2014 outlook at wide reciever. (Guys not named Crabtree and Boldin)

Originally posted by AB81Rules:

Agreed with GEEK. Baldwin has no ST Value, plus he sucks big time. Osgood at least will contribute on STs as an Ace, Gunner, Tackler, etc...

You're probably correct, but I'm sure they want to give Baldwin one more chance, so it's possible that he grows a new heart this year. They can always cut Osgood and re-sign him later as needed (same with B. Lloyd)

Originally posted by maxsmart:

Originally posted by AB81Rules:
Agreed with GEEK. Baldwin has no ST Value, plus he sucks big time. Osgood at least will contribute on STs as an Ace, Gunner, Tackler, etc...

You're probably correct, but I'm sure they want to give Baldwin one more chance, so it's possible that he grows a new heart this year. They can always cut Osgood and re-sign him later as needed (same with B. Lloyd)

Baldwin is faster than Osgood. Why couldn't Baldwin and Morris be the two gunners? Let's give it a full off season before we start tossing our guys like Baldwin, Wright, etc. and labeling them as crappy players. I'm sure nobody picked Brown and Brock to be #1 CB starters either.

Originally posted by NCommand:
Baldwin is faster than Osgood. Why couldn't Baldwin and Morris be the two gunners? Let's give it a full off season before we start tossing our guys like Baldwin, Wright, etc. and labeling them as crappy players. I'm sure nobody picked Brown and Brock to be #1 CB starters either.

Because speed isn't the only skill that's required. Clearly there's a reason why elite special teams guys continue to get looks in that role, season after season, why a guy like Ventrone who will never play on defense has a spot on an NFL roster. If you could insert any random track athlete into that role, why would any team overpay for an older, pricier vet?

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by CWin4949:
We also have to STOP acting like we play Richard. Sherman every week and every play. Some guys act like Sherman is God or something, he's been proven to be beat MANY times by WRs that aren't Calvin. Johnson.

Another thing, the way you beat and DB and defensive backfield is to have WRs that can run great routes and Stevie Johnson is a great route runner, now we just need our QB to put the ball in the right spot.

You are absolutely correct, we don't need giant WRs that everyone seems to be so enamored with, if that's the case, why hasn't Baldwin even gotten a sniff of playing time?

This too. For the majority of secondaries the 49ers will face, they're going to be chitting their pants at the prospect of having to cover Boldin, Crabtree, Johnson and V.D.

Well don't blame us 9er fans, we all know Sherman is nothing but a wide receiver molester, he ain't s**t if he can't put his hands on you. Richard Sherman is a Deion Sanders imposter. It's the media that gave Sherman all that hype.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by NCommand:
Baldwin is faster than Osgood. Why couldn't Baldwin and Morris be the two gunners? Let's give it a full off season before we start tossing our guys like Baldwin, Wright, etc. and labeling them as crappy players. I'm sure nobody picked Brown and Brock to be #1 CB starters either.

Because speed isn't the only skill that's required. Clearly there's a reason why elite special teams guys continue to get looks in that role, season after season, why a guy like Ventrone who will never play on defense has a spot on an NFL roster. If you could insert any random track athlete into that role, why would any team overpay for an older, pricier vet?

Very true and I do agree...just wondering with his speed, ability to block down field if he'd have a good foundation to work through blockers, shed them and ake tackles as a gunner. Osgood is awesome though as is Morris. But I have a feeling, with the limited positions available, they may go away from the specialists and ensure the specialists also can be viable backups at key positions. Plus we've add more speed so there is a chance someone else, ala, Morris last year, could come into the mix.

I think Baldwin though with a full off-season (OTA's, mini-camps, training camp, Preseason) learning the 9ers playbook and expectations so low (well at least for me) he will look like a different player and possibly resurrect his career in SF. Habaugh and Baalke are gonna face some tough decisions especially with Brandon Lloyd being on the cheap side.

I see it shaping up like this:
1. Crabtree
2. Boldin
3. Johnson
4. Patton - Can play 3rd WR if any of the aforementioned are injured
5. Ellington- K/R P/R
6. Osgood- S/T

Originally posted by ESWYoung08:
I see it shaping up like this:
1. Crabtree
2. Boldin
3. Johnson
4. Patton - Can play 3rd WR if any of the aforementioned are injured
5. Ellington- K/R P/R
6. Osgood- S/T

This is probably the most realistic, no doubt. Baldwin or Llyod will have to do something special (or provide additional dual-value) to make the team.

The competition should be interesting. It is no given that Patton will make the team this year. The only probables are:

1. Crabtree
2. Boldin
3. Johnson
5. Ellington

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by ESWYoung08:
I see it shaping up like this:
1. Crabtree
2. Boldin
3. Johnson
4. Patton - Can play 3rd WR if any of the aforementioned are injured
5. Ellington- K/R P/R
6. Osgood- S/T

This is probably the most realistic, no doubt. Baldwin or Llyod will have to do something special (or provide additional dual-value) to make the team.

