MadDog's Niners Draft Grade and Analysis for 2012 NFL Draft | Page 51

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 18, 2018 at 4:23 PM

#751

Wu-5Rings
Member
Posts: 12,083

"The 2016 NFL draft class that could have saved Trent Baalke's job"

https://www.google.com/amp/s/ninerswire.usatoday.com/2017/05/08/the-2016-nfl-draft-class-that-could-have-saved-trent-baalkes-job/amp/

https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/san-francisco-49ers-regrading-all-6-nfl-draft-classes-of-gm-trent-baalke-101316

"First, let's assess a total grade for general manager Trent Baalke's draft efforts between 2011 and 2016.

Putting them together — without weight to one year over the other — we get a:

C-

But if we were to weight the grade — place emphasis on higher-round picks and/or the ability to find quality mid-level picks, the grade quickly drops to a D.

How so?

A good chunk of Baalke's first- and second-round picks have been solid. But not stellar. We can count just two Pro Bowlers in Rounds 1 and 2 dating back to 2011. There have been some OK mid-level picks. But not enough to shore up any depth-chart issues. If you want proof, just go look at the Niners' current standings.

Let's look at the cumulative number rankings too. These aren't weighed but can provide an average assessment for the net players drafted. The ranking is:

2.3

If we go by the criteria on the opening slide, this tells us the overall mean of players lands just slightly above our low-impact/depth category.

Sadly, that's how a good chunk of the 49ers roster looks right now.

These metrics aren't perfect. Few evaluation systems are. But we can at least draw a line from the 49ers' current struggles to Baalke's efforts. And they haven't been great.

No GM is going to have a perfect draft class. There just isn't any exact science to it. But some general managers are better than others, and the Niners' recent track record isn't exactly pointing in the right direction."

So in 2014, 2015 and 2016 he continued with his injured players. (Harbaugh) wasn't around... If that doesn't tell you anything on who was drafting then I don't know what does???

Pattern much heh?

[ Edited by Wu-5Rings on Jul 18, 2018 at 4:29 PM ]

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Jul 18, 2018 at 4:31 PM

#752

Wu-5Rings
Member
Posts: 12,083

"Rest In Peace: Trent Baalke ACL jokes"

By Kyle Madson | January 4, 2017 6:52 pm ET
https://www.google.com/amp/s/ninerswire.usatoday.com/2017/01/04/rest-in-peace-trent-baalke-acl-jokes/amp/

It got so pathetic that..... Look at the date of the article.. That's last year... What's your favorite ACL Baalke joke??lol

Thats not Wu's bias there... That's the world talking because they saw the pathetic rosters our teflon gm has given us..

Trent and Jim, soo what coach could have saved us with our all ACL crew?

Amen Robert Lowder
I'm taking a moment to offer my sympathies for all the Baalke/ACL jokes that died Sunday. I speak for many when I say they won't be missed.
11:01 PM - Jan 3, 2017
.. My fav tweet.

[ Edited by Wu-5Rings on Jul 18, 2018 at 4:58 PM ]

Jul 18, 2018 at 5:25 PM

#753

NYniner85
Veteran
Posts: 118,757

Originally posted by Wu-5Rings:
In regards to Tank and Ward NY, After Harbaugh left he still continued to draft injured players. I don't think it was Harbaugh the one fixated with injured players?

Don't you think the power struggle involved players? Imho Harbaugh most likely wanted healthy players? My speculation but Baalke's track record shows it.

The power struggle had to be in regards to players. There's no excuse for blowing 5 drafts.. If not what was the arguing about or the power struggle about??

He said he didn't want to leave and Jed tried trading him, the thanksgiving shot after the game. So he never wanted to leave, he wife said it as well, on record.

What coach in their right wouldn't be pissed off at his drafting.. Dude had an obsession with injured players.

Any coach with a couple of brain cells would question his drafting. I don't think Baalke liked him questioning him or his drafting.. Imho

Like I said I'm not trying to prop up Baalke...you can't say Jim was responsible for drafting just the good players and not responsible for the bad ones as well...life doesn't work that way lol.

I think Baalke drafted like s**t more often than not, BUT you can NOT tell me Harbs had a poor player personnel for the most of his coaching time in SF. It's simply not true. We saw the brunt of Baalke's s**tty drafts take full effect after 2014 when half the starters left and there was dogs**t to take their place.

Stop acting like Harbs took a bunch of misfits to a SB

Jul 18, 2018 at 5:28 PM

#754

Wu-5Rings
Member
Posts: 12,083

Originally posted by NYniner85:
Like I said I'm not trying to prop up Baalke...you can't say Jim was responsible for drafting just the good players and not responsible for the bad ones as well...life doesn't work that way lol.

I think Baalke drafted like s**t more often than not, BUT you can NOT tell me Harbs had a poor player personnel for the most of his coaching time in SF. It's simply not true. We saw the brunt of Baalke's s**tty drafts take full effect after 2014 when half the starters left and there was dogs**t to take their place.

