Originally posted by Rsrkshn:
Originally posted by communist:
still no speed at the offense, neither at WR (kyle williams is too small actually and ted ginn isnt a reliable WR) nor at RB. at least we improved our o-line and we got a blocking TE...no covering SS, no real good CB and i dont know if the niners can pass-rush consistently against the better teams. thus once again we could get big problems at defending the pass...very lethal in a pass-happy league.
No grade?
Still you put your finger on the problem with this draft.
No SPEED.
A very amatuerishly run draft. A panic at the outset which cost the team a fourth rounder that was sorely needed later on. No legitimate cb. No safety to cover the third receiver, as you point out.
An immature fascination with the workout numbers for Mays . . . but he hasn't shown any skills as a player. The only redemption that I see for him is if he is used as a hybrid linebacker to put pressure on the passer . . . but that's a big reach because we don't know if he can do that. Lord knows, we need an enhanced pass rush. Opponents will light us up with their passing game. With a desperate need for speed in the defensive backfield, the team drafts a MLB, a RB who seems to fits Coffee's description, and a slow blocking TE!!??
I agree with the first round pick at OT. But not the guard with our second pick. That should have come later, with all the other critical needs requiring resolution. BTW I don't believe that either of the first rounders are shoe-in pro bowlers . . . they're going to need serious coaching (do we have that . . . really?). Davis has the physique, but he has the reputation for being a slacker. If he is predisposed to being that way, he will never be great . . . motivator or no motivator. Still, now that it's done, let's hope that it all works out and the team does not have to visit the OL issue for a LONG time. That possibiltity is certainly a positive.
Very dissapointed with the picks taken after the first round.
The draft could have been managed better. Getting more picks and filling more needs. Like I said . . . Amatuerish.
Grade: a solid C.
PS: Ooops! I forgot to factor in the Ginn trade for the 5th pick.
Revised grade: A solid C+
I agree they have needed speed. However, they GOT speed in two critical areas.
One, the 5th round pick, Ginn, is a burner and an established return guy. He will bring the speed the passing game has lacked.
Two, you don't seem to like Mays but I think you are being too critical and ignoring the fact his role at USC seemed to change this past year. (more on that later) Even if Mays is "only" 4.45, he will be as fast, or faster than any of the RBs he will face.
The greatest speed need the defense had was not in the secondary but in not having enough guys to get to the edge on running plays. If Willis was blocked or slowed down, no one else could get there. Mays will be a second guy with speed to get to the edge. It will be hard to block them both.
My initial reluctance to embrace the Mays pick was my own pre-disposition of wanting a "cover" safety. However, as I looked it over, I think he was the right pick. Goldson, though he sometimes showed his inexperience, did show ballhawking ability. Also, his play recognition and general field generalship was fine. With Mays now in the lineup to seal the edges and cover TEs, Goldson can now focus on being the cover safety on slot receivers, which is what was lacking last year. What that amounts to is that the 49ers HAD the cover safety, now they have a bigger, much faster, and younger SS to both seal the edge and cover the TE, something Lewis just cannot do.
The final "speed" issue is more subtle: Frank Gore is faster than many seem to realize. When the line gives him a hole, he doesn't get caught from behind very often. What we all want to see is the 49ers running to the outside more often to spread out the defense. The problem this last year was that they did not have LINEMEN quick and agile enough to get outside to lead Gore. While I was somewhat disappointed to see Sheets put on the PS and then leave, it would have done no good to have an outside runner on a team with no linemen to get out to block for him.
The picks of Davis and Iupati will change that. Both of them are MUCH quicker and agile than either Snyder or Baas. By having faster linemen that can get outside to lead, it will make the entire running game look speedier.
A team can never have too much speed but to say the 49ers did not address the issue of speed this year is not accurate.