With minicamps just around the corner, I thought I'd take this opportunity to share my thoughts on the 49ers' offseason activity. For the first time since perhaps the Walsh era, the 49ers front office and coaching staff are in tune with not only one another, but with what this club needs to get to the big game.
The 49ers' re-signings and acquisitions during free agency and the draft only reinforce this notion. The first order of business for Baalke and company was making sure that the 49ers locked up all starters from the 2011 roster--a near impossible task for a roster teeming with pro bowlers and players enjoying breakout seasons. It was widely expected that the 49ers would have to part ways with at least one, if not two, key players from 2011. Well, minus the loss of Adam Snyder (who as of right now seems expendable) San Francisco accomplished that feat and then some. Inking deals with both Ahmad Brooks and Carlos Rogers, while franchising Dashon Goldson, were the most notable and commendable of the re-signings. Moves like these told me two things:
1. Trent Baalke, Paraag Marathe, Harbaugh and the rest of the front office are operating like a well-oiled machine. These guys know exactly what they want and the best way to go about getting it.
2. Players are back to enjoying being a part of the organization. Rogers could have likely scored a better deal elsewhere, but he wanted to come back and play for this team and its coaches. That's a huge accomplishment and a mighty turnaround from where this team was just a year ago.
To top it off, the 49ers were able to bring back inside linebacker Larry Grant. This was really more a matter of luck considering Grant only had a 7th round tender placed on him but nevertheless, I love that he'll be back on this team. Grant is a very gifted player and if it wasn't for NaVorro Bowman and Patrick Willis, he would be a starter for this team and a damn good one at that. Having him as an insurance policy is a boon for this team.
Now on to the players the 49ers brought in from elsewhere. Let's start with Randy Moss. At first, I wasn't sure what to make of this move. As time went on, I began to really, really like this addition. This is the Braylon Edwards Experiment 2.0. The 49ers sign a low/no-risk deal for a player that has huge potential upside. Moss is a lock for Canton and gives the 49ers two things they have sorely lacked at the WR position for a long time--height and speed. Some question whether Moss is washed up or if his heart is in the game but if that was the case, I don't think the 49ers would have offered a contract so quickly after working him out. The timing of that offer told me that Moss showed them all they needed to know in that brief workout with Harbaugh. Moss shouldn't be judged by his 2010 campaign, as it was obvious it was a lack of care and not a case of diminished skills. Could that happen again in 2012? Sure it's possible, but if he wasn't hungry for the game he wouldn't have come out of retirement nor would the team have signed him. Moss provides the 49ers with a big redzone target and will open things up for others with his ability to stretch the field/command double teams. In addition to that, he's very gifted at locating the ball in the air, readjusting, and attacking it up high--something the 2011 WR's never seemed to be able to do. I fully expect Moss to be the #1 wide receiver this year and truly think he can return to form.
The Niners continued to bolster the receiving corps, inking a deal with Super Bowl champion (stings to write that) WR Mario Manningham. Manningham is not a #1 receiver, but he's a solid #3 and could develop into a good #2 if he can work on his hands and consistency. He's another speedy receiver and has the ability to make big plays, as evidenced by his tight-rope catch down the sidelines in the big game.
Lastly, the 49ers brought in running back Brandon Jacobs from New York, former Denver cornerback Perrish Cox and Tampa Bay backup QB Josh Johnson. Personally, I hate the Brandon Jacobs signing. Being a resident of New Jersey and having several friends that are big Giants fans, I watch the team constantly. Jacobs has not had a good season since 2008, and there's a reason he's nicknamed "the tip-toe burglar." Anyone of you reading this article could probably bring down Jacobs in the backfield. He can't shed tacklers and doesn't use his power like he used to, dancing around far too much. Adding insult to injury, he's obnoxious, 30 years old, and loves to talk trash to other teams through the media. So what does he bring to the table? I say nothing. I don't think that he makes it out of camp with the crowded stable of running backs the 49ers currently have.
Cox is a nice pickup, so long as he can square away his off-field transgressions and put them behind him. He also has value in the return game, something the 49ers can certainly use after last year's championship game debacle.
As for Johnson, he adds depth and competition to the quarterback position. Many felt this move was coming last year. Johnson's familiarity with Harbaugh and the system will serve him well. This move also lights a fire under 2nd-year QB Colin Kaepernick. It will be exciting to watch those two battle it out for the #2 spot at the position.
For the sake of not making this article a novel, I'll briefly share my thoughts on the draft. Some analysts and fans say that Illinois WR A.J. Jenkins was a reach at the 30th pick, but after the way Aldon Smith turned out (despite backlash at the time he was drafted) critics don't have much of a leg to stand on. Jenkins becomes the 3rd new receiver joining the 49ers this season and like Moss and Manningham, he gives the team speed on the outside.
Speaking of speed, the 49ers picked up a potential home run threat in the backfield with Oregon running back LaMichael James. He doesn't have the size or durability to carry much of the load at the position, but with Gore and Kendall Hunter, he doesn't need to. Drawing comparisons to Darren Sproles, James has the chance to be a match-up nightmare for opposing teams, especially in split-back sets. The 49ers wheeled and dealed throughout the draft and ended up garnering a whopping 13 picks in the 2013 draft, while still getting everything they needed out of 2012. The fourth round pick of Wake Forest guard Joe Looney stands out as a gem amongst the late round picks. With the coaching staff's ability to rapidly develop rookie talent (see Miller, Bruce), he could very well compete with Kilgore and Boone for the starting right guard position.
In summation, this San Francisco 49ers team is back to being a joy to watch operate both on and off the field. Keeping last year's roster intact already sets the 49ers up for success in 2012. The speed and talent they've acquired on the offensive side of the ball is what will hopefully put this team over the top. Until recently, it seemed as if the 49ers did everything in their power to not address their multiple, glaring needs. With the shrewd synergy of Baalke and Harbaugh, the Niners are conjuring up front-office magic reminiscent of the Walsh era. Hopefully, it all adds up to a sixth Lombardi trophy.
Addendum: I regretfully forgot about another huge re-signing, that of Mr. Ted Ginn Jr. This might be the most underrated (and evidently overlooked, on my part at least) move the 49ers made this season. Despite testing the open market, Ginn comes back to the Bay Area at a price the 49ers wanted to pay. The field position and security he provides in the return game cannot be understated. Think of how many fewer TD's and FG's the 49ers score without Ginn handling punts and kickoffs. Heck, San Francisco doesn't even win the home opener without his two touchdowns (which eventually would have meant not getting that first round bye in the playoffs). We all know that he has minimal to zero impact as a receiver, especially now that the 49ers have all those new receivers. But his value in the return game is worth its weight and gold.