Ok. So I've done a few simulated mock drafts. Now, only a few hours before this becomes irrelevant, I'm going to do an actual one. Seven rounds, nine picks and no trades - so immediately wrong given Trent Baalke's draft history.
Round 1, Pick 15: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
Round 2, Pick 46: Devin Smith, WR, Ohio State
Round 3, Pick 79: Stephone Anthony, ILB, Clemson
Round 4, Pick 126: Za'Darius Smith, DE, Kentucky
Round 4, Pick 132: Tyler Kroft, TE, Rutgers
Round 5, Pick 151: Markus Golden, OLB, Missouri
Round 6, Pick 190: Josh Robinson, RB, Mississippi State
Round 7, Pick 246: Robert Myers, OL, Tennessee State
Round 7, Pick 254: Devante Davis, WR, UNLV
The official blog of '49ers Faithful UK', a registered booster club of the San Francisco 49ers. Providing news and opinions on the five-time Super Bowl champions.
Thursday, 30 April 2015
Wednesday, 29 April 2015
Simulated Mock Drafts
It's been a while since I lasted wrote anything on this blog and a lot has since happened in 49er land. Oh and yeah it's draft day. In less than 24 hours the Niners will have made their first pick in the draft, so what better time for some late, late draft content. I may have some more stuff up on later in the day, but for now here are four simulated mock drafts I have done using Fanspeak and the CBS Sports big board.
Here's my thoughts on these drafts for the 49ers. Keep in mind these are run through a simulation, one of which had Jameis Winston going seventh overall, so this is little more than a fun exercise that gives me the opportunity to offer some quick analysis on these prospects.
Draft One - In this scenario the Niners add a pass rusher in Randy Gregory who compares well to Aldon Smith and should immediately improve the defense. D.J Humphries offers competition and a potential future starter on an offensive line that struggled with injuries last year while Sammie Coates is an explosive but raw deep threat with the potential to be a huge asset in the passing game.
The later rounds picks see the 49ers bring in a physical and athletic corner in Eric Rowe who can play safety and a combine standout in Chris Conley who is one the more underrated receivers in the draft. James Sample offers safety depth and Josh Robinson is a bludgeoning downhill runner in a similar mould to Carlos Hyde. Inside linebacker Jeff Luc can also play fullback - worth noting given Bruce Miller's situation - and Hutson Mason is a very accurate passer who will at least be a good camp arm.
Draft Two - My favourite draft of the four. Waynes is a superb cover corner and Devin Smith a magnificent big-play receiver who has the tools to potentially be a number one wideout down the line. Ogbuehi can play tackle and guard, David Cobb is an underrated, chain-moving running back and Tyler Kroft is an athletic tight end who has gone under the radar due to a lack of targets in his final year at Rutgers.
Markus Golden and Cedric Reed would boost the pass rush, Gerod Holliman is a productive safety that needs a lot of development while Shane Carden is an accurate but immobile QB who perhaps lacks the arm strength to be a success.
Draft Three - This won't happen. Amari Cooper is the best receiver in the draft and won't fall to 15 and I don't expect Odighizuwa, who plays the run excellently and can generate pressure as a pass rusher, to fall outside of the first round. P.J Williams is a talented corner with character concerns and Mitch Morse is a tackle that doesn't have the quickness against edge rushers to stay there in the NFL.
The fourth and fifth round sees the Niners commit further to their running mentality with Mike Davis and Jalston Fowler - another potential Miller replacement. Vince Mayle is another big-play receiver who has had issues with drops, James Vaughters is an edge rusher who will have to impress on special teams and Ladarius Gunter a safety expected to go much higher than round seven.
Draft Four - The first round scenario in this final draft seems unlikely. I don't expect DeVante Parker, a player with the ability to make downfield grabs and excel underneath, to fall to 15. Stephone Anthony is an exceptionally athletic inside linebacker who has the length general manager Trent Baalke loves and a player I am a big fan of. I picked Williams and Frank Clark - a pass rusher with off-the-field issues - either side of another good tight end in Jeff Heuerman.
Xaiver Williams is a developmental prospect on the D-line, Sean Hickey is another tackle who projects better at guard. Dominique Brown would give the Niners another power back but one who has had injury issues and Taylor Heinicke is a small-school QB who would only be a camp arm.
Apologies that my analysis is short and listy - if that's a word - but I'd be keen to hear any thoughts on these players even in this short window before the draft.
Here's my thoughts on these drafts for the 49ers. Keep in mind these are run through a simulation, one of which had Jameis Winston going seventh overall, so this is little more than a fun exercise that gives me the opportunity to offer some quick analysis on these prospects.
Draft One - In this scenario the Niners add a pass rusher in Randy Gregory who compares well to Aldon Smith and should immediately improve the defense. D.J Humphries offers competition and a potential future starter on an offensive line that struggled with injuries last year while Sammie Coates is an explosive but raw deep threat with the potential to be a huge asset in the passing game.
The later rounds picks see the 49ers bring in a physical and athletic corner in Eric Rowe who can play safety and a combine standout in Chris Conley who is one the more underrated receivers in the draft. James Sample offers safety depth and Josh Robinson is a bludgeoning downhill runner in a similar mould to Carlos Hyde. Inside linebacker Jeff Luc can also play fullback - worth noting given Bruce Miller's situation - and Hutson Mason is a very accurate passer who will at least be a good camp arm.
Draft Two - My favourite draft of the four. Waynes is a superb cover corner and Devin Smith a magnificent big-play receiver who has the tools to potentially be a number one wideout down the line. Ogbuehi can play tackle and guard, David Cobb is an underrated, chain-moving running back and Tyler Kroft is an athletic tight end who has gone under the radar due to a lack of targets in his final year at Rutgers.
Markus Golden and Cedric Reed would boost the pass rush, Gerod Holliman is a productive safety that needs a lot of development while Shane Carden is an accurate but immobile QB who perhaps lacks the arm strength to be a success.
Draft Three - This won't happen. Amari Cooper is the best receiver in the draft and won't fall to 15 and I don't expect Odighizuwa, who plays the run excellently and can generate pressure as a pass rusher, to fall outside of the first round. P.J Williams is a talented corner with character concerns and Mitch Morse is a tackle that doesn't have the quickness against edge rushers to stay there in the NFL.
The fourth and fifth round sees the Niners commit further to their running mentality with Mike Davis and Jalston Fowler - another potential Miller replacement. Vince Mayle is another big-play receiver who has had issues with drops, James Vaughters is an edge rusher who will have to impress on special teams and Ladarius Gunter a safety expected to go much higher than round seven.
Draft Four - The first round scenario in this final draft seems unlikely. I don't expect DeVante Parker, a player with the ability to make downfield grabs and excel underneath, to fall to 15. Stephone Anthony is an exceptionally athletic inside linebacker who has the length general manager Trent Baalke loves and a player I am a big fan of. I picked Williams and Frank Clark - a pass rusher with off-the-field issues - either side of another good tight end in Jeff Heuerman.
Xaiver Williams is a developmental prospect on the D-line, Sean Hickey is another tackle who projects better at guard. Dominique Brown would give the Niners another power back but one who has had injury issues and Taylor Heinicke is a small-school QB who would only be a camp arm.
Apologies that my analysis is short and listy - if that's a word - but I'd be keen to hear any thoughts on these players even in this short window before the draft.
Friday, 20 March 2015
Despite departures, the sky is not falling in 49er land
If you're interested in astronomy, you may have doing a lot of staring at the sky today trying to catch a glimpse of the solar eclipse and, when you did, you will have noticed that the sky is not falling, which - after listening to a number of pundits dissect the 49ers' offseason - could come as a surprise.
The 49ers have lost a number of players this offseason, departures that have led many to determine that this is a franchise in the midst of a complete rebuild.
It's not difficult to see why people have come to that conclusion, in just one offseason the Niners have lost:
Losses
Jim Harbaugh - The Niners 'mutually' parted company with their head coach at the end of the season amid talk of discord with the front office. Highly respected co-ordinator Vic Fangio was among the members of Harbaugh's coaching staff to depart once Jim Tomsula was appointed as the replacement.
LB Patrick Willis - Willis retired with a year remaining on his contract citing injury concerns.
LB Chris Borland - Joined Willis in calling it quits due to fears over future head trauma.
RB Frank Gore - Joined the Indianapolis Colts in free agency on a three-year, $12million deal.
G Mike Iupati - Joined the Arizona Cardinals on a five-year, $40million deal.
CB Chris Culliver - Joined the Washington Redskins on four-year $32million deal..
CB Perrish Cox - Joined the Tennessee Titans on a three-year $15million deal.
WR Stevie Johnson - Released.
OLB Dan Skuta - Joined the Jacksonville Jaguars on five-year, $20.5million deal.
S Raymond Ventrone - Joined the New England Patriots as an assistant special-teams coach.
And for the sake of balance, here's who they have gained:
Gains
WR Torrey Smith — Signed on a five-year, $40million deal
DT Darnell Dockett — Signed on a two-year, $7.5million deal
WR Jerome Simpson — Signed on a two-year, $1.73million deal
TE Derek Carrier — Re-signed on a three-year, $2.985million deal
S Craig Dahl - Re-signed on a one-year, $1.3million deal
KR Jarryd Hayne — Signed on a three-year, $1.583million deal.
ILB Michael Wilhoite — Signed an exclusive rights free agency tender of $660,000.
DT Tony Jerod-Eddie — Signed on an exclusive rights free agency tender of $585,000.
QB Blaine Gabbert — Re-signed on a two-year, $2million deal.
OT/G Erik Pears — terms unknown.
RB Reggie Bush — terms unknown.
CB Shareece Wright — Signed on a one-year, $4million deal.
CB Chris Cook — Re-signed, terms not yet known.
The headline losses are of course Willis, Borland and Gore. Few expected Willis to call it a day despite his struggles with a two injury, however, it was Borland's decision to hang up the cleats up at the age of just 24 that has dominated the headlines in recent weeks.
Away from the discussions over the handling of concussions in the NFL, Borland's decision to give up the game ahead of a season in which he would have been viewed as Willis' replacement leaves the 49ers with a gaping hole next to NaVorro Bowman at inside linebacker, making the position a priority going into the draft. On the outside, though, the 49ers have decent depth despite losing Dan Skuta to the Jaguars.
Much has also been made of Gore's signing with the Colts but, with the details of his contract now revealed, it is understandable that the Niners elected not to match such an offer for a player who will be 32 when the season starts and does not have the same burst he once did, particularly with Carlos Hyde waiting in the wings to take over the starting running back role after averaging four yards per carry in 2014.
Mike Iupati's departure sees San Francisco lose one of the best run-blocking guards in the league, yet there was never any chance of the 49ers paying the kind of money the Cardinals are for an offensive lineman who has struggled markedly in pass protection, giving up seven sacks last season.
Perrish Cox was overpaid by the Titans following a campaign in which his play tailed off significantly towards the back end of the year, while Chris Culliver got the payday his performances in 2014 merited but was never likely to receive from the 49ers.
The 49ers have made smart business decisions not to bring back many of their free agents. Willis and Borland's retirements had nothing to do with the front office and yet the narrative remains that this a franchise heading for oblivion.
Of course it will be tough for the Niners to overcome the losses they have endured in terms of leadership but the fact is this is a team that still possesses plenty of talent and has been boosted by some decent acquisitions. Torrey Smith finally gives the 49ers a deep threat and is an upgrade on Michael Crabtree - who has yet to find a new home since hitting the open market - and Darnell Dockett should provide some extra pass-rush threat on the defensive line that could lose Justin Smith to retirement.
Reggie Bush figures to be a nice complement to Hyde if he can stay healthy and has previously excelled at catching passes out of the backfield, Erik Pears provides competition for the backup swing tackle role and Shareece Wright can fight it out with Jimmie Ward for the nickel cornerback role.
