Originally posted by ttime:
Originally posted by OnTheClock:
49ers 2011 DRAFT CLASS:
1. DE/OLB Aldon Smith: A-
Apparently we couldn't trade down. Still would've preferred Amukamara, but in the end, the pick fills a need.
YOU PREFER A PLAYER WHO WAS DRAFTED FAR BELOW THAN PROJECTED? THAT TELLS ME WHERE YOUR ASSESSMENT IS
2. QB Colin Kaepernick: B
We got a guy who was going to be able to learn and adapt to any system he was drafted into. All-world physical tools and ability, but will need time. The project factor keeps this a B.
PROJECT FACTOR? WHAT ROOKIE QB ISN'T?
3. DB Chris Culliver: C
If he's playing safety, this is a B-minus, but with way other pressing needs, and everyone knowing the DL is more important, I can't give this any better than a C grade.
HE AUTOMATICALLY BECOMES THE FASTEST AND MOST AGILE DB ON THE TEAM AND HE HAS ONLY PLAYED THE POSITION FOR LESS THAN A YEAR. IF HE BECOMES THE SHUT DOWN DB WILL HE STILL BE RATED ONLY A C?
4. RB Kendall Hunter: A+
Best pick, easily. Terrific, star-caliber running back.
NO BREAK AWAY SPEED BUT A COMPLETE RB WHO WILL HELP MOVE THE CHAINS.
5. OL Daniel Kilgore: C-
Fills a need, but was it really necessary to trade up for this developmental player? Didn't like the value here.
AGAIN, HOW MANY OL ARE NOT DEVELOPMENTAL?
6. WR Ronald Johnson: A-
Now this was a good value. Strong slot receiver prospect. A guy who can get open and adds some depth to our WR corps. Should be ahead of Williams on the depth chart come this Fall.
LIKE HIM BUT HAVE NO IDEA OF HOW HE WILL RATE AGAINST A PLAYER WHO HAD LESS THAN 10 SNAPS LAST YEAR DUE TO INJURY.
6. S Colin Jones: B-
Special teamer with potential to develop into a fair back-up DB. Practice squad candidate.
IF ANYONE IS GONG TO PLAY IT WILL BE THIS KID. SF HAD ARGUABLY THE WORST STARTING SAFETIES IN THE LEAGUE.
7. LB Bruce Miller: A -- if he'll spend time at linebacker, D -- if he's wasted as a fullback.
Loved the pick. .... Until the rumors of him being converted to FB surfaced. You don't convert a conference Defensive Player of the Year and Bowl Game defensive MVP to fullback. That's idiotic.
DID YOU CONSIDER IF HE WAS NOT DRAFTED TO BE A FB, HE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN DRAFTED AT ALL? OR WOULD NEVER SEE THE FIELD? HE IS A REAL FOOTBALL PLAYER AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION.
7. OL Mike Person: B
Strong developmental OL prospect who excelled at the lower level. Fine with the value here.
COMPETITION IS GOOD RIGHT?
7. CB Curtis Holcomb: C
Unlikely to make the team, but at 250th overall, you take a stab at a guy who could be at least a ST's contributor. Why is this a C? Because we ignored DL and passed on a terrific plugger/depth guy in Chris Neild who had the potential to make the team. Holcomb, unless he pulls a Philip Adams, may not even make the practice squad. AND HOW MUCH FILM HAVE YOU ACTUALLY SEEN OF HIM?
OVERALL GRADE: B
It is well understood at this point that we did not take a BPA strategy and did not pick for value. Instead we searched for one specific player, basically, and took him at the spot we saw fit. This is why it took very little time for us to get picks in, as it was already pre-determined the one guy we were taking.
I don't like this strategy, because essentially it strays from ones board. It's risky. We'll see if Baalke's risk is rewarded, but we won't know for at least a year or so how that's going.
I APPRECIATE YOUR PASSION AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND EFFORT THAT YOU PUT TOWARDS THIS DRAFT. YOU DID A GREAT JOB. AT THE SAME TIME, COULD YOU BE JUST A TAD BIT TOO CRITICAL GIVEN THAT NO ONE HAS SUITED UP YET? I'M GOING TO GIVE THEM AN "A" AND LET THEIR PLAY DETERMINE THE FINAL GRADE.
I can acknowledge that in grading these picks I purposely am going a little rougher on them than usual. We all have our opinions, and I'm sharing mine here. Look, even the best in the biz won't hit on every prospect, and it's very possible the players I've been saying we shouldn't have passed on turn out to be better pros than who we took. Maybe not, but again, as a passionate draft researcher I have strong opinions about many prospects and have perfectly valid arguments to support them.
At this point in time, this is how I feel about each player, but time will only tell of what this draft's overall grade will be from now. A "B" grade says it was a solid draft with good potential to really help us in the future.
This draft could turn out to be outstanding, but without going "too easy" or "too hard" on them, I feel a B is just right for a grade.
Hey, and think about it this way, by not being too indifferent about the picks and not getting my hopes up, it'll be even more satisfying if everyone pans out and exceeds expectations.