John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Chip Kelly: Jimmie Ward is our best cornerback
Nov 23, 2016 at 10:49 AM
•
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly spoke to the media today and declared that
DB Jimmie Ward was the team's best cornerback.
Kelly was asked why Ward was not moved to safety following the season-ending injury to
FS Eric Reid, a move that might seem natural to some given Ward's college experience. "We think Jimmie's our best corner," Kelly said. "I think that matchup, that he's our best corner and our best nickel. The ability to cover man to man in this league is first and foremost so if you ask anybody, 'What do you want when you're looking at the secondary?' Everybody wants a corner before they want a safety. We thought that's Jimmie's best position. We could move him to safety but we think we'd be really short changed out of the corner spot."
Has Ward actually passed
Tramaine Brock, who went into the offseason as the team's top cornerback, as the best at the position for the 49ers? "I just think because of his versatility," Kelly said. "Don't diminish anything that Brock's done. I think Jimmie is the one guy that plays all over the place. So he plays in the slot. He can play nickel. He blitzes from that position. Can match up with the top receivers on the outside. He's a rare combination. Sometimes when you look at the secondary, you have guys that are just outside corners and guys that are just slot corners. The guy that can play both, that versatility I think is what puts him at the top for us."
On Tuesday, defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil also
stated that Ward was the team's best cornerback. "I think Jimmie Ward's a corner in our system," said O'Neil when asked about him.
Ward is currently in the league mandated concussion protocol after suffering the head injury against the New England Patriots on Sunday. His availability against the Miami Dolphins is not yet known.
Advanced statistics site
Pro Football Focus has Ward ranked as the second-best defensive back on the team, behind Brock. Ward ranks as the 39th best cornerback in the league while Brock comes in at 17.
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
PFF high on this cornerback for 49ers in mock draft
Analyst Dane Brugler of The Athletic grades former Iowa State cornerback T.J. Tampa as a second or third-round draft pick and ranks him 55th overall on his big board. Pro Football Focus, however, holds a higher opinion of the young defensive back. In his latest mock draft, the site's lead analyst, Sam Monson, has the San Francisco 49ers selecting Tampa with the No. 31 overall pick.
"T.J. Tampa fits the prototype of a 49ers cornerback," Monson explains. "He has had consecutive seasons of very impressive play and allowed just 240 yards on 49 targets last season. The team doesn't necessarily need him to make an immediate impact, but they could
49ers sign WR Trent Taylor, reuniting with former draft pick
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
Draft Watch: Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley visiting 49ers on Wednesday
The San Francisco 49ers are hosting several draft prospects this week as the deadline for pre-draft visits draws near. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, the team will host former Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley on Wednesday.
Corley is expected to be a Day 2 pick. San Francisco owns two selections on Day 2—the No. 63 overall pick in the second round and the No. 94 overall pick in the third round. Currently, the receiver is visiting with the Seattle Seahawks.
Western Kentucky @WKUFootball receiver Malachi Worley
Rapoport: 49ers send clear message to teams inquiring about Brandon Aiyuk
Ian Rapoport didn't offer much of an update on the ongoing contract negotiations between the San Francisco 49ers and their standout wide receiver, Brandon Aiyuk. However, the NFL insider emphasized one thing: The team is not entertaining trade discussions at this juncture.
Reacting to Aiyuk's decision to unfollow the 49ers on Instagram, Rapoport couldn't help but chuckle at the latest development. This practice has become commonplace among players who are unhappy with their contract situations. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel similarly took this action in 2022 before requesting to be traded just before the draft.
Things have yet to escalate that far with Aiyuk, but Rapoport sees his