None of those deals, Smith aside, are going to wow people. But it feels as if, in the national media narrative, that they are not being taken into consideration when discussing the Niners.
Indeed, I've seen comments suggesting the 49ers will be a "legit bad team" in 2015 and that "8-8 may be there ceiling" and to be honest, even with everything that has gone, those remarks are baffling, not least because it is only March.
To be making such statements a month after the Super Bowl is asinine. Should the 49ers struggle, it will at least give the organisation and the fans a handle on Tomsula and his abilities and people will move on. My happiness is not absolutely dependent on the success of my sports teams and I would hope that is the case for most 49er fans.
There is pressure on Tomsula and his staff, there is pressure on Bowman and others to step up and fulfil the leadership roles vacated by Gore and Willis and there is of course a mountain of pressure on general manager Trent Baalke to deliver in the draft.
Despite all the upheaval, though, the 49ers are a team with plenty of promising players on the roster. The dissenting voices may have you believe otherwise, but there is good reason for the faithful to stay hopeful in 2015.
The 49ers have lost a number of players this offseason, departures that have led many to determine that this is a franchise in the midst of a complete rebuild.
It's not difficult to see why people have come to that conclusion, in just one offseason the Niners have lost:
Losses
Jim Harbaugh - The Niners 'mutually' parted company with their head coach at the end of the season amid talk of discord with the front office. Highly respected co-ordinator Vic Fangio was among the members of Harbaugh's coaching staff to depart once Jim Tomsula was appointed as the replacement.
LB Patrick Willis - Willis retired with a year remaining on his contract citing injury concerns.
LB Chris Borland - Joined Willis in calling it quits due to fears over future head trauma.
RB Frank Gore - Joined the Indianapolis Colts in free agency on a three-year, $12million deal.
G Mike Iupati - Joined the Arizona Cardinals on a five-year, $40million deal.
CB Chris Culliver - Joined the Washington Redskins on four-year $32million deal..
CB Perrish Cox - Joined the Tennessee Titans on a three-year $15million deal.
WR Stevie Johnson - Released.
OLB Dan Skuta - Joined the Jacksonville Jaguars on five-year, $20.5million deal.
S Raymond Ventrone - Joined the New England Patriots as an assistant special-teams coach.
And for the sake of balance, here's who they have gained:
Gains
WR Torrey Smith — Signed on a five-year, $40million deal
DT Darnell Dockett — Signed on a two-year, $7.5million deal
WR Jerome Simpson — Signed on a two-year, $1.73million deal
TE Derek Carrier — Re-signed on a three-year, $2.985million deal
S Craig Dahl - Re-signed on a one-year, $1.3million deal
KR Jarryd Hayne — Signed on a three-year, $1.583million deal.
ILB Michael Wilhoite — Signed an exclusive rights free agency tender of $660,000.
DT Tony Jerod-Eddie — Signed on an exclusive rights free agency tender of $585,000.
QB Blaine Gabbert — Re-signed on a two-year, $2million deal.
OT/G Erik Pears — terms unknown.
RB Reggie Bush — terms unknown.
CB Shareece Wright — Signed on a one-year, $4million deal.
CB Chris Cook — Re-signed, terms not yet known.
The headline losses are of course Willis, Borland and Gore. Few expected Willis to call it a day despite his struggles with a two injury, however, it was Borland's decision to hang up the cleats up at the age of just 24 that has dominated the headlines in recent weeks.
Away from the discussions over the handling of concussions in the NFL, Borland's decision to give up the game ahead of a season in which he would have been viewed as Willis' replacement leaves the 49ers with a gaping hole next to NaVorro Bowman at inside linebacker, making the position a priority going into the draft. On the outside, though, the 49ers have decent depth despite losing Dan Skuta to the Jaguars.
Much has also been made of Gore's signing with the Colts but, with the details of his contract now revealed, it is understandable that the Niners elected not to match such an offer for a player who will be 32 when the season starts and does not have the same burst he once did, particularly with Carlos Hyde waiting in the wings to take over the starting running back role after averaging four yards per carry in 2014.
Mike Iupati's departure sees San Francisco lose one of the best run-blocking guards in the league, yet there was never any chance of the 49ers paying the kind of money the Cardinals are for an offensive lineman who has struggled markedly in pass protection, giving up seven sacks last season.
Perrish Cox was overpaid by the Titans following a campaign in which his play tailed off significantly towards the back end of the year, while Chris Culliver got the payday his performances in 2014 merited but was never likely to receive from the 49ers.
The 49ers have made smart business decisions not to bring back many of their free agents. Willis and Borland's retirements had nothing to do with the front office and yet the narrative remains that this a franchise heading for oblivion.
Of course it will be tough for the Niners to overcome the losses they have endured in terms of leadership but the fact is this is a team that still possesses plenty of talent and has been boosted by some decent acquisitions. Torrey Smith finally gives the 49ers a deep threat and is an upgrade on Michael Crabtree - who has yet to find a new home since hitting the open market - and Darnell Dockett should provide some extra pass-rush threat on the defensive line that could lose Justin Smith to retirement.
Reggie Bush figures to be a nice complement to Hyde if he can stay healthy and has previously excelled at catching passes out of the backfield, Erik Pears provides competition for the backup swing tackle role and Shareece Wright can fight it out with Jimmie Ward for the nickel cornerback role.
None of those deals, Smith aside, are going to wow people. But it feels as if, in the national media narrative, that they are not being taken into consideration when discussing the Niners.
Indeed, I've seen comments suggesting the 49ers will be a "legit bad team" in 2015 and that "8-8 may be there ceiling" and to be honest, even with everything that has gone, those remarks are baffling, not least because it is only March.
To be making such statements a month after the Super Bowl is asinine. Should the 49ers struggle, it will at least give the organisation and the fans a handle on Tomsula and his abilities and people will move on. My happiness is not absolutely dependent on the success of my sports teams and I would hope that is the case for most 49er fans.
There is pressure on Tomsula and his staff, there is pressure on Bowman and others to step up and fulfil the leadership roles vacated by Gore and Willis and there is of course a mountain of pressure on general manager Trent Baalke to deliver in the draft.
Despite all the upheaval, though, the 49ers are a team with plenty of promising players on the roster. The dissenting voices may have you believe otherwise, but there is good reason for the faithful to stay hopeful in 2015.
Tuesday, 17 March 2015
Borland retirement a reminder of need for frank concussion discussion in NFL
The hits just keep on coming for the 49ers.
Monday brought the news that inside linebacker Chris Borland had retired from the NFL after just one fantastic season in the pros. The announcement leaves the Niners with a gaping hole at inside linebacker, with Borland's retirement following hot on the heels of that of five-time All-Pro Patrick Willis, but it is the reasons behind his decision that are most interesting.
Borland is hanging up the cleats because of concerns over the effects of long-term head trauma, having suffered two concussions prior to being drafted by the 49ers. The issue of head injuries is one the NFL have been reluctant to fully confront for some time and Borland, having done his research, has decided it is not worth the risk.
And, if he truly feels that way, then we can do little more than sit back and commend his move to ensure he enjoys the long and happy life that has sadly been taken away from many former NFL players due to the long-term effects of the severe head injuries suffered in their careers.
Away from all the pathetic, mocking commenters on social media who have chosen to deride Borland for stepping aside and opting to preserve his body after earning a decent amount of money, the greater debate is whether his move will be the harbinger of doom for the NFL.
It is too early to suggest that Borland's actions will lead us down a path where the NFL's talent pool rapidly dwindles by way of prospective players deciding not to pursue a career in pro football and ends in the league as we know it ceasing to exist. However, Borland's retirement can at least be the tipping point for the evolution of the game in terms of how it deals with concussions and other serious head injuries.
Indeed, it is telling that the NFL felt the need to issue a statement in response to Borland's retirement. A 24-year-old calling it quits after year made the league sit up and take notice and, while the NFL's insistence that pro football has "never been safer" is probably true in comparison to how concussions were dealt with in the 80s and 90s, it is clear there is still plenty of progress to be made.
A basic knowledge of the links between head trauma suffered by NFL players and brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is not necessary to understand that scenes of an evidently groggy Julian Edelman stumbling to the line of scrimmage in the Super Bowl and rumours of Russell Wilson playing through a concussion in the NFC Championship game are extremely worrying.
The NFL has a concussion protocol in place but it is debatable whether it is being followed fully, particularly in the crunch post-season games. It is time for the league to have a conversation about how a balance can be found between entertaining the fans and properly ensuring player safety, hopefully Borland's retirement can help open the dialogue.
Monday brought the news that inside linebacker Chris Borland had retired from the NFL after just one fantastic season in the pros. The announcement leaves the Niners with a gaping hole at inside linebacker, with Borland's retirement following hot on the heels of that of five-time All-Pro Patrick Willis, but it is the reasons behind his decision that are most interesting.
Borland is hanging up the cleats because of concerns over the effects of long-term head trauma, having suffered two concussions prior to being drafted by the 49ers. The issue of head injuries is one the NFL have been reluctant to fully confront for some time and Borland, having done his research, has decided it is not worth the risk.
And, if he truly feels that way, then we can do little more than sit back and commend his move to ensure he enjoys the long and happy life that has sadly been taken away from many former NFL players due to the long-term effects of the severe head injuries suffered in their careers.
Away from all the pathetic, mocking commenters on social media who have chosen to deride Borland for stepping aside and opting to preserve his body after earning a decent amount of money, the greater debate is whether his move will be the harbinger of doom for the NFL.
It is too early to suggest that Borland's actions will lead us down a path where the NFL's talent pool rapidly dwindles by way of prospective players deciding not to pursue a career in pro football and ends in the league as we know it ceasing to exist. However, Borland's retirement can at least be the tipping point for the evolution of the game in terms of how it deals with concussions and other serious head injuries.
Indeed, it is telling that the NFL felt the need to issue a statement in response to Borland's retirement. A 24-year-old calling it quits after year made the league sit up and take notice and, while the NFL's insistence that pro football has "never been safer" is probably true in comparison to how concussions were dealt with in the 80s and 90s, it is clear there is still plenty of progress to be made.
A basic knowledge of the links between head trauma suffered by NFL players and brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is not necessary to understand that scenes of an evidently groggy Julian Edelman stumbling to the line of scrimmage in the Super Bowl and rumours of Russell Wilson playing through a concussion in the NFC Championship game are extremely worrying.
The NFL has a concussion protocol in place but it is debatable whether it is being followed fully, particularly in the crunch post-season games. It is time for the league to have a conversation about how a balance can be found between entertaining the fans and properly ensuring player safety, hopefully Borland's retirement can help open the dialogue.
Tuesday, 10 March 2015
Monday March 9, 2015 A.K.A AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Monday March 9, 2015. I awoke on a day off with stuff to do, wondering whether the England cricket team had won (HA!) and if anything had happened with my beloved 49ers overnight, little did I know what was about to transpire.
There was an annoying rumour about Colin Kaepernick being put on the trade block that appeared at least some legs but was quickly dismissed by the major national beat writers and general manager Trent Baalke.
Baalke's denial unsurprisingly fell on disbelieving ears following the saga surrounding the departure of head coach Jim Harbaugh, but I think, with the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles - the two rumoured suitors for Kaepernick - settled on Jay Cutler and Sam Bradford, there is little credence left to talk of the Niners' starting quarterback going elsewhere.
But rumours of Kaepernick's exit proved to be just the tip of the iceberg on one of the worst days in recent history for 49er fans who, on the back of learning that Frank Gore would not be returning to the team, were soon hit by news of inside linebacker Patrick Willis' retirement.
No-one saw this coming. Willis had been posting pictures of himself working out on social media and looked set to make a return having struggled with a toe injury for much of last season. A supposed 'religious awakening' was reported to have been the primary reason for his decision, but at an emotional press conference on Tuesday, it became clear that Willis is a player who simply does not feel he can perform at the same level going forward.
