Coby Fleener - TE Stanford

Originally posted by dj43:

Originally posted by Joecool:

Originally posted by sacleads:

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:

Originally posted by thechamber52:
You know we're good if we are worrying about 3rd string tight ends.

But honestly, I say no to Fleener in the 1st. We have other needs. I'd draft a WR or a CB before Fleener.

1) DW is not very good. Vastly overrated on the WZ.
2) DW is leaving next year in FA.
3) We have no 6'6" target on the team with great hands like every other NFL team does.
4) Look what N.E. does with 2 TE's.

Sure we could use him. Don't kid yourself.

Agree. I just don't get the love our members have for DW. He is not that good. Fleener will flat out beat DW in camp if Fleener is on this team. A perfect player to improve our horrific third down conversions and our redzone issues. Fleener will not be a third string, he'll be 1A.

Fleener is not a luxury for us, he is a necessity. Our primary offensive weakness has been 3rd down conversions and Redzone TDs.

We have zero tight ends who can run straight forward 5 yards and do a quick square out for separation and big enough to screen the defender and make a clean catch.

DW's lack of size and Vernon's lack of ability to separate on short routes is the primary reason we don't punch it in the redzone. Most of the time Vernon scores when we are within 5 yards of the goal line is through misdirection where he's delaying or slanting from the back side.



Fleener would make us deadly in the red zone.

Well said.

As much as Walker is over-rated by some here, Vernon Davis is as well. Davis is a great straight line threat but his lack of agility and ability to read defenses and make quick adjustments to pressure/blitz situations is a partial reason for our lack of RZ success.

Fleener has the agility that VD does not and has the size that Walker lacks. To me, though the team needs a RG solution (Kilgore may be it), Fleener is a no-brainer if he is there at #30.

IMO, how Harbaugh views Kilgore will be evident with the first two selections in the draft. If one of those picks is a guard, we will know that Kilgore is not the answer. If Fleener is the pick along with another non-guard, we know Kilgore IS the answer. That will be the big intrigue in the upcoming draft.

Couldn't agree with you more. Fleener = instant improvement in our weakest statistical areas on offense.

In terms of talent, in relation to the rest of the offense, our weakness is at WR...but that's not going to improve our weakest offensive stats as much as acquiring a Gronk-like TE but faster.

Originally posted by thechamber52:

Originally posted by susweel:
TE is not a area of need for this team no way would I spend a first round pick on a back up TE.

+1

Its like us drafting a MLB in the 1st.

Not the same at all. We have 2 pro bowl MLB's and they are on the field the majority of the time. We have 1 good TE in VD and he is on the field all the time and another TE in D. Walker who is on the field for 50% of the offense and he is a dud.

I don't know where people keep coming up with this back-up TE stuff. Please name me the 11 official starters on offense. It's all going to depend what set we are in...3 wr, 2 TE's, spread, etc... I think 2 TE sets are more frequently used so Fleener would not be a back up.

Ask the pats how their 2 TE sets work out for them. Fleener is the next gronkowski, can't pass him up

Originally posted by thechamber52:

Originally posted by susweel:
TE is not a area of need for this team no way would I spend a first round pick on a back up TE.

+1

Its like us drafting a MLB in the 1st.

It's not even close to the same thing. Larry Grant didn't see the field until Willis went down. Fleener could be put to use immediately in any number of packages and eventually take Walker's roster spot altogether.

Originally posted by susweel:
TE is not a area of need for this team no way would I spend a first round pick on a back up TE.

I'd take a TE, just not at 30. I doubt Fleener will be available at 30 anyway.

Every yr the zone falls in love with a player and every mock draft has us taking that player and it rarely ever occurs so I think we can put the Fleener dreams to rest.

Fleener is exactly what the 49ers need. However, I fear they are going to have to trade up on draft day to get him. Fleener is also exactly what the Giants need. If they get an opportunity to move ahead of SF to get him, they will go for it. I hope SF is prepared to jump up and get him.

Originally posted by 5xChamp:
Every yr the zone falls in love with a player and every mock draft has us taking that player and it rarely ever occurs so I think we can put the Fleener dreams to rest.

This is so true....

Its a copy car league....with the success of Gronk and Jimmy Graham...Some other team will take him before us....if he is their, sure I would love him...but it aint gonna happen, it never does.

