Crabtree contract incentive

So we now discover that the Niners have offered a 4 year 20 mil deal to Crabtree with incentives to take the number to 30 mil, if he “catches as many passes in his first two years, as Jerry Rice did.”  That’s absolutely unbelievable to me.  Who could dream up something like this? I can just see the news conference after a game. Reporter: “Good game Michael, the Niners came up big today in the fourth quarter to get that win.” Michael: “Yeah man, but they didn’t throw me the ball enough when I was open.” “I need the ball to get my money.” Reporter: “Ah…………….thanks for your time.”

OK, maybe that’s not being fair to Crabtree. Maybe he’s just a peach of a guy and a real team player and just is being handled by a bunch of knuckleheads. But, offering an incentive to a player like this is just a recipe for problems in my opinion, especially if the team is not going well.

Hopefully this deal can get done, and soon, even with this goofy clause in the contract. The Niners receiving core in its current state looks pretty vanilla to me. Adding Crabtree, and getting Brandon Jones back from his injury, would help.

MN

The Niner DB’s

Even with the season loss of savvy vet Walt Harris, I like the Niner DB’s. I think this group will have a much bigger impact on the team than we’ve seen  in many years. They have considerable depth and experience, plus some new guys that have not really had the chance to show what they can do…………….yet. Three starters are set it, so it seems. Nate Clements at one corner, and Michael Lewis and Dashon Goldson at the safeties. The battle rages at the other CB slot opposite Clements between Dre’ Bly (4th in the NFL in int’s for active players) and 3rd year man Tarell Brown.  The Niners probably will carry 8 DB’s on the current roster with Allen Rossum listed primarily as a return man (although he did get on the field as a DB in the exhibition season).  Shawntae Spencer is pretty much a lock to make the team, and I think third round 2008 draft pick Reggie Smith is, as well. That probably leaves Marcus Hudson, free agent Eric Green, rookie Curtis Taylor, and former starter Mark Roman to battle it out for the remaining two active roster spots. I can’t see the Niners keeping Roman, so it should be between the remaining three with Curtis Taylor currently in the pole position.

Clements is not the shut down corner he might have been in his days in Buffalo, but still can play at a pretty high level on most Sunday’s. He always gets the opponents toughest receiver, and is a great open field tackler.  Some thought Bly would slide right in opposite Clements, but that is surely not the case. Tarell Brown continues to make plays and is just quick on quick with big league recovery speed. This guy might have been a number one pick had he not had some off field problems and tough injuries at Texas. Even if Brown does not start, he’ll play a whole lot. Dashon Goldson brings some swagger and ‘tude the secondary and seems to have a real knack for being right where the ball is. Lewis is a solid veteran player. No Ed Reed’s here, but safeties who can play both the pass and the run.

I am hoping that the defensive scheme of the Niners in ‘09 features more blitzing from the DB’s. I believe they have the personnel to do this, and that would provide more help to a front three that are not exactly QB chasers.

MN

The Definition…….

Of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result. I guess that could apply to me saying over and over for the last “too many” years that the Niners need a pass rush. In three exhibtion games this year the Niner players have recorded exactly as many sacks as I have ………zero. I have seen a number of media interviews including one I recall during the Dallas game, where scribes ask players (in this case Patrick Willis) if the Niners aren’t showing their opponents how they are REALLY going to come after the opposing QB in the exhibition season? The response is always something like…..”yeah we are just playing a basic defense”  Boy, am I ready for that “un-basic” stuff when the real bell rings.

To be fair, the Niners did put pressure on the Cowboy ones a few times resulting in some hurried throws by T. Romo including an interception by Mark Roman (something he has not done in the last three years). The “pressurizer” continues to mainly be Parys Haralson, who is really turning into a very fine NFL defensive player.  Manny Lawson contines to get handled on most plays, either at OLB or as a stand up DE.

But it continues to be the front four that never, ever, seem to be able to get after the passer. Justin Smith is a respectable, but not great pass rusher. The other two D-Line starters are Nose Tackles, Isaac Sopoaga and Aubrayo Franklin.  Yep, a team should have one nose guy on their D-Line, but not two. The back-up’s? Ray McDonald, Demetric Evans, and last year’s number one pick, Kentwan Balmer. Not exactly a murderers row.

The Niner defense is pretty darn solid against the run but they will have to summon up something from the Greg Manusky trick bag to be more effective against the pass in 2009. They better come up with something good as here’s just some of the passers they will be facing in the weeks ahead………………Kurt Warner (twice), Brett Favre, Matt Ryan, Peyton Manning, Jay Cutler and Donovan McNabb. I’m also thinking one Mr. Aaron Rodgers might want to fling a few at the Niners when the teams meet in Green Bay in late November. So……go forth Niners and rush that passer.

MN

Only Crabtree left…….