Chris Borland will likely slot in to take over from Willis and play next to NaVorro Bowman at inside linebacker following a stunning rookie season. Yet the fact 49ers have promising replacements for both Gore and Willis will be cold comfort for fans for whom the duo represented all that was good about the franchise, particularly in the dark times under Mike Nolan and Mike Singletary.
Throughout their time in San Francisco Gore and Willis displayed every quality you want in a leader, they consistently produced at an elite level on the field while displaying remarkable character, professionalism, determination and the respect for the game that all great players possess.
More than anything else it is those leadership qualities that the Niners will find toughest to replace, and they could yet lose more leadership experience should Justin Smith finally decide to call it a career. Smith was rumoured to have done so on Tuesday, but has since come out and insisted he has not made a final decision.
March 9 did not stop with the Willis retirement, though, it did not stop after the Smith rumours and it did not stop after it was pretty much confirmed that offensive lineman Mike Iupati would be leaving for pastures new, although that departure is one few should be crying about.
No March 9 had one last sour cherry to put on top of a frankly dreadful cake, with the news that fullback Bruce Miller had been arrested on domestic violence chargers. After months of bad PR, this was the last thing the 49ers needed, and the organisation has to handle it better than it did the Ray McDonald saga.
Miller is a well-liked veteran in the locker room and has often held the key to the Niners' running game. But, in a week where the 49ers have lost two of their, dare I say it, 'classiest' players, there needs to be a quick suspension handed down to Miller until the matter is resolved.
March 10 was a little better. The 49ers signed a receiver who should help their passing game quite considerably, but its too early to talk about that now. I think we all need some time to recover and regroup from the horror of March 9.
There was an annoying rumour about Colin Kaepernick being put on the trade block that appeared at least some legs but was quickly dismissed by the major national beat writers and general manager Trent Baalke.
Baalke's denial unsurprisingly fell on disbelieving ears following the saga surrounding the departure of head coach Jim Harbaugh, but I think, with the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles - the two rumoured suitors for Kaepernick - settled on Jay Cutler and Sam Bradford, there is little credence left to talk of the Niners' starting quarterback going elsewhere.
But rumours of Kaepernick's exit proved to be just the tip of the iceberg on one of the worst days in recent history for 49er fans who, on the back of learning that Frank Gore would not be returning to the team, were soon hit by news of inside linebacker Patrick Willis' retirement.
No-one saw this coming. Willis had been posting pictures of himself working out on social media and looked set to make a return having struggled with a toe injury for much of last season. A supposed 'religious awakening' was reported to have been the primary reason for his decision, but at an emotional press conference on Tuesday, it became clear that Willis is a player who simply does not feel he can perform at the same level going forward.
Chris Borland will likely slot in to take over from Willis and play next to NaVorro Bowman at inside linebacker following a stunning rookie season. Yet the fact 49ers have promising replacements for both Gore and Willis will be cold comfort for fans for whom the duo represented all that was good about the franchise, particularly in the dark times under Mike Nolan and Mike Singletary.
Throughout their time in San Francisco Gore and Willis displayed every quality you want in a leader, they consistently produced at an elite level on the field while displaying remarkable character, professionalism, determination and the respect for the game that all great players possess.
More than anything else it is those leadership qualities that the Niners will find toughest to replace, and they could yet lose more leadership experience should Justin Smith finally decide to call it a career. Smith was rumoured to have done so on Tuesday, but has since come out and insisted he has not made a final decision.
March 9 did not stop with the Willis retirement, though, it did not stop after the Smith rumours and it did not stop after it was pretty much confirmed that offensive lineman Mike Iupati would be leaving for pastures new, although that departure is one few should be crying about.
No March 9 had one last sour cherry to put on top of a frankly dreadful cake, with the news that fullback Bruce Miller had been arrested on domestic violence chargers. After months of bad PR, this was the last thing the 49ers needed, and the organisation has to handle it better than it did the Ray McDonald saga.
Miller is a well-liked veteran in the locker room and has often held the key to the Niners' running game. But, in a week where the 49ers have lost two of their, dare I say it, 'classiest' players, there needs to be a quick suspension handed down to Miller until the matter is resolved.
March 10 was a little better. The 49ers signed a receiver who should help their passing game quite considerably, but its too early to talk about that now. I think we all need some time to recover and regroup from the horror of March 9.
Saturday, 7 March 2015
Dissecting the depth chart: Safeties
2014 depth chart:
FS: Eric Reid, Craig Dahl,
SS: Antoine Bethea, LJ McCray
Signed through 2015
Antoine Bethea, Eric Reid, Craig Dahl, LJ McCray
Antoine Bethea
16 starts (16 starts), 71 tackles (14 assists), 4 interceptions (71 yards, 1 TD), 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 10 passes defended.
Upgrade. After many fans lamented the loss of Donte Whitner, now that we have the perspective to look back upon the 2014 season we can clearly see that bringing in Bethea from the Colts was the right decision.
In an otherwise average season for the 49ers, Bethea put together one of the finest seasons from a safety in living memory. Somehow he was passed over for an invitation to the Pro Bowl, even though his predecessor, Donte Whitner himself went on public record to state that Bethea should have not only been invited, but started the Pro Bowl game for the NFC.
Another often overlooked statistic that Bethea has brought to the team, is his record of 112 consecutive starts, which is a league record for a safety. Having someone who can play a physically and mentally tough position to a high standard, for such a long period of time without losing time through injury, is a huge asset for the 49er defense. It also further proves Betheas technical ability, as a lot of safeties often fall short in terms of tackling technique and can pick up concussions fairly quickly. Thankfully, Bethea has continued his streak and with luck, it will carry on into 2015 and beyond.
Eric Reid
15 games (15 starts), 35 tackles (7 assists), 3 interceptions (138 yards), 7 passes defended.
Reid had a solid 2014 campaign, but perhaps not to the levels of his previous years work. His tackling numbers were halved from ‘13-’14 but the most concerning issue throughout the season was his health. He missed one start due to a concussion and was close to missing others because of this recurring issue, after suffering three concussions in his first two seasons in the NFL. They could be occurring due to a fault in his tackling technique or simply be due to bad luck, but whatever the cause, history shows that a player can only sustain so many concussions before they are forced out of the game and it would be a tragedy if a player of Reids ability and potential was forced to cut his career short because of concussions.
Craig Dahl
16 games (1 start), 19 tackles (4 assists), 1 interception (0 yards), 2 passes defended.
Dahl took a paycut to remain as the primary backup safety for the 49ers and spent the majority of the season playing in his special teams roles. He did see a few snaps on defense and started in place of Eric Reid when the latter was ruled out of playing for a game through concussion.
Notching up an interception against the Cardinals in his only start of the season, Dahl showed at least some level of proficiency in playing on defense, but I would not be entirely comfortable in seeing him start numerous games in 2015 if anything were to happen to Eric Reid.
LJ McCray
14 games (0 starts), 8 tackles (2 assists).
LJ McCray was signed as an undrafted free agent after the culmination of the 2014 NFL draft. Most assumed that he would be training camp fodder, or enter onto the practice squad at best, but McCray showed enough through camp and preseason for the 49ers to add him to the roster for opening day against the Cowboys. He saw action primarily on special teams, but did see a handful of snaps in defense throughout the year. McCray has the size and speed to be a good safety in the league and he has shown flashes of talent to pique the interest, but he is also still incredibly raw. It may well take him a couple more seasons to get up to speed with the professional game, and to get to a point where he has a legitimate shot at starting, or at least being a primary backup at the position.
Looking ahead
All four safeties are signed for the upcoming season, which is of course a good thing for continuation. That being said, there is obviously a significant drop in talent from starters down to backups, so it would be prudent of the 49ers to address this situation in the coming months.
Antoine Bethea and Eric Reid give the team the best safety pairing they have had for many years, even better than their more publically acclaimed predecessors, Donte Whitner and Dashon Goldson. Bethea and Reid may deliver less crunching hits, but they actually play the safety positions a lot better than Whitner and Goldson.
Both Craig Dahl and LJ McCray proved in 2014 that they can produce in small amounts, but for differing reasons, may not be able to elevate their game enough in 2015 to be effective replacements for either starter, if the need should arise. Eric Reid is battling an ongoing concussion issue and although Antoine Bethea holds the record for the most games started for a safety, as he is past the age of 30 now, there is an ever-increasing risk of him picking up more injuries, so the odds of him missing time through injury are also increasing through time.
All of this adds up to a need to address the depth, or rather, the quality of the depth at the safety position. I would expect the team to take a look at safeties in the middle rounds of the upcoming draft, with the hope of finding a ‘diamond in the rough’ who can prove to be a high quality backup and even push for a starting position as and when Bethea declines, or if Eric Reids concussion issues continue. Either a quality player who sees his draft stock fall through character issues (similar to Aaron Lynch last year), or perhaps a big cornerback who projects to safety in the NFL.
Photograph reference
Sacremento bee, 'Bethea and Reid', accessed online 7th March 2015 <http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/ptakeh/picture4075524/ALTERNATES/FREE_960/AP677781048786.jpg >
FS: Eric Reid, Craig Dahl,
SS: Antoine Bethea, LJ McCray
Signed through 2015
Antoine Bethea, Eric Reid, Craig Dahl, LJ McCray
(Sacremento Bee)
Antoine Bethea
16 starts (16 starts), 71 tackles (14 assists), 4 interceptions (71 yards, 1 TD), 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 10 passes defended.
Upgrade. After many fans lamented the loss of Donte Whitner, now that we have the perspective to look back upon the 2014 season we can clearly see that bringing in Bethea from the Colts was the right decision.
In an otherwise average season for the 49ers, Bethea put together one of the finest seasons from a safety in living memory. Somehow he was passed over for an invitation to the Pro Bowl, even though his predecessor, Donte Whitner himself went on public record to state that Bethea should have not only been invited, but started the Pro Bowl game for the NFC.
Another often overlooked statistic that Bethea has brought to the team, is his record of 112 consecutive starts, which is a league record for a safety. Having someone who can play a physically and mentally tough position to a high standard, for such a long period of time without losing time through injury, is a huge asset for the 49er defense. It also further proves Betheas technical ability, as a lot of safeties often fall short in terms of tackling technique and can pick up concussions fairly quickly. Thankfully, Bethea has continued his streak and with luck, it will carry on into 2015 and beyond.
Eric Reid
15 games (15 starts), 35 tackles (7 assists), 3 interceptions (138 yards), 7 passes defended.
Reid had a solid 2014 campaign, but perhaps not to the levels of his previous years work. His tackling numbers were halved from ‘13-’14 but the most concerning issue throughout the season was his health. He missed one start due to a concussion and was close to missing others because of this recurring issue, after suffering three concussions in his first two seasons in the NFL. They could be occurring due to a fault in his tackling technique or simply be due to bad luck, but whatever the cause, history shows that a player can only sustain so many concussions before they are forced out of the game and it would be a tragedy if a player of Reids ability and potential was forced to cut his career short because of concussions.
Craig Dahl
16 games (1 start), 19 tackles (4 assists), 1 interception (0 yards), 2 passes defended.
Dahl took a paycut to remain as the primary backup safety for the 49ers and spent the majority of the season playing in his special teams roles. He did see a few snaps on defense and started in place of Eric Reid when the latter was ruled out of playing for a game through concussion.
Notching up an interception against the Cardinals in his only start of the season, Dahl showed at least some level of proficiency in playing on defense, but I would not be entirely comfortable in seeing him start numerous games in 2015 if anything were to happen to Eric Reid.
LJ McCray
14 games (0 starts), 8 tackles (2 assists).
