49er TE Blake Bell

Originally posted by doc_brown_:

Originally posted by Joecool:
Vernon needs to go. This locker room doesn't need him anymore and probably thinks of him as a p***y anyway. He had some good runs here but he is a big reason why our passing game is inconsistent.

VD also appears to have lost some of his fire. He no longer has that "dawg" in him and is, for lack of a better word, too nice now.

A few years back, I remember VD on the 20 yard line, running an end zone comeback route against Adrian Wilson when he was with Zona. Wilson was playing bump on VD and VD pushed him back into the end zone, turned around, and made the TD catch. It was an amazing play, but one we'll never see out of VD again. Dude became soft, but I'd never say that to his face! Lol!

It seems like ever since that huge hit he took from Kam Chancellor, hes been a different player.

I don't think Bell will be ready to play a major role until next year. Love the player, but he needs a year to develop before he can really take off.

I don't think Vernon needs to go -- at least not yet. Let him have a rebound year this year and then sign a huge contract when he leaves as a FA in 2016 and net us a nice compensatory pick.

Originally posted by Butter:

Originally posted by doc_brown_:

Originally posted by Joecool:

Vernon needs to go. This locker room doesn't need him anymore and probably thinks of him as a p***y anyway. He had some good runs here but he is a big reason why our passing game is inconsistent.

VD also appears to have lost some of his fire. He no longer has that "dawg" in him and is, for lack of a better word, too nice now.

A few years back, I remember VD on the 20 yard line, running an end zone comeback route against Adrian Wilson when he was with Zona. Wilson was playing bump on VD and VD pushed him back into the end zone, turned around, and made the TD catch. It was an amazing play, but one we'll never see out of VD again. Dude became soft, but I'd never say that to his face! Lol!

It seems like ever since that huge hit he took from Kam Chancellor, hes been a different player.

Naw he's the type to avoid contact rather then initiate it. Been like that his whole career.

So with the new rule changes on extra points that will lead to more 2 point conversions, i think the blake bell pick looks more genius. I think he could be used like tebow as a 2 point conversion specialist QB

He will probably get one of those "Injuries" towards the end of camp and shelved till next year
I dont think we want to carry 4 TE's

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
I don't think Bell will be ready to play a major role until next year. Love the player, but he needs a year to develop before he can really take off.

I don't think Vernon needs to go -- at least not yet. Let him have a rebound year this year and then sign a huge contract when he leaves as a FA in 2016 and net us a nice compensatory pick.

Agreed. But a good way to work him in is in the RZ.

I really hope Bell out plays McDonald during training camp into preseason that way we cut Vance's sorry ass. I am fine with Davis Carrier & Bell being our TE's this yr.

Originally posted by Tru2RedNGold25:
I really hope Bell out plays McDonald during training camp into preseason that way we cut Vance's sorry ass. I am fine with Davis Carrier & Bell being our TE's this yr.

McDonald hasn't been given enough opportunities to say he sucks or he's good.

Originally posted by InsertNameHere:

Originally posted by Tru2RedNGold25:
I really hope Bell out plays McDonald during training camp into preseason that way we cut Vance's sorry ass. I am fine with Davis Carrier & Bell being our TE's this yr.

McDonald hasn't been given enough opportunities to say he sucks or he's good.

He had plenty of chances when VD was out for a period of time last yr he was either ineffective or hurt. I still remember 2 yrs vs Carolina at home Kap hit him in stride n Butterfingers drop a key pass in enemy territory eventually we ended up punting n came away with 0 pts on that drive. Final score 10-9. If we would of won that game we would of had the tie breaker vs Seattle n could of possibly hosted Seattle . Seattle eventually beat us in the Tittle game n u know what happened next.

Originally posted by Tru2RedNGold25:

He had plenty of chances when VD was out for a period of time last yr he was either ineffective or hurt. I still remember 2 yrs vs Carolina at home Kap hit him in stride n Butterfingers drop a key pass in enemy territory eventually we ended up punting n came away with 0 pts on that drive. Final score 10-9. If we would of won that game we would of had the tie breaker vs Seattle n could of possibly hosted Seattle . Seattle eventually beat us in the Tittle game n u know what happened next.

I felt the same way about Brooks getting the Bogus roughing call on Bree's which ended up keeping us from gaining hf advantage and also kept cards out of playoffs.

Originally posted by Tru2RedNGold25:

Originally posted by InsertNameHere:

Originally posted by Tru2RedNGold25:

I really hope Bell out plays McDonald during training camp into preseason that way we cut Vance's sorry ass. I am fine with Davis Carrier & Bell being our TE's this yr.

McDonald hasn't been given enough opportunities to say he sucks or he's good.

He had plenty of chances when VD was out for a period of time last yr he was either ineffective or hurt. I still remember 2 yrs vs Carolina at home Kap hit him in stride n Butterfingers drop a key pass in enemy territory eventually we ended up punting n came away with 0 pts on that drive. Final score 10-9. If we would of won that game we would of had the tie breaker vs Seattle n could of possibly hosted Seattle . Seattle eventually beat us in the Tittle game n u know what happened next.

That was like the only pass play he got lol

I like to remember the play he had were he caught the ball vs Seattle and ran over Sherman

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by Tru2RedNGold25:

Originally posted by InsertNameHere:

Originally posted by Tru2RedNGold25:
I really hope Bell out plays McDonald during training camp into preseason that way we cut Vance's sorry ass. I am fine with Davis Carrier & Bell being our TE's this yr.

