MadDog's Niners Draft Grade and Analysis for 2012 NFL Draft | Page 47

MadDog49er · 2012-04-29T11:16:56-07:00

Well, another draft comes and goes and time will tell who are the big winners and losers from this weekend. The Niners tried an unconventional approach this year, which may end working out well, or flopping. Once again, a few years down the road, a clear picture of the strength of this draft will emerge. There are many ways to approach my analysis. At first glance, I thought an incomplete grade is warranted. The addition of a third round pick next year, via trade, does add some merit to this draft class. The later rounds won't have the same impact in the grade, but any additional pick is an additional pick. However, going the incomplete route is a cop-out, since this is all fun and games. So, here it is: Round One- AJ Jenkins- A bit surprised with the pick. However, in the last days before the draft, the Rams were all over him, and I almost put him at 33 on my big board. I thought they wanted J. Jenkins more and had AJ after him. Jenkins was the 7th WR on my board, and the 4th taken overall. I think he is a good player, not a great player. To me, he is a solid number two WR in the NFL, but this is not going to happen until year 3. Expect very little impact in 2012. Smooth, quick, runs good routes, and productive, despite a lack of quality QB play. Saw a lot of him since I live in Big Ten country. Grade: F. The reason for the grade is more than the player (because to me, Jenkins at 30 is a C+ grade). It is the opportunity to utilize the pick for the best value. And the best value at 30, was to not stay at 30. Great opportunities jump in front of you rarely in the draft, and the Niners passed on a golden one. Due to the nature of needs-based picks, from 6-21, we saw a complete run on defensive players. Only Tannehill at 8, Floyd at 13, and K. Wright at 20 were selected on the offensive side of the ball. At 21, the Bengals traded down so NE could draft Chandler Jones. The next handful of teams on the clock had OL needs, and to me, this was the time to make a move. The Browns, at 22, from all reports, lost out on K. Wright at 20, and could have been a trade partner. The Lions, at 23, needed OL help. The Steelers, at 24, for sure. The Texans, at 26, as well. So, with the top graded interior lineman in possibly a decade sitting on the board at 22, in David DeCastro, the Niners could have picked up one of the best players in the draft, and at great value. It would have cost a third rounder according to the value of trades around the same pick and according to trade value chart. The Niners missed on DeCastro, which would have anchored the right side of the OL for a decade. Round 2- LaMichael James- Quick, shifty RB who can make players miss, and has potential to make big plays on offense. Rotational, third down back, who will probably play 10 snaps per game. And, therein lies the problem. The team is stocked at RB, with Gore, who is a three down back, Hunter, who is a similar back to James, and Brandon Jacobs. James may get his hands on the ball 3-4 times a game, and I just don't think this is good value for a second round selection. The team could have found a similar type player with even more explosiveness in Chris Rainey, about 4 rounds later. Grade: D. Round 3 Traded- Good negotiation by Baalke. The Colts drafted TY Hilton, who is more explosive than James, but they gave up a lot in moving up. A fifth rounder next year and the pick five picks later. Grade- A Round 4- Another great value trade dropping six slots and picking up a 6th this year and 6th next year. The Dolphins saw Lamar Miller on the board. Grade- A Round 4- A third trade in the matter of ten picks. Team gives up pick for a 3rd rounder in 2013. Panthers desperately wanted Frank Alexander, and I don't know why. Great value trade. Grade- A Round 4- Joe Looney- A pretty good pick under the circumstances. I think the team got burnt in the Dolphins trade when the Ravens grabbed Gino Gradkowski, who I think the team was all over. The best of the interior OL are long gone by now, and the team needs a guy who can come in and compete right now for a starting position. Looney has a ton of experience, is savvy, smart, and is technically sound. He will compete for the starting RG spot right away. That is the upside. The downside, Looney doesn't have much upside, and I'm not sure he will ever reach the level of Adam Snyder. A decent value pick because the team desperately needed a body. I had a list of guys graded higher, but I think pick is alright. Grade- B- Round 5- Darius Fleming- Good football player that is athletic, quick, and productive. Not sure how he fits on our team. I speculate the team will shift him inside to ILB, and he will compete for the primary backup role under Bowman. He provides some insurance in case Bowman does not re-sign with the team in the future. The team had greater needs, and there were better players on the board, so this is a head scratcher to me. Grade: D Round 6- Trent Robinson, Michigan State, FS- Home Run. The Niners get a steal in the 6th with a guy I had a late 3rd round grade. One of the best FS prospects in this draft, Robinson can run with WR's, and is not afraid to tackle. Productive, experienced, and solid instincts. Really outstanding pick.Grade: A Round 6- Jason Slowey- Another terrific pick from small school Western Oregon. Slowey adds a lot of versatility in this draft, as we will be able to play all three interior line positions, and in an emergency, play tackle. Athletic, tough, and raw. Has much more upside than Looney, and Slowey was on a list of six small school guys I predicted the team would select. Brilliant play for a sixth rounder. Grade: A Round 7- Cam Johnson- Edge OLB rusher, Virginia. Johnson is an enigma. Great athletic ability, played in a 3-4 system, has tremendous upside, and is a terrible underachiever. Lacks passion for the game, should be more productive and dominant. Guy with character flaws. However, you are getting second-third round talent in the 7th round, and if he can get his head on straight, becomes a terrific value pick. Could be starting material on another 3-4 team. Grade: A So, as you can see, this is a complicated grade, with the variable of additional productive players next year. In most drafts, the greatest focus of the grade is the first two or three picks, and this was the down part of this draft class. Just not enough bang for your buck, and the loss of a potential Pro-Bowl type player in DeCastro because the team did not make the move up. Late rounders and future picks helped the final score below. Final Draft Grade: C As for my draft board, based on my best player available board, in a straight up, no trade draft, I had: Round One- Peter Konz, C/G Round Two- Mohamed Sanu, WR Round Three- Brandon Thompson, NT Round Four- Malik Jackson, DE Round Five- Vick Ballard, RB Round Six- Antonio Allen, SS Round Seven- Derrius Brooks, CB It has been a fun run. I will gladly take all questions, and time permitting as I shift from this board to real life, I will hopefully get a chance to respond to all. Cheers.