With Andre Smith’s signing with the Bengcriminals, the 49ers now have the distinction of having the only 2009 un-signed number one draft pick. That of course would be Michael “I was drafted tenth, but pay me number two or three money, because that’s where I was rated in mock drafts” Crabtree.  Hopefully someone will strike Crabtree on the side of the head with a 2X4 and tell him to “accept” the 20 million the Niners are offering and get the hell in camp.  It is becoming increasingly apparent why many teams passed on Crabtree.

The other two things that gave me pause for though watching the Niner ones play the Cowboy ones in their exhibition game were the “situations” at right tackle and at outside linebacker.  It seems the ‘09 draft was influenced by the Niners feeling thier RT sitation was acceptable with Adam Snyder, and the signing of former Steeler Marvel Smith.  I guess they also thought that Manny Lawson was fully healthy and ready to rock at outside linebacker. He would be a formidable bookend to emerging pass rushing star Parys Haralson.  So even though the apparent “no-brainer” Crabtree pick was there, it may have not even entered the Niners’ brain trust minds to pick Ole Miss’ OT Michael Oher, who will likely start for the Ravens in ‘09, and not trade with Carolina, and select Florida State’s DE/OLB Everette Brown.

Of course, everything is crystral clear after you have seen it happen, but with Crabtree MIA,  Marvel Smith unexpectedly retiring, Snyder being hurt again, and Lawson looking anything like the pass rushing machine he was projected to be, the Niners might have drawn the short straw again with their  draft strategy.  If that happens, on the heels of the Kentwan Balmer number one pick last year, I wouldn’t encourage Scot McCloughan to get too comfortable  in the Bay Area.

MN

Observations from Game One

Wow, like there’s been none of these! I did notice a couple of things that interested me though. The diatribe from Santa Clara suggests Hill and Smith are runnin’ neck and neck and only this exhibition season will show the staff  who will emerge to stand behind Eric Heitmann when the real bell brings. All I needed to see last night was that 3rd down screen pass that Alex Smith threw so low and so behind  RB Glen Coffee to tell me who should be starting.  Smith still looks nervous to me the second he gets the ball. Shaun Hill looks anything but.

There were a number of mentions on the telecast on the Niner pass rush. The questions surrounded the historical lack of a pass rush, especially from the front 3, or 4, and this years plan to remedy this. The official word from the head coach…….”just wait and see.” Ah…………..OK, but if last night was ANY indication of the new and improved  ”just wait and see” strategy, we likely to be waiting a whole lot longer than we’re seeing.  The D-Line continued to not make the opposing QB one bit nervous. None of Kyle Orton’s interceptions were the result of any defensive pressure.

I still do not understand the strategy for starting Isaac Sopoaga on the outside, other than they have no one else. Ray McDonald is injured, and if anyone watched last year’s number one pick Kentwan Balmer attempt to rush the passer last night, he certainly continues to signal that he’s not the answer.  A first round draft pick is a terrible thing to waste.

Jay Moore appears to be finally healthy after two very disappointing seasons of sitting and watching. He’s a big guy at around 6′4″, 245 lbs and certainly looks like he can be effective in the 3-4, including moving up to the DE position as situations dictate.  Some pundits thought Moore was a better NFL prospect than his Nebraska team mate Adam Carriker who was drafted in the first round of the 2007 draft by the Rams.  I think this is an absolutely make or break year for Manny Lawson and if he doesn’t show he can make a difference in the rush pass game, look for Moore to step in as a starter.

Lastly, I liked the signing of Dre’ Bly not only because he’s a savvy, expereinced player, but also because he brings some pazzzazz to to the secondary with his attitude. New starting free safety Dashon Goldson also brings a new ‘tude to the secondary as well, so I look for this group to be a more contributing force than we’ve seen in a while.  On to the Raiders and a warning to enter the parking lot at Candlestick at your own risk

