Originally posted by nw9erfan:
No. Nobody is thinking that. J Smith has needed a solid backup and future replacement for awhile now. This team needs at least 2, probably 3 younger, high quality D Linemen right now...and had they drafted for DL depth in last year's draft, they probably would have won the SB this year.
As much as I think Baalke is a terrific GM, two of the biggest Niner weaknesses of 2011 were the lack of a legitimate red zone threat (came back to bite them this year) and lack of depth on the D-line, forcing the starters to play virtually every snap, wearing them down by the end of the season, and thereby weakening the late season pass rush (and as a result, the entire defense).
Memo to Niners this year...shore up those weaknesses!
Wow are you serious right now?
Where are these 2-3 quality dlinemen you speak of?
I'd like to see you name 3 prospects that will be available 31,34, and 63 that WONT get pushed off the line and will generate pressure.
This team needs ONE developmental prospect and ONE veteran that can come in and take snaps off of Mcdonald and Smiths hands. The team DOESNT need a log jam of young DE. The pass rush is NOT going to improve because you throw in some rookies to rotate. Its going to suffer. Olines are going to single block the rookie, double team the rush, and after the QB has all day to throw for a TD were going to scrap that bright idea.
This team absolutely did not lose the Super Bowl because they didn't draft DL depth. They had a month to rest and prepare. If fatigue from lack of rotation was going to show it would've been at the end of 3rd BUT we were losing by 21 by the end of the 1st qtr.
We need OFFENSIVE production in the form of a WR or TE. The team needs production not a rookie that is going to take 2-3 years to develop. Do you honestly think Harbuagh is going to put in a rookie DE? 3-4 dlinemen are one the most demanding positions in football and Harbaugh is a perfectionist. Not going to happen. I'm all for drafting rotation and grooming prospects but we need PRODUCTION right now while the window is wide open. We need more targets for Kaep plan and simple.