Jul 15, 2018 at 6:45 PM

#691

9ers4eva
Veteran
Posts: 22,413

Originally posted by Wu-5Rings:
It contributed to our defense being worn down..

They didn't play well in the playoffs that year. Gave up 30 plus points.. Our offense did enough. The lack of rotation is what hurt us.

Which had nothing to do with being ill prepared or not getting plays in on time. Lack of depth isn't even in the top 5 reasons why that game was lost.

Jul 15, 2018 at 6:47 PM

#692

Wu-5Rings
Member
Posts: 12,083

Originally posted by 9ers4eva:
Originally posted by Wu-5Rings:
It contributed to our defense being worn down..

They didn't play well in the playoffs that year. Gave up 30 plus points.. Our offense did enough. The lack of rotation is what hurt us.

Which had nothing to do with being ill prepared or not getting plays in on time. Lack of depth isn't even in the top 5 reasons why that game was lost.

The defense gave up 30plus points to the falcons and ravens... I beg to strongly differ.. The lack of bench had everything to do with why our defense was not dominating...

[ Edited by Wu-5Rings on Jul 15, 2018 at 6:48 PM ]

Jul 15, 2018 at 6:48 PM

#693

9ers4eva
Veteran
Posts: 22,413

Eagles just won the SuperBowl giving up 30 plus.

Jul 15, 2018 at 6:51 PM

#694

Wu-5Rings
Member
Posts: 12,083

Originally posted by 9ers4eva:
Eagles just won the SuperBowl giving up 30 plus.

Our defense was down in both in the nfc title game and super bowl game. A bench would have helped. The offense dug us out of both holes, the second almost comeback to win. The signs were there. The offense most hated.

[ Edited by Wu-5Rings on Jul 15, 2018 at 6:55 PM ]

Jul 15, 2018 at 6:58 PM

#695

9ers4eva
Veteran
Posts: 22,413

Originally posted by Wu-5Rings:
Our defense was down in both in the nfc title game and super bowl game. A bench would have helped. The offense dug us out of both holes, the second almost comeback to win. The signs were there. The offense most hated.

Getting the game winning play in on time would've helped more.

Jul 15, 2018 at 7:08 PM

#696

Wu-5Rings
Member
Posts: 12,083

Originally posted by 9ers4eva:
Originally posted by Wu-5Rings:
Our defense was down in both in the nfc title game and super bowl game. A bench would have helped. The offense dug us out of both holes, the second almost comeback to win. The signs were there. The offense most hated.

Getting the game winning play in on time would've helped more.

So John Lynch can take off for the next three years and not show up, still get paid, no matter what we do or accomplish it falls all on Shanny?

Wtf do we need a GM for then?

[ Edited by Wu-5Rings on Jul 15, 2018 at 7:11 PM ]

Jul 15, 2018 at 7:14 PM

#697

9ers4eva
Veteran
Posts: 22,413

Originally posted by Wu-5Rings:
So John Lynch can take off for the next three years and not show up, no matter what we do or accomplish it falls all on Shanny?