MN

Defense expects to be among the league’s elite

This was a headline in the June 8th San Francisco Chronicle in the “49ers Beat” area, penned by Niner “beat” reporter John Crumpacker. Well of course  it’s indeed a worthy objective to strive for an elite defense, but “expecting” to “doing” are quite different things altogether. That’s not to say the Niner defense could not be very good in 2009, but in my small mind there remain many questions for this happen. First and foremost the announced front three of Isaac Sopoaga, Aubrayo Franklin, and Justin Smith are not exactly a sack attack. The entire Niner DL contingent produced 10 sacks in 2008, 7 of which were recorded by one player, Justin Smith. The new and improved 2009 strategy to rush the passer is apparently going to be the duo of Parys Haralson and Manny Lawson playing a huge role in supporting the pretty benign DL. Haralson showed last year that he can definitely get after the QB. He played a lot of stand up DE/LB in college at Tennessee and clearly has learned a lot about chasing down QB’s, both there, and in the NFL. Lawson was billed as a QB killer coming out of N.C. State as a number one pick, but has yet to fulfil that legacy. A serious injury in 2007 evaporated that season for him and he was slow to return to form in 2008.  Can Lawson be the player the Niners need/want at the outside LB position?  The jury is certainly still way out on this.  The defensive backfield needs to make a whole lot more plays in 2009, especially the safeties, where a ball has not been intercepted since Reagan was in the White House. Well, not exactly, but the safety position needs to make way more contributions to the defense in 2009 to make the whole thing roll. Mark Roman goes to the bench (thank gawd), and Dashon Goldson now has his chance to be a playmaker. Michael Lewis has been adequate since his arrival from Phily and perhaps with Roman not boat anchoring the safety position, can be more productive.  I liked Walt Harris’ savvy and experience at one DB, but he is gone to a season ending injury and perhaps was vulnerable to lose his job anyway? Dre’ Bly or Tarell Brown playing opposite Nate Clements will probably be OK.  So, lots of questions, and lots of ifs. It will be interesting to see how they all play out and whether the Niners can field a defense that can really help make them a contender.

MN

Think it’s hard to make an NFL roster?

While at one of the Niner mini camp sessions I was waiting for the players to emerge. One did, and sat on the bench next to me.  I didn’t recognize him, but did see the name BRIGGS on a piece of masking tape across the front of his helmet. I introduced myself to him, and he did the same.  He is Diyral Briggs, free agent from Bowling Green. What a nice, polite and composed young man. He was a star defensive end at BGSU, and a two time all MAC conference player. The MAC is a highly under rated conference in terms of football talent, so Mr. Briggs has not played against a bunch of patsies. But, at 6′4″, 230 pounds, he’s not exactly the proto-type NFL defensive end.  He explained that he would have to make the transition to outside linebacker to have any chance to play on Sunday. He also understood the challenge  this would involve, and pretty much knew that is why he probably didn’t hear his name called on April 25th in New York City.

Take a look at one scouting service had to say about Mr. Briggs in the fall of 2008…………………

Last year South Florida’s defensive end George Selvie burst onto the national scene after just two games into the 2007 College Football season when he led the country in sacks and tackles for loss (TFL). Now it’s safe to say that if Selvie enters the 2009 NFL Draft  as a junior he will certainly be a first round pick.

Now I am not saying senior defensive end Diyral Briggs has the same draft potential as Selvie, Briggs is only about 6’ 4” 230 pounds, so he will probably be converted to outside linebacker, but Briggs is in the same elite company this season after the first two games. He currently leads the nation with 5 sacks and is ranked 2ndin the nation with 5.5 TFLs with an additional 3 quarterback hurries after only two games. He did this against some solid teams, he recorded 2 sacks in Bowling Green’s stunning upset over Pitt in week one andlast weekend against Minnesota he recorded 3 more sacks. So his stats are not inflated by playing against some non division-one powder puffs. Briggs is very strong and explosive and is definitely a sleeper pick and someone to keep an eye on for the 2009 NFL Draft.

Last season (2007), Briggs was a first-team All-MAC selection, played in 12 games and led Bowling Green with five sacks. His seven tackles for loss ranked him second on the team.

In 2006 as a sophomore he played in all 12 games and started the final six, he totaled 69 total tackles, including 10.5 tackles for a loss and seven sacks. He was named MAC Player of the Year following the game at Ohio and tallied double digit tackles in back-to-back games against Eastern Michigan (10) and at Central Michigan (11).

As a freshman in 2005 he played in all 11 games and had five TFLs, recorded 4.5 sacks for a loss, recovered three fumbles and had 11 QB hurries.

High School: Chose Bowling Green but was heavily recruited by Miami, Maryland, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Pitt, South Carolina and Illinois. He went to the Virginia Tech Nike Camp after high school and this is what his high school Coach (Commins) said. “I took him there and he did extremely well there. It was about 45 degrees outside and raining and he ran a 4.68 on the grass, so he’s probably a solid 4.6 right now. So he’s looking really good.”

It would sure be nice if the Niners have found a hidden gem in Diyral Briggs. I will tell you this, he’s a “first rounder” from a personal perspective.

MN

 

 

NFL Draft 2009-My Way

With the NFL draft over a week old and fresh off a visit to the Niner Mini Camp, there has been some time to reflect on the recent draft and what it could have been for the Niners, at least in my opinion.

On a personal note, I have never been a, ”best athlete available” guy.  Do you seriously think the Niners would have taken Jeff George, the quarterback from Ilinois, with the first pick in the 1990 NFL draft  with Joe Montana, Steve Young and Steve Bono already on their roster?  My case is taking a nap.

