Originally posted by TheFunkyChicken:
I disagreed with that at the time, and I think the season has really just proved my point.
I said then that even with Crabtree and Boldin we don't have enough depth at a position we always have injuries at. You can't defend their inability to build depth at a position that has been lacking it for years. The proof is in the pudding. Every year we end up with below average WRs getting playing time, and every offseason we don't do enough to change it.
Phoenix, you seem like a smart guy and we've had this debate in at least 10 threads. We don't see it the same way, and that's fine. But for people like me, who believe that massively sub par WR depth is the reason we didn't win both of the last 2 superbowls (a position you don't agree with, but hopefully understand how one could take), watching this team suffer THE SAME WAY for a third year in a row (actually it's been 10 years, but these 3 are the only ones with rings on the line) is INCREDIBLE FRUSTRATING.
And even if you're right about Tank, I would trade Vance for Hunter right now. And would have on draft day too.
The problem is you can't base your draft strategy on the potential for injuries, if that was the case, why not take a QB in the first round, because if your starting QB goes down, you are absolutely screwed. With WR, there was no sense in taking a rookie early because that rookie would have been the 5th or 6th WR on the team and would have barely seen the field. Even Keenan Allen in San Diego didn't start playing until the Chargers were down like 4 WR's. 49ers traded for a high quality veteran in Boldin because they knew they were going to be competing now, they took a quality prospect in Patton in the 4th round, not sure how much more you want. They did make the moves to build up the WR's, had everyone been healthy, nobody would be complaining, Crabtree and Boldin would have been a fierce combo. You can't go blowing 2nd round picks on a guy to be your 6th WR. I have no doubt they'll take one somewhat early next draft, but at that time,there wasn't a huge need for one.
Also, as far as Hunter, that was never going to happen. He doesn't fit this offense in the slightest and I said that well before the draft, he is lacking as a run blocker and incidentally got hammered for that and an overall lack of effort in the preseason with Tennessee. Yes, he's got potential, but he's been outplayed by Nate Washington this season, there's no guarantee he would have contributed anything to this offense, anymore than Baldwin has. McDonald on the other hand has been a viable target and has improved as a blocker, 49ers have not been getting the ball to him as much as possible but from everything I've seen, he's going to have a huge role with this team for years to come. You're talking about Justin Hunter like he's some sort of phenom....he has 58 yards receiving on the season. Far from a sure thing and like I said, I'd far more want to have Carradine, a top DL prospect over a body-catching WR.
I'm going to wait and see what happens when Manningham returns, Patton, Crabtree, this receiving groups will look far more dangerous a couple months from now. Injuries happen in the NFL, you get around them as best as you can, look at Green Bay, they're going to have multiple scrubs playing a lot of snaps in their offense now due to injuries that could never have been predicted.
In previous years I'd say you were right on the money, the receiving corps they had in 2011 was embarrassing but they've made moves since then to shore the position up and will continue to do so.
Just because you take a guy early in the draft isn't a guaranteed recipe for success. Hunter and Cordarelle Patterson were both early picks, they have a total of about 150 yards receiving on the season combined. For all we know, Patton ends up being a better NFL WR than both of them, nobody knows, time will tell but it seems like you're criticizing the 49ers because they didn't overload on a 5th or 6th wide receiver in the draft while ignoring needs at other spots.
[ Edited by Phoenix49ers on Oct 15, 2013 at 2:05 PM ]