Originally posted by CorvaNinerFan:
The loss of Ray Mac and most likely Justin Smith is actually bigger than losing Willis and Borland. The loss of that DL experience has to be replaced soonest...because what they do has a direct impact on what our LB's do. Dockett was a good signing, but the need for Tank to step up big was never more important. Darnell won't play that much longer, so now's the time to beef up the DL, and in a big and meaningful way. Baalke should have either/both Goldman & Malcolm Brown on the board at #15. He needs to take one of 'em. If he trades down, then he can still get a "big" by taking huge NT Phillips, then draft a stout DE in 2nd or 3rd rd.
For sure, Willis and Borland are a big loss. But, Wilhoite's a capable starter. If FA Erin Henderson's deemed to be past his previous troubles, he could be a real baller alongside Bowman. In 33 starts for the Vikes, he had 261 total tackles. I know Baalke likes Stephone Anthony and will soon visit with Bernardrick. One of those two would be ideal. Perryman's short and really good at one thing...tackling ball carriers. He's not much on covering receivers or hitting the film room. With all the needs, I don't see Baalke drafting two ILB's.
If Baalke were to draft Preston Smith, he'd likely be an OLB, not a DE. That's ok...like CB's never too many pass rushers.
I like both Rollins
Wow
First, the ILB position hasn't really been addressed much over the years, specifically because we haven't needed to. But in one off-season it went from strength to serious weakness. The D-line has been addressed over the previous drafts. And, JT has done a really good job with keeping the D-line solid. The ILB position has largely been a product of good drafting, and we've relied heavily on good ILB play for years now. So I disagree that our ILB position is in better shape than the D-line.
I'm sorry, but I'm not confident in Wilhoite's ability to be the long-term starter, to be THE guy that takes over along side Bowman (assuming he's back to form). When Borland went down our defense got seriously exposed, in particular the LB's. So for me Wilhoite is a capable backup, not a 3 down starter.
Erin Henderson - seriously? Just how many games do you think he'll be available (and sober) for the 49ers to count on? Drunk driving, twice, in 2013/2014. Weed possession,
after being released from the Vikings. You don't think we have enough distractions?
Tell me what LB coming out of collage won't have questions in coverage. It's like route-running deficiencies of WR's coming out of collage. That's an easy criticism of pretty much every LB in every draft. And don't forget that Borland had the same criticisms that Denzel Perryman is getting. But to say that he's only good at tackling the ball carrier is terribly simplistic, and from what I've seen of him totally false. Perhaps we see different things in the same player, witch is often the case.
And I don't know where you're getting that Preston Smith will be used as an OLB
He won't fly around nobody and nowhere near a standup edge rusher. I've watched a lot of film on this kid and I saw
NOTHING that would convince me that he'd be an OLB in the NFL. And any team that drafts him there are gonna be seriously disappointed. Now, in a 3-4 scheme he'll need to put on about 10 pounds. But OLB will be just out of position for him.
[ Edited by 9ersLiferInChicago on Mar 23, 2015 at 11:52 PM ]
if the draft went down like this. And your basically throwing away your 5th on QB when there is a ton of talent to be had. Baalke should just grab a UDFA instead....this class is awful at QB.
And what URFA do you have in mind?