Wtf do we need a GM for then?

How that is even relevant to what I said I don't know.

If the 9ers are down needing a TD inside the 10 with a chance to win the SB and they don't get it done because they couldn't get a play in I'm not blaming that on Lynch.

Is Thomas Dimitroff all to blame for the Falcons SB loss to the Patriots? Did they lose solely because they didn't have enough depth?

Jul 15, 2018 at 7:16 PM

#698

Wu-5Rings
Member
Posts: 12,083

Originally posted by 9ers4eva:
Originally posted by Wu-5Rings:
So John Lynch can take off for the next three years and not show up, no matter what we do or accomplish it falls all on Shanny?

Wtf do we need a GM for then?

How that is even relevant to what I said I don't know.

If the 9ers are down needing a TD inside the 10 with a chance to win the SB and they don't get it done because they couldn't get a play in I'm not blaming that on Lynch.

Is Thomas Dimitroff all to blame for the Falcons SB loss to the Patriots? Did they lose solely because they didn't have enough depth?

When you blow 3 straight drafts during a super bowl window, you must be insane to think it wouldn't have a factor...

Just because Harbaugh got the best out of his players doesn't mean he can make Aj junkins a super star..

[ Edited by Wu-5Rings on Jul 15, 2018 at 7:18 PM ]

Jul 15, 2018 at 7:18 PM

#699

9ers4eva
Veteran
Posts: 22,413

Originally posted by Wu-5Rings:
When you blow 3 straight drafts during a super bowl window, You must be insane to think it doesn't have a factor...

Difference between being a factor and being the main reason. Everything is a factor. 3 straight drafts have nothing to do with that SB though. Stop moving the goalposts.

Answer the Dimitroff question.

Jul 15, 2018 at 7:20 PM

#700

9ers4eva
Veteran
Posts: 22,413

He also couldn't figure out how to use Ted Ginn. Something Mike Shula Bruce Arians and Sean Payton had no problem doing.

Jul 15, 2018 at 7:21 PM

#701

Wu-5Rings
Member
Posts: 12,083

Originally posted by 9ers4eva:
Originally posted by Wu-5Rings:
When you blow 3 straight drafts during a super bowl window, You must be insane to think it doesn't have a factor...

Difference between being a factor and being the main reason. Everything is a factor. 3 straight drafts have nothing to do with that SB though. Stop moving the goalposts.

Answer the Dimitroff question.

Yet I presented facts that our defense was down 17 points.. In the title game. The defense was down in the super bowl. That defense was supposed to win that game for us. It was our bread and butter not the offense.

That defense was our bread and butter and it failed in the playoffs.. The contributing factor was lack of bench or the main reason. Either or in this case.

Facts no goalpost moving..

[ Edited by Wu-5Rings on Jul 15, 2018 at 7:24 PM ]

Jul 15, 2018 at 7:24 PM

#702

9ers4eva
Veteran
Posts: 22,413

So you won't answer the question. Can't debate someone who won't debate in good faith or answer direct questions.

Jul 15, 2018 at 7:26 PM

#703

Wu-5Rings
Member
Posts: 12,083

Originally posted by 9ers4eva:
He also couldn't figure out how to use Ted Ginn. Something Mike Shula Bruce Arians and Sean Payton had no problem doing.

Kyle Williams says hello. Ted was dealing with injuries, dropped passes and muffed punts. Everything except the GM just doing his job.

[ Edited by Wu-5Rings on Jul 15, 2018 at 7:29 PM ]

Jul 15, 2018 at 7:31 PM

#704

9ers4eva
Veteran
Posts: 22,413

Originally posted by Wu-5Rings:
Kyle Williams says hello. Ted was dealing with injuries and dropped passes. Everything except the GM just doing his job.

Kyle Williams had 12 more receptions and 3 more rushes then Ted Ginn did in 2012. Ted was targeted twice all 2012. He wasn't dealing with anything. He just wasn't used.

All Baalke fault I'm sure.

Jul 15, 2018 at 7:32 PM

#705

Wu-5Rings
Member
Posts: 12,083

Originally posted by 9ers4eva:
How that is even relevant to what I said I don't know.

If the 9ers are down needing a TD inside the 10 with a chance to win the SB and they don't get it done because they couldn't get a play in I'm not blaming that on Lynch.

Is Thomas Dimitroff all to blame for the Falcons SB loss to the Patriots? Did they lose solely because they didn't have enough depth?

Did Thomas Dimitroff put his chips all on acl players, made a draft class disappear and blew 3 draft classes during a super bowl window? If so than yes.

[ Edited by Wu-5Rings on Jul 15, 2018 at 7:35 PM ]