Stop acting like Harbs took a bunch of misfits to a SB

If someone has a track record of drafting injured players and did not help his coach at all. What is to make me believe otherwise?

You cannot make excuses for someone who was living off of Scott Mcoughlan.

That's the guy I give credit because that's the guy that gave us that core you speak of.. not Trent Baalke. These are facts..

I'm sorry, I cannot give credit who doesn't deserve it or did nothing at all but waste away the roster.

[ Edited by Wu-5Rings on Jul 18, 2018 at 5:30 PM ]

Jul 18, 2018 at 5:34 PM

#755

Wu-5Rings
Member
Posts: 12,083

The funny narrative continues of Wu's bias, you can ask NC how high I was on our dbacks to work out. In fact we had plenty of discussions in regards to our dbacks.. Which I liked Acker, Johnson, Reaser, Redmond. . They didn't work out.. There was a pattern of injured players and no offensive wr, Deandre Smelter, Aj Junkins.. The list goes on. The didnt work out on other teams and the philosophy continued after Harbaugh.. Why wouldn't I believe that?

The core came from Scott Mcoughlan.. That's the guy that I give respect. Drunk or not he could draft..

NC some are really pushing the narrative like I didn't give Trent a chance.. lol it's funny because it's simplistic to run with.

You're Wu's bias narrative is nullified, void.. I sided with the truth back by questioning it with oline and dbacks then and now for sure it shows. He cannot take credit for Scott, I'm sorry but he cannot.

Absolutely cannot take credit for Scott Mcoughlan draft core.

[ Edited by Wu-5Rings on Jul 18, 2018 at 5:46 PM ]

Jul 18, 2018 at 5:47 PM

#756

NYniner85
Veteran
Posts: 118,757

Originally posted by Wu-5Rings:
If someone has a track record of drafting injured players and did not help his coach at all. What is to make me believe otherwise?

You cannot make excuses for someone who was living off of Scott Mcoughlan.

That's the guy I give credit because that's the guy that gave us that core you speak of.. not Trent Baalke. These are facts..

I'm sorry, I cannot give credit who doesn't deserve it or did nothing at all but waste away the roster.

Who the s**t is giving him credit or throwing out excuses? I feel like you're not even reading what I'm saying lol. Another poster said he gets credit for drafting the defensive players but overall those picks were trash. Like I said you can give credit for everything good and get none of the bad.

Again stop acting like Harbs took the 2016 49ers to the SB because that team was stacked and was for a couple yrs after...Baalke did not draft well that was clear as day. He takes a good brunt of the s**t storm we've had BUT most of that effected the team AFTER Jim left.

Jim played the biggest role in this team winning and he also played a big part in the reason he left.

Jul 18, 2018 at 5:51 PM

#757

NYniner85
Veteran
Posts: 118,757

Originally posted by Wu-5Rings:
The funny narrative continues of Wu's bias, you can ask NC how high I was on our dbacks to work out. In fact we had plenty of discussions in regards to our dbacks.. Which I liked Acker, Johnson, Reaser, Redmond. . They didn't work out.. There was a pattern of injured players and no offensive wr, Deandre Smelter, Aj Junkins.. The list goes on. The didnt work out on other teams and the philosophy continued after Harbaugh.. Why wouldn't I believe that?

The core came from Scott Mcoughlan.. That's the guy that I give respect. Drunk or not he could draft..

NC some are really pushing the narrative like I didn't give Trent a chance.. lol it's funny because it's simplistic to run with.

You're Wu's bias narrative is nullified, void.. I sided with the truth back by questioning it with oline and dbacks then and now for sure it shows. He cannot take credit for Scott, I'm sorry but he cannot.

Absolutely cannot take credit for Scott Mcoughlan draft core.

Go look at drunks drafts from 2008 and 2009 and tell me how great those were lol.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/draft.htm

Jul 18, 2018 at 5:53 PM

#758

Wu-5Rings
Member
Posts: 12,083

NY he cannot get credit for the core team. If you believe he should and I'm just bias? So be it.

My point always and will be is that Trent did nothing.. He cannot take credit for Scott's core.

Simple

Jul 18, 2018 at 5:53 PM

#759

Wu-5Rings
Member
Posts: 12,083

Originally posted by NYniner85:
Go look at drunks drafts from 2008 and 2009 and tell me how great those were lol.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/draft.htm

He created our core and compared to Trent. He was 1000x better.

You cannot convince me that Trent deserves credit for that core. I gave him Aldon, Keapernick, Reid and Dial in 6 years...

What's that ratio??? That's four players in 6 years.