Originally posted by ninerlifer:

Originally posted by 5xChamp:
Every yr the zone falls in love with a player and every mock draft has us taking that player and it rarely ever occurs so I think we can put the Fleener dreams to rest.

This is so true....

Its a copy car league....with the success of Gronk and Jimmy Graham...Some other team will take him before us....if he is their, sure I would love him...but it aint gonna happen, it never does.

If another team grabs him before we can than there is nothing we can do about it. It will be interesting to see what happens if he is available at our pick. I would want him as the pick but Harbs is the offensive mastermind so their might be another player he wants instead or one that can be had later on. In Trent's first draft we moved up for A. Davis. In his 2nd draft and Harbs 1st we moved up for Kaep and Kilgore. All offensive players!

I view the wr signings as a sign that we didn't go for high priced wr's like Garcon's, VJAXS or Meachem because Harbs emphasizes the run game and the TE's more. In last years draft and FA we signed Braylon and drafted Johnson. Not that big of a deal. We should see more clearly this year what Harbs is wanting to do after the draft.

Originally posted by jacklegniner:

Originally posted by ninerlifer:

Originally posted by 5xChamp:
Every yr the zone falls in love with a player and every mock draft has us taking that player and it rarely ever occurs so I think we can put the Fleener dreams to rest.

This is so true....

Its a copy car league....with the success of Gronk and Jimmy Graham...Some other team will take him before us....if he is their, sure I would love him...but it aint gonna happen, it never does.

If another team grabs him before we can than there is nothing we can do about it. It will be interesting to see what happens if he is available at our pick. I would want him as the pick but Harbs is the offensive mastermind so their might be another player he wants instead or one that can be had later on. In Trent's first draft we moved up for A. Davis. In his 2nd draft and Harbs 1st we moved up for Kaep and Kilgore. All offensive players!

I view the wr signings as a sign that we didn't go for high priced wr's like Garcon's, VJAXS or Meachem because Harbs emphasizes the run game and the TE's more. In last years draft and FA we signed Braylon and drafted Johnson. Not that big of a deal. We should see more clearly this year what Harbs is wanting to do after the draft.

Im excited to see what happens as well. I really think that Kilgore is the man to take the RG spot....he had a great pre season...I wouldnt be shocked to see them go after Lamar Miller with that pick.

I think as a team you need to use your first round pick to take the BPA no matter what. We have needs at WR, but that does not mean we should be reaching early for one either. The addition of Fleener to our roster would necessitate a heck of a lot more double TE sets next year. He is not a WR but he helps solve two big issues last season in 3rd down offense and red zone production. I guess what I'm saying is you tailor the offense to fit the talent and go from there. Based on last year, we wouldn't have to tailor much.

We also need an interior lineman in a bad way, so I'd be happy going either route.

You guys making this Gronk comparison you do realize physically he is closer to Calvin Johnson then Gronk right? Not skill set just general height weight comparison.

Originally posted by monsterzero789:
Ask the pats how their 2 TE sets work out for them. Fleener is the next gronkowski, can't pass him up

NE passes %70 - %80 of the time, no matter what the score is. Big difference in offensive scheme

Originally posted by kronik:

Originally posted by monsterzero789:
Ask the pats how their 2 TE sets work out for them. Fleener is the next gronkowski, can't pass him up

NE passes %70 - %80 of the time, no matter what the score is. Big difference in offensive scheme

They beat BAL by running the ball. That 2 TE set is vicious. NE actually ran the ball very effectively when they wanted to.

I can understand all the hype on the WZ for picking Fleener. I see it as a virus that has taken hold. In part because he's a local boy.

Really though one should step back and look at the big picture. He isn't touted as a first rounder by most analysts. The ones I am listening to anyways. He's not as big as the kid on the Patriots and as someone has mentioned we run an offensive scheme very different to theirs. His blocking skills are questionable. He doesn't really have blow-it-up skills that would justfy a first round pick in a position that is adequately manned on the current team. This position can be easily supplemented in later rounds (even with Fleener if he falls). IMO he's a reach in the first round and I would be really surprised if the Niners select him there.

WR is IMO a much greater need. The team critically needs a threat that can stretch the field. That's not Fleener. Moss (who I think can be a BIG contributor if he doesn't get frustrated by our QB play) is a short term solution.

And the interior OL is a projected future need also. Even though I believe that Kilgore and the other kid, Pierson (sp?) will fill in nicely, short-term.

Heck, I think that a good RB may be another need that could trump another TE.

We'll see.