LJ McCray was signed as an undrafted free agent after the culmination of the 2014 NFL draft. Most assumed that he would be training camp fodder, or enter onto the practice squad at best, but McCray showed enough through camp and preseason for the 49ers to add him to the roster for opening day against the Cowboys. He saw action primarily on special teams, but did see a handful of snaps in defense throughout the year. McCray has the size and speed to be a good safety in the league and he has shown flashes of talent to pique the interest, but he is also still incredibly raw. It may well take him a couple more seasons to get up to speed with the professional game, and to get to a point where he has a legitimate shot at starting, or at least being a primary backup at the position.
Looking ahead
All four safeties are signed for the upcoming season, which is of course a good thing for continuation. That being said, there is obviously a significant drop in talent from starters down to backups, so it would be prudent of the 49ers to address this situation in the coming months.
Antoine Bethea and Eric Reid give the team the best safety pairing they have had for many years, even better than their more publically acclaimed predecessors, Donte Whitner and Dashon Goldson. Bethea and Reid may deliver less crunching hits, but they actually play the safety positions a lot better than Whitner and Goldson.
Both Craig Dahl and LJ McCray proved in 2014 that they can produce in small amounts, but for differing reasons, may not be able to elevate their game enough in 2015 to be effective replacements for either starter, if the need should arise. Eric Reid is battling an ongoing concussion issue and although Antoine Bethea holds the record for the most games started for a safety, as he is past the age of 30 now, there is an ever-increasing risk of him picking up more injuries, so the odds of him missing time through injury are also increasing through time.
All of this adds up to a need to address the depth, or rather, the quality of the depth at the safety position. I would expect the team to take a look at safeties in the middle rounds of the upcoming draft, with the hope of finding a ‘diamond in the rough’ who can prove to be a high quality backup and even push for a starting position as and when Bethea declines, or if Eric Reids concussion issues continue. Either a quality player who sees his draft stock fall through character issues (similar to Aaron Lynch last year), or perhaps a big cornerback who projects to safety in the NFL.
Photograph reference
Sacremento bee, 'Bethea and Reid', accessed online 7th March 2015 <http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/ptakeh/picture4075524/ALTERNATES/FREE_960/AP677781048786.jpg >
Thursday, 5 March 2015
Niners active early in free agency
Free agency has not even technically opened yet, and already the 49ers have three new players.
San Francisco started by bringing in Jarryd Hayne - a Rugby League star with the Parramatta Eels in Australia on a three-year futures deal worth only $100,000 in guaranteed money, beating the Detroit Lions to his signature.
Hayne is set to compete for a roster spot as a kick and punt returner and, while he has the physical attributes you desire in an NFL player, it will be a huge challenge for the former Australia international to make the final 53-man roster.
I'm going to try to knock something more detailed up on Hayne in the coming weeks, but let's focus on the Niners' two other free-agent acquisitions so far, who figure to have more of an impact in the 2015 season.
Defensive tackle Darnell Dockett signed a two-year-deal with the 49ers on Thursday, coming over from the Arizona Cardinals after missing the 2014 season due to an ACL injury. Dockett should bring more tenacity and experience up front and, providing his knee holds out, has the ability to be a disruptive force as a pass rusher having put up 40.5 sacks in his long career in the league.
At 33, Dockett will likely only be a short-term contributor, although a potentially outstanding one, and I still think the Niners would be best served bringing in more D-Line help via the draft. Still, Dockett is one of the biggest names the Niners have signed in free agency for some time, and one fans can afford to get excited about.
But fans would be forgiven about the Niners' other new recruit, wide receiver Jerome Simpson.
Simpson has had numerous off-the-field problems and did not play in 2014 after being released by the Minnesota Vikings following a driving offence that involved marijuana. Yet, for all his difficulties, Simpson does have the speed to get downfield and has produced to a decent standard when given consistent playing time.
The former Cincinnati Bengal has officially been signed on a two-year-deal but at this point it would be a surprise for him to make the roster even with the Niners' shaky depth at wideout. Simpson will likely be competing with Quinton Patton at the bottom end of the depth chart and it will be intriguing to see how he performs after being afforded the opportunity to resurrect his career.
In non free-agency news, it has been reported by Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee that outside linebacker Aldon Smith has agreed to a contract restructure. Smith will still receive the $9.75million he was due in 2015, but it is no longer fully guaranteed.
This is essentially Smith gambling on himself to put the off-the-field issues that have hampered his career behind him and perform to the All-Pro standard he displayed in 2012 and earn a bumper new contract when his current one expires at the end of the 2015 season.
Despite missing time in the last two years, Smith's sack number still average out at just over 14 a season. If he even comes close to match that mark in 2015, Smith will receive a hefty payday from the 49ers.
San Francisco started by bringing in Jarryd Hayne - a Rugby League star with the Parramatta Eels in Australia on a three-year futures deal worth only $100,000 in guaranteed money, beating the Detroit Lions to his signature.
Hayne is set to compete for a roster spot as a kick and punt returner and, while he has the physical attributes you desire in an NFL player, it will be a huge challenge for the former Australia international to make the final 53-man roster.
I'm going to try to knock something more detailed up on Hayne in the coming weeks, but let's focus on the Niners' two other free-agent acquisitions so far, who figure to have more of an impact in the 2015 season.
Defensive tackle Darnell Dockett signed a two-year-deal with the 49ers on Thursday, coming over from the Arizona Cardinals after missing the 2014 season due to an ACL injury. Dockett should bring more tenacity and experience up front and, providing his knee holds out, has the ability to be a disruptive force as a pass rusher having put up 40.5 sacks in his long career in the league.
At 33, Dockett will likely only be a short-term contributor, although a potentially outstanding one, and I still think the Niners would be best served bringing in more D-Line help via the draft. Still, Dockett is one of the biggest names the Niners have signed in free agency for some time, and one fans can afford to get excited about.
But fans would be forgiven about the Niners' other new recruit, wide receiver Jerome Simpson.
Simpson has had numerous off-the-field problems and did not play in 2014 after being released by the Minnesota Vikings following a driving offence that involved marijuana. Yet, for all his difficulties, Simpson does have the speed to get downfield and has produced to a decent standard when given consistent playing time.
The former Cincinnati Bengal has officially been signed on a two-year-deal but at this point it would be a surprise for him to make the roster even with the Niners' shaky depth at wideout. Simpson will likely be competing with Quinton Patton at the bottom end of the depth chart and it will be intriguing to see how he performs after being afforded the opportunity to resurrect his career.
In non free-agency news, it has been reported by Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee that outside linebacker Aldon Smith has agreed to a contract restructure. Smith will still receive the $9.75million he was due in 2015, but it is no longer fully guaranteed.
This is essentially Smith gambling on himself to put the off-the-field issues that have hampered his career behind him and perform to the All-Pro standard he displayed in 2012 and earn a bumper new contract when his current one expires at the end of the 2015 season.
Despite missing time in the last two years, Smith's sack number still average out at just over 14 a season. If he even comes close to match that mark in 2015, Smith will receive a hefty payday from the 49ers.
Saturday, 28 February 2015
All quiet for now, but Tomsula restores some confidence with combine showing
I've not posted anything on this blog since Trent Baalke's combine press conference, and that's mainly because there hasn't been much to talk about.
The combine has been and gone and, while details have emerged about what prospects the 49ers met with in Indianapolis, it is tough to read too much into the past week's events. Especially for a team that has not tended to draft players it has held meetings with in recent years.
One huge positive that did come from the combine was the press conference held by new head coach Jim Tomsula. His introductory press conference was an unmitigated disaster, however, Tomsula credited that poor performance to lack of sleep, and certainly appeared more refreshed his time around.
He was engaging, coherent and generally very informative and detailed in his answers. You don't win games with how you perform in the press conference but, as Tomsula was heavily judged on his struggles in the introductory briefing, it was a relief to see him deliver a much better showing at the second attempt. And, going forward, the Niners would be wise to get him on the podium as much as possible.
Tomsula will soon learn more about the roster he will have to work with in 2015 as the offseason gathers pace. Free agency will soon be open and in preparation for the draft, I am going to attempt* to provide rankings for the prospects available at each position.
I will get things kicked off shortly with the wide receiver position, which - with the apparent release of Stevie Johnson on Saturday - projects as the 49ers' biggest need in the offseason.
*I may not get to every position and in that scenario I will strive to rank the prospects at the positions that most impact the 49ers.
Friday, 20 February 2015
Dissecting the depth chart: Outside Linebackers
By Paul Kadwill
2014 depth chart:
Ahmed Brooks, Aaron Lynch
Aldon Smith, Dan Skuta, Corey Lemonier
Signed through 2015
Ahmed Brooks, Aldon Smith, Aaron Lynch, Corey Lemonier
Ahmad Brooks
13 games (13 starts), 25 tackles, 5 assists, 6 sacks, 2 passes defended, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery
Brooks shared the 2014 team record for the number of sacks in the season, however his sack amount was its lowest since 2010.
But his season will be mostly remembered for several off the field incidents which caused him to be benched for three games for a variety of reasons. These included talking adversely about how he was being utilised and missing a team meeting.
He is due to earn a $6million base salary that can swell to $9.5million with bonuses in 2015, so with the emergence of Aaron Lynch, it is looking increasingly likely that the 49ers will try to trade Brooks during the offseason. This is even more likely when considering how much the 49ers will have to reduce costs in order to move back under the salary cap limit. Even a release is likely, if no trade partner can be found.
Aldon Smith
7 games (6 starts), 10 tackles, 5 assists, 2 sacks
After missing the first nine games of the 2014 season due to suspension, Aldon Smith came back and appeared in the remaining seven regular season games.
His underwhelming statistics are no doubt due to the huge amount of practice time and playing time that he lost through his suspension: He was just too far behind the team to catch up properly following his ban.
Smiths off the field issues are very well known and documented, however he has shown a rare talent to get to the passer when playing regularly, which is why the team have stuck by him throughout his trials and tribulations.
2015 is the final year of his rookie contract and he is set to make over $9million. With the salary cap issues that the team has, alongside the myriad of problems that Smith has experienced away from football, I would expect that the front office will be trying hard to get Smith to restructure his salary. Perhaps a two or three year extension with a modest salary may be in the cards, allowing the team to spread his 2015 wages across more years, whilst at the same time retaining a naturally talented player who will hopefully find his form again next year.
But there has even been speculation that the team will let Smith go, however I believe that they will look into restructuring his contract first. Elite pass rushers are hard to find, even if they have plenty of baggage.
Aaron Lynch
16 games (3 starts), 17 tackles, 6 assists, 6 sacks, 4 passes defended.
Alongside Chris Borland, Aaron Lynch was the pick of the 49ers 2014 draft. Chosen in the fifth round, not much was expected of him during 2014 but with issues surrounding Ahmad Brooks and Aldon Smith, Lynch was able to see more playing time. He even started in place of Brooks when the latter was going through his benching issues.
Sharing the sack lead with Brooks, but from far fewer snaps, Lynch has effectively pushed Ahmad out of a job. I expect to see Lynch starting next season and it will be interesting to see how he gets on when he starts for a full 16 games.
Dan Skuta
14 games (10 starts), 25 tackles, 8 assists, 5 sacks, 1 pass defended, 3 forced fumbles.
Another example of the excellent coaching and scouting done by the 49ers, Skuta came into the team during 2013 after being a minor player on the Bengals roster, but in two seasons has flourished to be a very effective edge rusher and linebacker. Taking the place of Aldon Smith was never going to be easy, but Skuta accumulated some impressive statistics during 2014 including leading the team with three forced fumbles.
An unrestricted free agent, Skuta will be looking for a starting gig in the league and his 49er career has shown that he is worthy of such a job.
Corey Lemonier
16 games (0 starts), 7 tackles, 3 assists.
Lemonier is somewhat of a mystery. Touted as one of the next big things out of college, much was expected of him once he had been drafted out of Auburn. However, he is yet to produce anything of quality for the 49ers.