Agreed.
I am still trying to figure out why Baldwin is the bust that he is. He has all the talent to be like AJ Green, but I guess when you have stone hands it doesn't matter how fast you are.

I almost feel bad for the guy, these are the rare moments I wish we were better at developing younger WRs. We could have done some awesome things with Baldwin (luckily we got Johnson who will do those things better).

Originally posted by VA49er:
FIRST, and most important, is how dangerous we are out of a tow TE set. Davis is the the third guy who can stretch the field deep. To be honest if I was Roman I'd be working very hard to start using McDonald more as an underneath route runner who can expose who ever is left to cover him after you get Davis Deep, put a big dude on Boldin, and find a guy to hang with Crabs. Really if Kaep continues to improve his route progressions we can start carving teams up with the talent we have.

Love the idea of McDonald on underneath routes. He doesn't have great hands, and short, easy passes across the middle give him the opportunity to catch-and-run. He runs very well for a guy his size, and he shows nice playmaking ability once he gets out into open space. Look at the way he trucked Sherman in Seattle...

Am I the only 1 that thinks its a mistake keeping Patton off of the field? It was a rough start for him....you know being a rookie and then getting injured, but late in the season, he found a way to MAKE plays even with Crabtree and Boldin on the field...I hope we run a lot more TRUE 4wr sets this year....

Originally posted by jeremy300:
Am I the only 1 that thinks its a mistake keeping Patton off of the field? It was a rough start for him....you know being a rookie and then getting injured, but late in the season, he found a way to MAKE plays even with Crabtree and Boldin on the field...I hope we run a lot more TRUE 4wr sets this year....

I hear ya, but I don't think we'll see that many 4wr sets - more than before, but still not a lot. It's unfortunate for Patton, but he is going to mostly be insurance against injury. As physical as the game is - especially in the NFC West - unfortunately, there's a good chance the 9ers will have to cash in that insurance for at least a few games and Patton may very well see some serious playing time during the season.

Originally posted by CWin4949:

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by HearstFan:
Coaching vs Receivers - It isn't the receivers have a lack of talent to get open - it is the passing scheme that blows. Look at NE - little physical talent, great schemes = decent numbers (of course, a QB that can read the scheme as well)

I have said this in MANY posts, so will keep it short. Look at the route combinations and the arching routes - simple, soft scheme it is easy for DBs to stay with. Almost ZERO double moves or break-back routes.

REGARDLESS, I still believe we are missing the big bodied deep threat we need to beat up on a guy like Sherman. Evans, Benjamin, and Bryant in this draft were the type I'd look for to diversify our receiver type.

Do you realize the success rate that "big bodied" receivers have against Sherman versus smaller, quicker guys like T.Y Hilton? You're not going to "beat up" on Sherman. He's 6'3", 200, you're not going to "out-size" him or "out-jump" him, you don't beat a big CB by attacking his strengths, you beat them by attacking his weaknesses.

Stevie Johnson who is no small receiver himself at 6'2", 210, beat Sherman pretty good and did so with his quickness, repeatedly. When faced with big CB's, you beat them with speed and quickness, not wasting time trying to out-muscle them like Boldin did in the first game against Seattle last season. All a CB needs to do is re-direct, jam or hold-on to the receiver to affect the route.



This is how you beat Sherman.

We also have to STOP acting like we play Richard. Sherman every week and every play. Some guys act like Sherman is God or something, he's been proven to be beat MANY times by WRs that aren't Calvin. Johnson.

Another thing, the way you beat and DB and defensive backfield is to have WRs that can run great routes and Stevie Johnson is a great route runner, now we just need our QB to put the ball in the right spot.

You are absolutely correct, we don't need giant WRs that everyone seems to be so enamored with, if that's the case, why hasn't Baldwin even gotten a sniff of playing time?

DO you all see how s**t Sherman is if he doesn't get his hands on the receiver and grab a fist full of jersey? These plays show exactly that and why he was a 5th round pick. The dude is only so good because he mugs guys every play, takes roids, and has Earl Thomas up top helping him out. He does not have good movement skills, not fluid in the hips, and isn't quick. These are necessary attributes to be a good corner. Again he is good largely because he cheats. Patrick Peterson is absolutely correct when he said that Sherman has no feet, no hips, and simply doesn't cover well man to man. The dude is so overrated it's not even funny. Anyone can be good if you let them hold every play and take roids..

Depth Chart:

1st) Crab
2nd) Boldin
3rd) Stevie J.
4th) Patton
5th) Ellington
6th) Osgood