Originally posted by dj43:Originally posted by HessianDud:RE: Collins. The more we pull apart some of the decisions that are made by the staff, the more we find out that they were not made willy-nilly by the kind of idiots some have suggested. There was a method to their madness.Originally posted by dj43:Originally posted by HessianDud:Originally posted by Sactown49er:
8 man PS:
OT Alex Boone
WR Dobson Collins
TE J.J. Finley
FB Brit Miller
NT Khalif Mitchell
RB Kory Sheets
WR Dominique Zeigler
OLB Diyral Briggs
I think Boone definitely has a future on this team. OT has been a weakspot for years and it seems like Boone has all the tools to be special. Boone-Staley could be our bookends for years.
Zeigler is, I believe, using his last year of PS eligibility, but the team has kept him around for so long for a reason. He has a better than average chance of making the 53 next season to round out a WR corps that will lose Bruce and could part ways with Spurlock, depending on what happens this year.
Sheets needs some time but if we establish our line and ground game this year, I see no reason why he can't contribute as a change-of-pace back as early as next year.
I noticed Mitchell quite a bit the last two preseason games and with the dearth of NT consistency and depth we've had, he will get a chance to make the team. Not sure how soon that will be, but he's a big body at a need position.
like Mitchell and Boone, Briggs is someone who could fill a position we've been needing to fill forever. His motor is great and his ability to be around the ball against San Diego is exactly what we need at OLB. I think he'll compete for a spot next year, and would get called up this season if there's any injuries.
Finley and Miller are both intriguing, and while they may not be the kinds of guys how make serious impact or start a lot of games, they fit the mold of situational role players, and every team needs some big-bodied specialists. Miller showed some things in the passing game, and having a FB who can contribute like that is a definite plus.
I noticed Collins on only one play all preseason, but hey, it never hurts to keep WR's around. Lord knows we haven't had the best luck in that area lately.
All in all I think the PS is very solid.
Good analysis.
TE is a spot the 49ers said they wanted more depth but I think they are holding Finley on PS until someone on the 53 gets hurt then move him up - especially if that should be Davis or Walker.
Teams use up WRs in practice. I think Collins is just there to cut down on the wear-and-tear on Bruce and Battle. Both of those guys were seeing very limited field time during camp and I anticipate they will both have time off during the regular season as well. Hence, Collins is fodder until Zeigler's ankle heals. At that point I wouldn't be surprised to see Collins cut if the situation should develop they need a spot to open - like signing that, uh...what is his name...there is even a special thread in Niner talk about him...oh well, you know what I mean.
Sheets is an emergency call in case Coffee or Gore go down.
Boone is intriguing. Has NFL ability but needs technique work. I thought he did some good things in practice games but obviously his character issues need to get settled before they trust him. No better place to find out about that than in the grind of practice squad.
yeah, good point about Collins. Sometimes I forget that the "practice squad" means that these guys are actually practicing.
so yeah, he's definitely a good body to have around during the week to rest bruce and battle. It would be good if, i don't know, somehow we sign another WR--not sure there's necessarily, say, one hanging around in the South Bay waiting to sign, but you never know--and dump Collins for someone like Toledo or Bender.
Sheets is an emergency callup now, but like I said, I see no reason why in the next year or two he couldn't be our Ahmad Bradshaw. There are fewer teams running 3 back systems these days, but it would be a good idea for us, given the physical styles of Gore and Coffee, to have a 3rd guy to take some of the load off and show a different look to the defense. He has a homerun ability that Gore and Coffee don't.
Finley is the Bajema of the future. I could see him called up to replace a WR as well as the other TE's, just to be another blocking body.
Right now the 49ers need to work on their passing game and Zeigler isn't ready to run, you don't want to use up the few miles Bruce has left nor do you want to overwork Battle's arthritic knee. So that leaves you with Hill, Morgan and Spurlock. Those guys could get very tired running all those routes by themselves without any other bodies to do it. From sketchy reports Collins ran good routes in practice so he becomes a logical guy to keep around where no other team was likely to grab him.
This may not be a championship team but it is worth noting little things like this that might otherwise just pass by.
indeed. its especially heartening to have a conversation that isn't about how stupid our front office is or crappy our team is or whatever. I think, despite some major flaws, we've had a pretty good offseason. I think the front office is committed to getting the best possible players on the team, and so we haven't gotten instant fixes, but we've gotten some quality and a good amount of depth. Now we just need to develop it. We may have to take the long view on this team, but a lot of people on this board seem to believe that even though we have a new head coach that we aren't starting over in some significant ways.