I would hazard a guess and say that he has struggled for the same reason that Tank Carradine has also been slow to catch on, which is that they just have not learned the nuances of working in the NFL to a point where the coaching staff are happy to put them into games. In other words, they haven’t earned their way onto the field yet. Former defensive line coach and now head coach, Jim Tomsula, had a noticeable input into the OLB training as they often line up along the line, so if he has been unimpressed by Lemonier as he had been with Tank, then this could explain why we haven’t seen any kind of output from the ex Auburn Tiger.
Lemonier is going to have to work a lot to improve his chances of getting on the field in 2015 in anything other than Special Teams or garbage-time duties.
Looking ahead
In the pass dominated world of the 21st Century NFL, effective edge rushers and every-down outside linebackers are a premium. The 49ers have a couple of players who have been influential in their recent success, but both are not without their problems.
Ahmad Brooks has almost certainly played his last game for the team, whether by being traded or if need be, cut. Aldon Smith is in the upper echelon of pass-rushers and is a player that the team have not really had since recently voted Hall of Famer, Charles Haley.
Although not as volatile towards his team or coaching staff as Haley once was, Aldon Smith still presents the front office with a headache much like his predecessor. Do they dare release or trade him not only to help alleviate their salary cap woes, but also to wash their hands of the constant issues that he brings? Or do they stick with their rare commodity, hope that he has learned his lessons and will return to his peak form and restructure/extend his contract?
If both Brooks and Smith go, then the team are down to just Lynch (good, but still very young) and Lemonier (yet to show anything). If that happens, then Dan Skuta may well find his way back onto the team.
If Brooks is the only one to go, then I would expect the 49ers not to be in play for Skuta, but instead try to pick up another low risk/high reward vet as well as drafting an OLB in the upper half of the 2015 draft.
Whatever the outcome, the OLB position is definitely one of concern for 49ers fans.
Photograph reference
Daily Republich, 'Brooks and Smith', accessed online 20 February 2015 <http://dailyrepublic.s3.amazonaws.com/files/2014/07/25-Niners-Color-34p-1024x676.jpg >
2014 depth chart:
Ahmed Brooks, Aaron Lynch
Aldon Smith, Dan Skuta, Corey Lemonier
Signed through 2015
Ahmed Brooks, Aldon Smith, Aaron Lynch, Corey Lemonier
Ahmad Brooks
13 games (13 starts), 25 tackles, 5 assists, 6 sacks, 2 passes defended, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery
Brooks shared the 2014 team record for the number of sacks in the season, however his sack amount was its lowest since 2010.
But his season will be mostly remembered for several off the field incidents which caused him to be benched for three games for a variety of reasons. These included talking adversely about how he was being utilised and missing a team meeting.
He is due to earn a $6million base salary that can swell to $9.5million with bonuses in 2015, so with the emergence of Aaron Lynch, it is looking increasingly likely that the 49ers will try to trade Brooks during the offseason. This is even more likely when considering how much the 49ers will have to reduce costs in order to move back under the salary cap limit. Even a release is likely, if no trade partner can be found.
(Daily Republic)
Aldon Smith
7 games (6 starts), 10 tackles, 5 assists, 2 sacks
After missing the first nine games of the 2014 season due to suspension, Aldon Smith came back and appeared in the remaining seven regular season games.
His underwhelming statistics are no doubt due to the huge amount of practice time and playing time that he lost through his suspension: He was just too far behind the team to catch up properly following his ban.
Smiths off the field issues are very well known and documented, however he has shown a rare talent to get to the passer when playing regularly, which is why the team have stuck by him throughout his trials and tribulations.
2015 is the final year of his rookie contract and he is set to make over $9million. With the salary cap issues that the team has, alongside the myriad of problems that Smith has experienced away from football, I would expect that the front office will be trying hard to get Smith to restructure his salary. Perhaps a two or three year extension with a modest salary may be in the cards, allowing the team to spread his 2015 wages across more years, whilst at the same time retaining a naturally talented player who will hopefully find his form again next year.
But there has even been speculation that the team will let Smith go, however I believe that they will look into restructuring his contract first. Elite pass rushers are hard to find, even if they have plenty of baggage.
Aaron Lynch
16 games (3 starts), 17 tackles, 6 assists, 6 sacks, 4 passes defended.
Alongside Chris Borland, Aaron Lynch was the pick of the 49ers 2014 draft. Chosen in the fifth round, not much was expected of him during 2014 but with issues surrounding Ahmad Brooks and Aldon Smith, Lynch was able to see more playing time. He even started in place of Brooks when the latter was going through his benching issues.
Sharing the sack lead with Brooks, but from far fewer snaps, Lynch has effectively pushed Ahmad out of a job. I expect to see Lynch starting next season and it will be interesting to see how he gets on when he starts for a full 16 games.
Dan Skuta
14 games (10 starts), 25 tackles, 8 assists, 5 sacks, 1 pass defended, 3 forced fumbles.
Another example of the excellent coaching and scouting done by the 49ers, Skuta came into the team during 2013 after being a minor player on the Bengals roster, but in two seasons has flourished to be a very effective edge rusher and linebacker. Taking the place of Aldon Smith was never going to be easy, but Skuta accumulated some impressive statistics during 2014 including leading the team with three forced fumbles.
An unrestricted free agent, Skuta will be looking for a starting gig in the league and his 49er career has shown that he is worthy of such a job.
Corey Lemonier
16 games (0 starts), 7 tackles, 3 assists.
Lemonier is somewhat of a mystery. Touted as one of the next big things out of college, much was expected of him once he had been drafted out of Auburn. However, he is yet to produce anything of quality for the 49ers.
I would hazard a guess and say that he has struggled for the same reason that Tank Carradine has also been slow to catch on, which is that they just have not learned the nuances of working in the NFL to a point where the coaching staff are happy to put them into games. In other words, they haven’t earned their way onto the field yet. Former defensive line coach and now head coach, Jim Tomsula, had a noticeable input into the OLB training as they often line up along the line, so if he has been unimpressed by Lemonier as he had been with Tank, then this could explain why we haven’t seen any kind of output from the ex Auburn Tiger.
Lemonier is going to have to work a lot to improve his chances of getting on the field in 2015 in anything other than Special Teams or garbage-time duties.
Looking ahead
In the pass dominated world of the 21st Century NFL, effective edge rushers and every-down outside linebackers are a premium. The 49ers have a couple of players who have been influential in their recent success, but both are not without their problems.
Ahmad Brooks has almost certainly played his last game for the team, whether by being traded or if need be, cut. Aldon Smith is in the upper echelon of pass-rushers and is a player that the team have not really had since recently voted Hall of Famer, Charles Haley.
Although not as volatile towards his team or coaching staff as Haley once was, Aldon Smith still presents the front office with a headache much like his predecessor. Do they dare release or trade him not only to help alleviate their salary cap woes, but also to wash their hands of the constant issues that he brings? Or do they stick with their rare commodity, hope that he has learned his lessons and will return to his peak form and restructure/extend his contract?
If both Brooks and Smith go, then the team are down to just Lynch (good, but still very young) and Lemonier (yet to show anything). If that happens, then Dan Skuta may well find his way back onto the team.
If Brooks is the only one to go, then I would expect the 49ers not to be in play for Skuta, but instead try to pick up another low risk/high reward vet as well as drafting an OLB in the upper half of the 2015 draft.
Whatever the outcome, the OLB position is definitely one of concern for 49ers fans.
Photograph reference
Daily Republich, 'Brooks and Smith', accessed online 20 February 2015 <http://dailyrepublic.s3.amazonaws.com/files/2014/07/25-Niners-Color-34p-1024x676.jpg >
Dissecting the depth chart: Wide Receivers
By Paul Kadwill
2014 depth chart:
Anquan Boldin, Stevie Johnson, Bruce Ellington
Michael Crabtree, Brandon Lloyd, Quinton Patton
Signed through 2015:
Anquan Boldin, Stevie Johnson, Bruce Ellington, Quinton Patton
Anquan Boldin
83 catches, 1062 yards (12.8YPC), 5 touchdowns
Yet again, Anquan Boldin led the team in receiving figures during 2014. Although his numbers were down from 2013, Boldin showed his calibre as a true #1WR, coming up with the tough yards and the third down catches at many vital points during the year.
At 34 years of age, it is clear that the receiver is in the twilight of his career, however whilst he is still producing elite results, there is no reason to fear that he cannot reproduce these during 2015. The real questions, for 2015 at least, lie behind Boldin on the depth chart.
Michael Crabtree
68 catches, 698 yards (10.3 YPC), 4 touchdowns
The decline of Michael Crabtree in San Francisco, again continued during 2014. Without niggling injuries to blame, it has become abundantly clear over the last couple of seasons that Crabtree does not have what it takes to be a #1WR which is what he was drafted as. Although his stats are still useful, they are by no means equal to the paycheck that he will be seeking during this offseason. Lacking consistency and with ongoing physical and temperamental issues, I am confident that we have seen the last of Crabtree in red and gold. A shame, as he had shown flashes of becoming an outstanding receiver, especially during the early days of the Harbaugh era.
Stevie Johnson
35 catches, 435 yards (12.4YPC), 3 touchdowns
After having three consecutive 1,000 yard seasons at Buffalo between 2010 and 2012, Johnsons 2013 campaign was cut short by injury. San Francisco acquired him for a conditional fourth round pick before the beginning of the 2014 season, after Buffalo deemed him surplus to requirements.
The addition of Johnson gave 49ers fans much hope for a receiving corps that was lacking any depth in previous seasons. With his unorthodox route running style, it was always going to take time for Johnson to gel with Kaepernick, but having previous success as well as decent speed and steady hands, it appeared as if the team would be on the verge of a breakout season through the air.
Johnson showed much during training sessions and preseason games, but did not see nearly enough passes thrown his way during the regular season, to fulfill his potential. As the 49ers passing game dwindled in the doldrums, fans were becoming increasingly insistent on wanting to see him on the field more. Obviously the coaching staff thought otherwise, so the 2014 season ended without much fanfare for the ex-Bills player.
Brandon Lloyd
14 catches, 294 yards (21YPC), 1 touchdown
Returning to the team that had drafted him and then parted ways once the relationship had withered, Brandon Lloyd was hoping to find a return to form after sitting out the 2013 season. Used primarily as a deep ball threat, he gave the fans some spectacular catches to remember during the 2014 season, including an 80 yard touchdown in the win against the St Louis Rams in week 6.
With the 49ers still favouring the run, Lloyd saw scant few chances to be on the field in 2014 whilst being ultimately their fourth choice receiver.
Bruce Ellington
6 catches, 62 yards (10.3YPC), 2 touchdowns
Ellington was used as the primary punt and kick returner during 2014, so his playing time as a receiver was minimal. Most of his receiving yards came towards the end of the teams heavy defeat at the hands of the Denver Broncos.
A naturally speedy and elusive player, he has a chance to carve out a niche for himself on the offense during the future, whilst still continuing to handle his return duties. Because of his size, it is doubtful that he will ever become a second or third receiver, although there are of course, numerous receivers in the league that have been successful without the standard set of desirable attributes.
Quinton Patton
3 catches, 44 yards (14.7YPC).
Quinton Patton is another player who has performed well when given the chance, especially during the preseason. However, he was given scant opportunities of playing time during 2014, much to the growing frustration of the fanbase who were eager to see Patton and Stevie Johnson both see increased playing time towards the end of the season when it was clear that a trip to the playoffs was not on the cards.
Much like Johnson but with a more classical route running ability, Patton has flashed a talent for making difficult catches and of breaking away from defenders. But, again like his receiving colleague, he does not have as much size as is perhaps required for receivers to have in the big and physical NFC West. Patton can still have a quality career for the 49ers, but only if the coaching staff are willing and able to work him onto the field more.
