The RG competition - Alex Boone vs big Leonard Davis!

Originally posted by GhostofFredDean74:

Originally posted by DirtyP:
You all realize that when your high draft picks start out at the bottom of the depth chart it means you are a good team right? Just checking.

Originally posted by NCommand:
Sooooo true! We're no longer looking for guys to be good at two positions to fill holes; we're looking for specialists to push and raise the level of competition for starters. And even develop into starters in the very near future. This is a good thing!

So like the 80s after the first super bowl. The 9ers had the luxury to go after more specific qualities.

Originally posted by dtg_9er:

Originally posted by GhostofFredDean74:

Originally posted by DirtyP:
You all realize that when your high draft picks start out at the bottom of the depth chart it means you are a good team right? Just checking.

Originally posted by NCommand:
Sooooo true! We're no longer looking for guys to be good at two positions to fill holes; we're looking for specialists to push and raise the level of competition for starters. And even develop into starters in the very near future. This is a good thing!

So like the 80s after the first super bowl. The 9ers had the luxury to go after more specific qualities.

Totally!

looking back at the draft i really regret (or more like wish) the niners wouldve got decastro or zeigler because the WR depth and talent in this draft was crazy

i am very happy about the aj jenkins pick but i think getting a RG was more of a priority than a WR 9although i think in 2 years aj will be a great WR)

Originally posted by 49ersalldaway126:
looking back at the draft i really regret (or more like wish) the niners wouldve got decastro or zeigler because the WR depth and talent in this draft was crazy

i am very happy about the aj jenkins pick but i think getting a RG was more of a priority than a WR 9although i think in 2 years aj will be a great WR)

Have to believe Harbaugh knew what he already had in the young guys...but we will see.

Go Boone.

Always liked him and want him to tear it up.

Originally posted by dtg_9er:

Originally posted by 49ersalldaway126:
looking back at the draft i really regret (or more like wish) the niners wouldve got decastro or zeigler because the WR depth and talent in this draft was crazy

i am very happy about the aj jenkins pick but i think getting a RG was more of a priority than a WR 9although i think in 2 years aj will be a great WR)

Have to believe Harbaugh knew what he already had in the young guys...but we will see.

This plus he drafted linemen in later rounds also. Many lineman come from later rounds in this league. We must be a rare bread with 3 first round picks on the line.

Originally posted by Young2Rice:

Originally posted by dtg_9er:

Originally posted by 49ersalldaway126:

looking back at the draft i really regret (or more like wish) the niners wouldve got decastro or zeigler because the WR depth and talent in this draft was crazy

i am very happy about the aj jenkins pick but i think getting a RG was more of a priority than a WR 9although i think in 2 years aj will be a great WR)

Have to believe Harbaugh knew what he already had in the young guys...but we will see.

This plus he drafted linemen in later rounds also. Many lineman come from later rounds in this league. We must be a rare bread with 3 first round picks on the line.

Well it's not like it's bad to have high picks on the OL. Looks at the Patriots.

Originally posted by OnTheClock:

Originally posted by Young2Rice:

Originally posted by dtg_9er:

Originally posted by 49ersalldaway126:
looking back at the draft i really regret (or more like wish) the niners wouldve got decastro or zeigler because the WR depth and talent in this draft was crazy

i am very happy about the aj jenkins pick but i think getting a RG was more of a priority than a WR 9although i think in 2 years aj will be a great WR)

Have to believe Harbaugh knew what he already had in the young guys...but we will see.

This plus he drafted linemen in later rounds also. Many lineman come from later rounds in this league. We must be a rare bread with 3 first round picks on the line.

Well it's not like it's bad to have high picks on the OL. Looks at the Patriots.

Nice. We are in good company then .

Originally posted by DirtyP:
You all realize that when your high draft picks start out at the bottom of the depth chart it means you are a good team right? Just checking.

Kentwan Balmer disagrees

Originally posted by jreff22:
Kentwan Balmer disagrees

I guess you would have rather seen Balmer get some playing time?

Originally posted by DirtyP:

Originally posted by jreff22:
Kentwan Balmer disagrees

I am not really sure how that makes sense but ok. I guess you would have rather seen Balmer get some playing time?