McDonald hasn't been given enough opportunities to say he sucks or he's good.

He had plenty of chances when VD was out for a period of time last yr he was either ineffective or hurt. I still remember 2 yrs vs Carolina at home Kap hit him in stride n Butterfingers drop a key pass in enemy territory eventually we ended up punting n came away with 0 pts on that drive. Final score 10-9. If we would of won that game we would of had the tie breaker vs Seattle n could of possibly hosted Seattle . Seattle eventually beat us in the Tittle game n u know what happened next.

That was like the only pass play he got lol

I like to remember the play he had were he caught the ball vs Seattle and ran over Sherman

Trucking Sherman was a hell of a play and you'd expect to see more of that with a guy his size and speed. I agree with insertname above. I don't think McDonald has had enough time or opportunities. That potential TD pass against the Panthers was frustrating, but it was just as much a fantastic play by the LB as it was McDonald's failure to secure it. And that TD pass that V. Davis broke up in the end zone had to be very frustrating for McDonald.

Originally posted by InsertNameHere:

Originally posted by Tru2RedNGold25:
I really hope Bell out plays McDonald during training camp into preseason that way we cut Vance's sorry ass. I am fine with Davis Carrier & Bell being our TE's this yr.

McDonald hasn't been given enough opportunities to say he sucks or he's good.

He hasn't gotten much of an opportunity in the passing game, true. But the opportunities he has had, he has not taken advantage of them.

I don't even hold the "drop" against the Panthers against him. It wasn't even a drop imo, it was a good pass breakup by Keuchly.

What I hold against him is the simple catches not being executed. He's had some brutal drops. Even the passes he's caught are often bobbled. Generally he does not catch the ball cleanly, and that goes back to college.

The fumble he had @ STL this year really pissed me off. He was rocking the ball back and forth away from this body. I knew he was going to fumble several seconds before it happened, and sure enough, he did. Negated what should have been a big play for him and the team.

So while he is a very talented athlete, he has bad hands and is clumsy. I don't like being that harsh in my assessment of 49er players, but McDonald is entering Kyle Williams / A.J. Jenkins territory for me.

His only saving grace is that he's surprisingly developed into a decent blocking TE on the move.

Originally posted by SofaKing:

Originally posted by InsertNameHere:

Originally posted by Tru2RedNGold25:

I really hope Bell out plays McDonald during training camp into preseason that way we cut Vance's sorry ass. I am fine with Davis Carrier & Bell being our TE's this yr.

McDonald hasn't been given enough opportunities to say he sucks or he's good.

He hasn't gotten much of an opportunity in the passing game, true. But the opportunities he has had, he has not taken advantage of them.

I don't even hold the "drop" against the Panthers against him. It wasn't even a drop imo, it was a good pass breakup by Keuchly.

What I hold against him is the simple catches not being executed. He's had some brutal drops. Even the passes he's caught are often bobbled. Generally he does not catch the ball cleanly, and that goes back to college.

The fumble he had @ STL this year really pissed me off. He was rocking the ball back and forth away from this body. I knew he was going to fumble several seconds before it happened, and sure enough, he did. Negated what should have been a big play for him and the team.

So while he is a very talented athlete, he has bad hands and is clumsy. I don't like being that harsh in my assessment of 49er players, but McDonald is entering Kyle Williams / A.J. Jenkins territory for me.

His only saving grace is that he's surprisingly developed into a decent blocking TE on the move.

I had the exact same experience. As soon as he caught it and started running, all I could think was "Oh no...." -- as soon as the words left my mouth, "He's going to fumble," half a second later he coughs it up.

McDonald is a great athlete, but he has not been the receiver we hoped for. Blocking is something you can develop, but if he can't cut it as a receiver, is he worth keeping around? Celek can block and catch. Bell is just scratching the surface of his potential and already has nice receiving ability. Carrier looks like a natural pass catcher. Rory Anderson is a little bit of a slender TE, but is a nice athlete too who looks more natural catching the ball.

If McDonald can't win the battle in pre-season, see if any team will trade for him (seems unlikely), and then cut ties. I'm confidence what we have developing can fill the void with the Charles Clay type in Millard, rookies Bell and Anderson, Celek, and other developing PS players like Grimble and Cleveland.

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
I had the exact same experience. As soon as he caught it and started running, all I could think was "Oh no...." -- as soon as the words left my mouth, "He's going to fumble," half a second later he coughs it up.

McDonald is a great athlete, but he has not been the receiver we hoped for. Blocking is something you can develop, but if he can't cut it as a receiver, is he worth keeping around? Celek can block and catch. Bell is just scratching the surface of his potential and already has nice receiving ability. Carrier looks like a natural pass catcher. Rory Anderson is a little bit of a slender TE, but is a nice athlete too who looks more natural catching the ball.

If McDonald can't win the battle in pre-season, see if any team will trade for him (seems unlikely), and then cut ties. I'm confidence what we have developing can fill the void with the Charles Clay type in Millard, rookies Bell and Anderson, Celek, and other developing PS players like Grimble and Cleveland.

Exactly. Glad I wasn't the only one who saw that fumble coming a mile away. Just clumsy with the football.

I agree, McDonald needs to win the primary back-up job. Otherwise we're better off cutting ties and keeping another player who's trending upwards. We have a lot of guys with potential competing at the position, in addition to Millard.