Wide Receiver Class of 2014

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
From all reports I read, the team is going to try to re-sign him to keep their front 7 intact and the team is going to have maintaining their front 7 as priority over their secondary.

I think in that system, their cornerback's are interchangeable, they could afford to let Sherman and Maxwell walk and replace them with someone who can play a similar role. They already have that "someone" on the roster. Tharold Simon of LSU is a 6'3" cornerback they are developing along with DeShawn Snead, a long term practice squad player, those are the guys who will be replacing Walter Thurmond and Brandon Browner.

The keys to that defense are Earl Thomas and their front 7. So I do think it is prudent to expect that team to be tough defensively for the long haul, their model of taking late round cornerback's and developing them into starters will continue to work as long as the NFL allows them to get away with the constant holding and pass interference.

Originally posted by GhostofFredDean74:
Exactly....it's the lack of certain skill-sets/talent that Seattle is exploiting in every game we play. They know we have no WRs who can threaten deep so they press Boldin/Crabs, play single safety high and drop their LBs about 5-10 yards into coverage. And other than Kap taking off from the pocket, we have no real answers for it. Football 101.

So we can either keep doing the same things against them and hope it works, or we can adjust by adding talent that can specifically win against their scheme. Now, that doesn't mean it's ONLY successful against Seattle...trust me, adding speed to our WR corps will do wonders for our offense against everyone.
I mean, who's the most predictable offense in the league besides us???

THANK YOU!!! Glad to see other webzoners understand what's happening. Been saying it all year but Kaep bashers claimed it's because teams don't fear Kaep's deep balls (which is ridiculous).

Originally posted by kronik:
THANK YOU!!! Glad to see other webzoners understand what's happening. Been saying it all year but Kaep bashers claimed it's because teams don't fear Kaep's deep balls (which is ridiculous).

Yes, I think a lot of us are on the same page with this issue and I don't get why some others don't see it. This team needs some real speed on offense, someone who can really challenge a defense all over the field, with the quickness to get open quickly on slants, and the ability to break past the coverage and get open all the way downfield to make a huge play behind the defense.


Kaepernick has a tremendous arm and I'd like to see them work that deep strike into the offense more consistently, similar to what Seattle does. It won't happen with Boldin and Crabtree running routes and you need someone besides VD who can really beat feet down the field. A guy like Herron would be wonderful for this team because it adds yet another dimension to this offense. With Boldin and Crabtree you put a ton of pressure on a defense in the intermediate areas, with VD, he can beat you all over the field and you give a defense one more guy that is lighting fast to worry about? That will create some major mismatches.

The focus on offense in the offseason should be to attack defense's who like to stay in the box all game long. I'd also like to see some emphasis on utilizing the spread attack, when they gave Kaepernick 4 or 5 targets, spread everyone out, he generally made some very good plays. I'd like to see them try to run more out of those formations, to limit how often teams can keep loading that box and cheating to stop the run.

Originally posted by OnTheClock:

Originally posted by WRATHman44:
OTC, any thoughts on Reese?

TBD. I watched some of him early in the year, but I've slept since then. Still in process of reviewing prospects and at the moment I haven't gotten to him yet. I'll get back to you soon on this one.

Thanks, man. I appreciate the honesty. Most people would just make something up.

Originally posted by WRATHman44:
Thanks, man. I appreciate the honesty. Most people would just make something up.

Look at Marquise Goodwin from last draft, similar kind of player with similar issues. Goodwin turned out to be a decent receiver for the Bills.

Originally posted by tjd808185:
You missed my point. I did not say they were busts. What I said was they're not going to contribute immediately and no you can't get sucked into the notion that we're going to be in a decade long struggle with Seattle for who goes to the Super Bowl.

Speed is an issue but you don't have to be 5'10 to be a deep threat in this league or to create separation.

the Seattle DBs are vulnerable to quickness and speed. The earlier you get a guy, who provide both of these attributes, the earlier we can beat them on a consistent basis.
Do you agree?

from Bucky Brooks

The league rules banishing excessive contact on the perimeter have encouraged more NFL offensive coordinators to put the ball in the air to take advantage of speedsters and big-bodied playmakers.

Sammy Watkins is unquestionably the most explosive receiver in the college game, but several "catch-and-run" specialists join him at the top of the board. Mike Evans is the next big-bodied receiver poised to wreak havoc on the league.

1. Sammy Watkins, Clemson

Electrifying playmaker with outstanding speed, quickness and burst. Factor in his explosive skills as a kick returner, and it's not a surprise teams view him as the top skill-position player in the draft.

2. Marqise Lee, USC

A disappointing junior campaign has led to concerns about his hands and route-running skills, but astute evaluators could view Lee's performance in the Las Vegas Bowl (7-118-2) as a peek at his pro potential when healthy and focused.

3. Odell Beckham Jr., LSU

It's not a coincidence that big plays happen when Beckham touches the ball in the open field. He is an explosive open-field runner with terrific vision, balance and body control.

4. Mike Evans, Texas A&M

Some scouts view Evans as a Vincent Jackson clone on the perimeter. The 6-5, 225 pounder is a jump-ball specialist with sneaky speed and acceleration. There are some questions about his top-end speed and flexibility, but a strong workout in Indianapolis could push him toward the top of this list.