Looking ahead
2014 saw the 49ers have perhaps their strongest collection of wide receivers for many years. Before the season there was a lot of chatter around the league that the underperforming San Francisco passing game could and would breakout for a successful year. Sadly however, this was not the case. The receiving numbers in general, were pretty average, although this was as much about external issues (playcalling, offensive line injuries etc) as it was about the receivers themselves.
I would be incredibly surprised to see Michael Crabtree back in San Francisco next year. He has never been consistent enough during his time with the team and the past couple of seasons have been utterly mediocre from the former top-ten draft pick.. In many games during 2014, Crabtree was completely absent on the field and his body language both on and off the field, were clear evidence that his mind was already thinking ahead to new pastures in 2015. If I were a betting man, my money would be on Dallas. Jerry Jones likes his big-name receivers and Crabtree is a native Texan, so it would be a perfect match if the two could join sides.
Anquan Boldin is continuing to excel in the National Football League. But he will be turning 35 during the 2015 season, so there is every chance that this year will be his swansong. Because of this, plus the probable loss of Crabtree, I would expect the 49ers to be looking to draft a receiver in the first couple of rounds of the NFL draft. Ideally, he would need to be a big, strong receiver to thrive in the physical West, but talent can outshine tangibles, so if a super talented receiver is available who perhaps isn’t as physical as what Baalke would like, the front office leader may still pull the trigger.
With Stevie Johnson on the roster, the 49ers still have two receivers with multiple 1,000 yard seasons. There have been rumours floating around for some time that the team may be consider cutting Johnson in order to alleviate their salary cap woes, although I hope that they will explore the possibility of restructuring his contract before doing that. Receivers who have proven to be that productive are hard to find, so it would be beneficial for the team to try to keep Johnson around. The financial cuts will have to come from somewhere though.
I would not expect Brandon Lloyd to return this year, as he was under utilised last season and with his personality, it is doubtful as to whether he would accept another minor role on a run-first offense.
Quinton Patton and Bruce Ellington can both be larger assets within the 49er offensive system. With a new coaching staff though, we simply do not know what the staff are planning in terms of the playbook, so we shall have to wait to see whether or not both players see an expanded role. At the very least, Ellington still has his return duties, but Patton may have to put in another sterling offseason and preseason effort in order to stay on the roster, especially if the team do go ahead and draft a receiver in one of the first few rounds.
Photograph reference
XN Sports, 'Crabtree and Boldin', accessed online 20 February 2015 <http://xnsportspullzone.xnsports.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Anquan-Boldin-Michael-Crabtree-e1407169349163-1024x547.jpg >
2014 depth chart:
Anquan Boldin, Stevie Johnson, Bruce Ellington
Michael Crabtree, Brandon Lloyd, Quinton Patton
Signed through 2015:
Anquan Boldin, Stevie Johnson, Bruce Ellington, Quinton Patton
Anquan Boldin
83 catches, 1062 yards (12.8YPC), 5 touchdowns
Yet again, Anquan Boldin led the team in receiving figures during 2014. Although his numbers were down from 2013, Boldin showed his calibre as a true #1WR, coming up with the tough yards and the third down catches at many vital points during the year.
At 34 years of age, it is clear that the receiver is in the twilight of his career, however whilst he is still producing elite results, there is no reason to fear that he cannot reproduce these during 2015. The real questions, for 2015 at least, lie behind Boldin on the depth chart.
(XN Sports)
Michael Crabtree
68 catches, 698 yards (10.3 YPC), 4 touchdowns
The decline of Michael Crabtree in San Francisco, again continued during 2014. Without niggling injuries to blame, it has become abundantly clear over the last couple of seasons that Crabtree does not have what it takes to be a #1WR which is what he was drafted as. Although his stats are still useful, they are by no means equal to the paycheck that he will be seeking during this offseason. Lacking consistency and with ongoing physical and temperamental issues, I am confident that we have seen the last of Crabtree in red and gold. A shame, as he had shown flashes of becoming an outstanding receiver, especially during the early days of the Harbaugh era.
Stevie Johnson
35 catches, 435 yards (12.4YPC), 3 touchdowns
After having three consecutive 1,000 yard seasons at Buffalo between 2010 and 2012, Johnsons 2013 campaign was cut short by injury. San Francisco acquired him for a conditional fourth round pick before the beginning of the 2014 season, after Buffalo deemed him surplus to requirements.
The addition of Johnson gave 49ers fans much hope for a receiving corps that was lacking any depth in previous seasons. With his unorthodox route running style, it was always going to take time for Johnson to gel with Kaepernick, but having previous success as well as decent speed and steady hands, it appeared as if the team would be on the verge of a breakout season through the air.
Johnson showed much during training sessions and preseason games, but did not see nearly enough passes thrown his way during the regular season, to fulfill his potential. As the 49ers passing game dwindled in the doldrums, fans were becoming increasingly insistent on wanting to see him on the field more. Obviously the coaching staff thought otherwise, so the 2014 season ended without much fanfare for the ex-Bills player.
Brandon Lloyd
14 catches, 294 yards (21YPC), 1 touchdown
Returning to the team that had drafted him and then parted ways once the relationship had withered, Brandon Lloyd was hoping to find a return to form after sitting out the 2013 season. Used primarily as a deep ball threat, he gave the fans some spectacular catches to remember during the 2014 season, including an 80 yard touchdown in the win against the St Louis Rams in week 6.
With the 49ers still favouring the run, Lloyd saw scant few chances to be on the field in 2014 whilst being ultimately their fourth choice receiver.
Bruce Ellington
6 catches, 62 yards (10.3YPC), 2 touchdowns
Ellington was used as the primary punt and kick returner during 2014, so his playing time as a receiver was minimal. Most of his receiving yards came towards the end of the teams heavy defeat at the hands of the Denver Broncos.
A naturally speedy and elusive player, he has a chance to carve out a niche for himself on the offense during the future, whilst still continuing to handle his return duties. Because of his size, it is doubtful that he will ever become a second or third receiver, although there are of course, numerous receivers in the league that have been successful without the standard set of desirable attributes.
Quinton Patton
3 catches, 44 yards (14.7YPC).
Quinton Patton is another player who has performed well when given the chance, especially during the preseason. However, he was given scant opportunities of playing time during 2014, much to the growing frustration of the fanbase who were eager to see Patton and Stevie Johnson both see increased playing time towards the end of the season when it was clear that a trip to the playoffs was not on the cards.
Much like Johnson but with a more classical route running ability, Patton has flashed a talent for making difficult catches and of breaking away from defenders. But, again like his receiving colleague, he does not have as much size as is perhaps required for receivers to have in the big and physical NFC West. Patton can still have a quality career for the 49ers, but only if the coaching staff are willing and able to work him onto the field more.
Looking ahead
2014 saw the 49ers have perhaps their strongest collection of wide receivers for many years. Before the season there was a lot of chatter around the league that the underperforming San Francisco passing game could and would breakout for a successful year. Sadly however, this was not the case. The receiving numbers in general, were pretty average, although this was as much about external issues (playcalling, offensive line injuries etc) as it was about the receivers themselves.
I would be incredibly surprised to see Michael Crabtree back in San Francisco next year. He has never been consistent enough during his time with the team and the past couple of seasons have been utterly mediocre from the former top-ten draft pick.. In many games during 2014, Crabtree was completely absent on the field and his body language both on and off the field, were clear evidence that his mind was already thinking ahead to new pastures in 2015. If I were a betting man, my money would be on Dallas. Jerry Jones likes his big-name receivers and Crabtree is a native Texan, so it would be a perfect match if the two could join sides.
Anquan Boldin is continuing to excel in the National Football League. But he will be turning 35 during the 2015 season, so there is every chance that this year will be his swansong. Because of this, plus the probable loss of Crabtree, I would expect the 49ers to be looking to draft a receiver in the first couple of rounds of the NFL draft. Ideally, he would need to be a big, strong receiver to thrive in the physical West, but talent can outshine tangibles, so if a super talented receiver is available who perhaps isn’t as physical as what Baalke would like, the front office leader may still pull the trigger.
With Stevie Johnson on the roster, the 49ers still have two receivers with multiple 1,000 yard seasons. There have been rumours floating around for some time that the team may be consider cutting Johnson in order to alleviate their salary cap woes, although I hope that they will explore the possibility of restructuring his contract before doing that. Receivers who have proven to be that productive are hard to find, so it would be beneficial for the team to try to keep Johnson around. The financial cuts will have to come from somewhere though.
I would not expect Brandon Lloyd to return this year, as he was under utilised last season and with his personality, it is doubtful as to whether he would accept another minor role on a run-first offense.
Quinton Patton and Bruce Ellington can both be larger assets within the 49er offensive system. With a new coaching staff though, we simply do not know what the staff are planning in terms of the playbook, so we shall have to wait to see whether or not both players see an expanded role. At the very least, Ellington still has his return duties, but Patton may have to put in another sterling offseason and preseason effort in order to stay on the roster, especially if the team do go ahead and draft a receiver in one of the first few rounds.
Photograph reference
XN Sports, 'Crabtree and Boldin', accessed online 20 February 2015 <http://xnsportspullzone.xnsports.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Anquan-Boldin-Michael-Crabtree-e1407169349163-1024x547.jpg >
Wednesday, 18 February 2015
Baalke offers assurances over veteran stars, but his words may ring hollow
The NFL Scouting Combine starts in Indianapolis this week as teams and prospects step up their preparations for the upcoming draft.
General manager Trent Baalke faced questions from the media on Wednesday and, while his focus this week will be on prospective new 49ers, he was primarily quizzed on the future of current Niners whose futures with the team are very much in doubt.
Baalke revealed he had already spoken to Frank Gore and reiterated that San Francisco is keen to see their all-time leading rusher return for the 2015 campaign.
"Frank's, everyone asks that question all the time. I think I've been asked that question for five straight years now. Frank's just the Energizer battery, he just keeps on ticking. The last two games of the season, I think you saw what Frank still has left in the tank. A very good football player. One of the most passionate, if not the most passionate football player I've ever been around. So, I still think he's got it in him. I know that he still believes it. I talked to him the other day on the phone and we're going to do what we can to get him back as a 49er."
Furthermore Baalke, per Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area, insisted tight end Vernon Davis will be back for next season despite his dreadful performance in 2014 and added that the Niners are set to meet with Michael Crabtree's agent over a prospective new deal.
Veteran defensive lineman Justin Smith is another whose status is up in the air and it remains to be seen whether he will return for a 15th NFL season or choose to hang up the cleats following an impressive career.
Baalke stated that he is to meet with Smith after the combine, but his assurances over the likes of Gore and Smith are likely to ring hollow with much of the 49er fanbase following an offseason in which the name of the franchise has been dragged through the mud thanks to the departure of Jim Harbaugh as head coach and appointment of Jim Tomsula as his replacement.
Questions about Harbaugh's recent claims that his parting with the Niners was not mutual were expertly dodged by Baalke, however, for fans still annoyed by the saga of the exit of San Francisco's head coach, talk of the 49ers' commitment to their ageing stars may well fall on deaf ears.
Sunday, 1 February 2015
Finally, Haley hears the call from the Hall
By Paul Kadwill.
Full recognition has finally come for Charles Haley, at the sixth time of asking.
One of the most dominant defensive players of the last thirty years, Haley reached the finals of the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection process no less than five times, only to be turned away at the eleventh hour. On Saturday he received the call that had eluded him for so long: He would be entering the hallowed halls of Canton, Ohio in 2015.
The resume of Charles Haley is exceedingly impressive.
After being part of the most impressive draft class of all time for the San Francisco 49ers in 1986, Haley gained twelve sacks in his first professional season. During the championship seasons of 1988 and 1989, Haley would accumulate twenty-three sacks and play a hugely influential role in enabling the 49ers to win the Super Bowl in both years. These statistics would be topped during the 1990 season, when Haley was chosen as the NFC Defensive Player of the year, as well as becoming an All-Pro, in no small part to the sixteen sacks that he tallied during the season.