With that in mind and given the fact the Niner’s two biggest needs appeared to be, to this untrained eye, offensive tackle and pass rusher, here is how I might have conducted the 2009 draft.

Round One:  Michael Oher-Offensive Tackle-Mississippi

Coupled with Joe Staley, the Niners now have bookend tackles for the next 10 years and very solid backups in Adam Snyder and Marvel Smith.  This makes the entire offensive line the most solid unit on the team in terms of talent and youth.

Round Two:  Everette Brown-Defensive End-Florida State

A speed rusher off the edge is a killer in the NFL and Brown now makes the defensive backs a little better.  Teamed with Parys Haralson in the 3-4 alignment on passing downs could make the Niners defense very formidable.  Having played with one of the best quarterback- killing defenses of all time, I’m sure a pass rusher was on coach Mike Singletary’s mind.

Round Three:  Ramses Barden-Wide Receiver -Cal Poly

Yes, I know he was under the radar and not in the same class as Michael Crabtree, but at 6-6 and 230 pounds with a 4.59 40 yard dash time, I think he is worth a flier.  And what better way to fight the big receivers in Arizona than with one of your own.  Crabtree is the sexier pick, but Barden is a bit more intriguing and he does not have a surgically repaired foot.

Round Four:  Andre Brown-Running Back-NC State

Glenn Coffee was a solid pick for the Niners, but round three is a tad too high for a back up.  Brown is thick and quick at 6-1, 224, 4.49.

 As for the remainder of the draft and free agent signings, there is no disagreement from this corner.  But in the first four rounds the Niners could have had a quarterback centric draft: They could have protected their own and given him some toys to play with, and they could have at least mounted a threat to opposing QB’s.

MJ

Pannel Egboh

Well, you gotta like the name. Egboh, the Stanford fifth year senior from Mesquite, TX was suprisingly not picked in the 2009 draft. The Niners quickly scooped him up and signed him to a free agent contract. At 6′6″, 275 lbs with more room to add bulk, Egboh certainly has the size to play on Sunday. Egboh had a stand out junior year on The Farm when he was clearly one of the best D-linemen in the Pac 10 Conference. His senior year was not as remarkable as he was consistently double teamed, but still made a whole lot of plays for the Cardinal defense.

I think this was a terrific pick up for the Niners. This guy has a big motor, played in a great conference, and like all Stanford players, has the smarts to be “coached up.”  And don’t the Niners still need help on the D-Line, especially on the outside?  Demetric Evans was signed from the Redskins as a DE and could vie for a starting position.  It appeared Ray McDonald would have a bit of a break though last year, but really did not. McDonald is a quick guy, and was a very good college player at Florida, but  is easily out sized in the NFL . It was suggested after last year’s draft that #1 pick Kentwan Balmer from North Carolina could play on the outside in the 3-4.  After a completely lack luster freshman campaign in the NFL, the jury is still way out on whether Balmer can be a productive player at all.  

It would appear that Pannel Egboh has a very good chance of making the Niners opening day roster.  Who knows, maybe he’ll be the next “Stanford surprise” for the Niners. The last?  Eric Heitmann who was picked in the 7th round of the 2002 NFL Draft, and has gone on to be a very productive offensive lineman for the Niners.

MN

Crabtree falls to the Niners, good or bad?

With the goofy, but completely Al Davis-esque pick of  Darrius Heyward-Bey by the Raiders at #7, and the somewhat surprising pick of Tyson Jackson at #3 by K.C., Texas Tech wide receiver Miachael Crabtree was there when the Niners picked at #10. I know there has already been a lot of spirited debate and dialogue about if this was the right pick for the Niners, or not. Obviously only time will tell. Picking a wide receiver at number one has always been risky business. In the 2008 draft, while a number of them were projected as #1’s, none were selected.  In 2006, only one wide out, Santonio Holmes, was a frist round pick.  However, in 2007 and 2005 a dozen wide receivers were taken in round one. They are: Calvin Johnson, Ted Ginn Jr., Dwayne Bowe, Craig Davis, Robert Meachem, and Anthony Gonzalez in ‘07, and Braylon Edwards, Troy Williamson, Mike Williams, Matt Jones, Mark Clayton and Roddy White in ‘05.  Now of course some of the WR’s were picked higher in those drafts, so expectations were higher. But all in all, if you look at the names, there are not a lot of them that leap off the page as true difference makers.  Hopefully the Niners pulled off a  coup here, and Crabtree will truly become a difference maker. When you look at his Big 12 highlights one can see the great talent. Great moves, quick on quick, and very good size.  But…………….and there always is one, he also played in the most wide open passing offense in the college game, has  had lingering injury problems, and apparently has a little bit of a “tude.”  All in all Crabtree was not a slam dunk pick to me. Niner GM Scot McCloughan certainly said he was though. Hopefully he’ll be right.

MN