[ Edited by Wu-5Rings on Jul 18, 2018 at 5:56 PM ]

Jul 18, 2018 at 6:01 PM

#760

Wu-5Rings
Member
Posts: 12,083

"2011: Baalke was hailed as being a large part of the reason the team quickly became Super Bowl contenders. He won executive of the year. It seemed forgotten that former general manager Scott McCloughan built the majority of the roster that turned into a well-oiled machine under Harbaugh. McCloughan drafted Michael Crabtree, Vernon Davis, Dashon Goldson, Joe Staley, Delanie Walker and Patrick Willis. McCloughan heavily influenced Baalke's draft board in 2010 before "mutually parting" with the 49ers. That's nine Pro-Bowl and All-Pro caliber talents in the course of a few seasons."
https://www.google.com/amp/s/ninerswire.usatoday.com/2016/10/10/this-is-all-your-fault-trent-baalke/amp/

He drafted our core. All Baalke had to do was sustain.. Draft healthy players... No replenishing..

He cannot live off of Scott.

[ Edited by Wu-5Rings on Jul 18, 2018 at 6:03 PM ]

Jul 18, 2018 at 6:02 PM

#761

NYniner85
Veteran
Posts: 118,757

Originally posted by Wu-5Rings:
NY he cannot get credit for the core team. If you believe he should and I'm just bias? So be it.

My point always and will be is that Trent did nothing.. He cannot take credit for Scott's core.

Simple

Again where am I saying he gets credit? NO WHERE...I'm not sticking up for Baalke dude.

I'm saying both baalke and Jim played a part in SF not winning a SB and the reason Jim left...you're making it sound like it was poor Jim he didn't have any talent to work with, which simply isn't true. His unwillingness to work with people (stubborn) also caused friction in the team, tough to play well with all that s**t going on.

He played a part in why he's not still the HC now.

[ Edited by NYniner85 on Jul 18, 2018 at 6:08 PM ]

Jul 18, 2018 at 6:03 PM

#762

NYniner85
Veteran
Posts: 118,757

Originally posted by Wu-5Rings:
He created our core and compared to Trent. He was 1000x better.

You cannot convince me that Trent deserves credit for that core. I gave him Aldon, Keapernick, Reid and Dial in 6 years...

What's that ratio??? That's four players in 6 years.

Show me where I'm giving Baalke credit? I haven't said it once man, not once.

Jul 18, 2018 at 6:06 PM

#763

Wu-5Rings
Member
Posts: 12,083

Originally posted by NYniner85:
Originally posted by Wu-5Rings:
NY he cannot get credit for the core team. If you believe he should and I'm just bias? So be it.

My point always and will be is that Trent did nothing.. He cannot take credit for Scott's core.

Simple

Again where am I saying he gets credit? NO WHERE...I'm not sticking up for Baalke dude.

I'm saying both baalke and Jim played a part in SF not winning a SB and the reason Jim left...you're making it sound like it was poor Jim he didn't have any talent to work with, which simply isn't true. His unwillingness to work with people (stubborn) also caused friction in the team, tough to play well with all that s**t going on.

He played a part in why he's not still the HC now.

I'm just putting up facts.. If you say JH could be an a*****e. I would agree with you..

This all started a couple days ago and I still stick by my comments.

Talent was the issue with us. Some just don't like what I say? I'm backing it up with facts.. There was a core of takent yes, not drafted by baalke..

I'm not bias. Talent was the issue.. I cannot help some don't want to admit it..

[ Edited by Wu-5Rings on Jul 18, 2018 at 6:07 PM ]

Jul 18, 2018 at 6:09 PM

#764

Wu-5Rings
Member
Posts: 12,083

NY this all started when I said talent was our main issue and you and 49er4eva started with the JH bias talk..

That's how this started. I never said or put any words in anyones mouth.

You guys didn't like my comment and continue to not like the comment despite me showing you that our core wasn't drafted by Baalke and his Acl addiction.

I still stand by my comments. Talent was our main problem.

He couldn't sustain the talent that was provided by his mentor.

[ Edited by Wu-5Rings on Jul 18, 2018 at 6:13 PM ]

Jul 18, 2018 at 6:12 PM

#765

NYniner85
Veteran
Posts: 118,757

Originally posted by Wu-5Rings:
I'm just putting up facts.. If you say JH could be an a*****e. I would agree with you..

This all started a couple days ago and I still stick by my comments.

Talent was the issue with us. Some just don't like what I say? I'm backing it up with facts.. There was a core of takent yes, not drafted by baalke..

I'm not bias. Talent was the issue.. I cannot help some don't want to admit it..

Go look at those rosters from 2011-2014 and tell me there wasn't enough talent for the great harbs to coach up...you're backing it up with google articles you search for lol.

What were all the holes he was missing for his scheme? We had a top end defense which he clearly wants. We had a top end OL for his power running which we had, and he got to hand pick his QB to groom. You're a Michigan man you see how he wants his team to go and it's damn near the same as it was in SF.

If he needed more talent then what he had those couple yrs then imo he's not a good enough coach.

[ Edited by NYniner85 on Jul 18, 2018 at 6:16 PM ]