You cant follow this?
You all realize that when your high draft picks start out at the bottom of the depth chart it means you are a good team right?
We sucked and Balmer still sat on the bench

Originally posted by jreff22:
You cant follow this?
You all realize that when your high draft picks start out at the bottom of the depth chart it means you are a good team right?
We sucked and Balmer still sat on the bench

Completely different situations. We needed a starting 34 end, we drafted Balmer with the intention to give him a chance to earn a starting spot as a rookie. He earned his way to the bottom of the depth chart because he sucked. Jenkins was drafted in the first round when we already have good talent and experience at his position.

Originally posted by DirtyP:

Originally posted by jreff22:
You cant follow this?
You all realize that when your high draft picks start out at the bottom of the depth chart it means you are a good team right?
We sucked and Balmer still sat on the bench

Completely different situations. We needed a starting 34 end, we drafted Balmer with the intention to give him a chance to earn a starting spot as a rookie. He earned his way to the bottom of the depth chart because he sucked. Jenkins was drafted in the first round when we already have good talent and experience at his position.

That is still subjective. People were/still are questioning if Moss will go the full 16, Ginn is not a true WR, Williams....well, you get the point, Crabs has been ok, and Manningham is good but not great. Nothing here screams Jenkins cant start if he is good enough, or get into a heavy rotation. He may not unseat Crabs or Moss but he should be able to push for the 3rd spot. I expect first rounders to make an impact and play. If he is not dressing this year we could of taken a different kid who needed more polishing and let him sit just the same at a lower pick. Out of the last 11 first rounders 1 has not played, Balmer-and the jury is still out on Jenkins.

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by oldman9er:

Originally posted by NCommand:
so maybe the coaching staff is willing to give him a real shot and error on the side of a smaller pocket, less push/lanes for running inside and smaller throwing lanes for the sake of that protection? What do you guys think?

I'd ask that you clarify this before I really answer.

I have the same questions as you noted above and would like to add that we also looked at 4 FA guards in the offseason too. So like you noted, why move a pure T who could literally push and maybe even win, a starting T position over Staley/Davis right now to RG? Boone's mentor even noted he is best suited for the T position.

As to my point above, perhaps the coaching staff is a big fan of Boone and his development over the years and REALLY wants to get him on the field, one way or another, if at nothing else, give him the courtesy shot at RG as a message to the team that Boone is proof that if you work hard, stay straight, keep developing, you WILL get a shot to start. And if that is the case, NOW is the time to send that message. But maybe the real plan is to have Kilgore or Looney or Slowey (true interior guys) win the job from Boone in the pre season and move Boone back to the main backup T position?

PS: Also, one of our major weaknesses last year was pressure right up the middle so perhaps the coaches feel Boone will be a better pass blocker...and good enough to sacrifice in the running game (road grader), throwing lanes (d/t his height) and long wide stance (that might shrink the pocket for Alex and RB's) if he is in stalemate or pushed backwards.

Anyone should be able to play guard. Most teams take players and start them their to boast their confidence, we've done it before, with Newberry before he slide to center. besides joe has like how many years left on that new contract, Davis is fine leave him alone.

Originally posted by TheGoldDiggerrrr:
Anyone should be able to play guard. Most teams take players and start them their to boast their confidence, we've done it before, with Newberry before he slide to center. besides joe has like how many years left on that new contract, Davis is fine leave him alone.

I wish! Until Iupati, we've had a bunch of Chilo's. While the LT position is the most critical with C, the two G positions are critical in the run game (esp. if you run a WCO and do lots of pulling or movement). There is no position on the OL you can just plug a guy in and not miss a beat. Snyder looked miles ahead of Chilo and he was still ranked as one of the worst G's in the game. We had a LOT of issues last year on the OL (which is understandable) but we've also invest 3 1st round draft picks and tried many combinations. They did get a little better as the year progressed but so did Alex and VD and the OC play calling of getting rid of the ball quicker and using Alex's legs and athleticism. Now we are converting our best LT who could push Staley today to RG. We'll see how it works but I do have concerns across the board for our OL and until that's fixed, this offense will never evolve and gain confidence and we won't be able to use the speed on the outside like we'd like too. There was a reason we drafted LMJ and I'm guessing we'll use more Hunter in the outlet game as well. But let's give this coaching staff time to develop these guys with a full off season of training and see how phase 2 of 3 goes of the WCO installation. Maybe we will being the perfectly timed slant pattern back into the fold!