Charles would spend the first six years of his career with San Francisco, winning two Super Bowl rings and smashing a whole host of records. During 1992 he was traded to the rival Dallas Cowboys, whereby he won a further three Super Bowls whilst continuing to put up impressive pass-rushing statistics.
This is even more impressive when considereing that Haley had to transition from a 3-4 outside linebacker in San Francisco, to a 4-3 defensive end in Dallas.
After a five-year stint with the Cowboys, he returned to San Francisco where he played for two more seasons and finally retired after the 1999 season.
In his career, Charles Haley amassed 100.5 sacks, with 66.5 of them being in the red and gold uniform of the 49ers. He was the premier pass-rush specialist throughout the 80s and 90s, wreaking havoc on quarterbacks throughout the league during his career.
Haley also holds the record for the highest number of sacks in the Super Bowl, with 4.5 sacks split across his 5 Super Bowl wins. He is also fifth on the all-time list of sacks in the postseason with 11.
So, with such a presdigious career, why has it taken so long for Haley to get the call from the Hall? Also, why did San Francisco trade him to the Dallas Cowboys when in the prime of his career?
Both can be answered with the same phrase: Character issues.
Or rather, a challenging personality that was a result of a medical condition that was not diagnosed until after Charles had retired from the NFL.
Throughout his career, Haley was tormented by his own antagonistic behaviour that caused strife between himself and his peers and coaches.
During his time with the 49ers, Haley was responsible for getting into fights with teammates including Jim Burt and even Steve Young, but his biggest mistake was when he threw a punch at his head coach, George Seifert. This was the final straw for San Francisco after it had patiently tried to handle Haley for several years. The swing at Seifert led directly to the trade with Dallas, who were the only team willing to take a risk on the player who had gained such a bd reputation throughout the league.
Even with the Cowboys, Haley continued his disruptive behavuiour. But Jerry Jones was more willing to turn a blind eye to the off-field problems, as long as Haley continued his on-field dominance.
It was not until 1999 that Charles Haley was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a mental illness that was at the root of his erratic behaviour throughout his career. By this time though, the years of infamy were entrenched in the public psyche: The damage was done.
Fast forward a decade and you could still see the damaging effects of Haleys antics, when it came around to consider him for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Although nobody on the voting panel would publically admit it, the reason for Charles Haley being omitted from the halls of Canton for so long, is generally accepted to be because of his caustic temperment whilst still playing the game of football.
It is a pity that this far into the 21st century, the stimga of mental health problems is still so rife in the western world and this is as true for the world of professional sports as it is in any walk of life.
Finally however, on the 31st of January 2015 Charles Haley, the quarterback assassin, received enough votes to rightly take his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Congratulations Charles Haley, you've earned it.
Photography references
Pixgood, 'Charles Haley has firve Super Bowl rings', viewed 1st February 2015, <http://djphillipfromgalt.hot1035radio.com/images/2014/01/charles-haley-five-super-bowls.jpg >
Ninersnation, '3 point stance', viewed 1st February 2015, <https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7ly5DfW8v8uRhE5gslit_L__0Xk=/0x437:2048x1589/1600x900/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45595058/359271.0.jpg >
Full recognition has finally come for Charles Haley, at the sixth time of asking.
One of the most dominant defensive players of the last thirty years, Haley reached the finals of the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection process no less than five times, only to be turned away at the eleventh hour. On Saturday he received the call that had eluded him for so long: He would be entering the hallowed halls of Canton, Ohio in 2015.
(Pixgood)
The resume of Charles Haley is exceedingly impressive.
After being part of the most impressive draft class of all time for the San Francisco 49ers in 1986, Haley gained twelve sacks in his first professional season. During the championship seasons of 1988 and 1989, Haley would accumulate twenty-three sacks and play a hugely influential role in enabling the 49ers to win the Super Bowl in both years. These statistics would be topped during the 1990 season, when Haley was chosen as the NFC Defensive Player of the year, as well as becoming an All-Pro, in no small part to the sixteen sacks that he tallied during the season.
(Ninersnation)
Charles would spend the first six years of his career with San Francisco, winning two Super Bowl rings and smashing a whole host of records. During 1992 he was traded to the rival Dallas Cowboys, whereby he won a further three Super Bowls whilst continuing to put up impressive pass-rushing statistics.
This is even more impressive when considereing that Haley had to transition from a 3-4 outside linebacker in San Francisco, to a 4-3 defensive end in Dallas.
After a five-year stint with the Cowboys, he returned to San Francisco where he played for two more seasons and finally retired after the 1999 season.
In his career, Charles Haley amassed 100.5 sacks, with 66.5 of them being in the red and gold uniform of the 49ers. He was the premier pass-rush specialist throughout the 80s and 90s, wreaking havoc on quarterbacks throughout the league during his career.
Haley also holds the record for the highest number of sacks in the Super Bowl, with 4.5 sacks split across his 5 Super Bowl wins. He is also fifth on the all-time list of sacks in the postseason with 11.
So, with such a presdigious career, why has it taken so long for Haley to get the call from the Hall? Also, why did San Francisco trade him to the Dallas Cowboys when in the prime of his career?
Both can be answered with the same phrase: Character issues.
Or rather, a challenging personality that was a result of a medical condition that was not diagnosed until after Charles had retired from the NFL.
Throughout his career, Haley was tormented by his own antagonistic behaviour that caused strife between himself and his peers and coaches.
During his time with the 49ers, Haley was responsible for getting into fights with teammates including Jim Burt and even Steve Young, but his biggest mistake was when he threw a punch at his head coach, George Seifert. This was the final straw for San Francisco after it had patiently tried to handle Haley for several years. The swing at Seifert led directly to the trade with Dallas, who were the only team willing to take a risk on the player who had gained such a bd reputation throughout the league.
Even with the Cowboys, Haley continued his disruptive behavuiour. But Jerry Jones was more willing to turn a blind eye to the off-field problems, as long as Haley continued his on-field dominance.
It was not until 1999 that Charles Haley was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a mental illness that was at the root of his erratic behaviour throughout his career. By this time though, the years of infamy were entrenched in the public psyche: The damage was done.
Fast forward a decade and you could still see the damaging effects of Haleys antics, when it came around to consider him for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Although nobody on the voting panel would publically admit it, the reason for Charles Haley being omitted from the halls of Canton for so long, is generally accepted to be because of his caustic temperment whilst still playing the game of football.
It is a pity that this far into the 21st century, the stimga of mental health problems is still so rife in the western world and this is as true for the world of professional sports as it is in any walk of life.
Finally however, on the 31st of January 2015 Charles Haley, the quarterback assassin, received enough votes to rightly take his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Congratulations Charles Haley, you've earned it.
Photography references
Pixgood, 'Charles Haley has firve Super Bowl rings', viewed 1st February 2015, <http://djphillipfromgalt.hot1035radio.com/images/2014/01/charles-haley-five-super-bowls.jpg >
Ninersnation, '3 point stance', viewed 1st February 2015, <https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7ly5DfW8v8uRhE5gslit_L__0Xk=/0x437:2048x1589/1600x900/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45595058/359271.0.jpg >
Thursday, 29 January 2015
Dissecting the depth chart: Running Backs (including Fullbacks)
By Paul Kadwill
2014 Depth charts:
RB: Frank Gore, Carlos Hyde, LaMichael James, Alfonso Smith, Kendall Hunter*, Marcus Lattimore*
(*injured)
FB: Bruce Miller
Signed through 2015:
Carlos Hyde, Kendall Hunter, Bruce Miller
Frank Gore
16 games (16 starts), 255 attempts, 1106 yards, 4.3 yards per carry, 4 touchdowns, 2 fumbles.
(Sacremento Bee)
What can you say about Frank Gore that hasn’t been said many times before by 49ers fans? Already a legend around the club, Gore secured yet another 1000+ yard season during 2014, the eighth of his career, and did so with a very decent yards-per-carry average. His touchdowns were down from previous years, but this was due mainly to playcalls and offensive line issues, not Gore himself.
The 49ers all-time leading rusher only added another 111 yards of receiving to his season tally, with a single receiving touchdown. Although noticeably reduced from his receiving hey-day when he regularly gained around 400 receiving yards per season, this years total wasn't too much of a reduction compared to the previous three seasons where he gained 114, 234 and 141 yards respectively.
As ever, Frank Gores ability to pick up blitzing defenders and pass blocking in general were also massively important factors of his play during 2014, and cannot be over-emphasised or over-valued. There isn't a back in the league that can come anywhere close to comparing to Gore in this aspect of play.
All of this adds up to the unmistakable fact that at the age of 31, when many running backs are well and truly past their prime, Frank Gore is actually still producing very highly. Throughout the years, as offensive schemes have come and gone, quarterbacks and offensive lines have waxed and waned, the one true constant for the 49ers has been the outstanding output of their diminutive running back.
Frank still has gas left in the tank.
Carlos Hyde
14 games (0 starts), 83 attempts, 333 yards, 4.0 yards per carry, 4 touchdowns, 1 fumble.
(USA Today)
Following a dominant college career for the Ohio State Buckeyes, Carlos Hyde was selected with the 57th overall pick of the 2014 NFL draft, by the San Francisco 49ers.
With a season ending injury to Kendall Hunter, a career cut short for Marcus Lattimore and the self inflicted demise of LaMichael James, Hyde found himself as the primary backup to Frank Gore at the start of the season, without ever having played a regular season snap. He adhered himself to the Faithful during the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys, when he rushed for 50 yards and a touchdown in the eye-catching win that started off the 2014 season.
Finishing the season with the same number of touchdowns as his mentor Frank Gore, the self-named ‘El Guapo’ had a successful rookie campaign for the 49ers.
With several eye-catching plays worthy of the teams highlight reel, Hyde has given himself a good chance to become the starter for the 2015 season. However, aside from the flashes of burst and power that wowed fans and pundits alike, Hyde did have a tendency to shy away from the north-south type of rush plays that is required of a starter, and instead opted to bounce his rushing to the outside of the offensive line on many occasions. This is often seen with smaller running backs in the league who naturally tend to shy away from the carnage of the trenches, but Hyde is not a small back! He will need to take further coaching from Tom Rathman in order to become less hesitant and less reliant on off-tackle runs, as well as improving his receiving and pass-blocking abilities, all of which are done to elite levels by Frank Gore. That being said, it appears only a matter of time before Carlos Hyde becomes the starting running back for the 49ers.
LaMichael James
1 game (0 starts), 2 attempts, 0 yards, 0.0 yards per carry, 0 touchdowns, 0 fumbles.
After openly expressing his displeasure at having such a small role on the team, James was able to force the 49ers to release him on September 8th 2014, after just one game for the team in 2014. After three weeks of inaction, James was signed to the Miami Dolphins practice squad, later being promoted to the full roster in November, appearing in two games and rushing for nine yards in total.
I doubt that James will ever reach his full potential in the NFL and will more than likely fade into the background without ever having made an impact. This is a huge shame for an electric player who wowed the footballing nation whilst at college.
Alfonso Smith
6 games (0 starts), 7 attempts, 19 yards, 2.7 yards per carry, 0 touchdowns, 0 fumbles.
After signing with the 49ers during the preseason, Alfonso Smith was amongst the final cuts during August as the team trimmed down to their final 53-man roster. With the losses of LaMichael James and then the retirement of Marcus Lattimore, San Francisco found themselves down to two healthy running backs and so in November, Smith was resigned to take up the third position of the depth chart as well as to bolster the Special Teams unit.
He suited up for six games and saw action primarily on Special Teams, aside from a scant few rushing attempts for the 49ers Offense.
Kendall Hunter
0 games.
