after Skynyrds plane crash that Gregg Allman contacted Gary and Allen and asked them to join up with him forming a new band called “Freebird” but the guys weren’t ready and Greedy Gary and his wife Dale had dollar signs in their eyes….I’m learning a lot of shit in this southern rock magazine.
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CCR what can I say so different than everyone else and Fogerty was such a great song writer and one of my earliest memories was Cosmos Factory as well, great album along with Willy And The Poor Boys.
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Yeah these new bands have no talent that why you see all these old bands coming back and touring again and I’m glad they are because there’s nothing out there today that is remotely close to these old bands.
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Sure I would like to listen to Fleetwood Mac Live, I would appreciate it. Have a good day and keep rockin.
Posted By: flyingv68 | February 05 2009 at 08:50 AM
Wasn't Rhino doiong that as well? Funny, V, I remember one of my sister's friends (obviously a loadie) would drive me to kindergarten,and CCR would be playing on the radio. . . The guy had an old, beat up rambler. He rigged a bird up to the hood that would shoot water out of it. . . . Crazy, the stuff you remember.
Posted By: unca_chuck | February 05 2009 at 08:16 PM