Originally posted by OnTheClock:
Originally posted by buck:
Originally posted by miked1978:
Quote:
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 never did, and still do not, understand this aspect of your original post.
You seem to assume an understanding of the thinking of Baalke and Harbaugh.
How exactly do you know that they strayed from their board?
Since we were not part of the discussion and we do not overhear the discussion, we do not know why it took so little time to get the picks up to the podium.
Baalke may well have thought that Aldon Smith was the best player available.
Considering how well Aldon has played it seems that Baalke's choice was both solid and a good value pick.
Given that to a large degree this was the first draft process controlled by Baalke I find it hard to assume the we understood well his strategic vision.
This was obviously a while back, and a kneejerk reaction. I was able to figure out the idea of what they were actually doing not that long after I posted this. It had already been quoted so much, there was no point going back in editing, but explaining what my new thoughts were if someone brought this up -- which you have done now -- was what I would do if that happened. It took a year for someone to say something, so there's your explanation.
My understanding is the 49ers plucked from a predetermined pool of players they felt were draft-worthy that were placed on their board. No one knows the exact formula of determining what weight the team's "needs" will carry in any given situation because I think it varies, but I don't think we knowingly reach for anyone, but get the guys specifically desired, in a spot they feel is a fair/par or good value or better for them.
I noticed this after the draft but never raised my questions because the discussion was really about the quality of the picks.
Only did so now when the thread got brought into the present.
I agree that they set a predetermined pool of players and rank them by round and within the round--a draft board if you will.
I also think that if they have selected a player at a certain position, in the following rounds they might choose a low ranked player to avoid duplication.
I also think that they have a list of players who they have excluded even though they might have the requisite skill set. ( Janoris Jenkins for example)
This year's draft is hard to predict but think we can assume the priority will be on:
1. fortifying the passing game (wide receiver and offensive guard)
2. adding a safety and OLB
3. depth on the defensive line
But the bottom line in my estimation is Baalke and Harbaugh will go with best available player.
So we could draft an assumed lesser need prior to an assumed higher need. For example we could easily draft a defensive linemen or OLB before picking a wide receiver or offensive guard. Hell, they might take Fleener in the first and we already have Davis.
It will be interesting to see who they pick and when.