5. Allen Robinson, Penn State

Very productive player with the size, strength and ball skills to develop into a No. 1 receiver as a pro. Scouts love his toughness and competitive demeanor, but would like to see him play with more urgency.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000313183/article/top-5-nfl-draft-prospects-by-position-wide-receiver

Beckham may not have Percy Harvin speed but he may be an even more effective open field threat, he is a terror with the ball in his hands.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by WRATHman44:
Thanks, man. I appreciate the honesty. Most people would just make something up.

Look at Marquise Goodwin from last draft, similar kind of player with similar issues. Goodwin turned out to be a decent receiver for the Bills.

I thought Goodwin was more of a build up speed guy with elite top end speed. Reese seems quicker and more sudden to me, but I've only seen highlights. Am I wrong?

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by OnTheClock:

From all reports I read, the team is going to try to re-sign him to keep their front 7 intact and the team is going to have maintaining their front 7 as priority over their secondary.

I think in that system, their cornerback's are interchangeable, they could afford to let Sherman and Maxwell walk and replace them with someone who can play a similar role. They already have that "someone" on the roster. Tharold Simon of LSU is a 6'3" cornerback they are developing along with DeShawn Snead, a long term practice squad player, those are the guys who will be replacing Walter Thurmond and Brandon Browner.

The keys to that defense are Earl Thomas and their front 7. So I do think it is prudent to expect that team to be tough defensively for the long haul, their model of taking late round cornerback's and developing them into starters will continue to work as long as the NFL allows them to get away with the constant holding and pass interference.

Pretty much, yup.

Watkins is my draft crush but we would have to do a falcons style trade and give up a ton of picks to grab him. I am not confident in our scouting to draft a receiver outside of Watkins.

Originally posted by WRATHman44:
I thought Goodwin was more of a build up speed guy with elite top end speed. Reese seems quicker and more sudden to me, but I've only seen highlights. Am I wrong?

They're both basically straight-line guys, deep downfield threats, both have issues with their hands, both limited as route runners. I think a lot these amateur scouting reports are BS, but if you want to learn more about Reese, this one happens to be right on the money IMO.

http://www.ganggreennation.com/2014/2/9/5393580/scouting-the-draft-tevin-reese-wr-baylor

Originally posted by gold49digger:
Watkins is my draft crush but we would have to do a falcons style trade and give up a ton of picks to grab him. I am not confident in our scouting to draft a receiver outside of Watkins.

Based on what exactly? AJ Jenkins? Because no other team in NFL history has had a 1st round bust before?



I'm entirely puzzled by this rhetoric. What are people basing this off of? 49ers have drafted a total of 4 WR's since 2010, 4, some teams have drafted double that amount. Of those 4, one was a 1st rounder, one was a late 4th who has looked good in limited playing time and 2 were 6th rounders. Exactly what kind of miracles were people expecting?

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:
Based on what exactly? AJ Jenkins? Because no other team in NFL history has had a 1st round bust before?



I'm entirely puzzled by this rhetoric. What are people basing this off of? 49ers have drafted a total of 4 WR's since 2010, 4, some teams have drafted double that amount. Of those 4, one was a 1st rounder, one was a late 4th who has looked good in limited playing time and 2 were 6th rounders. Exactly what kind of miracles were people expecting?

That other receiver we drafted in the 2011 draft. Forgot his name. Ill give Patton a pass for now. Not just the draft, the free agents we have picked up, minus Boldin, seem to have flustered. It seems we have no luck in getting a receiver or keeping them healthy. Half of the blame also goes to the coaching staff also.
I''m not expecting a jerry rice kind of player, I at least expect to draft a receiver to contribute for at least 2-5 catches consistently every game.

Originally posted by gold49digger:
That other receiver we drafted in the 2011 draft. Forgot his name. Ill give Patton a pass for now. Not just the draft, the free agents we have picked up, minus Boldin, seem to have flustered. It seems we have no luck in getting a receiver or keeping them healthy. Half of the blame also goes to the coaching staff also.
I''m not expecting a jerry rice kind of player, I at least expect to draft a receiver to contribute for at least 2-5 catches consistently every game.

The 6th rounder Ronald Johnson? Go back to the 2011 draft, look at the 6th round, how many of those guys are still in the NFL today? Johnson was done as a favor to John Morton who coached him at USC, Harbaugh wanted Baldwin, but didn't want to rock the boat so they took Johnson instead.


The hand-wringing over the WR situation is kind of amusing. The 49ers under Baalke don't really have any track record when it comes to WR's to make a proclamation that they can or cannot draft WR's. You want to see a guy who can't draft WR's, go look at Ozzie Newsome, only 1 of the last 10 he's drafted have been worthwhile in the NFL. Its impossible to make a definitive statement right now with 2 throwaway 6th rounders, one late 4th rounder who looks very promising and a whiff on Jenkins.

If they take a guy in the 2nd round and he busts, then there's more of a track record supporting your conclusion, but for all we know right now, they might be freaking geniuses when it comes to selecting talented WR's, perhaps Patton is just a sign of things to come. In a few years, Jenkins could simply look like a mere hiccup in a record of overall excellence.