Originally posted by OnTheClock:
Originally posted by oldninerdude:
Originally posted by OnTheClock:
Originally posted by oldninerdude:
Snyder will likely be resigned, and that Stanford kid (Beeler?) might also be available and a year more mature. Center and/or guard doesn't seem to be much of a need.
Plus, Baalke's two OL picks from last season, Kilgore and Person, have had a year in the system and a year in the weight room--I'm betting he goes with them over another draft pick--UNLESS Konz is that much better than anyone else. (In which case he's not likely to be there late in the first.)
Loaded with assumptions here. No guarantee Snyder comes back, no guarantee Kilgore and Person both grow to the point where they can stand, nor is there any guarantee they don't get injured or something. Rachal is gone almost guaranteed. If he and Snyder both go, we have not only lost a starter, we have even less depth.
No guarantee Snyder comes back is true. But I think Baalke already addressed that possibility when he drafted two small school OL in the later rounds last year. Snyder either takes a reasonable offer and returns, or Kilgore takes his place. Or Person. Baalke likely already knows if either of those guys is a capable replacement for Snyder--who has had an outstanding year himself.
Given the level of ability displayed by Baalke's other picks (Aldon Smith, Hunter, Culliver, Miller, C. Jones), I wouldn't want to bet against Kilgore stepping up if Snyder departs.
So unless Peter Konz is the second coming of Steve Hutchinson (and if he is, will he be availble late?), then I'd look for Baalke to find another small school (hidden talent) OLineman in the later rounds if Kilgore/Person can't do the job. I think he will draft a WR, CB, or OLB in the first.
Just my opinion tho, based on the assumption that Baalke knew what he was doing in the last draft, and knows what he's doing now.
BTW, given the style of play preferred by Harbaugh, I wouldn't be surprised if the team took a RB in the first. Hunter is a great change of pace back, but Gore is aging, and the team struggled when he was out injured. Doesn't look like Dixon is the answer. No one seems to address this issue in their mocks.
Point is, if you're Baalke, you're looking at the team saying, "what areas can we upgrade immediately?" If Snyder declines our offer (we already offered earlier in the year and he declined), do you bank on Kilgore being ready? Maybe he thought Kilgore would need two years of grooming, but was expecting this years strong OG class to be a help if Snyder didn't resign. That's why I say we can't assume anything.
Now back to the first sentence, if you're Baalke, you're looking at the team saying, "what areas can we upgrade immediately?" -- OG/C, WR, DB, and OLB (only 3 currently on the roster, with Haralson the only depth) have to be considered. It all depends on BPA. Tteams usually don't go "Well we got ourselves a small-school developmental guy late last year, so there's no reason to take this potential All-Pro right here who is 100X better." See what I mean? Kilgore may be solid, but if Konz is a BPA with that kind of impression on Baalke, the fact that we took Kilgore last year becomes irrelevant.
I would be shocked if we took a RB in round 1 with so many other obvious pressing needs. Gore was only pulled out of one game (Giants), and started every game this year. Hunter was a rookie, he'll be even better next year I'm sure. Dixon I expect to stick around because he's a monster on ST's and OK running for a 3rd RB. Many people don't notice the tremendous job he does in both kick coverage but also blocking in the return game.
This years RB class is rather poor compared to years prior, and especially to next year's. You say, given Harbaugh's style of play, you wouldn't be surprised if we took a RB, but that style of play needs good OL, so don't be shocked if we take one early, given it being a pretty good interior OL class.
I'm not saying the team won't, or shouldn't take the BPA, and if that's an interior OL, so be it. I am saying that Baalke saw this issue LAST year, and has already tried to address it. If Kilgore lives up to expectations--and he showed glimmers of doing so in preseason games--then OL becomes less of a need.
If a guy like Konz is available, and if he really is a Steve Hutchinson type player, it would be hard for any team to pass on him--which means he's not likely to be there late. But I don't see the Niners specifically targeting C/OG in the first round because they think its a pressing need, even if Snyder departs.
Dixon is a valuable ST player, as any fan with a pulse can see. But he is even less of a replacement for Gore than Hunter, and I don't see the team going into next season without drafting another, bigger RB. Maybe in the first round, depending on who's available, maybe not.
You speak of how thin the team is at OLB--which is true (although there are other players who could play OLB--even Bruce Miller in a pinch). But the team is just as thin, or moreso, at RB. If Gore goes down, Hunter is not going to carry the load for the entire season, and Dixon doesn't appear to be capable of doing so--especially in pass protection. The team needs to find another, big RB who has the same kind of football smarts as Gore and is as versatile and tough, but faster and younger. If they find him, they might use a late first on him. Wouldn't you?
The other "pressing needs" of which you speak: WR, DB, OLB, all have some backups already on the team. If Harbaugh ran alot of 4 WR sets, WR would be a bigger need. (If a really good WR prospect--a big, fast, red-zone target type WR is there in the first, I'd expect them to take him.)
But if Gore continues to decline, or goes out with a prolonged injury, next year, the team is in trouble unless they find another RB to fill his role. IMHO