2014 was supposed to be the year of Kendall Hunter. After proving himself to be an excellent backup to Frank Gore in his first three seasons, whereby he averaged 4.6 yards per carry (9th best of all running backs with 200+ carries since 2011), it was hoped that Kendall would slowly see more time on the field as the transition from Frank Gore to his replacement occurred. This plan was cut short in an horrific way before the season had ever begun, when Hunter tore his ACL during training camp.
After being placed on IR, the future for Kendall Hunter was looking bleak.
Following other adversities within the running back depth chart however, the 49ers decided to sign Hunter to a contract extension which will bring the former Oklahoma State Cowboy back into training camp for the 2015 season. He figures to be well placed in becoming the second or third-string running back going forward.
Marcus Lattimore
0 games.
A heartbreaking story for many throughout football, Lattimore failed in his attempt to come back from tearing the ACL, MCL and PCL ligaments in his right knee and dislocating his kneecap, which occurred during a college game in 2012.
Arguably one of the most electrifying players in college football history, Lattimore was chosen by the 49ers during the 2013 NFL draft, in the hopes that his rehabilitation would be successful and he could go on to use his unmistakable talents in the league. It proved to be too much to come back from however, and after sitting out the 2013 season and part of 2014, Lattimore took the decision to retire on November 8th 2014, without ever having played a competitive snap in the NFL.
Bruce Miller
16 games (8 starts), 6 attempts, 9 yards, 1.5 yards per carry, 0 touchdowns, 1 fumble.
An intriguing 7th round selection during the 2011 draft, Bruce Miller switched positions from defensive end to fullback and has never looked back since day one. He continues to provide astounding lead blocking duties for Frank Gore and the rest of the 49er running backs, but his value doesn’t just stop with the traditional fullback role. Miller has become a very useful receiving target for Colin Kaepernick and is often seen barreling his way through defenders for extra yardage. 2014 saw his yards-per-catch total rise to 10.5YPC for the season, up noticeably from 2013 (9.7YPC), whilst he also scored two receiving touchdowns during the most recent season, his first since his 2011 rookie campaign.
The one area of his game that he does need to work on, is the running game. Granted, he is only ever really called upon in short yardage or goal line situations, nevertheless Miller must learn to use his strength more effectively and to seek out the gaps in the line of scrimmage with which to penetrate. Coming from an entirely defensive background in college, it is perhaps not at all surprising that he is weakest in this area of the game. Still, it would be extremely valuable for the team to be able to rely upon their fullback to pick up the tough yards on 3rd and short and goal line situations, similar to the way Green Bay can call upon John Kuhn to fulfill such requirements.
Looking ahead
In terms of the fullback position, one would assume that Bruce Miller will once again be the starter. However, the 49ers picked arguably the best fullback in the 2014 draft, Trey Millard, who spent the year on the the injury list. He will be back for training camp and looking to make an impact with the hopes of breaking into the roster, probably on Special Teams, before making a push to become the starter in future years. Both Miller and Millard are signed until 2018.
The running back position is one of the sections of the 49ers depth chart that has the most question marks surrounding it. For a position that has had the luxury of having Frank Gore occupy it for so many years, the team are now at a crossroads with regards to his future with them. It is one of the most commonly accepted facts of life in the NFL that running backs wear out, and often with dramatic speed. An elite player one year may be just a shell of his former self the next. Many teams automatically assume that a running back will need replacing by the age of thirty. Frank Gore is thirty-one.
What stands Gore out from the crowd however, is his consistency. We have seen no fall from grace yet from the player, in fact he has maintained a consistently high performance level throughout his career, and although he may have begun to lose that burst of speed (not that he ever really had breakaway speed to begin with), he more than makes up for it with intelligence, patience behind blockers, evasion and other facets of his game. One of those extras is his ability to pass block. I cannot think of a single running back in history that has been as effective, or a willing to throw his entire self into a block, as Gore does during every game.
Perhaps the most influential factor in the decision of whether to bring Gore back or not, is Carlos Hyde. Do the front office feel comfortable with handing the reins over to a player who has only been in the league for a solitary year? It is obvious that Hyde is the 49er back for the future, but is the future now?
If the choice was down to me, I would bring Frank Gore back for another season at least, and gradually work Carlos Hyde into the game more often as each week passes. I honestly believe that Hyde will become a far better running back if he can learn from the best, Frank Gore, for at least one more season. However, considering the team are in rebuilding mode (even if they won’t admit it), they may decide that Hyde is better off learning through experience whilst at the same time saving the extra money that Gore would have taken up.
The financial factor is definitely going to play a part in this offseason, even if not in this particular case, because the team are under more pressure from the salary cap than they have been for several years. They will need to free up enough space for draft signings and any others they may want to make, and the only way to do this is if they release, trade or restructure the contracts of existing players. Some big ticket players will be on their way out, most of whom will not be a surprise (Brooks), but one or two will be.
I believe that these economic strains will have the biggest impact upon the decision to keep Gore or not, even if the fanbase are in favour of keeping Frank at the club for his entire career. Money talks.
One advantage that we do have in this scenario though: Frank Gore is a career 49er and I am confident that at this stage in his career, he is not motivated by money. Therefore, he may be willing to give the 49ers a home team discount, thus improving his chances of a return.
So, if Gore stays, then the depth chart is pretty much set: Gore, Hyde, Hunter. Arguably the strongest 1-2-3 the team has had at running back for many years.
If Gore is allowed to sign elsewhere, then things change quite massively. Hyde would of course become the starter, then presumably Hunter would be his backup, but after that it is anybodys guess. A veteran on league-minimum as the third back, or a rookie from the draft? Only time will tell.
It is believed that Jim Tomsula wants to focus more on the running game for the upcoming season, so it would be fairly logical to predict that he will be looking to bolster the depleted running back position in some way. We just don’t know how.
For a team that only twelve months ago had a seemingly overflowing cup at this position, it is humbling to see just how quickly a position can change. One thing is for sure though: Things will definitely be changing one way or another within the running back roster before the first snap of 2015.
Photograph references:
Sacremento Bee, 'Frank Gore', viewed online 29 January 2015, <http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/cbfaco/picture5111178/ALTERNATES/FREE_960/1229FRANKGORE%20(2).JPG >
USA Today, 'Carlos Hye', viewed online 29 January 2015, <https://usatfantasy.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/carlos-hyde-san-francisco-49ers_20141123-e1417795750823.jpg?w=1000 >
Perspective needed at the end of a poorly, planned coaching search
The 49ers' quest to fill out their coaching staff for the 2015 season is almost at a close following the reported hiring of Geep Chryst as offensive co-ordinator, an appointment that appears to have sparked further pessimism among a fanbase left bemused by the way management have handled matters so far in the offseason.
Chryst had been kept on the staff in an unspecified role since Jim Tomsula was hired as head coach and, after previously serving as San Francisco's quarterbacks coach, seems to have been a fall-back option for a franchise unable to acquire its top targets.
Few will be inspired by Chryst being given the reins to an offense that struggled markedly in 2014 and many will consider the decision to be another sign that this team is set for a significant downturn. However, it is way too early to make such an assessment at this point, so let's take a look at the complete coaching staff as it stands at the moment to get a clearer picture of where the 49ers stand.
Head Coach: Jim Tomsula - We've heard all the negatives about the promotion from defensive line coach and his lack of head coaching experience, but the main question over Tomsula surrounds whether his undoubted motivation skills and likeability will be enough to get results. The general consensus is that the players were excited for coach Tomsula, now his task is to get them to execute consistently.
Offensive Co-ordinator: Geep Chryst - I and most others labelled the offensive co-ordinator position as the most important hire of the offseason. The 49ers have hardly hit a home run here with Chryst, who looks to have been turned to after San Francisco missed out on the likes of Adam Gase and Rob Chudzinski. Chryst struggled with a dreadful San Diego Chargers team in his only other OC stint, but does at least have the advantage of familiarity with Colin Kaepernick and the terminology of the offense.
Quarterbacks: Steve Logan - Logan has already taken a bit of heat for a quote in which he indicated he would take a mobile quarterback over an accurate one. His words have been taken out of context and blown out of proportion and Logan - despite being out of football for three years - has masses of experience coaching quarterbacks including David Garrard and Matt Ryan, who won the Golden Arm award for outstanding senior quarterback at Boston College under Logan's tutelage. Logan also is very familiar with Tomsula having served as his offensive co-ordinator at the Rhein Fire in 2006.
Offensive line: Chris Foerster - Foerster returns to his old post as the 49ers' O-Line coach after being replaced by Mike Solari in 2010. Said to be skilled at coaching stretch-running schemes, Foerster will be assisted by Eric Wolford.
Tight Ends: Tony Sparano - Sparano is the closest the 49ers have come to a home-run hire. A passionate and highly experienced coach who went close to getting the Oakland Raiders head job on a full-time basis before it was given to Jack Del Rio. Sparano helped reinvigorate the Raiders following the firing of Dennis Allen and was the head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2008 to 2011. He also has worked with tight ends and offensive linemen for multiple teams and should prove an extremely useful voice to have on the sideline.
Wide receivers: Unknown
Running backs: Tom Rathman - The 49ers legend stays on and will continue to aid the development of Carlos Hyde and coach Kendall Hunter and hopefully Frank Gore. A big boost for an extremely talented backfield.
Defensive Co-ordinator: Eric Mangini - Another hire that was met with little fanfare. Mangini served as tight ends coach for the Niners last season but built his reputation as a defensive assistant with the New England Patriots, becoming the co-ordinator on that side of the ball before taking over as head coach of the New York Jets and later the Cleveland Browns. Despite the disappointment surrounding Vic Fangio's exit, Mangini knows defense and there is no reason to expect the unit to struggle under his stewardship.
Defensive line: Unknown.
Linebackers: Jason Tarver - Tarver, who left his role as outside linebackers coach with the 49ers in 2010, returns after time spent as the defensive co-ordinator with Stanford and the Raiders. He is expected to have some input in terms of play-calling and Tarver's familiarity with the franchise and the job he did with a young Raiders defense that improved last season make this a relatively strong hire.
Secondary: Unknown.
Special Teams Co-ordinator: Thomas McGaughey - Another coach who worked alongside Tomsula in NFL Europe, McGaughey comes over after holding the same role with the Jets prior to Rex Ryan's departure. McGaughey also coached special teams at LSU.
With the 49ers apparently unable to lure their top targets to Santa Clara, there has been much pessimism surrounding this coaching staff, and perhaps some of it is unwarranted. There is plenty of experience on board in the likes of Sparano and Mangini and, with many of the coaches having previously worked with the 49ers or alongside Tomsula in NFL Europe, there should be a strong chemistry in the group.
For me, Chryst stands as the main questionable hire but, although the importance of the offensive co-ordinator hire has been constantly emphasised since Tomsula's appointment, it remains to be seen how significant this move will be for a 49ers team seemingly set to put the focus back on running the ball.
The negativity will continue to reign, though, as on paper this staff looks to be a downgrade on what the 49ers already had in place. Yet, looking at the careers of the coaches hired by the Niners, what needs to be recognised is that San Francisco have brought in guys with a lot of experience - I'm aware of used that word a few times now - at the positions they have been employed to coach.
San Francisco's approach to filling out their staff has been poorly planned. That much has been evidenced by the hires of Chryst and Mangini, who himself looks to have been something of a second option after the Cincinnati Bengals defensive backs coach Vance Joseph was blocked from interviewing with the Niners.
However, that does not mean the 49ers have assembled a bad staff. To the contrary, I feel they have hired a solid group of coaches that should be able to get something out of an extremely talented roster.
On defense I expect no downturn with a respected mind like Mangini at the helm. The big concern surrounds Chryst and the offense. The hire is underwhelming, but for now the best thing is for 49er fans to take a bit of stock and give this overall decent staff the chance to prove themselves with an excellent group of players.
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